Nikon F4 ......Did I or Didn't I ?????

Asha

Asha

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Asha
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Got an opportunity to acquire an F4 with DP-20 prism and MB-21 grip.

I've read up a little on them and I'm very tempted but would like your thoughts please especially from those of you that have owned/used one...................ie: ease of use, reliability, potential downfalls ( battery reliant aside), known issues etc etc
 
I had one before the Digi age. Boy that was some handsome beast. Never had any trouble with it and had it fron 2nd hand for 2 years. A Newspaper guy told me at the time that the AF wasn't up to what was expected. Make of that what you will, but it was a beauty and a pleasure to own.
 
Sounds good.

Tbh most of my lenses are MF anyway as I actually prefer to focus manually so the AF speed wouldn't be a deal breaker although the auto facility will naturally be handy occasionally.

Although set up for Ni-Cd batteries, will the body function without problem using Ni-Mh cells?? ( it's just that i have loads of em!:p)
 
I've got one and it's bloody brilliant, it feels great to hold, it's logical, well laid out, great viewfinder and can be used as a doorstop should it ever give up the ghost.

Oh and it knocks the hideous and fugly F3 right out of the ground.
 
Buy it Asha they are great, possibly the best ergonomically designed camera in the last 50 years.

~goes off to blow the dust off mine~
 
I had the same urge about six months ago and bought one. Unless you need the speed I would probably try to get one with the MB-20 grip, not the MB-21, because it adds considerably to the bulk and weight of the camera (which is already very hefty), and adds little real benefit unless you have a need to shoot through a roll of 36exp in 6 seconds instead of 9 in high speed mode!!!

Anyway, that aside, it's perfect with MF lenses. Has great flash capability too.
 
The F4 is the ugliest plastico camera Nikon ever made.

If you want AF, buy an F100, if you don't care about AF, might as well buy an F3.

take no notice of that Nick...lol, he's nutz, the F3 is beautiful...:D
 
BTW, I didn' find AF a problem, but I don't shoot sport, the newspaper guy did.
 
Asha, go for it! The F4 is definitely on my shopping list. I have seen a lot of well worn ones and am waiting for a half decent one to pop up. I love my F3 and in last 6 months have ventured into Nikon AF with an F100 and recently an F5. Both are stunning cameras. It just seems plain rude now not to get an F4. In my view the F4 is a truly iconic camera and although the AF on the F100 is supposedly faster, who is in a hurry :-)

Sorry this might not be helping!
 
I always say always encourage never discourage!:D
 
it can use pre ai lenses as well ( have you got it yet ,,,,,why not )
 
Hi Asha,

The first thing is what price, as I would have in front of the F4,the F5 or F100 and I have all three,so if it is not a really good price then I believe you have better options.

The F4 is very plastic in hand,where as the F5 and F100 are very Nikon touch and feel, if weight is a criteria,which I am sure with you it may be,then it has to be the F100 as the F5 with grip is very heavy and a burden to carry all day.

Good luck let us know what you go for.

Richard.
 
That Nick is as daft as a brush, the F3 is a thing of beauty. The F4 on the other hand is as Jox says "the ugliest plastico camera Nikon ever made". It is however a superb bit of technology and keeps tempting me...no, no I say, get back damn you.....:runaway:
 
@Andysnap f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f3 (oops ) f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 . i'm not helping am i ! :bonk:
 
If you have the money buy a F4...there is no max price on a hobby erm well if you are not marrried ;)
 
Got to disagree that the F4 is plasticy. If it is I'm not sure what that makes Canons and the like.:lol:

I love my F3 too but the F4 has a number of advantages over it - autofocus (which is pretty good by my reckoning), far better flash capability, motordrive built in, and a choice of matrix, CW or spot metering WITH AI or AIS lenses. The F3, F5 and F100 can't do that. Hell it's even compatible with G lenses (in program or shutter priority). Its advantages over the F100 and F5 are also that it has no menus and the like - just proper dials and switches.

It's the only camera I can think of with all the tactile pleasure of an old camera but with the functionality of a modern one.

Also, the world is littered with F3's that don't work properly: shutter or electronics problems being rather common. Don't see many F4's for sale as spares or repairs though.

Just get one !!! It will prove useful for the odd time you want to shoot a little more quickly with MF lenses (or with AF), especially if you want to include some subtle fill flash.

I will repeat that I would avoid the bigger grips and get the standard smallest one. Otherwise it is a real unwieldy beast.
 
The F4 has always struck me as marking the point where Nikon moved to AF but weren't sure that it was going to stick, an odd modern-retro camera if that makes sense. Nice as a turning point camera* but if I'm using AF, I'd rather use a body that has quick and effective AF, such as the F100.

And the F3 is the camera that fell out of the ugly tree and hit every single branch on the way down, pentaprism first.





* Another would be the T90 (back in your box, Andy), the first properly ergonomic body that showed the way for modern camera design.**
** Which is why Nikon have just released the Df.***
*** Obviously.
 
"I am your father Luke" quote from Darth T90
 
donutagain said:
@Andysnap f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f3 (oops ) f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 f4 . i'm not helping am i ! :bonk:
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Damn you you southern tempter.....:boxer:
 
Thank you all for your feedback.

I am not a fan of cameras with lcd readouts/menus ( although i do have some!)). Hence i am not drawn to the F5 or F100 much as they come across as excellent pieces of kit. Saying that I wouldn't refuse one if offered at a silly price:lol:

As for this F4.

I met the guy selling it earlier this afternoon and oh it feels wonderful to hold ( the camera that is:p) and is in very good cosmetic condition..... I think I've fallen in love with it:love:

It has the MB-21 grip which, as has been mentioned makes it quite a beast, however even with the weight, it feels very solid in the hand and, contrary to how some folk feel about it, I don't get the impression that it's plasticy at all.

Everything seems to be "just there" within finger tip reach ( or at least in landscape orientation anyway).

So guess what.........
































I Bought it :banana: :

View attachment 562

Dressed it up a little with my 85mm AF D and a little SB-30 flash unit then took a carp quality shot with my phone!:rolleyes:

Already shot a handful of frames and souped em...... results looking good :thumbs:
 
Well done Asha, tis a quality bit of kit, I'm sure you won't regret it.
 
Andysnap said:
That Nick is as daft as a brush, the F3 is a thing of beauty. The F4 on the other hand is as Jox says "the ugliest plastico camera Nikon ever made". It is however a superb bit of technology and keeps tempting me...no, no I say, get back damn you.....:runaway:
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+1

The F3 was - is - an incredible camera.

With that said, Asha, enjoy! If it feels right in the hand, that counts for more than any of our F&C discussions on F3 vs. F4 vs. whatever else!
 
Congrats Asha, I am sure it will serve you well,looks to be in great condition.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Well done Asha, tis a quality bit of kit, I'm sure you won't regret it.
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I'm itching to get back out playing with it Nick. Seriously awsome with my old "push/pull" F2.8 80-200mm lens on it....perhaps best not to walk around town with that set up as it looks like a lethal weapon :D

freecom2 said:
Asha, enjoy! If it feels right in the hand, that counts for more than any of our F&C discussions on F3 vs. F4 vs. whatever else!
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Tbh FC2, large and heavy don't usually suit me but the ergonomics of this fit my small (ish) hands very well :thumbs:...... quite strange for such a large body/ grip set up. Actually feels much more comfortable than my gripped D80.


medwaygreen said:
Congrats Asha, I am sure it will serve you well,looks to be in great condition.
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Another toy for you to play with in spring if you wish Richard, assuming you can prise it from my grubby hands:D
 
:thumbs: Niiiice!

I've always said "if it's something that you want, that you'll use, and that you'll enjoy AND you can afford it without losing the roof over your head or not putting food on the table for you and yours, then just go for it..."
 
TheBigYin said:
:thumbs: Niiiice!

I've always said "if it's something that you want, that you'll use, and that you'll enjoy AND you can afford it without losing the roof over your head or not putting food on the table for you and yours, then just go for it..."
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The mrs dunt know it yet, but we're living off love for a fortnight......................... means I'll be starving then I guess :lol:
 
Nice one Asha.

As for the F3 it is simply a jumped up FE2 :p

And yes I have owned one but got rid of it but still have the Nikon F4 :love: which is a thing of beauty :D
 
I am feeling the urge for an F4 as well for my collection. Going to save £20 a month after Christmas in a F4 fund. As for F3 looks, I think that the DE3 HP finder looks ugly. Just too tall. I have the earlier DE2 on both of mine. Lower profile & to me the camera looks a lot nicer for it.
 
Knikki said:
Nice one Asha.

As for the F3 it is simply a jumped up FE2 :p

And yes I have owned one but got rid of it but still have the Nikon F4 :love: which is a thing of beauty :D
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Nick,

Madness,just madness,the FE2 has an E in its name,so far more advanced with electronics than the F3,which is why the F3 is still around and working and the FE2 is mainly consigned to the skip, or did you mean the FM2n.:):nikon::thumbs::exit:
 
Me? Mad? I would sue you if it wasn't true :lol:

Nope I meant the FE2 as both are electronic, both rely on batteries (yes I know the F3 will run at 1/90 for emergencies) both have aperture prority and manual, in fact the FE2 is slightly more advanced because you can sitck any flash gun on it and not have to faf around with an adaptor to fit over the rewind crank.
Yes the F3 is slightly better built and yes it has 100% viewfinder and a modular system but it is still a jumped up FE2 :banana: :whistling::coat:

Where as the F4 is a thing of pure beauty and design classic just stitting in your hand :D
 
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I like to think of my FE2 as my 'compact F3'. Won't hear a word against either of them. :boxer:
 
Knikki said:
... the F4 is a thing of pure beauty and design classic just stitting in your hand :D
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You are obviously a man of discerning and cultivated taste :D
 
This F3 ver F4 thing is like the views about F90x ver F100 :lol:
 
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