Well I Think I May Buy A Nikon F80

DowntonMini

DowntonMini

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Mark Gameson
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Hi I'm from the otherside......... (hides behind the sofa)

I have been shooting with my D3100 for nearly 12 months my first ever camera was a red and black point and shoot:lol:.

Well following on form the why shoot digtal thread I have decided to look out for a cheap Nikon F80 to try my hand at film I do not have anyway of processing but will use one of the high street places when I eventually get a camera and film.

Is there any thing I should look for.

I would also consider the canon equivalent but thought Nikon as I have a few lenses for the D3100 I understand some of them may have issues on the F80 but some may be ok.

Anyway I'm going to hide now :lol:
 
Welcome to the world of film....really pleased to see that post has encouraged someone to give it a go.

I can't comment on the F80 as I'm not familiar with the model. But I have a Nikon FE2 film camera and can use some lenses made for digital bodies, but as this is a mechanical camera, things like autofocus and VR dont work.

But it is a great idea to get a cheap Nikon film body as a cheap way into film to see how it is for you.

Best of luck and hope to see some results in the future.
 
Thanks Steve

I'm sure I will have lots of questions (many of them probably stupid ones to be hinest) but I'm hoping film will help me improve my photography technic for both formats I still have a lot to learn
 
Hi Mark, welcome aboard :D

My advice would be that, if shooting film is something you want to do in order to improve as a photographer, allow yourself only a single frame for any given composition. Trust me, it'll work :)
 
Woodsy said:
Hi Mark, welcome aboard :D

My advice would be that, if shooting film is something you want to do in order to improve as a photographer, allow yourself only a single frame for any given composition. Trust me, it'll work :)
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This, and if the camera is manual it will force you to think a lot more as well.
 
Woodsy said:
allow yourself only a single frame for any given composition.
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Good advice. Otherwise you will end up with a roll of film with 24 or 36 near identical pictures and wonder why you didn't bring more film with you.

When I built my first 5x4 camera, I only owned one film holder. I actually took it out knowing I could only take two shots!


Steve.
 
Thanks guys

Both very good points I will probebly take both cameras with me (when I get a film one that is) and take shoots with the D3100 and F80 I would only take one with the F80 and see what I get. Going to poundland tomorrow to get some film....

One question what are the different numbers i.e 200, 400 etc are they the equivalent to the ISO levels and which would you recomend I plan to buy colour and B&W if I can get it
 
I have an F80 & the only things that I would say against it are that the flash sync isn't very fast & that it doesn't meter with AI/AIS glass. The latter won't matter to you as your DX lenses will all have CPU's in them & will work fine.

One other camera to consider with the F80 is the F90. It is older, but has a faster flash sync speed & for me, it would meter with AI/AIS lenses. I have never held an F90, but have the impression that the build is a bit better with them not being as plastic as the F80 (which is very plasticy)

The main downers for an F90 against an F80 are that the covering can get sticky on the F90 & that I don't think that it can drive VR glass.

If you do get an F80 & take a liking to it have a look at the MB-16 battery pack. It adds height to the camera & to me it feels much better to hold for it. It also allows you to use AA batteries instead of the harder to find & more expensive CR2's

Those numbers on film cartons are the ISO's. 200 is a good starting point.
 
Downton Mini said:
One question what are the different numbers i.e 200, 400 etc are they the equivalent to the ISO levels and which would you recomend I plan to buy colour and B&W if I can get it
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They are not equivalent ISO levels, they are actual ISO levels. But you can consider them the same way as you do with digital.

At Poundland you will probably only find 200 or 400. Given a wider choice, I would get 100 and 400, using 100 for bright days and 400 for when the weather is a bit more British.

ISO 200 will be fine though.

DNH said:
your DX lenses will all have CPU's in them & will work fine.
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Except that DX lenses will not cover the full frame format of film.


Steve.
 
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F80 is what I considered, as I already owned a Fuji S3 DSLR which is an F80 body with a Fuji sensor shoved in there, but it does have a few limitations which made me opt for the much more expensive F100.

I'm selling an F70 in the classifieds should that interest you, it's aimed at point and shooters more than anything but would be a cheap way to get you going with film.
 
Thanks for all the replies

My lenses are 18-55 af-s kit lens nikon 70-300 af-s vr tamron 50-200 Af-s and sigma 10-20 hsm
 
I think only the 70-300 will not vignette on a film camera. I would have a look at getting a 50mm f1.8, 2nd hand about £70, super sharp and works well on all Nikon cameras.

Oh and welcome to fusty and crusty :thumbs:

Andy
 
Andysnap said:
I think only the 70-300 will not vignette on a film camera. I would have a look at getting a 50mm f1.8, 2nd hand about £70, super sharp and works well on all Nikon cameras. Oh and welcome to fusty and crusty :thumbs: Andy
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The F80 with a 50mm is a good choice, but I'd recommend the G version (I think this version is about £100 secondhand) so that the lens also autofocuses on the OP's D3100.
 
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I got an F90 afew weeks back, it's a plastic-y camera but one that feels extremely brick like :lol: it's heavy and pretty well made tbh, I love it's retro looks and quirks :D it was also the faster sync speed that drove me to that over an F80, that and they were a little bit cheaper :) the AF is good on it too, noisy but quick and accurate :)

Truth be told you probably can't go far wrong with any of them for the money :D
 
andy1868 said:
I got an F90 afew weeks back, it's a plastic-y camera but one that feels extremely brick like :lol: it's heavy and pretty well made tbh, I love it's retro looks and quirks :D it was also the faster sync speed that drove me to that over an F80, that and they were a little bit cheaper :) the AF is good on it too, noisy but quick and accurate :) Truth be told you probably can't go far wrong with any of them for the money :D
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The F90 is nice, but it can't use VR or G lenses which the OP would likely be using with his D3100.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm
 
skysh4rk said:
The F80 with a 50mm is a good choice, but I'd recommend the G version (I think this version is about £100 secondhand) so that the lens also autofocuses on the OP's D3100.
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Of course. Well spotted RJ :thumbs:
 
andy1868 said:
I got an F90 afew weeks back, it's a plastic-y camera but one that feels extremely brick like :lol: it's heavy and pretty well made tbh, I love it's retro looks and quirks
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It seems strange to read of an F90 as retro. Compared with most of my cameras, it's futuristic!


Steve.
 
Personally, I'd not be so keen to try and exploit Digi-Lenses on Film bodies... may work, but going the other way, using Film Lenses on Digi-Bodies often shows that the lenses are the weak link in the Digital System, so are unlikely to flatter your first results with film.
Established in other thread, that most of the benefits of Digital is convenience; I think that this is a plan of convenience, likely to be compromised by the compromise.

I think it's also likely to be a step over the edge of the precipice, from which there is little opportunity to step back, and a sure fire way to GAS, and Hypo Induced Alziemers... but then, there are many ways to play with madness; at least you get something to hang on the wall from this one... unlike, say, carp fishing, or golf!

Have fun.
 
A fine point RJ, i got swept up in F90 loving :lol: The only lens i use that's G with it is my 35mm 1.8 DX which is meant to get away without too much vignetting but i haven't got any films back while using that lens so i can't say.

Steve, I suppose it's all relative :lol: compared to my D7000 it's retro, in comparison to the box brownie i have under the bed it's practically the Starship Enterprise :lol:
 
I used the 35 1.8 DX on my F75 and the vignetting was quite pronounced. I'm thinking of getting the 50 1.8 G to use on it. Then at least I can use it as a nice portrait lens on my cropped dslr.
 
norters said:
I used the 35 1.8 DX on my F75 and the vignetting was quite pronounced. I'm thinking of getting the 50 1.8 G to use on it. Then at least I can use it as a nice portrait lens on my cropped dslr.
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Hmmm, I only recall that lens vignetting heavily at close distances, but it has been a while since I've used that lens. I don't think it's actually too bad otherwise. I believe there's even a Flickr group dedicated to shooting the 35mm f/1.8 on film/FX.
 
Thanks again for all replies so would a 50mm f1.8 g work with the F80 and give good results?
 
Downton Mini said:
Thanks again for all replies so would a 50mm f1.8 g work with the F80 and give good results?
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Yes, a 50mm f/1.8G will work with both your D3100 and and the F80 and the lens is more than capable of very good results.

That said,you could easily just pick up an F80 and use the 70-300 first to see how you get on before investing any more money in lenses.
 
skysh4rk said:
Yes, a 50mm f/1.8G will work with both your D3100 and and the F80 and the lens is more than capable of very good results. That said,you could easily just pick up an F80 and use the 70-300 first to see how you get on before investing any more money in lenses.
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Thanks I think that's what I'll do gives me time to save for the 50
 
Downton Mini said:
Thanks again for all replies so would a 50mm f1.8 g work with the F80 and give good results?
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Yes. Not so sure that all G lenses are also AF-S which is what your D3100 will need to AF. Of the 4 lenses you listed earlier in the thread, I'm pretty sure the 70-300 is the only one that won't vignette; te 18-55 kit and the 10-20 Sigma both do on FF/35mm.
 
The F75 is a fine camera, check it out.

I have one that I may be persuaded to part with...
 
There is a f80 with 50mm lens in the classifieds section... Shameless plug! Great starter camera.
 
I'm still looking for a mint F100 for about £70 :(
 
Peter walnes F90X boxed

No link but I was in the H?ailsham Camcentre Wednesday and they had a F90 with 28-85mm Nikon lens for 50


The F100 seems to go for more than the F4 these days, best prices I generally see are 150-200 Teddington Photographic have a couple with the grip around that price.
 
these were taken with an 18 - 55dx lens ( that came with a d50 ) camera was a nikon f65



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both at 18mm ,,,after about 24 mm it was ok


this one with the same lens



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these are scans of prints for an idea of what you can expect so the quality is a bit naff
 
Another quick question is there any difference between the black and silver and all black F80 bodies?

I saw a canon eos 1000 d for £10 in a charity shop earlier but it had no lens
 
donutagain said:
these were taken with an 18 - 55dx lens ( that came with a d50 ) camera was a nikon f65 both at 18mm ,,,after about 24 mm it was ok this one with the same lens these are scans of prints for an idea of what you can expect so the quality is a bit naff
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Thank you for that would you that trough the view finder?
 
Another + for the F80 is the "proper" cable release thread in the shutter button, a feature missing from most of the other AF film Nikons (IIRC).
 
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