p.1 #1 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
Really like my F5, but would like to enjoy some of the benefits of the F6 (smaller body, CLS compatible, easier custom settings). Anybody here have experience with the F6?
I enjoy having a pro body on the F5, but it would be nice to be able to remove the grip like my D700 and go with body only when traveling or hiking. Is the custom settings easier with the LCD on the F6? Moving focus points on the F5 is rediculous as it is very difficult to tell which one is active. The F100 and F6 have a much better system.
Mostly looking for ease of use on the rear LCD of the F6 and whether it is much easier to navigate custom settings over the F100 and F5. Seems the F6s I've seen on ebay are starting to come down under $1000. I still really enjoy shooting film and enjoy my F5, but trying to figure out if the upgrade is worth it.
p.1 #2 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
I looked at both, and went with the F5. I mean unless you NEED the easier navigation, than that would be you answer. I hiked a bit with my F5 with no problems - and hiked A TON with my 1Ds, which weighed just as much.
May pick up an F100 if I can find one for a good price. Still have some reala around here
p.1 #3 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
I have a F5 and F6.
the F6 is without question the Cadillac of the F line. The menus for custom settings are cryptic, but not just banks of numbers like on a F5. The F6 databack is great. F6 also works with any Ai and beyond manual focus lense.
p.1 #4 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
I had an F6. Wonderful camera. I had to sell it because I was not using film for years. I had to get the grip so that I could use AA batteries with it. Otherwise, the smaller batteries did not last long. Didn't rely on custom settings for myself. Strangely enough, I went back to the F100 and I am loving it right now and not missing the F6. When I had both the F6 and the F100, it was no contest. The F6 is a winner.
p.1 #5 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
Thanks for the advice and info. I recently found this website NikonF6.net. A lot of what this website talks about is everything I can relate to for the reasons I still love film. Don't think I can totally give up my D700 as I enjoy it for times when I need high shot counts and indoor low light situations where film struggles (I don't really like heavy film grain).
My F5 takes wonderful photos and I may end up keeping with with the F6. My main reason for getting the F6 is the smaller format (sans grip) when I need it on trips and the nice red focus points. An F100 would most likely suit me fine, but that F6 is just too sweet to not try it out while film is still around.
p.1 #6 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
I have been shooting with an F6 since 2009, I have also had an F5 since 1999. While the F5 is an amazing camera, the F6 is better in nearly every way. In fact I took out the F5 the other day and played with it for a while, I was amazed how huge and heavy it is compared to the F6. I've heard people say the F5 is built better, nonsense! The F6 is just as solid IMO. The F6 can do a lot more than the F5, and setting up CF's is so much easier as there is an LCD on the back that actually tells you what they are, no looking them up in the manual. I also have an EOS 1V, and the F6 is as good as that camera as well, and that is saying a lot, the 1V is a sweet camera.
If you want to seriously shoot film, not just a few rolls a year, then there is no better film SLR than the F6. It's probably as good as we will ever have.
p.1 #7 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
TO be honest, and for what I shoot, I could never spend more than a couple hundred on a film camera. I only bought the F5 because of the build quality - and an F100 is probably going to be my next film body. I get the same results no matter what film body I use.
Most important factors are scanning, film, quality of lens, and comp/lighting/conditions.
p.1 #8 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
Zebrabot wrote:
I have a F5 and F6.
the F6 is without question the Cadillac of the F line. The menus for custom settings are cryptic, but not just banks of numbers like on a F5. The F6 databack is great. F6 also works with any Ai and beyond manual focus lense.
Get one if you can.
a Cadillac? I wouldn't go that far. it was one of the best film bodies but introduced its own set of limitations. in my opinion it was too little too late in the film line vs the F5. should have called it the F5s and in 2004 it was a forgone conclusion on film itself. this camera was a limited run.
for the right price/condition absolutely if film was your end result. hopefully you get the grip or can find one. makes a difference having it available on this body.
p.1 #9 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
You know, I almost picked up an F6 a few weeks ago from a local pro who was retiring; well priced with a grip (some impact damage but the thing is built like a brick). What a focusing screen! Could hardly beleive my eyes after 3 generations of dim DSLR's. Focus pops into view like magic.
I then recalled my film days shooting B&W with yellow/red/green filters and it was not a joy. Would I use it for color? Hard to say what I'd get out of it compared to processing the digital images with DxO's Filmpack. In the end, I stuck with my trusty FM2-T (bought new in 1995) and if I do film extensively, it'll be for slow B&W (my first love) and maybe land a user M6 + a 35/2.8 ZM so I don't have to 'see' those damnable coloured filters.
p.1 #10 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
"this camera was a limited run."
I don't know if you are aware, but this camera is still in production, and is still offered new. I agree that it will never sell in the numbers that the F5 did, as digital had become too popular by then.
p.1 #12 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
jphendren wrote:
"this camera was a limited run."
I don't know if you are aware, but this camera is still in production, and is still offered new. I agree that it will never sell in the numbers that the F5 did, as digital had become too popular by then.
I used poor choice of wording. when I meant limited run I meant usage. they didn't/don't sell that well. just a little rise when first introduced and then pretty much a flat line from then till now. its a product you gotta really want to buy and the one you get might have a little dust on the box too.
p.1 #13 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
sjms wrote:
a Cadillac? I wouldn't go that far. it was one of the best film bodies but introduced its own set of limitations. in my opinion it was too little too late in the film line vs the F5. should have called it the F5s and in 2004 it was a forgone conclusion on film itself. this camera was a limited run.
for the right price/condition absolutely if film was your end result. hopefully you get the grip or can find one. makes a difference having it available on this body.
What are the limitations?
No sports finder option?
I suspect the AF drive is slower and weaker than the F5, but I've never had a "damn it's too slow" moment with the F6, plus I don't have some 1980s 500mm AF lense that needs 13 horsepower to focus.
The F6 is fairly discreet as well, and it's not fun to run empty in machinegun mode, like a F5 is.
p.1 #14 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
the primary batteries at the time. 123a batts?
and since you brought up the finder options which I didn't think of. thank you
and of course the split grip trying to be like Canon type setup. then if you do have a need for speed then that to is an option not included on the original price. as to discreet. the F5 did shoot in single shot mode too. I mostly shot B/W in the 5 and hot loaded the cans. color, I was almost never in a hurry.
the F6 was more in some ways and less in others. less then complete tool out of the box for my uses that the 5 covered quite well. the on sort of advantage was its ability to use a EN-EL4 batt pack in the camera. but then if you weren't invested in the digital end a substantial investment.
p.1 #16 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
That's exactly what I plan to do if I can afford to keep my F5 after pleading to the wife that I need an F6 as well.
I was lucky enough to find a nice F5 with an OEM rechargeable battery pack/charger. Still holds a really nice charge. I think I'm through 10 rolls and still shows complete battery.
p.1 #17 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
Weasel_Loader wrote:
That's exactly what I plan to do if I can afford to keep my F5 after pleading to the wife that I need an F6 as well.
I was lucky enough to find a nice F5 with an OEM rechargeable battery pack/charger. Still holds a really nice charge. I think I'm through 10 rolls and still shows complete battery.
be sure to have the original battery sled and pack of AA cells around if what you're doing is "important",
the battery meter on the F5 tends to go from Full charge to completely dead in several frames or seconds, whichever comes first.
p.1 #18 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
"I used poor choice of wording. when I meant limited run I meant usage. they didn't/don't sell that well. just a little rise when first introduced and then pretty much a flat line from then till now. its a product you gotta really want to buy and the one you get might have a little dust on the box too.
sorry about that"
Nothing to be sorry about, I just wanted to point out that it has not been officially discontinued. I have read recently that Nikon still makes small batches of them (F6's) at their Sendai factory. No modern camera has interchangeable viewfinders, in fact I read that Nikon reported only 1 accessory finder per 6,000 F5's was sold, so it seems that it was not that useful to most F5 shooters. I would think that a camera without a interchangeable finder would be more resistant to moisture and dust, a feature that Nikon touts as a strength of the F6. The F6 is quieter than the F5, which I see as a strength.
"and of course the split grip trying to be like Canon type setup."
The F5 is the only pro Nikon F body that has the battery pack built in, all of the others are like the F6. Yes the EOS-1V is also this way as well. I shoot landscapes, I don't need the larger battery, or 8FPS. So for me this is a plus. CR123's last forever when you are shooting single frame, and manuel focusing. I haven't replaced my batteries in years, how many DSLR guys can say that. When I took my D2h to Yellowstone back in 2007, I had to bring an inverter to keep my battery charged so that I could continue shooting for a week. Now with my F6, I can get through a whole week of shooting on 1 set of CR123's, and shoot with them at home for a while when I get back. Same with my F5 by the way, it's just a lot heavier. I have to admit that the F5 fills my needs quite well, but the F6 is just a little better in quite a few areas.
As far as focusing D type AF lenses, the F6 is as fast, it just ramps up the torque and then ramps down. Whereas the F5 nails the lens with full torque, which gives the perception that it is faster/stronger. Nikon says that refinement is what the F6 is all about. The F6 can leave the leader out, can matrix meter with AIS glass, can imprint shooting data between frames, none of which the F5 can do out of the box. The F6 has better ergonomics, angled command dials like the D2 series, etc... The price stays high because there is nothing newer to supersede it.
p.1 #19 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
Yes, I do make sure I carry the AA pack with me when I'm out. I'm just surprised that the old battery holds a good charge.
Excuse my ignorance, but what is the purpose of leaving the leader out? Don't ever remember needing to do that back when film was the only game in town. Then again, I wasn't anything more than a casual photographer back then.
p.1 #20 · Anybody have experience with the Nikon F6?
"Excuse my ignorance, but what is the purpose of leaving the leader out?"
You can change film types, and then re-load the film and finish it at a later date. You can't change ISO as easily as a DSLR with a film camera. But the leader out feature makes it easier to do with film.
Still have some reala around here