Summary: I've owned this body for 5-6 years. It got me started back using 35mm from MF. I'm now using D2h and D2X but have keep the F4 as backup and use it when I need that WA shot. I have no plans to retire it anytime soon. It's the one camera that I can wear if you know what I mean.
The one dumb thing I did was sell off the MB-20 grip and I want to buy another.
These camera are truly underrated. It's a tank.
Similar Products Used: F2 sold when I got the F4 no regrets.
Summary: As a lover of manual/mechanical cameras, I was seriously considering the FM3a as a backup to my three aging F2 bodies (I have been using one since 1971). However, I changed my mind when I discovered that the price of film cameras had dropped so low that I could purchase a used F4 body in excellent condition for a little over $300 compared to the price of $500 for a new FM3a.
The strongest feature for me is that, like my F2, the F4 can handle every manual-focus, auto-focus, AI, pre-AI, and preset lens in my inventory.
Even though some people complain about the size and weight of the F4, I was surprised when I compared the weight of the F4 body with its built-in motor drive and add on battery pack to my F2 body with add on motor drive and battery pack. Even though the F4 felt heavier, it was actually lighter by 12 ounces.
Strengths: 1. Well-built, heavy-duty, high-quality body
2. Seems to be durable and dependable
3. Woks well with my inventory of older Nikon lenses (from 18mm to 1000mm)
4. Provides good balance with heavy telephoto lenses
5. Works well with auto focus or manual focus lenses
6. Uses same motor drive cable connection for Quantum Radio Slave II as F2
7. Very quiet built-in motor drive
8. Reasonably priced (purchased on eBay for $325 in 2005)
9. Auto and manual exposure feature
10. Auto and manual focus feature
11. Electronic focusing aid
12. Exposure meter compensation feature
13. Spot, center-weighted, and matrix exposure meter options
14. Allows matrix, center-weighted, and spot metering with true AI lenses
15. Allows center-weighted and spot metering with AI converted lenses
16. Works in manual mode with pre-AI lenses
17. Works in manual mode with pre-set 28mm f/4 Perspective Control lens
18. Uses standard alkaline AA batteries
19. Has light to illuminate viewfinder information
20. Built-in diopter eyepiece correction
21. Built-in eyepiece shield
22. Mirror lock-up feature
23. Multiple exposure feature
24. Depth of field preview
25. Interchangeable view screens
26. Interchangeable viewfinder
27. Viewfinder offers 100% coverage
28. Manual rewind allows leaving the film leader out of the cassette
29. PC electronic flash connection
30. Uses same motor drive cable release as F2
31. 1/250 second top flash sync shutter speed
32. Quiet operation when compared to my motorized F2
33. Rail system for interchangeable viewfinder is more secure than F2 latch system
34. Accurate focusing is easy with electronic focusing aid
35. User interface not far removed from F2
36. No buttons located at the right thumb position
Weaknesses: 1. Unable to vary the amount of time viewfinder turns itself off due to inactivity
2. While slightly pressing shutter release button to activate built-in light meter, it is too easy to accidentally press shutter release too hard and waste a shot.
3. Large size and heavy weight (however, smaller and lighter than F2 with motor)
4. Not an inconspicuous camera
5. Auto focus is too slow for fast action (but I don’t shot a lot of fast action)
6. Camera will not operate without battery power
7. Standard cable shutter release connects to camera in an unusual location
8. Unable to change viewfinder shutter speed increments from 1/2 stop increments to 1/3 stop increments or to full stop increments
9. Unable to change f/stop increments from 1/2 stop increments to 1/3 stop increments or to full stop increments.
10. No provision to store camera with an un-cocked shutter
11. Cannot use bulk film loaded in Nikon F2 AM-1 film cassettes
12. Cannot use F2 view screens
13. Unlike my F2, I am unable to reduce the size and weight of the camera by removing the motor drive and battery pack
14. Does not have the classic motor drive sound of my F2
15. With my right thumb, I can sometimes feel the vibrations of the film moving while holding the camera in my right hand
16. Difficult to manually focus using standard B screen (had to replace with a screen that had a split-image focusing aid)
17. Center of standard B screen darkens when shooting macrophotography
18. Inability to change size of auto focus area
19. Inability to change the location of the auto focus area
20. Continuous Silent Speed (CS) setting is not silent. It would be more accurate if it were labeled “Continuous Slow Speed” because all it really does is lower the firing rate to 1 frame per second
Similar Products Used: Nikon F, F2, F3, EM, N70
Asahi Pentax Spotmatic
Miranda Sensorex
Summary: I bought a Nikon F3HP two months ago. It was heavily used: it is from a rental shop. Maybe it has made thousands of rolls, it misses all the caps and it is badly scratched. I bought it because I'm always afraid to bring my best (conditions) camera, a Nikon F 801, in "dangerous" situations like beaches, tours for monuments in Rome, mountains and so on...
I was very wondering about its real performances: it was an old design and old project camera, with years of hard use on its neck, but it was cheap, very cheap.
The seller told me it was broken, because the shutter didn't work... It had a bad dent near the charging lever: the charging lever didn't work. 75 US$ for the body. 25US$ for the MD4...
I tried to charge the camera... it really didn't work. But maybe my technician could repair it, I told to myself. The prism was ok.... Let's buy it. Just after mounted the MD4 it started to work perfectly, with the MD4 shooting button. Shooted three rolls, the images were perfect with all my lens: AF, AI, AIS!!! In every conditions and situations results were PERFECT!
I tried to dismount the MD and... the body was perfectly working, once again, like it was new!! No problem at all! I had no time to bring it to my technician! It has became my favorite camera: a real workhorse, everywhere present and ever ready at my side. The F3 Balances very well with the MD-4 attached. I've left it permanently: I've big hands so it fit much better in my hand. Now I use only it...! My F801 will be sold, I think... i've never used a F4 or a F5, but I cannot image they're could beat the F3 in its own field: strenght and reliability. Maybe they could have much more frills, but the F3HP is the best Nikon camera, I think.
Strengths: Trusty, trustworthy, reliable, easy to use, ever ready, strong, high quality: made with the best materials.
Weaknesses: Quite heavy.
Similar Products Used: Nikon F, F2, F 801, F801s.
Customer Service: Why? Not needed any more... Maybe a service for clean and oil it will be useful... when I'll have money enough.
Summary: The F4 is a camera that unfortunately has not aged as well as some other top-line 35mm SLRs. I found the bodies not as strong as their reputation, and easily cracked baseplates & prism housings, snapped dial interlocks & wore off markings in the course of their use. They are very bulky & heavy, even with an MB20 battery grip. The exposure compensation dial interlock & AF-L / AE-L button location makes the use of AE metering difficult.
On a more positive note - there are features that Nikonians love, such as broad lens compatibility, accurate metering system & traditional interface. It is also very quiet for a motorised camera - something not talked about enough. Canon EOS-1 series cameras are boisterous in comparison.
In summary - a flawed classic.
Strengths: Traditional interface
Lens mount compatibility
Metering system
Quiet
Weaknesses: Not as rugged as their reputation claims
Annoying dial interlocks
Heavy & bulky
Poor resale value (if that's important to you)
Similar Products Used: Canon EOS-1V
Nikon F3 & various other Nikons
Rating Reviewed by: jason hall(Unregistered User)
(Professional)
Review Date August 3, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for More than 1 year
Visitors rate this review 2.75 of 5,
4 votes
Review 5 of 75
Price Paid:
$1600.00
from private sale-used
Summary: Since purchasing the F4s 4yrs ago and using it relentlessly year in and year out I can honestly say it is the penultimate 35mm slr.This camera has been thrashed in every sense of the word and comes up smelling like roses every time.Whenever I test a new/different model some of which I have purchased, they always get relegated to backup status and I reach for "old faithful" as I call it.All the functions are well founded and functional- it is the most ergonomic slr ever made.F5! I am constantly told,well you can generally purchase 2-3 used F4s for the cost of 1 new F5,need I say more?.
Strengths: Robust build and very ergonomic design plus all the outstanding features of a true performer.ie:removable meter,mirror lock up,6fps advance,seperate AElock/AF lock etc etc.
Weaknesses: Can't fault this model,some say AF is slow but it hasn't been my experience.Heavy weight is a bonus as far as I am concerned, especially during long exposures,hand held slow shutter speeds etc.
Similar Products Used: F601,F801s,F5,F90x,Canon eos 3/5/1v,Pentax Z1p.
Customer Service: Unlike nearly all other brands I have never had the need for customer service with Nikon slr's.
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