Built quality is remarkable
Traditional user interface
Modular system
Reliability

AF accurate but not very fast

This is a camera designed to bridge the MF era and AF era. The traditional control dials are intuitive to use but the ergonomics is perhaps not as good as modern cameras. The camera's build quality is second to none and it feels like a rock. Its Italian styling is just so classy and elegant. OK, the AF speed is not outstanding, but it is still fast enough for my use. Most important of all, its tack record shows that this is an extremely reliable machine, which means you can trust the camera and take pictures anytime even under extreme conditions.

Customer Service

no need as my 12 years old camera has never gone wrong

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F2A, F5, F100

Rugged body, professional level construction, 100% high-eyepoint frame view, as always for Nikon F series.

Smooth, quiet operation. Shutter system known to be have been tested more rigorously than competing models, another Nikon F series tradmark.

Three choices of center-weighted, Matrix and spot meter.

Diopter adjustment, EV adjustment when using special focusing screens.

Modern features with tradional layout, no LCD interface.

MF-23 databack is a very versatile accessory.

Contrary to claims, the F4 cannot use all lenses. Some of my non-AI and AI-modidified lenses will not fully screw into the mount; the rear ledges of these lenses were too tall and was blocking the AI coupler in the body. I had to file the coupler down a little.

Some elements are still made of plastic, suck as knobs and levers. Standard DE-20 finder will shatter if dropped.

Outdated AF technology.

As elegant as the F4 has been designed, some details seems like afterthoughts: multiexposure and rewind levers are tiny and look out of place, shutter peed numbers on early models rubs off. Later models had better letterings, but they rub off anyway.

EV dial very awkward to use, I find it impossible to push in its locking tab AND rotate the dial using one finger.

This body is well suited for field journalists and on-locaton photographers who occasionally need split-second performance. There are enough little shortcomings that prevents it from becoming a full-fledged run'em-and-gun'em gear like the EOS, Maxxums and F5. It's also too big and macho looking to be a discreet manual shooter.

Yet, in this day and age of specialization, when camera companies had to split between the tradionalist and hi-tech market, I can still respect the F4 as the last attempt to be one camera for all.

Customer Service

None, but if you want to buy one used, be wary. There are subtle improvements between early and later models (after SN# 24xxxxx), and sometimes salespeople (bleh) mix and match parts. Not a big deal, but you may be paying more money for a hack job.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F3T, N90, Canon A1, Minolta SRT-101, Contax RTS

Very solid built. Very good handling. Accurate metering and AF. Manual dials always in reach and good to use.

Heavy. Slow AF compared to today's cameras.

An excellent camera. Slow AF was the only reason for me to change to F100.

Customer Service

not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F801, F100, F5, F90X.

This is probably the worlds best manual focus SLR. Sure, it had decent AF as well, but if you've got a bunch of MF lenses that you want to keep, this pro-level body can't be beat. If you have a mix of MF and AF lenses the F4 works seamlessly with both. The F4 makes a wonderful 2nd body for an F5 or even an F100 owner, especially considering that the F100 doesn't have removable finders and the F4 does. Manual rewind is possible.

The biggest problem this camera has is its perception. Even though it has a bad reputation because of its older AF system(which is still darned fast), it is an amazing camera. Out of production, but with the advent of eBay, finding accessories for this camera shouldn't be a problem. Nikon made 5,000 of these a month for several years.

A best buy. This is bar-none the best manual focus Nikon body on the market and not a bad AF body. The F4's matrix metering works with MF AIS lenses as well as newer lenses, including the new "AFS" ultrasonic motor lenses! The F4 is also wonderfully configurable. If you want to lighten the load and shoot at a more leisurely 3.x fps you can lose the verticle grip and shutter release and shed several ounces in weight and an inch in height by using the MB-20 hand grip with 4 AA batteries. The (standard on the F4s) MB-21 grip includes the verticle shutter release as does the somewhat-larger-but-easier-to-load-with-batteries MB-23. The F4 with MB-21 or MB-23 is a bit shorter and "fatter" than the F5 and a few ounces heavier, but the grip gives you such a positive grasp of the camera that I don't notice the weight of the camera that much. I was surprised by how much slower the motor drive on the F100 was after shooting with the F4. It's so fast that when I first started using it I left it on Continuous High and would fire 3 shots at a time when trying to snap one picture.

This is one great camera. Easily the finest camera I have ever used. After using this camera I think I will move up to the F5, not the F100. When you add the cost of the MB15 grip for the F100 it's almost as much as a mint used F5, but the F100 still has a plastic back and rewind spool and lacks color metering and F5's 8 fps firing rate and interchangeable finder. F100 also seems to be plagued by software glitches requiring one to "reboot" or remove batteries to bring camera back to life.

Similar Products Used:

F100, N2000, F5 (briefly).

Solid build(actually like a tank), intuative controls, DOF, mirror lock up,FPS, 100% view,Light metering etc etc.

Perhaps bulk and weight but the grip is fantastic, slow AF but remember it's 12+ years old of design

An excellent pro camera, very reliable and user friendly due to it's easy means of operation. The 100% view is perfect for your composition, although most printers make use of a mask that prevents them of printing 100% of the negative size. The light metering system is extremely accurate and seems to work beautifully with all of my MF Nikkors(AI,AIS). The viewfinder gives all exposure data with an electronic rangefinder and chosen type of metering info. AF operation is very fast with large aperture AF primes and AFS lenses although the dynamic AF system (focus tracking) is truly outdated when used on fast moving subjects (F1 cars accellerating/decellerating)but can keep up with objects with a not to fast constant speed. The 4/5 FPS is overkill for mine mainstay of photography (landscapes, oldtimers, architectural) and very adequat for Kart photography but the 8+ FPS of the F5 and 1V are preferable when shootng sports for a living. The choice of different transport modes (CH,CL,CS,S)is very useful, especially the silent modes when the occasion calls for it. Together with all of it's functions and quality, it's one of the best and most versatile cameras ever build only surpassed in speed by it's successors. The camera for the advanced photographer who wants the best and has no professional need for the speed of the F5 and 1v.

Customer Service

Not needed it yet here in Holland.

Similar Products Used:

F1,F2,F2as,F3,FE,FE2,FM,F5,F100,F90X,Leica R3,EOS 3,5,50,300

It's an F-series, intechangeable finders

Slow, heavy, bulky, AF is horrid, price, did I mention weight?

Heavy camera that is really rugged but weight and price coudl both be lower

Similar Products Used:

None

Handsome, solid design and construction, made out of top-notch materials. It will last a lifetime or two. Great layout of controls, they're big and reachable. Shutter is quiet and vibration-free. One of the few Nikon cameras that has modern features and can use virtually all Nikon lenses.

Reloading batteries is kind of awkward with the MB-21 battery pack.

I've been using manual bodies since I started photography, so getting the F4 was a different experience for me. I wasn't used to having modern features like matrix metering and motorized film advance, so at first I felt kind of spoiled... and then I kind of abused it and went through 6 rolls in 1/2 hour.

I shoot mostly landscape, architecture and outdoors, so at first I felt this camera might have been an overkill for me. But then I found out it's perfect for studio-based work, when I need to be more spontaneous (and more precise) than my models. I actually haven't used AF lenses so I can't comment on that.

I've heard that Matrix metering won't work on non-AI or AI-mod lenses, but actually my old 55mm f1.2 can use it for some wierd reason. The only modified part of the lens was the addition of the coupling ridge, but the AI stub thing inside wasn't added.

Overall, it's a joy to use and handles very smoothly. For me, it's a good balance between modern ergomonics and traditional layout. A great buy.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FE, Olympus OM

Having used F2's for many years, the F4 was the next natural step. I like this camera very much as it retains the virtues of traditional solid build and reliability. The AF system is slow by todays standards but is still OK for most needs. As a manual platform for nealy all Nikon lenses, it's fantastic. I am gradually updating having bought an F100. The F4 is a straight forward camera so no need to carry the manual around with you (unlike the F100). The F5 and F100 are good but not of the same build quality as the F4 (seen some very rough looking F5's and F100's after only 2 years Pro use - ouch!).

Weighty but most Pro cameras are.

Last of the Traditional Pro bomb proof cameras.

Customer Service

Rarely needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon for a while

Rugged body

3 metering options (though I don't use them that much)

100% Viewfinder

Solid, balanced feel

A little weary of the finder, it feels plastic-y. And it does have rubber seals to protect dust from coming in

Sluggish AF, only a handful of AF lenses could be useful on it, maily midrange telephotos

Awkward placement of batteries in MB-21 battery pack.

I don't actually own this camera, I borrow it from my school. Lately I've been using this more than my own. Ah, how technology spoils you...

It's pretty wide; the handle sticks out like and extention of a normal 35mm body. When holding it, it feels like you're holding an egg. Depending on who you are, you might either hate that or feel natural about it.

I shoot mostly people in natural situations so having this around screams paparazzi to others. I have done newpaper assignments and this camera performs decently in those situations, but its slow AF was a negative factor however. The F4 might be a little too much for a casual photographer, I think it's better suited for journalists and outdoors people. But even then those people want the latest technology anyway, so...

I think this body is a jack of all trades but a master of none. If you're one too, then this camera's for you.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

F2, F3, F4, Minolta SRT101

Workhorse
Great manual camera with modern features

Weight

I have to admit this is more in response to Zdenik Kral - Quote "goggled folks should stick to something other than visual arts"
WHAT AN INCREDIBLY INGNORANT THING TO SAY.!

Similar Products Used:

FE, FM, F2AS