Nikon F4

<p>Anyone else using the the F4</p>

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<p>Not yet, but I'd love to hear others' impressions of it.</p>

<p>There is an incredible (literally) hyperbolic hagiography of the F4 at Ken Rockwell's site ( http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/f4.htm ).</p>

<p>Although many of the "facts" about it are simply provincial and wrong in fact, it does illustrate the very high regard that many hold for this camera -- and quite rightly, too, hyperbole aside.</p>

<p>Another great thing about the F4 is that it finally motivated Canon to produce a real professional EOS camera-- the Canon EOS 1. ;)</p>

<p>Sure, I have an F4s which I bought new about 15 years ago. It doesnt get used very much at all now as I mainly use medium and large format but I will get it out in a minute and make sure it still works. Also have an F, F2, F3 and F5. I think the F5 is too fussy and Im not over fond of the F3. The F, F2 and F4 though have nice knobs and dials that are very easy to use and see at a glance.</p>

<p>Oh yeah, it still works. I may put a roll of film through it tommorrow now.</p>

I have an F4S and walk it regularly, if not often. Although it's an excellent camera I still prefer the handling and viewing (and lack of mode switch) of my F3HP/MD4 - I swear the F4 body was designed by someone whose party trick is picking up watermelons one-handed and palm down.

<p>Not anymore - I owned three beaters I got on ebay. Best manual focus camera from Nikon - never used the AF on it. Handled nicely especially with the MB-21 removed and replaced with the MB-20.</p>

 

<p>While I generally use my F5 for film photography, I prefer my F4 (with the 4 cell configuration) for macro photography. This allows me to easily mount it to a rack & pinion focusing mount and quickly change from horizontal to vertical, when desired.</p>

<p>When I need to use an auto focus and auto exposure film camera, I rely on the Nikon F4. I treasure its ability to use, with equal ease, every manual-focus, auto-focus, AI, pre-AI, and preset lens in my inventory.</p>

<p>I have the MB-21 battery pack version (uses 6 AA batteries) that fires at 5.7 frames per second, has a socket to accept a mechanical cable release, has a socket to accept an electronic remote control, and has extra shutter release that is useful for shooting in portrait orientation.</p>

<p>I also have the MB-20 battery pack version (uses 4 AA batteries) that fires at 4 frames per second but sacrifices some of the MB-21 features in order to be reduce its size and weight.</p><div></div>

<p>I bought one (F4s) in a fit of lust, and while it is an ungodly impressive piece of engineering, I've never really warmed to it like I did to the F3HP, with or without the MD-4. The F4 VF is pretty good, and, as my eyes age, the focus confirmation will become very useful. I use AI and AI-s lenses pretty much exclusively, so I am restricted to manual and Aperture-priority Auto, and I am therefore not concerned by the supposedly obsolete AF (it has been referred to as the best manual-focus camera Nikon ever made, and I would agree with that). As others have alluded to, it is better suited to folks with <em>BIG</em> hands. This is not a camera for unobtrusive shooting. Sadly, while the well-lit and informative VF are well suited to stage production photography - something I dabble in - the "silent" drive is too loud for my comfort, so I use the F3HP on auto and hope my shutter speeds are in the ballpark.<br /> The F4 is a camera I wish I liked better, and I'm probably going to keep using it until I warm up to it, because it really is a magnificent beast.</p>

<p>It is a massice beast. I just finished my first roll and was impressed. My main camera has been thef F3 MD4 combo but I am having a harder and harder time focusing so I am trying out the F4. The Af is faster than I expected.</p>

<p>It is a massive beast. I just finished my first roll and was impressed. My main camera has been thef F3 MD4 combo but I am having a harder and harder time focusing so I am trying out the F4. The Af is faster than I expected.</p>

<p>For me the F4 was designed for certain specific purposes. It was not designed to be carried about to just plain shoot for enjoyment; for that the F3HP is a better instrument.</p>

<p>I like my F4s, but I would like it even more if it was as grippable as my F100 and N80. My F4s and N90x are certainly fine cameras but somehat uncomfortable to hold. In Moese Peterson's 5 edition of his Nikon System series, he calls the F4 the most user friendly Nikon produced to that point in time. The speed of the autofocus is fine with me since most of my subjects are stationary. I like the fact that it can handle all Nikon lens types. I also have the F5, another humongous camera.</p>

<p>I have one and I shot it last weekend. It's a wonderful and massive beast.<br>

It even dethroned my f100 for the moment.</p>

<p>I am using a F4s for years now, it's one of the best SLRs on the market IMHO. Though I use more often my Contax G2 for commercial 35 mm projects, the F4s is very versatile for long lens projects, macros, shots with a waist level finder, etc. But the complete bag with the FE2 as a backup, a flash, all AI prime lenses from 15 mm to 600 mm, filters, viewfinders, spare batteries, etc. weighs around 16 kg, which is far too much for walking long distances. <br>

I can't imagine to sell it - it is a very robust tool, if not the most robust and reliable SLR for serious 35 mm work.<br>

<img src="http://toyotadesigner.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/nikon_f4s.jpg?w=300&h=200" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></p>

<p>I bought an F4s three or four years ago; it came with an MD-20 and an extra MD-21. Just this afternoon I found an F4E in nearly new condition, and made it mine. I need to get it out for some shooting this weekend.</p>

<p>Love my F4s. Just put a roll of Provia through it yesterday. I find I'm using it more than my D300 at the moment.<br>

I'm going camping with the kids this weekend over Easter so I'm only bring the F4s this time with two lenes and 10 rolls of Velvia 50 / Provia 100F. Oh, and a nice bottle of Whiskey.<br>

Just love the simple things in life.</p>

<p>I bought an F4 from a well known auction site about 4 years ago. I use it with the MB20 (4 cell) grip. Even so I reckon it weighs only about 4 oz less than my F5, but it is much more compact.<br>

I love the traditional controls and the fact that it takes just about every Nikon lens ever made, including my much treasured pre-AI 105mm f2.5.<br>

I sometimes use it for travel, mostly with a 20-35mm f2.8.</p>