Is Anyone Still Using the F5?

<p>I've suddenly become fascinated with the F5. Have read glowing reports on its capabilities and some negative words in this forum (2005) about covers getting unglued. This was one of the last professional film cameras in the rapidity rising digital age. So I am wondering who might still be using the M5 for work or for personal satisfaction. Would enjoy hearing you stories, if there are any to be told. </p>

<p><i>M5</i>? Wrong forum. :-) <i>F5</i>, yes, occasionally (for personal satisfaction only). It's been the back-up camera to my D700 for a while, although when I get a D800 it's going to be less useful for that. I still use it with Velvia (which reproduces colours differently from DSLRs); I used it with Kodak HIE, though that's no more - I remain surprised that I could take IR images through the gates of Windsor Castle with nobody bothering me. I'm tempted to give some of the higher dynamic range print films a go. I still have a fair bit of film in my fridge door, and it'll get used eventually - although my 120 film and my Pentax 645 get used more. I don't have the finances to run it at its maximum frame rate, though - I really have it because I wanted the high-end meter and because it's compatible with almost every Nikkor (though I don't have the pre-AI ring modification).<br />

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Lovely camera, if you don't want a lot of autofocus points and don't mind the weight (lithium batteries help). The frame rate and the speed it can crank a 28-80 cheap zoom are scary. It does have a slight tendency for bits to fall off (I lost an eye cup and a 10-pin socket cover). You do need to tie your fingers in knots a bit to get around the control locks. I'm occasionally tempted to take the finder off and use it as a WLF, but I'm not quite sure whether you're supposed to do that or whether you need the "proper" WLF.<br />

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Mine was used (and missing paint) when I got it, but - other than the bits that are supposed to come off - it's been rock solid since. I expect to get a few more years out of it. I got it because the price difference from an F100 was tiny; I was switching systems from Canon (where an Eos 500 and an Eos 620 backed up my 300D) to Nikon (D700), and - apart from the bulk - the F5 is the best "film D700" I could get. (The F6 was still silly money last I looked.)</p>

<p>I still use my F100, which I like quite a bit better than the F5.</p>

<p>I still occasionally use mine...keep it loaded with B&W and ready to go.</p>

I use an F5 occasionally.

Also F, F2, and F3 - just

because they're pretty

and fun. (The F4 isn't

pretty IMO, though there

is a tantalizing empty

spot on the shelf between

the F3 and F5.)

<p>About twelve years ago, my wife was set on getting the F5 - until she handled one in the store; she walked out with an F100.<br>

I purchased a like-new one in 2005 for a decent price - after I had purchased a D70 just a few months prior; the idea was to use the F5 as my main camera and do some additional shooting with the D70; these two cameras were my first experiences with AF (hard to believe, I know). The illusion (or delusion) lasted a little over a year - when I purchased a D200 and relegated the F5 to "dust collector on the shelf". After a few years I realized I hadn't used it at all and I sold it - at a huge loss.</p>

<p>Still using mine. Picked it up cheap a few years ago as some paint was missing from the bottom as well as a couple of caps & the eyepiece. Cheap to replace those & lot of camera for what I paid for it. Heavy it may be, but find it a total joy to use & the metering is superb.</p>

<p>Oh yeah I still use mine. I bought it in 2002 brand new and paid good bucks for it. Nowaday, I only use it ocassionally as I use the F3 and FM much more often. </p>

<p>I have an F5 which I don't use much, in retrospect an F100 would have been a better choice.</p>

<p>I have and use an F5. Mine had the rubber falling off but it was easy to put new ones on - they come with glue strips ready to go. In fact a peeling camera may secure you a good deal as no-one wants it and with a little care you will have a new feeling camera in your hands.</p>

<p>It is a great camera but matrix metering is set up for slide film - with print film it underexposes a bit. I use centre weighted for print film.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the feedback so far. Yes--not M5. Heh.</p>

<p>I did use and F5. Its a great camera, but then I went over to the F6, which is an even better camera and the best photographic tool I have ever used. I wish Nikon would replicate the build and ergonomics of the F6 in a digital variant. I bought mine used about four / five years ago and today they go for more than I paid. I can't say that about my D3. I'll shoot the F6 for an long as I possibly can. It brings me great joy and that is what my hobby is all about.</p>

<p>Anthony</p>

<p>I also shoot an F6 occasionally. I loved the F4, used an F5, but the F6 is better than both of those, IMHO, of course.</p>

<p>I recently sold my F5 as well as my F3HP, F4, FA, and FE2 but I have kept my FM3a and my F6. The F6 you will have to pry out of my dead fingers.<br>

I second what Anthony Valvo just said - when Nikon replicates exactly the ergonomics of the F6 in hopefully the D900 then nirvana will have been achieved. Of the piles of cameras I have owned none has come close to the F6 in terms of the way it feels in the hand - a rubberised brick that gives the impression it will outlast the earth.</p>

<p>I use both of my F5 bodies every day for my professional work. The greatest film camera ever made.</p>

<p>I just bought an F5 about a month ago for $40 bucks by accident from some teenager that had NO CLUE of what he had, and franckly neither did I because i just found out about it not too long ago because i barely got into film. The camera came with a basic nikon FF lens and a external mount flash. This deals for sure do not happen to me everyday. I am fairly young and about 15 years ago i did have a cheap basic Nikon film camera and at that time i was not into photography as i am now. After that my cameras have been a D200 then i jumped to the D7000 and for some reason, maybe because i am just simply bored, i happen to get into film just now. My F5 has not one single scratched, it is imaculate and smells and looks brand new.<br>

After owning and using digital, i find film to be VERY exciting and ancious becuase i have no clue on how the photo will come out. In fact during this week i will be taking my first three batch of rolls to Costco for developing. Basically i am in love with this F5, it is not for whimps, i personally don't like small and cheap ugly looking cameras. I have seen F100 and even with a battery grip it just doesn't look right. I find the F5 fascinating!! I have seen the price for an F6 and i would say there is no way i could even afford something like that, and that's without a battery grip :(<br>

Since i got the camera for $40 dollars only, i was thinking of selling it or trade it for a D200 because i do miss that CCD skin rendition. What would any of you guys opinion on this matter? I guess once i develop my first rolls i will find out. Will any of you anticipate a better looking skin color rendition from this classic F5 or from a D200? <br>

</p>

<p>Indeed I do, and never plan to stop using my two F5's. I am currently on the verge of purchasing an F6 to see what all the fuss is about.<br>

The F5's are used together with two D700's.<br>

Nothing has fallen off the F5's although it is easy to replace the connector covers and rubbers. Buy a supply while they are widely available (I have). I cross threaded the 10 pin connector cover and replaced the cover from my supply.<br>

I use the waist level finder and regret that interchangeable viewfinders have disappeared. I did read somewhere that the sales of alternative viewing aids was only 1% of Nikon camera bodies (from F to F5 series), so hardly surprising they have been dropped.<br>

The pleasure of using an F5 cannot be described and B/w prints from film are a joy to look at.<br>

The F5 is not an outdated dinosaur and it makes you want to load up a film and go out and shoot images.<br>

I look forward to an F6 and really hope it does not relegate the F5's to the display shelf.<br>

Incidentally I have two F100's but they just lack the F5 magic.<br>

All the best<br>

Paul<br>

</p>

Had mine for just a week from a dealer in Japan. I have a D7100 as my go to body, but i think it'll take a back seat for a

bit; despite its heft, the F5 feels so nice to hold, and, it just sounds so right ! Oh yes, the locks on the various buttons are

taking a bit of getting used to :-)