Nikon F 4 -- Lithium AA

Just bought an F 4. Anyone with experience using the Lithium AA batteries in the F4? No necessity, just curious.

I will have to try it out in mine. I doubt that it makes a different at all. I wouldn't use the Lithium except for application where the batteries are not actually used but must retain power for a long as a backup.

I will have to try it out in mine. I doubt that it makes a different at all. I wouldn't use the Lithium except for application where the batteries are not actually used but must retain power for a long as a backup.

What interested me, in addition to lifespan was cold tolerance - gets a bit crisp out here.

That would do it. if not, nicads do well in the cold too.

At first, Nikon said "absolutely not", then changed it "use at your own risk". If you have an F4 (with the small battery hand grip MB-20), then I think you should be OK. If it is a F4S with the MB-21, I'd be a bit more concerned and if it is a F4E, I would probably abstain from using Li batteries. IIRC, then over-voltage is the issue and hence the more batteries are being used, the greater the danger. I can't recall if I ever used Li batteries in mine; I most certainly did in the F100 without ill effects.

Don't remember I have ever use lithium batteries on my F4, but I used them a number of times on my F5. In 1998 I went to Antarctica with the F5; as mentioned earlier lithium batteries work better in the cold, and they are noticeably lighter when you use 8 of them in the F5.

 

The character of lithium batteries is that they work normally all the way to the very end, and suddenly they would become exhausted and would "drop dead" with little warning. Once I was shooting some landscape, and suddenly my F5 stopped working. It turned out that I needed to put in new batteries to replace the lithium inside. Prior to that, there was no slowing down at all. If you are shooting anything critical or time sensitive, I would swap out any old lithium batteries before the very end.

When I first bought my F5 I put in lithium. The result isn't good. The batteries run out quickly so I use alkalines.

When I first bought my F5 I put in lithium. The result isn't good. The batteries run out quickly so I use alkalines.

That wasn't my experience using lithium AA batteries on my F5.

 

One accessory I wouldn't put lithium AA inside are flashes. Recycle time would become annoyingly long.

Thanks, all! Always have a pile of Alkaline batteries on hand, so no problem. I have not received the camera, and did not get the battery grip. Remembering that usage will be as a hobby and in back up to digital. is the battery grip necessary? Never used one on a Nikon, the only similar experience would be using my Nikkormat ELW with AW 1 power winder. Balance was good, but a bit heavy & bulky. Strange -- this will be the first high end camera I ever owned that uses common usage batteries!

Which F4 version do you get? The F4 or the F4s or the F4e?

Which F4 version do you get? The F4 or the F4s or the F4e?

Model was not specified - very good deal on the camera with 28-85 AF. From Japan, professionally checked. Everything bought from Japan previously has been excellent, and I paid with PayPal, seemed too good a deal on the legendary F4 to pass up.

Model was not specified - very good deal on the camera with 28-85 AF. From Japan, professionally checked. Everything bought from Japan previously has been excellent, and I paid with PayPal, seemed too good a deal on the legendary F4 to pass up.

The reason that you said it doesn't have battery grip. All F4 has a battery grip and depend on which version the grip is different. The F4 doesn't have the vertical grip. The F4s and F4e has the vertical grip. The F4 without the vertical grip originally was not sold in the US.

In my experience, the most often encountered version in the US is the F4s, which I'd almost say is standard to the point that most folks just call it the F4. That's what mine is.

 

Size wise, the plain F4 is bigger than an F3 and I'd say probably in a similar size camp to the F100 and D8xx series. It has a "flat" bottom and(IIRC) no vertical shutter release. In other words, it lacks the lower extension that bring the size and overall profile more in line with the F5 and single digit F-series.

 

The F4s DOES have the vertical release. It's still smaller than the F5/single digit D series, but still has the extension below the bottom plate. It has a weird "sloped" shape on the bottom at the end near the rewind crank, and also has an electronic remote release socket on the front. If you look at the back, you will see a large screw(to attach/remove the battery grip) and should the see the marking MB-21 next to this. MB-21 is the product number for the grip that makes it an F4s.

 

I've not seen an F4e in person, but suspect it would be similar in size to an F5. The bottom grips lacks the "wedge" and the electronic socket is in front of the vertical shutter release.

Mine has the vertical grip, appears to take 4 AA -- I assumed what was being discussed was an add on.

If it takes 4 AAs, it's an F4 with an MB-20, AKA a "plain" F4.

If it takes 4 AAs, it's an F4 with an MB-20, AKA a "plain" F4.

Thanks, Ben!

Nikon's terminology for the F4 is, unfortunately, confusing. There has only been one F4 version; while Nikon has made minor improvements here and here throughout its production cycle, there has only been one model number, the F4. The F4S is not a subsequent, improved version in the sense of the N8008 vs. N8008S, D300 vs. D300S, D4 vs. D4S, etc.

 

The F4S merely refers to the standard configuration that was sold in the US (and perhaps some other places). The F4S comes with the MB-21 L-shaped vertical grip where you place 3 AA batteries on the handle side and 3 more AA in the bottom vertical grip. The F4, without the S, refers to the configuration with the MB-20 grip where you place 4 AA on the handle side, and there is no "vertical grip." I bought my F4 in the US so that it is the F4S configuration with the MB-21, but subsequently I bought an MB-20 to make the F4 smaller. In some parts of the world, the standard configuration was the F4 with the MB-20. Either way, it is the exact same basic camera.

 

Nikon did improve the F4 a bit over the years. A friend of mine bought one in 1989, and I bought mine in 1990. Later on his camera was stolen and he bought another F4 in 1992. He noticed 8 small differences between his 1989 and 1992 versions, e.g. you need to make a double clicks to remove the viewfinder. And my 1990 F4 had some of those 8 improvements.

Nikon's terminology for the F4 is, unfortunately, confusing.

Thank you for the clarification!

Just to complete Shun's description: the F4E has a larger vertical grip (MB-23) and holds 8AA batteries or the MN-20 Ni-Cd rechargeable battery. The "plain" F4 does 4fps, the F4s and F4E both do 5.7 fps maximum.

 

Be prepared for some heft: with 4 alkaline AA's the F4 with the small MB-20 battery holder weighs 1.2kg. Also, the grip is one of the most massive ones I've encountered on any Nikon.

 

I had MB-20 battery grips for all my F4 bodies; prices for those small grips went through the roof a short time after I sold off my entire F4 set.

 

similar size camp to the F100 and D8xx series

Depends on what one considers "similar": an F100 can very comfortably hide behind an F4 whereas an D810 will peek a bit over it. An F5 will be narrower than an F4S but a bit taller; in terms of weight, it's a wash.

The MS-23 battery holder of the F4e still uses 6 batteries, the difference being that they are all in one "magazine" as opposed to the 2-piece configuration of the F4s.

 

I haven't put a roll through my F4s in a long time but have used lithiums in it. No big deal.

The MS-23 battery holder of the F4e still uses 6 batteries,

My bad, the one source I checked before posting had that one wrong.

Depends on what one considers "similar": an F100 can very comfortably hide behind an F4 whereas an D810 will peek a bit over it. An F5 will be narrower than an F4S but a bit taller; in terms of weight, it's a wash.

 

I think the prism has a lot to do with that. The F100 is shorter than the F4 , but also doesn't have the big removable 100% prism. The D800/810 have a 100% prism with a flash on top.

 

I will admit to only having handled the F4 but have never owned one-my own personal camera is an F4s. I have an F100, D800, and F5 but haven't lined them up-I was eyeballing and going by their feel in my hands. Admittedly, I bought the F5 to continue my F-series "collection"(I don't want to pay F6 prices now, so that one is on hold) but haven't used it much. My F4s, F100, and D800 have seen a fair bit more use, although I'm without my D800 temporarily.

Just came across this on Lithium batteries and the F4: Nikon F4 Lithium Batteries

Just came across this on Lithium batteries and the F4: Nikon F4 Lithium Batteries

Dieter, that is an excellent article! Thank you!