F100 and MLU

I've owned a Ricoh KR5 Super II for years now and in finding out

that it's better to invest in a new camera than try to find lenses

for my shooting purposes, have begun to research the dizzying array

of options out there. I was told that the F100 will take me to

the "next level." It�s the body I�m leaning towards at the moment

save one concern I have regarding the mirror dampening. I mainly

shoot flower close ups and hope to get better quality pictures with

true macro lenses and a new body. Although my Ricoh doesn�t have any

type of MLU feature, I also shoot with lenses that have macro

ability of around 1:4 rather than macro lenses. I�m concerned that

the F100�s balancing system will not be the best for the shots I

primarily plan to take. I looked into the F5, which does have MLU

(and have read of several people who had the F100 and bought the F5

for the mirror lockup) but I can�t help but wonder if this body is a

bit too much for someone of my level.

Since most close-up work involves manual focus anyway, a better "next

level" for you might be the jewel-like FM3a, currently a bit under

$500 grey market at B&H. On this body the self-timer raises the mirror

the instant the button is pushed, ensuring that vibrations have died

away by the time the shutter opens. Not mirror lock-up, strictly

speaking, but just as effective............

When shooting outside you may have to wait for the right moment when the wind dies down, and mirror prefire isn't what you want. A better solution would be a used F3. They have true mirror lock up, can work with any Nikon lens that has an aperture ring and are selling on ebay for not much more than a FE2.

After looking into all of Nikon's current (and recent) models for well over a year now, I ended up where I am now: torn between the F3HP and the FM3A. For virtually any kind of photography. <P>

 

For the type of photography you mention, I agree with the previous two posters: the F3(HP) or FM3A. The F3 has pro-level build quality going for it - in addition to 100% viewfinder coverage. True, it's been discontinued, but that happened less than a year ago, so there are new or "like new" ones still around - and parts will be available for at least six years more. The FM3A, on the other hand, really <I>is</I> new, is also well built, and offers the added advantage of being lightweight. In any event, either of these would be better suited to what you discuss, in my view, than the F100. And with the money you save you can buy more film or another lens.

In my experience MLU improves sharpness if the lens is physically long and especially when the lens is connected to the tripod via the collar on the lens, otherwise I got sharp macro shots with N90s and AF 105 micro without MLU. I keep an FM2n for the times I need it, but as stated above a true MLU is better for decisive moment shots. That said with a true MLU (like in F3/F4/F5) you have the risk of shaking the setup and changing focus (you have to push an inconveniently located lever). Nothing is perfect.

I use the F3 and FM2n (and FM) for macro photography, and I'll

echo the sentiments already expressed. I'll further point out

that the F3 has a much better viewfinder system than the FM

series for macro. Not only does the HP viewfinder let you

see the full frame with your eyes a bit away, but you can

take the prism off and use the DW-3 waistlevel finder,

which saves having to get down on your belly to peer

through the eye-level finder. In a pinch, you can omit

the DW-3 and just take the prism off to look at the

screen directly.

If MLU is very important to you, consider a Canon too-- since you are changing brands. However if you have not bothered about MLU in a Ricoh, I doubt you should worry about it as such! If you really want to worry about MLU, then also consider a sturdy (expensive) tripod first.

 

I personally find the F5 mlu button a tad inconvenient for my (not too small) fingers.

 

If you are changing systems for macro photography, as you mentioned, look beyond the camera, and consider what lenses are available in that system (nikon or olympus or canon...), and also please consider the flash photography. Canon flashes can now work in wireless mode, as can Minolta. That is a really big help. Nikon lenses are great too-- I am not trying to belittle any system vs. the other.

Current Nikon flash works in wireless mode too. Nikon's TTL wireless flash transmitter can double as another flash when needed, something everyone Canon's transmitter can't do. Of course Canon transmitter can adjust the flash ratio by buttons, Nikon requires you to move the flash to accomplish the same.