Where is my F7?

<p>Okay, isn't this supposed to be the year? Isn't it an Olympic year? C'mon! I want this camera!</p>

<p>Don't misunderstand--I love my Nikon digitals, of course, but it would be a lot of fun if Nikon was to release an F7. I think I would have to have it.</p>

<p>Tell me the F6 wasn't the last Nikon film camera!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>It will probably be it's current stable mate, the FM10.</p>

 

<p>That made me wonder whether Canon are still selling the 1v. B&H have them (back-ordered), but then they have new F100s as well. Interesting that there are now more rangefinder 35mm bodies for sale new than SLRs.<br />

<br />

You could upgrade an F6 (or F5) body with the autofocus and metering systems from a D800/D4, but I'm not sure it would sell. My feeling is that those who want film cameras have more than enough technology in the body already (from the discussions I've heard), if an F4 wasn't the pinnacle of design. Anyone genuinely wanting quality film output that their current SLR body doesn't provide at this point will likely either be after an M7 or something medium format (or bigger). My F5 gets less use than my Pentax 645 or Bessa, and my D700 output the lot.<br />

<br />

Not that I wouldn't buy an F6 if I won the lottery.<br />

<br />

On the other hand, if someone makes a body with the weight and price of an F75 but with two control dials (F5-style) and the AI-through-G compatibility level of an F5/F6/F100, I'll get one, if only as back-up.<br />

<br />

Collectors aside, would there really be many takers for an F7? I've just been to this year's Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, and I believe there was exactly one image shot on film (F90 + Provia 100); at poster size, I wondered why it was slightly soft compared with all the digital images. Previous years have seen some 5x4 and 617 entries, but it seems the time of digital is fully upon us (they were selling lomography cameras and pinhole kits in the gift shop, which might say something about the modern perception of film). I'm still thinking of buying a film camera, and the penultimate lens I bought was for film, but we're talking 5x4 and 645 respectively, not 135.</p>

<p>I myself cant afford a used F6 but would love to see an F7 come out. Especially with the Olympics on the way it would be a monumental moment form Nikon. With no new film bodies from any top contenders it would endorse a leadership roll in the film department in there behalf.( it’s nice to dream)</p>

<p>It' still called the "F100".</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>"...it would be a lot of fun if Nikon was to release an F7."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Fun for us but a money losing proposition for Nikon. </p>

<p>Given the number of special cameras Nikon's made over the years (re-issued rangefinders, numerous titanium and high-speed cameras), it wouldn't surprise me if Nikon released an F7 down the road, assuming film manufacturing doesn't contract much more than it already has. </p>

<p>Same answer as this recent thread:<br>

<a href="../modern-film-cameras-forum/00Zx8h"><strong>Does the Nikon D4 bode badly for the F7?</strong></a><br>

Why would Nikon introduce a new flagship quality film camera when the only people who bought the F6 were a relative handful of diehard Nikonistas and Nikon employees themselves? (Some Nikon engineers have cited the F6 as their all time favorite camera. So that accounts for maybe a dozen sales.)</p>

<p>Why would any manufacturer introduce a new top shelf film camera more often than every 10 years now, when they rarely did before the digital era?</p>

<p>How could a hypothetical F7 be improved enough over the F6 to persuade those of us who are still perfectly satisfied with our FM-series and mostly manual Nikons, let alone folks who still find the F100 more than good enough?</p>

<p>Are you willing to pre-pay now on a contingency basis?</p>

<p>Answer those questions and you'll know the answer to your own question.</p>

<p>That’s sad. From what I understand the FM10 is manufactured by Cosina and no were near the level of the F6. I’m quite happy with my F5 but it would still be nice if they continued with at least 1 pro model camera. At this point we have to be happy that they at least produce the F6. But I guess the question is how long. My biggest concern is that with there new service procedure they will no longer provide parts to non authorized Nikon repair facilities. That will drive small repair centers away from Nikon repair service. I have heard KEH camera no longer services Nikon cameras. That kind of mentality may send many to find another brand for film use. Nikon was a leader in film cameras, looks like they may be pulling the plug on us.</p>

<p>The F6 is such a fantastic camera, why would you want to end your film camera run with anything but such a great camera. I wish I could afford several of them. I also was a big fan of the F5. I wish I hadn't beat mine to death though.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>Given the number of special cameras Nikon's made over the years (re-issued rangefinders, numerous titanium and high-speed cameras), it wouldn't surprise me if Nikon released an F7 down the road, assuming film manufacturing doesn't contract much more than it already has.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thinking about that, it might be more like an F3 sized camera with updated electronics and shutter, like an F6 without the power winder to give it the feel of a manual film advance camera and all the electronics to support current AF lenses and flash units.<br>

It could happen, but you could probably buy two F6s for the price. :(</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>I also was a big fan of the F5. I wish I hadn't beat mine to death though.</blockquote>

 

<p>! How did you manage that? My impression of the F5 has always been that "breaking" was not in the remit. Hence things like the titanium prism case... The only thing that worries me about mine is that the body cap might come off while it's in hold luggage - I'm prepared to believe that if my tripod head rattles against the mirror it might be allowed to play up a bit.<br />

<br />

Bob: The concept of an FM3A with an D800's meter and autofocus system (i.e. if the battery dies, you just get manual focus and no metering, but the manual shutter modes work) is appealing. There's no way it would be cheap, though, and it would be vastly more complex than even the rangefinder re-issues. Interesting though it would be, there's no way I'd be in the market for one - what I'm after from a Nikon body is light and cheap (I already have an F5 for robust and flexible). My Eos 500 is sniggering at my lens collection. There's no way that what I want would get branded as an F7, though.<br />

<br />

Budget aside, I'd like to see what Nikon could do with the D800/FM3A concept combined with a bucketload of carbon fiber and titanium. Sadly, "go bust" and "not produce the equipment I want them spending their time on" are quite high on the list.</p>

<p>Well I am ready for some new models to come out. The world of 35mm camera's is getting pretty old actually and I would be pretty excited to see some new offerings. I am not going to hold my breath until that happens. </p>

<p>I doubt I'd be in the market for one either, I've got too many mechanical Nikons in the user collection already, plus an F3. :)</p>

 

<p>Heck, I'd love it if Nikon made something like a digital S-series rangefinder. But not if it costs over $4,000 like the 2005 limited edition SP reissue.</p>

<p>There *might* be a market for the FM3A to resume production at a retail price somewhere south of $1,000, but only if it didn't involve catering to whims such as "Gee, I'd buy it if only it was compatible with my pre-AI Nikkors" or "Gee, I'd buy it but only if Kodak produced a digital sensor made of flexible, reusable film-like material with precisely 36 exposures - no more, no less - that fit in a holder like a 35mm film cassette, and could be unspooled, rewound, respooled and reused thousands of times and cost only $9.99, and which delivered only b&w negatives that looked precisely like Peter Panatomic X at EI 1600 stand processed in Harvey's 777 Bristol Cream."</p>

<p>The reality is the likely future for any Nikon made film camera will be that of the 2005 model SP or 2000 Leica O replica - a limited edition, very high priced, limited distribution model for the well heeled dilettante or collector willing to take out a second mortgage. In other words, people who will actually buy the thing.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I wonder how many film shooters there will eveb be at the Olympics?</p>

<p>If I was sure film was going to be here for several more years. I would definitly consider a F6. I also believe they still shoot more film then digital overseas so I think mabey a F7 is on the way. If the F6 was not selling would nikon keep it in the lineup.Bothe formats have ther props and cons. I would like the option of shooting either. It would also be easier if the price of the F6 came down a little.I purchased a D700 late fall last year. It is still in the box and have not used it yet. Since I purchased it the price has came down 500.00. The F6 is still the same price since it came out</p>

<p>Elliot - </p>

<p>Given the newscycle (12 hours) I'd say maybe 1 - 10 pros who are shooting film either for the archival qualities or the unique looks for specialty publication. </p>

<p>Since magazines, newspapers, web sites, blogs, etc... are on an under 12 hour newscycle - they need the images as soon as the event is over. Or even sooner. No way they would wait for film to be processed, scanned and sent. </p>

<p>Now for the fans in the stands, it may be a different story. </p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

<p>I predict...</p>

<p>1. There will never be another new Nikon film camera, in fact, there will never be another new 35mm film camera from a major manufacturer... because...</p>

<p>2. The demise of Kodak is as a result of, and will speed, the death of film as a consumer image-capture medium. (Also sped up by the end of film as a theatrical medium: evidently, the complete changeover to digital in Hollywood is imminent.)</p>

<p>3. Film will go the way of analog tape, and will be extremely difficult for most people to get by the mid-point of this decade. It will be impossible to buy at the end of the decade.</p>

<p>Peter.... I think film will last much longer than what you are predicting. If there will be another film camera from a major manufacture.... I have no idea and it is totally irrelevant to me. But film itself, here in japan they sell millions of disposable film cameras. You find them everywhere.... I really wonder who buys them????!!!!! And film, Fuji film is everywhere, it doesn't seem it will disappear any time soon.</p>

<blockquote>

<p ><a name="00a5wf"></a><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=2196965">Peter Hamm</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Hero" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/hero.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Mar 04, 2012; 09:10 a.m.</p>

</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I predict...<br>

1. There will never be another new Nikon film camera, in fact, there will never be another new 35mm film camera from a major manufacturer... because...<br>

2. The demise of Kodak is as a result of, and will speed, the death of film as a consumer image-capture medium. (Also sped up by the end of film as a theatrical medium: evidently, the complete changeover to digital in Hollywood is imminent.)<br>

3. Film will go the way of analog tape, and will be extremely difficult for most people to get by the mid-point of this decade. It will be impossible to buy at the end of the decade.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Sorry mate, but you're dead wrong there. Spielberg, Scorcese, The Cohn brothers, and many of the most important directors have all gone on record saying that they strongly prefer film capture, even if they are going to scan it. Considering the amount of money they have to spend (and how many films they make), it would be a very poor decision for whomever currently holds the manufacturing/processing contract (currently Kodak) to stop making film entirely. Story goes, this is why Portra was rereleased: it's just the new cine-film, cut into still camera lengths.</p>

<p>Now I do agree that <em>most</em> films will get canned. We're seeing that now. I wouldn't be surprised if, by 2020, all the manufacturer's offerings amounted to a single pro colour film in two speeds, 2-4 budget colour films, a single slide film in two speeds, Fuji's Acros, and the 'more important' BW brands - Ilford, Efke/Agfa, and Arista. In other words, I highly doubt colour films will go away any time soon, but I think it's equally doubtful that users will have a choice in brand or type for much longer. 120 and LF BW has had a relative increase in popularity recently, so that seems fairly safe for the time being.</p>

<p>Also, a better comparison to film would be vinyl records, as vinyl was once king, and even after CDs it remains the standard for a very small group of people. Analog tape was never 'king', and was only used for practical or financial reasons, when film could not be used. </p>

 

<p>Oh, and lots of new film cameras are still being sold, mostly 'collector' type 35s, and 120s. It's still pretty big, outside of the US. There's a good-sized film market in Europe, which has a lot to do with why almost every non-student BW film company is European. Unless you count TMax and Acros, I think all of them are, actually.</p>

<p>As one of the moderators here, I would like to remind everybody that the OP merely wants to know where the "F7" is. Please do not turn this thread into another useless film vs. digital or whether "film will be around" debate.</p>

<p>If one really wants an F7, and you have a lot of money, you can always get in touch directly with Nikon. For example, if you offer US$10M and commisson them to custom build an F7 for you with the F6's film transport and the D4/D800's AF system, Nikon might agree to it, but I have no idea how much this will cost. If you are really willing to pay, I would imagine that Nikon will agree if the price is right. But you probably have to be as rich as Bill Gates, Warran Buffet to afford this.</p>

<p>Forget the F7, can somebody give the the dev times for Panatomic X in Harvey's Bristol Cream? Does it need to be mixed with instant coffee and baking soda or does a simple 1:1 dilution give enough acutance to print 11x14?</p>

<p> Well lot's of predictions out there I suppose. But the bottom line is there are a lot of people that still love photography and who is going to make the products for them. Currently you can buy the rangefinders brand new and the F6 is still being manufactured in periodic batches?. There is a market for camera's and the company that makes them will sell them. However I do not think Nikon will be interested unless the digital market flattens out. We do still have the F6, Leica MP/M7, Zeiss Ikon and the Bessa. So things are not that bad for photographers <br>

Kodak is not out of business and will be there making great products. I plan on shooting C41 Kodak products for as long as I take pictures. Currently I have some Gold 100 and some Portra 160 that just showed up on my doorstep on Friday. I have the Gold loaded and ready for a Kodak moment. </p>