A nit (small) with my F6

[constance_cook]

I finally got the time to use my F6 extensively and now I have a

nit. The thumb pad to select the focus area is out of reach when

you use the camera vertically (with the grip). I have very long

fingers but I have to move my hand from the shutter in order to

reach the selector pad and then move back to the shutter. Since 98%

of my shots are verticals, this is a pain. I'm sure I'll get used

to it but with my F5, I shifted my thumb up and the selector pad was

right there. This may be a problem for others since my fingers are

very long and not many would find the reach any easier than I do.

 

On the plus side, I would never have believed that a meter would be

better than the one in the F5. I can rely on it completely. There

is no doubt that the F6 metering is even better. I would like to

think that I'm just getting better but I know that it's the meter in

this camera. Wowsa! Now if I can just master the thumb shuffle.

 

Conni

[rob_landry]

Conni,

 

Doesn't the MB-40 have it's own multi-selector for selecting the AF brackets?

[constance_cook]

Nope.

Conni

[constance_cook]

I just had a private e-mail that Thom Hogan has complained about this with the D2x. Has anyone read that anywhere? The person who sent the e-mail couldn't recall where he read it.

 

Conni

[ShunCheung]

Thom Hogan talked about the long reach to the AF-point selection pad in the vertical orientation in his <A HREF="http://www.bythom.com/d2xreview.htm">D2X review</A>.

<P>

Scroll about 1/3 of the way down to the "Handling" section. It is in the 3rd paragraph in that section.

[Jerry_]

...if you 'tire' of your F6, I've a low-mileage F5 to swap with you.

 

 

 

Does the F6 try to jump focus once you set it? (Generally, once you have the image in focus, soft pressure on the shutter keeps the focus locked or it should.)

[constance_cook]

Once the focus sets, it stays unless I move it. It does move more easily than on the F5, though. It is faster.

 

Conni

[Mary Doo]

Conni, as I don't use the MB-40, my only "nit" is that I have not explored enough of this camera's features and capabilities. I look forward to receiviing <a href="http://www.bythom.com/f6guide.htm">Thom Hogan's F6 manual </a>(eBook) soon with his easy-read writing style for additional help.

[david_h._hartman]

You might try turning the camera the same way one would turn a

Nikon F2 or F3 or any classic 35mm SLR without a motor drive. I

personally prefer this method of shooting verticals even with the

F5 and D2H as its faster than repositioning the hands. The

F6 is quite reasonably light without the MB-40. Im sure

that is the way I would use the F6. In time you might like this

method better.<br>

<br>

My only grip with the F6 is the CR123A batteries. I was

disappointed that F6 didnt have interchangeable finders but

I really expected that. Anyway I was hoping Nikon would make a

DSLR with interchangeable finders. Chances look extremely slim

now that the F6 does not have interchangeable finders. Judging

from the specs the F6 looks like a great camera.<br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

[alex_lofquist]

That is one of the best reasons to keep an F4 or F5 body.

[ShunCheung]

I mentioned before that I saw some statistics that Nikon sells 1 interchangable finder per 10000 SLR with that capability. Even though that number could be way off, the fact of the matter is that a tiny minority of SLR users needs that feature, which complicates the design and adds to the cost. No Canon EOS SLR/DSLR ever has that capability, nor the Hasselblad H1, Mamiya 645 AF, etc. I think the industry-wide trend is pretty clear.

 

Personally, I have 3 SLRs that have interchangable finders: F4, F5 and Contax 645, but I have never bought any extra finder. To me, the main advantage is that with the finder removed, it is a lot easier to change and clean the focusing screen.

 

I think Nikon made the right call on the F6. If you really need that feature, the F5 is the choice. I also don't see Nikon putting an interchangable finder on any future D3, etc. On a DSLR, it would have made it easier for dust to get in.

[constance_cook]

Alex:

 

I wouldn't get rid of my F5. I've used it twice this week already and may take it to the conference tomorrow where I'm "it" for photos.

 

Shun:

 

I, too, have never bought another finder. I guess it's a nice touch but I wouldn't pay extra to get it.

 

Conni

[alex_lofquist]

Though I do not have an auxillary finder, on occasion I like to view the screen directly with my eye at a distance. Generally, this is for composing macros.

[david_h._hartman]

So many seem to be proud that they never bought an auxiliary

finder for theire pro Nikons, very strange to me. Than again it

may be that Im the one that is strange.<br>

<br>

Why dont you give a hand (or some written advice) to Miles

Smith regarding his question about the F6 and M screen?<br>

<br>

<a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CGJC"

target="_new"><u>Metering with a Nikon M Focusing Screen</u></a><br>

<br>

The F5 at least gave ambient metering with a 6mm semi-spotmeter

with the 6x finder. Im 99 and 44/100ths percent convinced

that the F6 marks the end of the era of interchangeable prisms

for 35mm form factor SLR(s).<br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

[david_h._hartman]

PS: if someone gave me a Nikon F6 and a big box of CR123A batteries I'm sure I'd love the camera. I'd load it with Tri-X and go hunting. I have an idea that the viewfinder is a great one for manual focus. Yes, I'm the one who is strange.

[ShunCheung]

Dave, it is not a matter of proud or not proud. I was merely providing some facts that a removable finder is no longer in demand any more (or Canon EOS and Hasselblad H1 users would have complained to no end). A removable finder can easily add another $200 to the price for the F6 and more mechanical connections as well as electronic contacts between finder and body; i.e. a lot more things to break and more ways for dust to get in.

[ilkka_nissila]

I have an F5 and have not considered buying additional finders for it. This is not because they are not useful - they are! It's because they are astonishingly overpriced. The finders for F, F2, and F3 are relatively cheap and people use the F3 a lot because the F4 and F5 finders are so incredibly expensive.

 

Actually I think the interchangeable viewfinders make cleaning the camera a lot easier! But I am sure they add some weight and size to the camera, which is a bit of a problem. The base camera has to be a little more rigid since the viewfinder housing can't be used as a structural component due to the interface.

 

I don't mind the absence of additional viewfinders for the F6, but what has kept me from buying one is simply that I want more eye relief than the F6 gives. I do think it has a very, very fine viewfinder, maybe the best of the non-high-eyepoint models.

 

I've been a few days in Finland and the lab I use is so busy they have to make an effort to deliver the prints even the next day.

[david_h._hartman]

<em>Dave, it is not a matter of proud or not proud...

-- Shun Cheung<br>

</em><br>

After clicking confirm I thought this, the proud part, doesnt

really apply well this thread.<br>

<br>

Probably most lab equipment today is equipped with a CCD or CMOS

sensor for photography without a camera. This means amateur

photographers and those working in the field are the ones most

likely to want a 6x finder. Even amateurs in the lab can tether a

DSLR to a computer for use with a microscope. <br>

<br>

I dont know how many photographers would want to put a F5

into a U/W housing at least when the price was $2,799.95 to $1,999.95.

Today its a better option. I wonder how U/W photographers

are doing with DSLR(s). In the past I heard they were have

problems with moisture. <br>

<br>

It's because they are astonishingly overpriced. The finders

for F, F2, and F3 are relatively cheap and people use the F3 a

lot because the F4 and F5 finders are so incredibly expensive.

--Ilkka Nissila<br>

<br>

I dont know if they are over-priced (maybe Im stupid)

but the Nikon DA-30 AE Action Finder is damned expensive at $969.95

(B&H, Nikon USA, USD). One can buy an F3, MD-4 and a DW-4

finder for less. The Nikon DW-31 High Magnification (6x) Finder

is pricey at $349.95 (B&H, Gray, USD). I guess these finders

cost even more on the other side of the pond.<br>

<br>

---<br>

<br>

I see no one gave advice to Miles Smith. Someone should at least

congratulate him for being 1 in 1,000 who could really use an

auxiliary finder. If the F6 had replaceable finders hed at

least have a 4mm or 6mm spotmeter to work with. Im guessing

the spotmeter in the F5 uses the center segment of the Five-segment

TTL Multi Sensor when the DP-30 Finder is replaced. Also that the

F6 would do this if it had replaceable finders.<br>

<br>

Then again he sold an F5. Now I can see buying an F6 but not

selling F5 to get it. My advice would have been keep the F5 and

buy the F6.<br>

<br>

---<br>

<br>

they were singing<br>

bye, bye, miss American pie<br>

drove my Chevy to the levee<br>

but the levee was dry<br>

and good 'ol boys were drinkin whisky and rye<br>

singing "this'll be the day that I die"<br>

"this'll be the day that I die"<br>

<br>

and the three men I admire most<br>

the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost<br>

they took the last train<br>

for the coast<br>

the day the music died<br>

<br>

--Don McLeon<br>

<br>

---<br>

<br>

Yah, I like music too. Not just rock, I even like Bach, Chopin

and Vivaldi (but I dont pronounce Bach correctly :-). <br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.