Nikon F90 (US = N90)

[glen_h]

(snip)

 

Because of competition from Canon in the automatic features, especially auto focus, and delays in getting the F5 out, the F90 was a kind of stop-gap. While they were at it, they crammed everything they had ready into the camera so that it has some features of a kludge.

(snip)

 

Sounds about like the "second system effect" from Brooks' "Mythical Man Month".

 

The book is about the design of computer operating systems, as he was the head of OS/360 in the early 1960's.

 

For the first system designers work on, they aren't so sure how things will go, so they are careful which features to include.

 

For the second, they include all those features that they thought about the first time, but didn't include.

 

I don't see that it wouldn't work for cameras, too.

[glen_h]

Your list reminds me that I have a T80, bought a few years ago from Goodwill for USD17.

 

One complaint is that the AF tends to decide to refocus right before the shutter goes, such

that it is nowhere close to in focus. It goes all the way to one end before going to the actual

in-focus position.

 

Many cameras now lock out the shutter when AF is not close.

Or maybe there is an option that I don't know about.

 

I have only one lens for it, as I wouldn't know where to find others, at least not for a

low enough price (to go with a $17 camera).

[charles_escott_new]

Thank you for being a champion for these unsung heroes, the late af cameras that are so easy to use. I rely on alternates of Dickens and Trollope as my sleep inducers which , along with my oxygen mask, do the trick. I fear that Mann, Proust and Gibbon would send me in to a coma.Looking forward to reading more of the Argus, Charles.

[JDMvW]

Mann, Proust and Gibbon would send me in to a coma.

 

In each case, there are pages that require more than one read to actually finish, but each also has some of the most sublime writing ever done.

 

I have read some of Mann in the original German, but mostly in translation. I would probably place Magic Mountain as my favorite there.

[robertsimpsonnorth]

The non-slip rubber coating on the back door of the F90 will turn sticky with age. This can be removed by detaching the door and rubbing the back with a cloth and a solvent. can be removed.

 

I ended up using GUNK to remove the sticky crap. Quite time consuming.

[2mnycars]

Thanks for this thread!

I loved my Canadian F90S

I couldn't stand to sell it for nothing, so I kept it. I had an 801 before it; the 90S was so much better.

[ruslan]

I had it.

I was so deeply frustrated beacause of the rear back rubber... Japanese technology let me down for the first time. Who taught them

Materials Science?! I liked that "matte window on the prism"...and liked the idea. Why did they make it of sleek plastic?

Subjectively, it was better to use than Yashica 109... better VF. AF was good, even excellent in daylight. Pleasure to use: so-so... heavy-ish loud brick. The rubber part on the grip did not come off though. It came pre-owned to me with a mint 50/1.4 AF and the commend back (800 USD for all kit) and it was sold after 3 yrs. of use for nothing. No regrets.

[wogears]

I found that Ronsonol and very fine steel wool got rid of the Sticky Gunk in a hurry.

[royall_berndt]

My N90s is the best film camera I,ve found. Beats my F, F3, and FM2. It does it all.

[Vincent Peri]

My N90s is the best film camera I,ve found. Beats my F, F3, and FM2. It does it all.

 

Hmm... not with manual

focus lenses...

http://bayouline.com/o2.gif