james_ogara1

It feels absolutely greta. I focus it with the index finger of my right hand. Like buttah.

 

I loved my 85 1.4 AIS too, mind you.

"Which AFD lens, James?"

 

Uh, the one we are talking about -- the 85 1.4

"If you're using a manual focus Nikon, the manual focus lens is usually the better choice. Most autofocus lenses have crappy manual focus feel - the damping and focus throw (rotation) suck."

 

Maybe true for some lenses, but I have had the AIS and the AFD and the AFD has much nicer feel.

Internationally and esp in Asia you are going to find that Fuji films are the cheapest, though how cheap will obviously depend by country.

I'll ask around but I think it's early.

Adobe has products that convert images into a pdf slideshow (available is PS CS as well as much cheaper products like PS Album Starter). everybody can read it because it's just a pdf file. A great way to go.

I have the Nikon PB-4 or whatever it's called, and I have to say, I was surprised at how tedious it was to get it (exposure, framing) right. I use the F-4 which has a metreing glitch with close-up applications, so that was part of it.

Excellent initiative -- thanks.

Al, you got my attention. I am using a 1 gal jug with distilled water and reusing it. I don't want the hassle and expense of buying distilled water all the time -- does it follow that I am asking for "jelly fish"?

That's it. The F-3 prism actually departs from the F-2 or F-4 in that it has no built-in metering. That's all inthe camera body.

Robert, tell me about it. One of my F-4s, bought back when they weren't cheap, turned out to have been owned by the guy (in Boulder, Colorado) at the bottom of the slope, who shoots you on the way down with a 400 2.8 and then sells you the snap. Had 60,000 actuations, and has since started to decompose.

From the Nikonians battery guide:

 

F5 The MN-30 battery pack

 

The F5 has (as many other cameras) a pretty strict low-voltage level control at approx. 9.0V. That is, below this voltage it will stop functioning completely. This low-voltage detection level prohibits the F5 to malfunction due to low batteries, whereas short drops below this level does not disturb the F5. The MN-30 battery pack street price is 130 USD.

David, the issue for the F-5 isn't with the (improving) NiMH cells, but with the low voltage, which causes the F-5 to shut off abruptly when the batteries have plenty of life left in them.

 

This is why, I suspect, you say in your post that they tend to die "abruptly."

Not sure, but I do know that in the absence of AF, it doesn't matter assuming you use an external meter.

Paul, if you don't mind saying, what's an outfit like that go for these days?

1. Candids -- just love capturing those special moments with a medium telephoto.

 

2. Stressed out mothers-in-law. Nuff said.

SL, no problem at all. They don't however work well in the F-5 or cameras that are finicky about voltage levels. I have read of F-5 users getting 5-10 rolls between charges.

Nikon House was also notable in that they would do, for free, a fairly in-depth cleaning of any Nikon product you happened to hand them. Pretty neat.

 

They also had a 6 mm 2.8 on hand.

I love the two F2-ASs I have owned, but both failed -- the DP-12 part. Once it just stopped working ($250 repair) and once the dusts of the Middle East caused the AI prong to bind (not shocking, but annoying).

 

The body seems as reliable as the old Saab three-cylinder two-stroke engines (seven moving parts, if memory serves).

Joseph, this isn't it, but has some good photos:

 

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf4/reliability/index2.htm

Somebody posted an excellent series, a while back, showing how he (not a repairman) had disassembled his F-4. Quite amazing how many motors/circuit boards were in there. Made me feel a little sheepish for tossing mine around so much.

I have the Omega SS tanks -- they are GREAT.

Yeah I think Gary has a point -- ignoring the crappy AF, the F-4 is a killer MF camera. Very solid. 1/250 sync speed. Spot meter built in. Easy to hold, no squinting at illegible LCD shutter speed display.

Jeff Spirer wrote: I guess I don't see how discussions like this do anything for photography - they just seem to avoid the bigger issues....

 

Not sure I can agree with you, mate.

 

Marc is posing a provocative question -- not provocative in the sense of wanting to ignite flame wars (he was insightful enough to suggest that people "keep it civil"), but provocative in that he's noticed something a little counterintuitive and a little suggestive. Does it prove anything? No, nor does he say it does.

Eric, I guess that is the exception that proves the rule.

 

Check out their hardcopy catalog some time and tell me if you think their prices are reasonable. They also are quite flinty in paying for used equipment, which is not the case with KEH.