andy_k8

<p>Antother vote for Essex Camera. They provide great service.</p>

<p>Essex Camera in Carlstadt, N.J. worked on my FA and FM. Excellent service and fast turnaround.</p>

<p>Another thumbs up for the FA. It performed excellently for me until I put my finger through the shutter. Essex Camera here in N.J. fixed it up. It was subsequently sold.<br>

I admit I thought I was cool back then with my Nikon SLR with a motor drive..........</p>

<p>Welcome to the"dark side". Been shooting Nikons since 1980 and have been faithful (well, I did buy a Tokina zoom once, forgive me) ever since.</p>

<p>I love mine and it rocks out at 8fps with AA Eneloops. It also gives my D700 more heft which I missed from my D2x and F-5.</p>

<p>MF-23 databack.......</p>

<p>I have one of the mid-range serial numbered F-5's. It was purchased new by me and it has never had an issue.<br>

Up until K-64's demise , I ran alot of film thru it. It never even let a out a sigh.....</p>

<p>I'll ad a postcript to my thoughts........<br>

I have a F3, F4, F5, FA, and a D-700. I only shoot the D-700 these days out of my still not being over the death of Kodachrome.<br>

Now this may label me as a nut, but I enjoy holding and "dry firing" my cameras (not the D-700). Nothing, and I mean nothing feels and looks as good as my F4s. I still can't believe a Company as conservative as Nikon could create such a beautiful camera. It's a masterpiece.<br>

And yes, it kicks butt with manual lenses. </p>

<p>Get the F-4. Life's too short to second guess yourself.</p>

<p>nikon</p>

<p>there was a soft covered Nikon book written by a carl shipman. it was pretty extensive and i remeber it being in the photography section @ B&N. check amazon for a used copy, i guess. </p>

<p>Used my F-5 last week. It still is and always will be an awesome camera. </p>

<p>my ex-wife ran off and joined the circus. </p>

<p>200-400 f.4 is what I would love to have.</p>

<p> Well, I'll try this again................</p>

<p>Great shots with the vintage equipment. And yes, count me in as a "foamer". 35 years sitting by railroad tracks all over the US and Canada.<br>

BTW, did I hear someone mention the Erie-Lackawanna. Thought so.<br>

A pair of E-L "Bi-Centennial" General Motors (EMD) products pose for a Kodachrome at Secaucus, N.J. back in 1975. </p>

 

<p>Great shots with the vintage equipment. And yes, count me in as a "foamer". 35 years sitting by railroad tracks all over the US and Canada.<br>

BTW, did I hear someone mention the Erie-Lackawanna. Thought so.<br>

A pair of E-L "Bi-Centennial" General Motors (EMD) products pose for a Kodachrome at Secaucus, N.J. back in 1975. </p>

 

<p>ED</p>

<p>I had the same dilemma. I first bought the L bracket from Kirk. The D-700 / MBD-10 w/batteries plus L bracket just weighed too much. Subsequently bought the PZ-123 and use it 90% of the time. Both are excellent products. </p>

<p>My last roll went thru my F-5. It seemed I always reached for the 80-200 2.8D. An absolutely unbeatable trio.</p>

<p>Here's a shot taken with an F-5 / 80-200mm f2.8 combo on Kodachrome 64.<br />Sorry, no data recorded.</p>

<p>I also have the D version (two ring). It is a super zoom lens. It is tack sharp on my F-5 as well as my D-700. Maybe, I got lucky, but then again, I have never had the focus problems on any of my Nikkors that I read about on various internet forums.<br>

I suppose I could sell it off and buy the VR II that gets rave reviews, but I don't need VR. If you need VR, get it. If not, the 80-200 will not let you down. </p>

<p>Love the F-5. but will always have a soft spot for the FA.</p>

<p>I bought my F-5 new in 1999 with a serial number is 3101xxx. I find the meter in the DP-30 to be the most accurate (almost uncanny) of any camera I've ever handled. Mine shows no sign of slowing down or be "off"<br>

Yours may need to be checked and/or recalibrated. </p>

 

<p>Uh, nope.</p>