F4s

[Greg McCary]

Years ago I wanted one of these so bad. Well now you can find them all over the place at reasonable prices.
The F4/F5 were revolutionary.


F4 by Cosmonaut's, on Flickr

[wfooshee]

Yep! I have one, got it last June for 155 bucks.

Ha! Just checked the thread where I posted about getting it, you posted the first reply! Finally got yours, then, huh?

This thing is amazing. Works with the modern lenses, even the G lenses that didn't exist when it was built. My SB-600 flash works on it, and it will take any Nikon lens, even the pre-AI, and function correctly. As far as I know, it's the only camera that actually works properly with any F-mount lens.

I searched far and wide (which means checking eBay every few days) for a K focusing screen (split-image and micro-prism) to use with MF lenses, found one for F3 and bought it. Turns out the screen itself is the same, but the metal frame that carries it is different for the F3 and the F4, so the screen wasn't positioned correctly, it was too low, too close to the mirror, to focus correctly. So I ordered the cheapest F4 screen of any type that I could find, swapped the screens in the frames, and tossed the other one. My F4 now carries the K screen permanently, as it doesn't interfere at all with AF function, and makes MF work about a trillion times easier.

One thing I like about the electronic rangefinder in the camera, though: It has the focus dot like so many of Nikon's AF cameras have, to confirm correct focus, and the arrows on either side to tell you which way you're off. Unlike the other cameras I've used, where the arrows and the dot are green, the arrows in the F4 are red, so you get a color change that you can perceive without actually moving your eye to look at it. Red is out of focus, green is in. So simple and useful, but probably added some cost to the display, which is why "lesser" cameras don't get it.

When I got mine, the manual wasn't on Nikon's site, but it is now, if you need one.

Correction: For some reason, my old 18-55 kit lens won't autofocus on the F4. I hear it trying, but it doesn't move. Yes, the 18-55 is a DX lens, but it covers the frame when zoomed above 28mm or so.

[ELS]

Years ago I wanted one of these so bad. Well now you can find them all over the place at reasonable prices.
The F4/F5 were revolutionary.


F4 by Cosmonaut's, on Flickr

SWEET! Looking rig Greg! Very sleek lines, curves, and yeah It is sure "pretty"... Almost sounds like it might have been a model I was describing...

Hope you can run some film through it soon, and share the results...

Have a nice day,

Thanks for sharing your find...

Ed
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