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daveraaum
I started a long time ago with an Argus c-3. My first great camera was a Pentax Spotmatic circa 1965. I lusted after the Nikon F but it was just out of my reach dollar-wise. In the early 90's I bought a Nikon 6006 (601) followed by a manual FM2T a few years ago. I have amassed quite a few lenses over the years - my favorites being the 28-70 3.5 and the 60mm 2.8 macro. Until recently I was going to buy the digital D100 but after a ton of research I settled on the F100. Why? I still like the idea of film and the high resolution of the 35mm negative.
I am anxious to see the improvements in digital and will go that way in a few years when the digital SLR can fully match film at a modest price - 12MP or whatever that number is. Till then I will maximize my use of the portability of film, the old fashioned kind. Nikon is the only choice for me - the build solid cameras based on great engineering. And, of course my investment in lenses, currently over $2000 US.
I am anxious to see the improvements in digital and will go that way in a few years when the digital SLR can fully match film at a modest price - 12MP or whatever that number is. Till then I will maximize my use of the portability of film, the old fashioned kind. Nikon is the only choice for me - the build solid cameras based on great engineering. And, of course my investment in lenses, currently over $2000 US.
Nikons are practically indistructable!
A few weeks ago I fell on top of my equipment in a push and shove situation at a concert in a football stadium. The speedlight broke literally into 2 pieces, bottom end with the hot shoe broke off. A little tape and it (and the camera) has continued to work perfectly.
I must have had about 10-15 Nikons over the years, from Nikkormats and F2s to a recently purchased D100. Only one ever died on me -- condensation of my breath inside a tent eventually rusted out the shutter of an F2 after sleeping with it for a few weeks on an expedition. The camera never got wet, so I didn't dry it out...bad mistake!
A few weeks ago I fell on top of my equipment in a push and shove situation at a concert in a football stadium. The speedlight broke literally into 2 pieces, bottom end with the hot shoe broke off. A little tape and it (and the camera) has continued to work perfectly.
I must have had about 10-15 Nikons over the years, from Nikkormats and F2s to a recently purchased D100. Only one ever died on me -- condensation of my breath inside a tent eventually rusted out the shutter of an F2 after sleeping with it for a few weeks on an expedition. The camera never got wet, so I didn't dry it out...bad mistake!
Wanted a Nikon back when I bought my first 35mm SLR in 1975, but could only afford a Pentax SP1000. Pentaxes served me well until this past year. When I decided to try a modern autofocus, neither Pentax, Canon or Minolta models felt good in my hands, but a Nikon F80 did. So I became a Nikon owner. I also love the FM3a and owned one briefly (a couple of months), but unfortunately, the viewfinder just isn't designed for people who must wear eyeglasses. I like that the F80 has a more professional user interface, very similar to Nikon's pro SLRs, and that it's a fairly straightforward, no nonsense system, as far as electronic cameras go.
Dear Pierre,
The F80 is indeed a fantastic camera. This is my first and (so far) only autofocus camera body. It's a great all rounder, easy to use, and balances well in the hand as you suggest. I have experienced no problems with the camera and it works well in a number of situations. I use the 18-35 zoom, 50 f1.8, 105 micro, and 80-200 zoom with this camera on a regular basis. It's so much fun to use that I almost always carry it with the 18-35 mounted for opportunistic shots around town or out in the country where we live. Perhaps my only concern is the durability under tough conditions and that is where an F100 or an F5 will be superior (and possess other advantages as well). My wife and I have been using Nikon equipment for over 25 years: she currently uses an FM2n and I use an FM3A in addition to the F80. The FM3A has just replaced my 20 year old FE. You just cannot beat these camera bodies. However, since my eyesight is suffering as I get older (better?), I have to agree with you about the viewfinder. I am thinking about trying an F3hp to see if this helps.
Cheers,
Greg
The F80 is indeed a fantastic camera. This is my first and (so far) only autofocus camera body. It's a great all rounder, easy to use, and balances well in the hand as you suggest. I have experienced no problems with the camera and it works well in a number of situations. I use the 18-35 zoom, 50 f1.8, 105 micro, and 80-200 zoom with this camera on a regular basis. It's so much fun to use that I almost always carry it with the 18-35 mounted for opportunistic shots around town or out in the country where we live. Perhaps my only concern is the durability under tough conditions and that is where an F100 or an F5 will be superior (and possess other advantages as well). My wife and I have been using Nikon equipment for over 25 years: she currently uses an FM2n and I use an FM3A in addition to the F80. The FM3A has just replaced my 20 year old FE. You just cannot beat these camera bodies. However, since my eyesight is suffering as I get older (better?), I have to agree with you about the viewfinder. I am thinking about trying an F3hp to see if this helps.
Cheers,
Greg
F
f90x
>In 94 I was looking for a replacement for my Mamyia ZE. After ten years I had outgrown the one 50mm lens I had and wanted more. Problem that time was that Mamiya was out of the 35mm business and whoever owned a lens didn't want to sell. > That time an electronic outlet had the Nikon F50 and a Pentax on sale. While Pentax threw in a 70-200 for the same price as the Nikon I prefered the handling of the latter. It fit my hand like a glove. So I went F50 with the 35-80 kit lens. While I loved working with that camera I somehow missed the simplicity of the Mamiya. Those 5 buttons for clickking through the menues weren't the best invention - much too slow! So I got me a an FM2N with the grandious 50/1.4 AIS a couple of years ago. And use her as my main camera. The F50 got replaced by a F90S in 2001, because a sandcorn got stuck somewhere in the AF mechanics - note to myself: Be careful when changing lenses on a windy day at the beach. I prefered the F90 over the F100, because the extra ghizmos in the F100 are not needed by me and the price difference was some US$400 that time. But why Nikon? They fit my hand perfectly. I like the heft of the F90x, especially with a heavier zoom lens. Their system is very complete, though a bit expensive sometimes. And their marketing strategy is a bit conservative - makes sure that you still can use old stuff on new gear and vice versa. I handled some Canons, Minoltas, Contax inbetween, but must say the Nikon is the most ergonomical for me (I had hard times to find the shutter button on the 10D)
Lenses? #1 in zoom lenses is Tokina for me, while for prime lenses I prefer the Nikons.
Lenses? #1 in zoom lenses is Tokina for me, while for prime lenses I prefer the Nikons.
> Why the F80 and not the F90? I own an F100 but am going to sell it and will (for paper pictures) step down to my "new" F2 and an F3... For everyday pics (and pro use in my branch) I'll by a Fuji F5000 digital camera. but really proud I'm about my erfurbished F2 and F3...
Regards, C. Gilbert
Regards, C. Gilbert
OK, if I can jump in again, it is clear that the camera bodies (e.g., FM2n, F2, F3, F80, F5, etc.) enjoy a wide following. However, the primary element (apart from the photographer) is the lens. Nikon users are lucky to have a system that includes great MF and AF optics and backwards compatibility of lenses with many camera bodies. This means that you can take full advantage of the best optics. For ex&le, your lens kit might include the classic MF 28mm f2.8 (or f2.0?), the MF 35mm f1.4, the AF 85mm f1.4D, and the AF 180mm f2.8D. There are some issues to consider, such as the manual focus operation of AF lenses and the limited metering capabilities of MF lenses on AF bodies and so on, but on the whole we are blessed with a fantastic lineup of lenses new and old. What I don't like is the current trend toward G type lenses and Nikon's continued comments about how the G lenses are either for consumer optics or that the lack of an aperture ring is in harmony with the lens design. Any comments?
I don't really care if Nikon makes them (the G lenses, that is), if it's going to (A) provide some very cheap zoom lenses that are affordable enough to bring entry-level photographers into the fold, and (B) if they need to do that to add all the high-tech VR and AFS stuff. "A" doesn't affect me because I'm not buying any entry-level zooms, and "B" doesn't affect me because I'm not buying more expensive AFS and VR zooms either. I think that both "A" and "B" are necessary to keep Nikon competitive with Canon, so in that sense, it's probably a good thing that Nikon is making G lenses. Now, if they were to abandon the production of their current AF-D prime lenses, that would be a different matter.
I've personally used Nikomat FTn, FE, FM2, F100 of which only the FE is no longer in my posession. Included in that is also a small collection of AI, AIS, AF lenses. The reason I went with the F100 over the F80 when I went with AF system was because I could still use my AIS lenses and also use the AF lenses on my FM2 (backup body). I currently only have one old AIS lense left since most of the AF lenses are lighter, perform well and have aperture rings that work with the FM2. Like Greg, I'm not thrilled with the G lenses however, I bought a 70-200mm G AF-S VR for the F100. The reason is because I would never use it with the FM2 (size, weight, balance issues) so it is no big deal. Since I do use my FM2 as a backup camera it would still be nice if the 70-200 would work on the FM2 in emergencies, but so far I haven't have one problem with the f100, FM2, Ftn (knock on wood) - Only issue with the FTn is finding the 1.35v wein button cell batteries
I believe that my Nikon Manual cameras will outlast the F100
BTW - I use the Nikon's for general outdoor landscape, hiking trips, and portraits. But I still use only my Contax G2 rangefinder for street photography and some portraits.
-Almon C. Dao a.k.a yogi
BTW - I use the Nikon's for general outdoor landscape, hiking trips, and portraits. But I still use only my Contax G2 rangefinder for street photography and some portraits.
-Almon C. Dao a.k.a yogi