Nikon f6.

soupdragon

soupdragon

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Anyone got or used a Nikon f6? If so, how do you find using it?

I'm musing buying one. More for ornamental reasons but I'm sure I'll put some film through it.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Might be better in the Film & Conventional section but I'm not sure many people there will agree with the idea of using an F6 as a ornament :0)
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^^^WHS^^^ Cameras die in display cabinets like dogs die in hot cars.

Buy it and use it, it's the pinnacle of Nikon film camera technology, why just look at it?
 
I think it's one of the most aesthetically pleasing 35mm cameras ever made.
I have been looking at new ones while they are still out there.
 
yet again, if you buy one, please use it.

It's pro-quality, pro-build, and engineered for 200,000+ (iirc) shots before any potential problems with the shutter - even pro shooters in the film era couldn't wear them out in the typical 3 years replacement cycle... you're not going to put ANY meaningful wear and tear onto it...

Speaking as someone who's got a Canon Pro body from the same or slightly earlier era, that did a year on the cruise ships, upwards of 15 rolls of 36x per night plus probably another 10 through the day, 5-6 days a week... call it 250,000 frames in a year... wear and tear - a slightly "polished" looking film back-plate... they made the pro-level kit tough in those days, just the same as now, only there was LOTS more moving parts in there with all the film transport gubbins.
 
^^^^^^^^

:plus1:
 
DemiLion said:
If you want the truly ultimate Nikon 35mm camera, get the F5 instead!
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Just doesn't float my boat.
I'm guessing nobody has owned and F6 which is understandable.
 
I bought a Nikon F6 new about 18 months ago. It's THE BEST 35mm SLR I've ever used. Handles like a dream. The ergonomics are just right. Everything falls into place. I'd recommend getting one to anyone who's remotely interested in 35mm film. One of the great things for me is that I can use all of my Nikon G lenses (though I must admit to having effectively doubled up my buying a couple of FD lenses because they, erm... look nice). It won't play nicely with the newest electronic diaphragm lenses (eg. 105mm,f/1.4) but I can live with that.

It won't suit you if you've got small hands. I've also got a D810 and they feel similar - though I think I actually prefer the F6's grip.

Buy one and use it. You won't regret it! I haven't.
 
Oh dear!

Perhaps it's an F6 thing.
 
I agree that if you get one, you should definitely use it for shooting with. Buying it and keeping it just to look at is like these fools who buy classic, beautiful cars and lock them away and never drive them. Just IMO of course. By all means admire its aesthetics if you like it that much but also use it as it were intended to be used and make some amazing photos with it. :)
 
adrianday said:
I bought a Nikon F6 new about 18 months ago. It's THE BEST 35mm SLR I've ever used. Handles like a dream. The ergonomics are just right. Everything falls into place. I'd recommend getting one to anyone who's remotely interested in 35mm film. One of the great things for me is that I can use all of my Nikon G lenses (though I must admit to having effectively doubled up my buying a couple of FD lenses because they, erm... look nice). It won't play nicely with the newest electronic diaphragm lenses (eg. 105mm,f/1.4) but I can live with that.

It won't suit you if you've got small hands. I've also got a D810 and they feel similar - though I think I actually prefer the F6's grip.

Buy one and use it. You won't regret it! I haven't.
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I do apologise, I got no notification of your post.

Regarding size, I have a 1dx2 so I'm guessing it's not bigger than that.

I was musing the eos 1 vhs as I have canon lenses but it's just too darn ugly.
I owned an F100 for some years but always yearned for the flagship model.
There are a few brand new f5 s to be had (for a price) and may well pull the trigger on one this side of Christmas.
 
TheBigYin said:
aha, at least my link above was aposite... seeing as you started the thread and were the one asking as to if it would be a good idea to buy one. Glad it worked out well for you (y)
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It certainly did.
soupdragon said:
I do apologise, I got no notification of your post.

Regarding size, I have a 1dx2 so I'm guessing it's not bigger than that.

I was musing the eos 1 vhs as I have canon lenses but it's just too darn ugly.
I owned an F100 for some years but always yearned for the flagship model.
There are a few brand new f5 s to be had (for a price) and may well pull the trigger on one this side of Christmas.
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The F5's a bit of a brick. The biggest lens I now use is the 16-35mm f/4 and I don't need the extra depth of the grip. My preference was also to buy new. Full 2yr warranty. Known history moving forward. And a significant reduction in the likelihood of my wanting to purchase another 35mm camera ever again.

The F5 was probably Nikon's last professional 35mm SLR and I think, for many, remains the 'flagship' Nikon 35mm SLR. The F6 was released at a time when the majority of pros were transitioning to digital. It's probably more of a farewell statement. A beautiful one at that!
 
soupdragon said:
Compared to the F3 or the canon F1 it's positively pornographic.
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How very date you! The Nikon F3 is the best looking camera ever :)

Nikon F3-235 by Fraser White, on Flickr


Seriously the F6 is the very best film camera Nikon ever made. The F5 was the last professional film Camera and the F6 was designed for advanced amateurs - there is a good YouTube interview with the F6 designer.

Stunning camera if you want an autofocus Nikon film camera that will work with all Nikon glass.
 
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Agree for sure that the F5 was the last true pro Nikon SLR, the F6 was more of an F200 but badged as a pro model. Put many miles of K64 through both:)

As for best looking? I'm torn between an FA and F4....

And, for the avoidance of doubt :nikon:

GC
 
Fraser Euan White said:
How very date you! The Nikon F3 is the best looking camera ever :)

Nikon F3-235 by Fraser White, on Flickr
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Sorry I have to disagree, it’s been well documented in the hallowed halls of F&C that I consider the F3 the ugliest of all the single digit F series.

This is no reflection on its abilities and functionality, as a camera it’s excellent but aesthetically it’s only slightly more pleasing than the Canon T70.
 
Certainly some people do like them. Grays have an F6 described as mint for £1649.00.
 
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Fraser Euan White said:
How very date you! The Nikon F3 is the best looking camera ever
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RaglanSurf said:
I consider the F3 the ugliest of all the single digit F series.
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I'm torn here - to be honest, I think that the F3, in it's basic setup - i.e. without all the motor drive pods etc. does actually look pretty damned good...

but with the motor-drive as in Fraser's shot above, it's definitely goes from a 9 to about a 6...

then again, most of the cameras of that era did - my Canon A-1 looks positively hideous with the motordrive, whereas without, it's probably the best looking camera I own.
 
TheBigYin said:
I'm torn here - to be honest, I think that the F3, in it's basic setup - i.e. without all the motor drive pods etc. does actually look pretty damned good...

but with the motor-drive as in Fraser's shot above, it's definitely goes from a 9 to about a 6...

then again, most of the cameras of that era did - my Canon A-1 looks positively hideous with the motordrive, whereas without, it's probably the best looking camera I own.
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Ergonomics weren't high on the agenda back then. I thought the A-1's MD was quite nice compared to some of the others around at the time. The Canon F-1's looks like Frankenstein designed it! And then there were the Olympus OM motor drives that looked like they'd been designed for a completely different camera.
 
adrianday said:
Ergonomics weren't high on the agenda back then. I thought the A-1's MD was quite nice compared to some of the others around at the time. The Canon F-1's looks like Frankenstein designed it! And then there were the Olympus OM motor drives that looked like they'd been designed for a completely different camera.
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That was the difference with the F3 - The MD-4 drive was designed with the camera and handled beautifully with it attached :)
 
adrianday said:
It looks like it was designed at Stewartby Brickworks.
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Wrong again Adrian; the Nikon F3 designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro who was the world's leading designer in the 1980's - not everybody has good taste Adrian - some prefer jelly mold cameras :)
 
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adrianday said:
Giugiaro also designed the Nikon F6 which is lovely and curvy in all the right places. :)
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In the same way the F3 is angular and utilitarian (Pure 1980's design) :)

An independant review on the net:
These interactions happen all the time, and they always leave me with a feeling of pride as I nod, and smile, and hold the F3 just a bit tighter. But what is it about the F3 that makes people so sentimental? What makes it so special, so beautiful, that it so often causes people to stop and appreciate it?

It’s an easy question to answer. Simply put, the Nikon F3 is one of the greatest cameras ever made.............

..................The secret to the F3’s initial success was that it combined all of the best features of the best cameras in the world, elevated these features to their maximum level of functionality and quality, and combined everything into a sleek, beautiful package
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Seeing as how the OP opened the door for 'ornaments', personally I love the look of the F6 (and F5 for that matter) and can't really get behind the looks of the F3. The FM3a however... somehow for me that camera just oozes class.

I'm struggling to put into words what it is I don't like about the F3 though. I think it's the general look of 'cheap cast plastic'; I mean seriously, look at that prism. And the half arsed attempt at ergonomics for the right hand? Again, somehow the FM3a just looks different, and it works.
 
Woodsy said:
Seeing as how the OP opened the door for 'ornaments', personally I love the look of the F6 (and F5 for that matter) and can't really get behind the looks of the F3. The FM3a however... somehow for me that camera just oozes class.

I'm struggling to put into words what it is I don't like about the F3 though. I think it's the general look of 'cheap cast plastic'; I mean seriously, look at that prism. And the half arsed attempt at ergonomics for the right hand? Again, somehow the FM3a just looks different, and it works.
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I have owned an FE2 which is pretty much identical to an FM3 an had the option to either go with an FE2, FM3 or the F3 this time last year.
I loved my FE2 and it is still one of my all time favourite cameras, I appreciate looks are subjective but ergonomics and build quality aren't. The F3 is far better built, feels better in the hand, is more comfortable to hold with or without motor drives (I had the MD-12 for the FE2) and the controls are better placed.
It is obvious one is built for the enthusiast an the other built as a professional use camera.
I loved the FE2 but the F3 is in a different class TBH.
There is a reason the F3 was Nikon's longest running single digit camera produced - it is an incredible camera.
 
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Yes but it’s ugly and ergonomics can still be subjective depending on the erg holding the camera.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Yes but it’s ugly and ergonomics can still be subjective depending on the erg holding the camera.
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Precisely.

Ergonomics not being subjective is essentially another way of stating that everyone who uses an F3 has the same hand, face and arm size and shape, which of course is nonsense. Build 'quality' (I.E, the quality of the workmanship by which is it assembled?) I doubt there's much in it. How resistant each model is to damage is another matter; one which I have no doubt the F3 is better for.
 
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