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Hey Matt! I came from film , stopped photography for a while, and came back into photography digitally. I have a D810 and D850. In the last year I started getting back into film with a RB67 and an Olympus OM4. I had an RZ back in the day which is why I got an RB and an Olympus OM4 to try some of their nice lenses. I can’t remember exactly why I wanted an F4s. I tend to put different lenses on camera bodies instead of changing lenses. . . definitely a lot easier! I have never been so in love with a camera before as I am with this f4s. It is the most amazing looking camera (F4s version) and the handling for me is perfect!! Right now I am using it with a Helios 40-2 85mm 1.2 and I am in heaven!!
Thanks Joe, yes the F4s looks nice! I went for the smaller option. Yes you need a Nikon film body if you have Nikon DSLRs. You can use your best lenses on it then (like you say). I have Nikon glass mostly as I used to use a Nikon D700 + Nikon D800. RB is nice for somthing extra! I have the RZ
Very cool ! I bought a brand new F4S back in the day and loved it but sold it after it had been sitting for a long time due to my transition to digital photography. Everyone was saying that film is dead and will never return. I am not sure if it is true but I heard the body had been designed or at least influenced by Porsche .... no wonder it's so gorgeous.
The F4 is a beautiful camera, a real workhorse that does the job well. I’m glad I bought mine last year because I expect prices to rise following this review. The autofocus is rapid and accurate-it doesn’t feel like this is the first of the F line to have it. As you say, it’s a waste to use a manual focus on an F4. An F is great for that. There is only one autofocus point, in the center. That isn’t.t really a limitation: it frees you to hold focus on the main feature with a half button press, then recompose, without ever worrying that lots of green rectangles are landing on the wrong thing. The knobs on top are great-shutter speed dial, drive dial, exposure compensation dial, not a menu in sight. It’s heavy, so if you have to go a long way, keep it in a bag.
It’s a fab camera. I came to it from the Nikon F3 in 1989 and at first I found it very complicated. It’s so much nicer to use than more recent cameras with their LCD panels and menu systems. I’ve been without one for 6 years, but have recently bought another one, just for the pleasure of using it😁
You have a way of making all these Nikon cameras sound so good. I can't have all the cameras I want so at this time I think the F3 is my dream camera. I really like the 1970s, 1980s Nikons. They are such fun to shoot for me. Thanks for another fun video!
Thanks Matt for your you tube clips, i really do enjoy them and i'm allways amased how you find the time to produce such good content. I myselve have been shooting with Nikon camera's for more than 50 years, it all started with a black F "Apollo" and continued with just about everything that had an F on it. The transition from F to F2 to F3 all went rather smooth but the F4 was really something from out of this world. I do remember when i first saw it in the show room i found it to be horrendously expensive (about 4 months of wages). The F5 then followed but wasn't such a shock as coming from the F3 to the F4. The F6 never had much appeal on me as i do like interchangeable viewfinders. Amongst many others i now still have some 6 F4's in all their different versions, got even a custom made F4 with fixed pellicule mirror. The F4 has got to be one of the most verstatile cameras in the Nikon range and i do like all the knobs and switches on it to control the camera without the need for pushing any (small) buttons and going into menues. For an older photographer like me it makes me feel more in control of the camera. And yes the bleeding of the F4's LCD is a (the only?) problem on the F3 as well.
Thanks Rick! Life stops when TH-cam channels start haha.. Life does become photography but i'm single so I made it work. I'll explain in a future video! You sound like you sure like the F4s! I have the F5 (see that video) and others but I shoot mostly Leica. I too love the real knobs and dials of the F4.
Enjoyed the viddie, Matt. Quick tip for those looking for an F4 body; I picked one up for $50 U.S. on Craig’s list. The person who sold it to me was very nice and tired of haggling with strangers, so when she said $50, I said okay! It’s definitely worn, but functions perfectly. Thanks again and beautiful work.
Another great & honest review Matt. The only downside the F4 has over say the F5 is its single AF focusing point. However at the time it was a massive step forward for Nikon.
Thanks Anthony, I have any AF camera set to single focus point when I can so it was fine for me but I do tend to prefer smaller lighter older cameras these days!
Hi Matt, Yes I had the F100 and from what I remember love it. Just going back to your work I do think they are a great example of the rule 84. That is 80% of the image comes from the 4" behind the camera. I all ways love your images. Keep well, keep safe and enjoy life.
Thanks Bruno! Aha maybe I said it wrong, the F4 was first at something to do with matrix metering.. maybe first AF body with it! :) Thanks for correction, i'm always learning too! :)
@@jasonwhitehead4068 The F4 doesn’t utilize matrix metering with pre-ai lenses though it will use center weighted metering assuming you use the “stop-down” technique.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom the f4 was the first PRO level camera in the world to utilize matrix metering though the FA was the first sub-pro camera to do it. The f4 was also the worlds first Pro level autofocus camera. It was also the first Nikon camera that was forward compatible with G lenses. It’s only real limitations in terms of lens compatibility is that it won’t utilize VR and it won’t work at all with the newest AF-P (stepper motor) lenses...but it shares that latter limitation with ALL film cameras as well as many recent D series cameras.
The F4 was such a ground breaking camera back in the day, & its one of the bang per buck bargains of the century right now. Seriously been thinking of getting one. Great video👍
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The F5 is like an F4 built to survive a nuclear holocaust. Only Nikon could do this. However, I think I prefer the traditional controls of the F4 over the F5, & the F4 viewfinder is still one of the brightest you can get, so whats not to like?😎
I bought a 60/2.8 D micro because of you Matt! 😎 My F4 is my favorite *manual focus* Nikon camera 😁 It gives matrix metering to AI & AIS lenses. I added a K split prism focusing screen. I love aperture priority so this lets me dial in very nice manual focus then just recompose and let the meter do its thing for the shutter, no AE lock nothing 🪄 This is why I leave the AF lock set to only AF and not also AE. With only the center AF point I focus first, AF lock, recompose, then let the camera meter each shot. Looks beautiful every time 🧙♂️
Very fine review - thanks a lot! My Nikon pro series ended with the F2 (F2S is still going strong). The F3 was no improvement on the F2, apart from the better manageable MD-4. The F4 was released in 1988 and became "Camera Of The Year". I admired its solid, well thought-out construction (e.g. the much more convenient change of viewfinder compared to F/F2). Nevertheless, I took the lighter F801s with very similar technical advantages and still use it in manual focus mode today. The 1/8000 sec produces wonderful, crisp photos in water sports, for example. Only once did I shoot with a friend's F4 when he wanted a few portraits of himself and the client during a break in his pro shooting. The F4 immediately felt completely familiar, the handling was superb; despite - or because of? - its heavy weight, the results were impeccable straight away. My Nikon experience has exceeded 50 years only a little (53) - it has been my best brand up to now, although I certainly had pro or only playful contact with 30 brands or more.
My history with Nikon is a long one. Started with a Nikon F801 + 50mm ƒ1.8 AF, then added the 80-200mm ƒ2.8 AF (the 1st version, pump zoom) and a bit later the 28-85mm ƒ3.5-4.5 AF. I sold the 28-85 quite quickly, not open enough for night shots in all the cities I was visiting in Europe at the time. I then bought a 24mm ƒ2.8 AF and a 35mm ƒ2.0 AF and finally a 20mm ƒ2.8 AF. Also, got the MF21 back for the F801 ! That lasted me for quite a while. Later on I upgraded to the F801s when it came out. Much later on I bought a used 85mm ƒ1.8 AF (not D). Some years passed again, I finally got a used F5 and finally a used 135mm ƒ2 DC AF (non D). These are all great equipments, I was and still am very happy with all this equipment, although it can be heavy to carry a lot of those at times. I want to shot film again, I have plenty of expired film in the freezer, hopefully they will still be good. I always stored film and batteries in the freezer, from the day they got home 'till the day I use them. I used to shoot mainly Kodachrome 64, I tried the 25 and 200 too, and some EPP 100 which was quite nice. Nowadays, I want to shoot in Black & White, but I struggle with it. I read plenty about the subject. I think the ergonomics of the F801 & s are perfect, after that it all went downhill.
Thanks for sharing. I own a 801, it came free with a lens i bought cheap on eBay. The F4 F5 AF is much better but it works. I tend to shoot MF with FM3a now as I loved the FE2.
Just had my F4 serviced for a sticky shutter undoubtably because it has been on the shelf since my D700 purchaser in 2008 (another camera I love and still own). Service will be same price as a good used one on eBay but I’m attached to the one I used for almost 20 years. It’s a great camera and I like the weight, steadier shooting for me.
Blooming brilliant review! Well put. I love the F4 for its compact (MB-20 grip) universal to big use. It's what I learned film on after coming from an F3P. It has a vast array of options & accessories carried over from my F3P kit such as my fave, the SB-21B Macro TTL, PB-6 Auto Bellows and more. but if you want the modern look of DSLR & some amazing added featurews such new i-TTL BL FP , D lighting, 3D colour matrix, 11 point AF & 8 fps, integrated multi function back LCD, it's a F6, hands down. You do get what you pay for if you're serious into film. But the F4 can do a lot if you learn it a little different. It truly is a milestone in the camera industry.
I’ve just bought one for only 115€ , and surprisely it is in good conditions and fully working😀. I took it just for my collection of nikon film cameras, but I’ m thinking to shoot some roll of film. Thank you for the review. Alessio
Yes Matt i have two f4s one just for spares. Pair it with Nikon 60mm 2.8 micro plus Nikon 135 ai and my favourite Nikon 85mmf2. I used some G lenses but didn’t get good results from them.
I think your photography is absolutely brilliant. And I like the idea you are using a Nikon AF 60mm f2.8 Macro for portraits. I own an F5 and hope to own an F4E soon
Matt, the Nikon F4 was actually a revolutionary camera at the time rather than an evolutionary camera which followed right up the the F6 The only thing people have to watch out for if buying one is the very common problem of the liquid crystal display suffered bleeding making reading via the viewfinder display difficult to impossible Great video!!
I currently have an F80,100 & F5. And I love them. I had an F4 for a little over a year and carried it around every day, but it just never felt comfortable to me in my hand. I shot with it and felt uncomfortable. So I put it on the shelf, until a buddy had his gear stolen. I gave it to him because it was doing me no good just sitting there.
Sir I have a Nikon 4s I bought it in 1998 and I still use it some time. I love the way it is. Plus I have a Bromide ETRSi Zenza 6.4 format camera with three super Zenza lenses. Plus I use a TLR twin lens reflex Mamiya C330 with three lenses. I love the Mamiya and Bronica. They are great workhorse tools and the results they give is amazing. Mamiya prints are 6×6 format and I can enlarge them to wall size prints. Super results without investing on a expensive camera equipment.
I got my F4 about 2 months ago and I love it, the photos I've taken are awesome,I shoot color film mostly ektar 100 through my F4 and b/w through my Nikon N90s and I love both cameras
Awesome review Nikon makes solid build camera and lens back. The F4 and F5 was the world's top news and sports. It’s was out of most people Reach over Au $2000 for F4 and F5. Now I can easily get them for $400-$500 mint condition. I’ve own Ft2, Fe-MD-12, F5x2 and waiting on F4, F4s and F4E. Looking forward to watch all Channel. (subscribed) !!
Thanks mate! Yes the F4/F5 are indeed solid! That said I just got a "Leicaflex SL" ..sounds expensive i'm sure from the name but they are actually Nikon price! It is now my most solid camera but only 1% of the functions of the F4 & F5.. I 'll do a video. Cheers!
Love my F4 and F80. I used to have an F100, but the F80 does everything the F100 does, and imprints exif data on the film between frames, and mostly, does not have the sticky back problem that plagues the F100. Great video, keep it up!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom You're welcome :) Yes, I did see your F80 video. Such a hidden gem. Do you still have the F80 and F100, and did your F100 have any of the common stickiness?
@@duncanthorn6338 I bought the F100 recently so I made sure to buy without a sticky back. I will likely sell it once I’ve reviewed it. It’s a great camera just not for me. I sold the F80 when I discovered the FG-20. I like full manual cameras I think.
Another absolute jem is the F75. I have 3 of these, and they are so small and light, but loaded with F5 like features. A great camera for travelling light.. or when you don't want to risk your more beloved cameras. You can get them for about £30. They shoot in reverse, which is quirky I have the (rare) battery grip, and it turns the F75 into a perfectly formed little plastic power punch shooter!
How do you use a Nikkor Pre Ai, to obtain the correct exposure? Press the deph of field button First, obtain the measurement, and then press the shutter? Thanks 🤙👏👍🇦🇷
Bought the F5 om your recommendation and added an F100 so i could switch easily between color and b&w film using the same lenses :) F100 is awesome too!
I was pleased to find my F4 can happily use my AF-S lenses from my DX cam. At the wide end there's vignetting, of course, but it's easy to not go that far. It allows me to carry a small and light 21-55mm standard zoom which produces some reasonable results.
Thanks Matt. I'm waiting for my F4 and per your advice, just bought the 60mm as well. It will be my first Nikon camera and looking forward to many adventures with the beast. Cheers!
Great! It’s a top performer for sure though I use smaller lighter models more now with MF lenses, FE2 etc for Nikon (or my usual Leica). F4/F5 are still my choice for AF
I bought an F4 and it's awesome. I have a the MB-23 grip which turns it into a massive beast, that is bigger and heavier than my F5. But I prefer bigger cameras for handling. BTW.. you dropped your F4!!!? I never use mine without a strap.
I'm seeing this video 3 years after it was uploaded. I bought a near mint F4s and FM2N in Oct of 24. I got both plus a camera bag and a lot of accessories for $400. There was a PB-6 double bellows and 12 rolls of Fujii slide film in the bag. Some of the film is Velvia. The containers were taken out of the box so there's no expiration date on them. I also don't know how it was stored before I bought it. I could probably shoot a roll and bracket my shots and have it developed to see if they're ok.
Matt, I have to laugh to myself when I see a new camera review of an older film camera from you. It's like we were mind-melded at some point in the past. *lol* I laugh because it's often, "Oh, Matt Osborne has one of those too ..." Well, except for the Leica cameras and lenses. I do not have any except the 90mm f/2 Leica I picked up on your recommendation. But I do have a few of the Voigtlander lenses (VM mount) you've talked about. Now .. back to the Nikons ... I own an F100, and F4 and an F5. I worked at a camera store back when the F4 was new and couldn't ever afford one. I bought it, the F5 and the F100 over the years because I picked them up in immaculate condition for 1/10th what they sold for new. Of the three I find myself gravitating to the F4 because of its analog controls ... despite the F5 and F100 having better/faster autofocus, 3D Color Matrix metering, etc. I often shoot my F4 with the Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 AIS in spot-metered manual (even though Matrix metering works with it). The 60mm Micro-Nikkor f/2.8D is also one of my favorite lenses. I tend to use that more on the F5 ... despite it working perfectly fine on the F4. I had an F3T in Champagne that had some issues so I got rid of it. One day I'd like to find another. I really loved the weight of that one. Take a look at my Flickr Album for "Film Sim: Kodacolor II 126" (www.flickr.com/photos/danteciullo/sets/72157715076237762 ) and you'll see some images I've made of some of these cameras and lenses you often talk about. I know we've commented back and forth a couple times over there on Flickr but I don't know if you've ever taken a look at my photos.
Thanks! Haha I guess we have good taste then! :) I recently got the 28mm f2.8 AIS but not the 24. The 28 is amazing. (I might do a review on these as I have a few similar lenses I collected over the years). Yes I can't decide with these AF bodies.. I like the analogue controls like you, but i'm getting tempted to going to all MF bodies. I like the older stuff I think :) Thanks for the link. I struggle to keep up with all the comments but I will take a look and I appreciate you writing :)
The only Nikon camera I kept for collection, I had about 5 FM2, a FE, a FE2, a FA, a F801s a F100 and a F3HP, but as I bought a Df with 20mm and 28mm Voigtlander, it’s gonna get out from retreat… The F4s fits so well in the hand, it’s a machine to make images. Now I’m looking for TriX films for a good price.
Yea man! I love my F4. It is one of the few cameras you can photograph with and hammer a nail with. It is also a good looking body. Have you tried the F6? It is the love child of the F100 and F5.
Excellent video Matt, I just got my $200 Dollar F4 on Ebay. And I also have the 60mm Macro, Looks like i better get out there and shoot a roll to Tmax b/w. What other lenses do you recommend?
Amazing, congrats. The bad news is you are now all out of excuses! :) Killer combo! I use MF lenses currently on older bodies but I still have these. 180mm Nikkor 2.8 is nice and Tokina 100mm Macro.
Thanks Matt for the good review. I just bought an F4 but haven't received it yet. I also have two F's, an F2AS, FM2n, and an F6 on the film side. I wanted it so I could mount all my MF Nikkors as well as my AF G lenses and shoot slide film without the complicated menu system of the F6. We'll see how that goes! It also opens the door to the AF-D lenses I want to try out.
I love the Nikon F4 and I used it some time ago with Fujichrome slide film to illustrate a book, 5 thousand copies were printed but alas I never got paid, it took me about six months to shoot.
5000 copies and not paid!! I hope the costs were at least covered? You must be proud of the book regardless. I have a book on Patreon for sale and I sold less than 10 haha :)
Hi Matt, another common point it seems, Nikon cameras ;o). I came to the F4(s) in 1989, straight from a used Nikkormat, my first SLR, through an F2 (bought new in Liverpool while I lived there for a year and did not have to pay the then 20 or 33% (I do not exactly remember but just know that at the time it made a huge financial difference for me) French VAT on cameras), then an FE (as an auto-exposure complement to the F2), an F3 and finally the F4 which was my last professional film camera until 2006 (when I got a D200 and then a D3), so 17 years with it. [At the time the M6 was more for personal use]. I did everything with it: photojournalism (news, sports,...), landscape and social-documentary projects, portraits, architecture, theatre, modern dance, macros, and an MFA in 1999-2001. So yes very versatile. Why didn't I upgrade to an F5? .. just because the F4 offered everything I needed and I would rather keep my budget for lenses and film (yes film had a cost then too ! ;o). It was a major jump from the F3 (integrated motor drive, all the buttons of the previous generations (so easy transition), locks on major dials, illuminated viewfinder, "quiet" advance mode (Cs), matrix metering, adjustable diopter button on prism, autofocus, auto loading, fast motorised rewinding of film, AE-L and AF-L locks (and AE-L + AF-L combined too) under my finger... in sum a paradigm shift for Nikon catching up with Canon). I still have it and it still works. More recently I acquired an F5 on eBay, as I had been looking at it for years but had never decided to upgrade, not seeing the point in pure photographic terms. For me the F5 is just a refined F4, what has been added could not "revolutionise" my practise the way moving from the F3 to the F4 did. All the best. Keep the good work and the humour !
Thanks Bruno! I still have my F4 and some AF lenses but I always pick up smaller bodies first these days. Did you see my F5 video? One of my most popular at the time!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Yes, the F4(s) is a brick and a reliable one. It was quite a revolution at the time in the Nikon pro line when it came out. I was so pleased with mine that I skipped upgrading to the F5 (even bigger and at the time I would rather use my budget buying AF lenses and Leica stuff ;o) The F4 did everything I needed a professional SLR to do (I also did a lot of photojournalism and used it several times for prolonged periods under pouring rain without a single problem). I dropped it, scratched it, never had to send it for repair, and I still own it.
love this camera so much, I have a pretty minty one I use with ais lenses for photoshoots. but usually use one of my smaller cameras for general work. btw clean your camera!
Yes great camera! I'm like you in that I now mostly use the smaller MF bodies (see the FMs/FEs video) but I like the F4/F5 for AF lenses. (Yes sorry mine hasn't been used for a few years!) :)
Thank you for the review .i am now using the F4 more and a pleasure to use ,as my F5 recently let me down. it would not advance the film anymore. worked perfectly before.have to find someone to fix it ,if there is any repair shop in the uk .
Thnx Matt, for this very nice and good review! I own a F4 several years now, with great pleasure in use but .... not it combination with the 60mm f2.8D ... till now, because I got myself a 60mm f2.8D occasion today haha ... Besides that I shoot with the D850 for my professional work, curious how the 60mm will work with that camera as well ... For portraits I use most of the time the Nikon AF 105mm F2.0 D DC. (👌) Have you tried that one as well?
Another great review mate. Looking forward to that F100 review. A upgrade on my FG since we chatted a few weeks ago its working great a real wee beauty. Since then I've also got a FG 😏😁 in great condition except for a damaged LCD in the view finder but I got a second FA that's not working but has a working LCD so with a particular strip down of both cameras and swap out the lcd's I'll have a B+ condition 100% working FA with all the covers and caps which as you know older Nikon's sometime are missing especially the pc socket and moterdrive electrical connection cover also its is basically a manual focus F100 for under £120.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom at this rate we'll be calling you the Nikon guy, oh can't do that that title is already gone lol. Its actually not to difficult to work at these older cameras its basically just talking your time and not rushing so you don't damage or lose parts like springs or screws and remembering where everything goes back, it's only really soldering and de-soldering any small parts that needs a bit of skill, confidence and practice and of course a few tools. I forgot to mention that the 60mm nikkor is a cracking lens and not that expensive especially compared to the 50mm f1.2 Ais but sharp.
@@612morrisonthanks! I recorded the F100 video yesterday actually haha but to keep my title I’ve recorded a Leica one for today. Yes the 60mm is excellent.
Hi Matt love this channel you’ve created I’m a big Nikon fan and yes I have a F4s I think the main reason I like this camera is because it’s like my older cameras I also have F5 also hmmm might have to stop watching this channel costing me a fortune Lucky for me you put out another video on how to save money to buy more cameras and lenses thank you so much, now have added even more gone to Hasselblad camera and lenses, but I’m loving it, thanks for all your videos I look forward to them all the time. Have been learning so much cheers Mate 🇦🇺
Hi, yes the only recent is i've never owned it. I will try to get one one day to review. Currently i'm back to shooting mostly Leica and use the older Nikon the most, FE2 FM2, FG-20 etc
@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom - Thanks for your replies to my recent questions. I think you would really enjoy the F3 like the smaller nikon slrs you mentioned. It has that 100% viewfinder that you really like in the F5, but in a smaller package. I actually have two of the F3's. My favorite slr body ever made.
Great video Matt. I always wanted an F4, but skipped straight to the F5. Strange now to think that the F5 battery tray costs nearly as much as a beater Nikon body ! Must be made of Unobtanium ?
I am lucky to have an F, F3, F4, F5 and an F6. Great film cameras but obviously different. My fave is the F4 as I love the direct input with knobs and switches. And a pretty great looking camera too
I have an F4s and an F100. I use my F100 more because it is much lighter but this inspired me to maybe go shoot the F4s tomorrow. Also, I recently bought a K&F Concept adapter to use my old manual Nikkor lenses on my Leica M digital bodies but you need to use live view because there is no rangefinder coupling. The images come out great. I didn't test it with the 60mm macro but now I'm inspired to do that too.
Exactly the talk I'm searching for. F4 vs F100. Can you recall how many rolls can you shoot with a fresh set of x4 AA batteries on your F100 + AF lenses?
@@eladbari - I couldn't tell you because I shoot a bunch of different cameras constantly and I tend to remove batteries often in case I don't get around to shooting with a specific camera for awhile.
Nice one, that thing looks a beast. I used to have a Konica with four battery's in the hand grip but it wasn't in the same league as your F4 & certainly wouldn't have survived tumbling down concrete stairs! 👍
Thanks Nigel, they were really nasty open concrete style too. A Leica would be dented? + need recalibrating so I think it did better than most cameras I can think of.
The F4 is one my most prized cameras in my collection. Its big, heavy, but attractive, and fun to shoot. It really connects you to the image making experience with its dial system.
It does not seem to matter what camera you use, the images are always beautiful. Today I have an itch for Nikon film camera. There is a lot of figuring out. Like why is the FM2 more expensive than the FA and why is the FM3 more expensive still? I have an EOS-1n so that's my heavy camera. Today I feel as if my final choice is the FA + 2/35mm Nikkor. But I am looking at the reviews still. Ken Rockwell 😎roots for F4.
Hey Matt!, I purchased a Nikon F4S in August on eBay from Japan. I love the feel and the sound of the curtain and shutter. Thanks for the inspiration and information. I have a Nikon D7000 which I am about to trade in for a Nikon D800. Thanks…..Thomas.
Congrats and thanks, I still have my Nikon film bodies (quite a few) but tend to use mostly Leica (all models). The D800 was a great workhorse but consider the Leica SL before you do. I just converted another 2 ex Nikon to the SL.. they could not believe the colours were good out of camera and they didn't need to waste hours trying to fix skins tones etc etc). Prices are lower now but D800 will be cheaper. Can then use Nikon glass on SL for decent colours (for digital) but without AF so I get not for everyone. If MF AIS glass its no issue.
Love my F4s and F3hp feel solid in your hand and I adore the simplicity they will probably out live me F4 is a bargain at the moment compared to other Nikon classics go grab one you won’t be disappointed 👍🏻
Hei 😊 I use Nikon F5 since about 3 years. In the future I liked to have F6 on the side because it’s just smaller. The very reasons I use Nikon F5 are: it take Zeiss classic lenses ❤️and is , with pair with F6 most advanced and solid build film camera in the world. Period. 😁Beside this one I love to use Canon FTb. FD system gives me totally different look than anything else. Cheers 🤘
I absolutely adore my pair of F4 bodies. While it’s the first autofocus body with ‘matrix’ or segmented metering. It was not the first Nikon. That title goes to the FA manual focus body, released 5 years earlier.
Mainly shoot with the F and the F2AS, but I thought I’d give the F4 a try as I got an F4 for £114 on eBay today. Going to be using ai’d lenses in it however! Not sure if I’ll keep it but I’m looking forward to trying it out
Thanks Sam! Amazing price! Talk me shopping next time ha! :) Nice camera, you might find it OTT/ heavy for AIS lenses (I use the manual bodies for those lenses)(see my other vids) but you won't loose money on it so win win!
i have owned my F4s for over 10 years and i love it. it is called 'the tank' for a reason. it was such a good camera i passed on the overpriced F5. with the really low prices on F4s and F5s, maybe i should buy a few more bodies! :)
Hello Matt. Great review. I really enjoy your reviews And especially your sample portrait shots. I have 3 nikon manual focus (35mm , 55mm , 105mm ) and 3 nikon afd lenses (50mm , 70-210 , 300mm ) and a tamron 90mm macro (g) lens . I use them on my D7000 and i want to purchase another film camera to use them in film photography . Considering that three of them are manual focus lens Which body do you prefer something like fe , fm2 , ... or f4s . Regards. Mohammad
Thanks Mohammad! If you want to use your AF lenses too the F4S makes sense. You can use that with MF too. If you only had MF lenses I like the FM2/FE2.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank you matt for your answer . I also watched your video about the difference between 35mm and medium format Also the video that told why you use digital in 2021 all of them were really useful and practical . There is a big question that don't have an obvious answer : digital vs analog . I saw a video from angry photographer that reviewed nikon f4 and said in 2017 "the film is dead" . This question has a different answers for different Type of photography . For example for photojournalism in these days and as you said when customers want digital there is no sense for analog. But I'm a hobby photographer and just take a photograph of my family and friends and each beautiful subject that i see , and making a decision is a little hard for me . Do you have any suggestion or a video that help me and who is like me ? And also please tell your decision about angry photographer's Sentence . Regards. Mohammad
@@mohammadvarzideh780 thanks. Remember this is personal choice. It’s like why people use Sony or Fuji.. or Nikon or Leica. I moved to film originally as I really didn’t like the look of Pro Nikon DSLR. Later I discovered Leica digital and I like the look enough to use it BUT I still prefer the film look. Digital is easy to share quickly on social media and with family. I think film is a more lasting memory. You could use both. Cheap film SLR, see my FG-20 or Nikon F80 videos + cheap digital. Both have their use. Low light indoor digital is still better.
Matt, did you try the F6? I feel somehow this would be the end game for SLRs - at least for me. Instead of upgrading many times and finally end with that anyway, it might be better to wait, and then go there directly. It is smaller than F4 and F5 - more like F100 I think. Price is like a Voigtländer Bessa R. We are all different, but I feel more comfortable with SLRs than range finders, even I do like my Leica M5 (my only range finder).
Thanks Kim, if you like DSLR style shooting then I say say F6. If like me you like older stuff I’m much closer to the FE2 style cameras. I’m a bit anti automation deep down I think ha :)
I have a Nikon F4 standard , with the autofocus light in the viewfinder you could use the regular manual lens and you can still go by the light in the viewfinder the green focus when you use a manual lens , with 4 carbon fiber shutter blades with anti balanced shutter , no one today needs the power pack 6 × AA lol on automatic you can go through 36 exposures of film in 6 seconds with 6× AA ... film costing what it does today , if you had the Nikon f4 on automatic and you have the film ISO set to say 200 it will not let you take any pictures the red light will come on letting you know that you have to put it on DX in Auto , and yes the Nikon F4 is built like a tank . I fitted mine with a Nikon ED 80 - 200mm lenses a little bit heavier than the camera
Yep, I did use 2 F4s-es professionally way back than. I had just one AF lens, the 80-200 f2.8 D. And the Ai(s) 24 2.8, 35 1.4, 50 1.4, 85 1.4.. Still regret having to sell them to buy a Canon D30 ( NOT 30D )... A D30... Oh my....
Thanks! Nice lenses! You are the second person to mention the 24mm f2.8 AIS. Is it as good as the 28 2.8 AIS? I used to use a 80-200 too for weddings! Never to late to buy a cheap Nikon body again and a few lenses :)
Have a Nikon F4(s) and a F6. The F4 works also with non-AI lenses if you push the AI lever to the side. The F4 is also able to use matrix metering with manual AI(S) lenses (see Manual page 86). Works also with Auto Focus teleconverter TC-16A to focus some Nikon manual focus lenses. The F4 could maybe the most versatile F camera ever made. Better then the F5. Only issue is the slow autofocus system, so Professional photographers switched to CANON, because of this.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom please check out the F3AF lens AF 80mm f/2.8. Great lens which works (undocumented) also on the F4. (Have both and it works) Optical Image quality wide open maybe beter then your AF-D 85mm f/1.4 lens.
Found option of F4s with 35-70mm lens (don't care much on lens I have my own) for $200. But that white opal plate on a viewfinder that used for gathering light for readouts is like pushed down little bit. Camera looks just fine in real life all things are working, but I'm torn apart and even $200 is a big money for me. On the other hand F4 checks all marks for me for 35mm film camera. But the readouts is kinda of hard to see in viewfinder, I thought it could be an issue because of that opal plate, but it seems like a general F4 problem (according to my googling, reddit etc).
*2 Questions, Matt!:* 1. Any real advantages of the F4 over the F100? 2. In your experience- how many rolls will x4 fresh AA batteries last, using an AF lens? (On the F100 I find it quite short. Maybe like 3-5 rolls) Thanks!
Hi, the F4 is a lot tougher, no stickiness, proper knobs and dials not LCD menus, can manually rewind, no weaker back door.. F100 is lighter. I'm not as much of an expert on these as my Leica gear but that's how I see it. (The F4 seems very popular with those that use a lot of Nikon gear and ex-pro users). F100 more with newer users.. as I see it. Sorry not sure about batteries, they might be something on the Nikon website. If you manually rewind you get longer life.. if you use less AF you get longer life.. I think.
the F4 can do matrix metering with manual focus lenses and will show you the aperture that they're set to. the F100 will show the aperture as "F--" and can only offer spot or center weighted average for manual focus lenses. If you don't have manual focus lenses, get the F100. the autofocus in the F4 is awful and it's the camera that lost nikon the professional market since canon's EOS 1 was so much better.
Hi Matt, Would the F4 with a Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 lens be good to use for shooting artists at concerts, low light settings etc? About 1-2 metres away from my subject
No not really. Its basically a f6.3 lens. You need the 70-200 f2.8 (I used than then got the 200 f2, then the smaller 180 f2.8). You will need f2.8 constant.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thank you! Would it be possible to provide a link to these lenses so I can check them out? I was not able to find them on google
G lenses have no aperture ring so an easy way to think of it is if the camera has a top plate LCD like the F80 F100 F5 that I use, it works fully. If no LCD like F4 it will work partly (in modes where camera decides the aperture not you as you have no way to select the aperture setting. If you use on older bodies like FE2 it only works at F16 (fully stopped down)
still my favorite F camera, I shot 1000's of rolls fuji film when I worked for O'Neill . I have a F4E in it's original box, brand-new... The magic of this camera is that it's basically a digital film camera with 'analog' controls.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I actually shot so much film that at the lab they kept chemicals especially in stock for me, crazy now when I look back. I think I owned over 8 F4's in different configurations 😅
I have the Nikon F4s with the MB-21 grip and MF-23 Multi-Control Data Back. I shoot more film through that camera than any of my other 6 Nikon SLRs mainly because of the auto focus capability with the D series lenses. Just a point that I don't think you mentioned. The F4 can not auto focus G series lenses. I've tried all 4 of my G lenses and none of them auto focus on the F4. Because of that I bought a Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5 D macro lens, which auto focuses just fine.
i love my F4...I don't use the external battery packs because i shoot in manual and use transparency and b&w for portraits, stll life and landscape. I am going to look into getting the 60mm f2.8 micro for portraits instead of my 50mm f1.8D
Thanks John, yes the 60mm Macro will easily out perform your 50mm. If you need a fast lens the 50 1.8G is sharper from my experience. (See my Nikon F100 video).
I'm new to Nikon system in general. I just got the F4 but with a vintage 50/1.4 lens but I dont know if its pre AI, AI-s or whetever. The thing the I noticed is that I cant shoot Appeture priority since the lens always stays open at 1.4. Any tips? Thanks!
I regret selling my F4E (boxed and mint) as I miss that camera. I moved to Nikon from Canon as I could buy cheaper manual lenses as I was a poor student at the time. Have an M42 to Nikon adapter and used to use my M42 Carl Zeiss lenses with it. The 35mm f2.8 Flektogon is an amazing lens (I have 2) and is getting quite collectable now I think. Both cost £5 each from a charity shop! They focus quite close as well (less than 20cm). Also have other CZJ lenses that I used on the F4E like the 135mm Sonnar.
Thanks Kim! The F100 is certainly a nicer (more social ha) weight vs the F4. Yes I need to try to use the F100 so I can make a video but I have quite a few cameras on the go to test. Sorry for the delay with it!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Well, sounded like a long time for an impatient person like me, so I got the F100 :-) :-) I find it amazing! Also having a digital Nikon D750, I can set it in many ways to work the same, like back button autofocus! Also aperture is set on the camera and it works with G-lenses. It is awesome, but far away for old manual stuff, I agree. I am still looking forward to your review of it, and I am not sure I have given up the F6.
@@KimHojbergJensen thanks Kim, yes it is basically a DSLR with film in ha. Perfect for those liking that style. I will probably sell mine after the review to focus on older cameras.
Hi Peter, i've not tested them side by side but from real results they are both excellent. I use the 60mm on the F4/F5 and 55mm on the FM/FE/FG series. See the Nikkor 50s vid I did for the 55mm results.
The Nikon F4 was the turning point in SLR photography. It represents the most advanced leap in SLR technology. Everything since then has been minor in upgrades.
I enjoy the knobs and dials of the F4 vs my F5 but I still go to my older bodies the most for the smaller firm factor and MF lenses. FE2 FM2.. even the FG20 :)
I'm struggling now in search of a budget Nikon SLR, and my region has very limited availability of vintage cameras, which usually overpriced. I recently was able to buy Voigtlander 58 1.4 for around ~$370 but it's first iteration without bunny/rabbit ears, and wanna try film photography for the almost the same reasons that you start to shoot film (which you explicitly told in "Why you still shoot digital"). And my point is, if camera fully depends on batteries, it should be advanced enough with good metering, and with easily available battery type, and my choice is F90x, but all similar cameras doesn't have split prism focusing and I'm really doubt that focus confirmation on those at 1.4 gonna be accurate. Or I wanna fully manual, maybe FM2. But even F90x is bit beyond my budget, FM2 is really overpriced in my region and there's no way to tell the condition of camera, we simply don't have developed used gear market (such as Finnish Kamerastore), which can do proper tests etc. Thought about FG-20, but electronically depended shutter is pushing me away, and lol, there's only two options in my country now, one for ~$150 and other ~$300 for body only! And now I'm lost. But I really wish of there was a F90x with split prism focusing screen, didn't find much info on possibility of changing focusing screen in those models, sadly (only found very old forum messages with links to discontinued products on b&h and actual zero info on actual physical possibility of such detail replacement). Yeah, my tiny budget is around $50 maybe :( And since my lens doesn't have that bunny-rabbit ears I don't consider older Nikon cameras, but I guess metering is not that accurate on those anyways (due to the old age or other stuff).
Sorry to hear John, there are many budget Nikons available like the F80 but as you say battery dependent. The FG-20 are cheap enough to replace if break vs more popular cameras costing 5x more. Can you not import? Even with fees it will be cheaper it sounds. I still import from worldwide if cheaper than uk, even with 20% fees.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom yeah, before 2013-14 I used to buy on ebay pretty often. Now delivery costs might be up to 50% of the total product cost if not more. But there's a small hope on Finland, since I live in Saint Petersburg and there's tons of people who constantly visiting Finland for some supplies. But due to the covid restrictions it's not gonna be possible for now, I think. Also I heard info on possibility to adapt Nikon F lens onto Pentax K bodies, gonna check that too.
@@quite1enough good luck with it John and it’s lovely to hear from you all the way from St. Pete’s (I got the St.P to Moscow sleeper train once but only got on at Tver)
For me no. I prefer the FE2 but any of those bodies or the FG-20 that I also love. (I prefer split prism for MF and not the weight of the AF bodies bug that said I have used the F4 and F5 with MF lenses.
I had to come to the realization that, as much as I love photography, I am more "camera lover" than "amateur photographer." Very difficult for me to pick the camera which feels the best in my hands. Despite having average sized hands, I have always loved LARGE camera bodies. Nikon F3HP, F4s, D3s, Canon EOS 1n, Pentax 67........ALL of them speak to me. Gun to my head, it would most likely be the size, weight, build quality, and simplicity of the Nikon F4s. Had one, and stupidly left it in the car and I suspect that the heat led to the dreaded LCD bleed, as the LCD had previously been as sharp as new. My only concern in buying another is the age of an F4s, and it is my understanding that those old LCD screens cannot be repaired or replaced. Has anyone experienced anything to the contrary?
I bought the F4S version new many years ago. It was a tank but for me a beautiful camera to use with the 180mn 2.8 af ais lens. I sold it at huge loss in total mint condition after I transitioned to digital and everybody said film is dead and will never come back.😢
I am shooting film more than digital now I just live the feel of it and it makes you think more about what your shooting I have now added more film cameras to my collection along with my F4s and F3hp I now have FM and FM2n and my F90x I love the feel of the older ai and ais lenses my current two favourites are my 135 2.8 and 105 2.5 both ais sharp beautiful bokeh
@@JonnyEnglish-gu1cs great to hear! I used the 135 on the FM2 recently and made a patreon video showing it (not yet posted). Yes I love the AIS lenses too 👌🏻
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom fantastic beautiful camera FM2 the metal feel great as you know the 135 is beautiful lens look forward to seeing your review 👍🏻
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Hey Matt! I came from film , stopped photography for a while, and came back into photography digitally. I have a D810 and D850. In the last year I started getting back into film with a RB67 and an Olympus OM4. I had an RZ back in the day which is why I got an RB and an Olympus OM4 to try some of their nice lenses. I can’t remember exactly why I wanted an F4s. I tend to put different lenses on camera bodies instead of changing lenses. . . definitely a lot easier! I have never been so in love with a camera before as I am with this f4s. It is the most amazing looking camera (F4s version) and the handling for me is perfect!! Right now I am using it with a Helios 40-2 85mm 1.2 and I am in heaven!!
Thanks Joe, yes the F4s looks nice! I went for the smaller option. Yes you need a Nikon film body if you have Nikon DSLRs. You can use your best lenses on it then (like you say). I have Nikon glass mostly as I used to use a Nikon D700 + Nikon D800. RB is nice for somthing extra! I have the RZ
Very cool ! I bought a brand new F4S back in the day and loved it but sold it after it had been sitting for a long time due to my transition to digital photography. Everyone was saying that film is dead and will never return. I am not sure if it is true but I heard the body had been designed or at least influenced by Porsche .... no wonder it's so gorgeous.
The F4 is a beautiful camera, a real workhorse that does the job well. I’m glad I bought mine last year because I expect prices to rise following this review. The autofocus is rapid and accurate-it doesn’t feel like this is the first of the F line to have it. As you say, it’s a waste to use a manual focus on an F4. An F is great for that. There is only one autofocus point, in the center. That isn’t.t really a limitation: it frees you to hold focus on the main feature with a half button press, then recompose, without ever worrying that lots of green rectangles are landing on the wrong thing. The knobs on top are great-shutter speed dial, drive dial, exposure compensation dial, not a menu in sight. It’s heavy, so if you have to go a long way, keep it in a bag.
Thanks Ken! I’m not sure my little channel will affect prices of a mainstream camera like this :)
My firs F4s autofocus is comletely wrong! but i decided to bu one more. so still waiting delivery)
I love my F4 which was my dayly companion for years in the old days
Thanks Steve! Popular cameras it seems!
My first Love for Nikon camera's! great content as always, thank you so much !
Thank you and great to hear it!
It’s a fab camera. I came to it from the Nikon F3 in 1989 and at first I found it very complicated. It’s so much nicer to use than more recent cameras with their LCD panels and menu systems. I’ve been without one for 6 years, but have recently bought another one, just for the pleasure of using it😁
Thanks Mike! Great to hear you got another one recently! :) Yes great camera!
I picked up an F4 and F100 this past fall. I had mainly been using an FE and an FT2 but I have fallen in love with the F4.
Congrats! I did videos on both of those, I later sold the F100 but kept the F4, F5 (and manual focus bodies)
Superb! Congrats, Matt!
Thanks!
What a perfect timing to release this video! I’m literally selling my F100 so I can get the F4
Nice, if you like knobs and dials you will like the F4! :)
You have a way of making all these Nikon cameras sound so good. I can't have all the cameras I want so at this time I think the F3 is my dream camera. I really like the 1970s, 1980s Nikons. They are such fun to shoot for me. Thanks for another fun video!
Haha sorry! Yes F3 is a great choice! I use these AF models less these days.
Thanks Matt for your you tube clips, i really do enjoy them and i'm allways amased how you find the time to produce such good content. I myselve have been shooting with Nikon camera's for more than 50 years, it all started with a black F "Apollo" and continued with just about everything that had an F on it. The transition from F to F2 to F3 all went rather smooth but the F4 was really something from out of this world. I do remember when i first saw it in the show room i found it to be horrendously expensive (about 4 months of wages). The F5 then followed but wasn't such a shock as coming from the F3 to the F4. The F6 never had much appeal on me as i do like interchangeable viewfinders.
Amongst many others i now still have some 6 F4's in all their different versions, got even a custom made F4 with fixed pellicule mirror. The F4 has got to be one of the most verstatile cameras in the Nikon range and i do like all the knobs and switches on it to control the camera without the need for pushing any (small) buttons and going into menues. For an older photographer like me it makes me feel more in control of the camera. And yes the bleeding of the F4's LCD is a (the only?) problem on the F3 as well.
Thanks Rick! Life stops when TH-cam channels start haha.. Life does become photography but i'm single so I made it work. I'll explain in a future video! You sound like you sure like the F4s! I have the F5 (see that video) and others but I shoot mostly Leica. I too love the real knobs and dials of the F4.
Enjoyed the viddie, Matt. Quick tip for those looking for an F4 body; I picked one up for $50 U.S. on Craig’s list. The person who sold it to me was very nice and tired of haggling with strangers, so when she said $50, I said okay! It’s definitely worn, but functions perfectly. Thanks again and beautiful work.
Wow amazing price, congrats!!
Another great & honest review Matt. The only downside the F4 has over say the F5 is its single AF focusing point. However at the time it was a massive step forward for Nikon.
Thanks Anthony, I have any AF camera set to single focus point when I can so it was fine for me but I do tend to prefer smaller lighter older cameras these days!
TOTAL BANGERS! LOVE THE FRAMES YOU GOT OFF WITH THIS CAMERA!!! IM WAITING ON MINE TO COME IN THE MAIL! GREAT VIDEO!! SUBBED!!!!🤘🏾🤘🏾🔥
Thanks! Enjoy yours F4 when it arrives!
Hi Matt, Yes I had the F100 and from what I remember love it. Just going back to your work I do think they are a great example of the rule 84. That is 80% of the image comes from the 4" behind the camera. I all ways love your images. Keep well, keep safe and enjoy life.
Hi John, thanks! And for your kind words :)
Matt, nice review as always 😀 but i would say the Nikon FA was the first Matrix metered camera ^^
Thanks Bruno! Aha maybe I said it wrong, the F4 was first at something to do with matrix metering.. maybe first AF body with it! :) Thanks for correction, i'm always learning too! :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I think it’s the first to matrix meter with pre ai lens.
@@jasonwhitehead4068 The F4 doesn’t utilize matrix metering with pre-ai lenses though it will use center weighted metering assuming you use the “stop-down” technique.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom the f4 was the first PRO level camera in the world to utilize matrix metering though the FA was the first sub-pro camera to do it. The f4 was also the worlds first Pro level autofocus camera.
It was also the first Nikon camera that was forward compatible with G lenses. It’s only real limitations in terms of lens compatibility is that it won’t utilize VR and it won’t work at all with the newest AF-P (stepper motor) lenses...but it shares that latter limitation with ALL film cameras as well as many recent D series cameras.
@@alexblaze8878 yes your correct, I don’t even know my own camera 😖
The F4 was such a ground breaking camera back in the day, & its one of the bang per buck bargains of the century right now. Seriously been thinking of getting one. Great video👍
Thanks Marky!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The F5 is like an F4 built to survive a nuclear holocaust. Only Nikon could do this. However, I think I prefer the traditional controls of the F4 over the F5, & the F4 viewfinder is still one of the brightest you can get, so whats not to like?😎
@@markymark3572 definitely well built ha :)
I bought a 60/2.8 D micro because of you Matt! 😎
My F4 is my favorite *manual focus* Nikon camera 😁 It gives matrix metering to AI & AIS lenses. I added a K split prism focusing screen.
I love aperture priority so this lets me dial in very nice manual focus then just recompose and let the meter do its thing for the shutter, no AE lock nothing 🪄
This is why I leave the AF lock set to only AF and not also AE. With only the center AF point I focus first, AF lock, recompose, then let the camera meter each shot. Looks beautiful every time 🧙♂️
Thanks Michael, yes great camera!
Very fine review - thanks a lot! My Nikon pro series ended with the F2 (F2S is still going strong). The F3 was no improvement on the F2, apart from the better manageable MD-4. The F4 was released in 1988 and became "Camera Of The Year". I admired its solid, well thought-out construction (e.g. the much more convenient change of viewfinder compared to F/F2). Nevertheless, I took the lighter F801s with very similar technical advantages and still use it in manual focus mode today. The 1/8000 sec produces wonderful, crisp photos in water sports, for example. Only once did I shoot with a friend's F4 when he wanted a few portraits of himself and the client during a break in his pro shooting. The F4 immediately felt completely familiar, the handling was superb; despite - or because of? - its heavy weight, the results were impeccable straight away. My Nikon experience has exceeded 50 years only a little (53) - it has been my best brand up to now, although I certainly had pro or only playful contact with 30 brands or more.
Great! I later bought the F3 too which I love (see video). The F4 & F5 are great for more automation.
My history with Nikon is a long one. Started with a Nikon F801 + 50mm ƒ1.8 AF, then added the 80-200mm ƒ2.8 AF (the 1st version, pump zoom) and a bit later the 28-85mm ƒ3.5-4.5 AF. I sold the 28-85 quite quickly, not open enough for night shots in all the cities I was visiting in Europe at the time. I then bought a 24mm ƒ2.8 AF and a 35mm ƒ2.0 AF and finally a 20mm ƒ2.8 AF. Also, got the MF21 back for the F801 !
That lasted me for quite a while. Later on I upgraded to the F801s when it came out. Much later on I bought a used 85mm ƒ1.8 AF (not D). Some years passed again, I finally got a used F5 and finally a used 135mm ƒ2 DC AF (non D).
These are all great equipments, I was and still am very happy with all this equipment, although it can be heavy to carry a lot of those at times. I want to shot film again, I have plenty of expired film in the freezer, hopefully they will still be good. I always stored film and batteries in the freezer, from the day they got home 'till the day I use them. I used to shoot mainly Kodachrome 64, I tried the 25 and 200 too, and some EPP 100 which was quite nice. Nowadays, I want to shoot in Black & White, but I struggle with it. I read plenty about the subject.
I think the ergonomics of the F801 & s are perfect, after that it all went downhill.
Thanks for sharing. I own a 801, it came free with a lens i bought cheap on eBay. The F4 F5 AF is much better but it works. I tend to shoot MF with FM3a now as I loved the FE2.
Just had my F4 serviced for a sticky shutter undoubtably because it has been on the shelf since my D700 purchaser in 2008 (another camera I love and still own). Service will be same price as a good used one on eBay but I’m attached to the one I used for almost 20 years. It’s a great camera and I like the weight, steadier shooting for me.
Yes when you love a specific camera it’s worth the investment for sure!
Blooming brilliant review! Well put. I love the F4 for its compact (MB-20 grip) universal to big use. It's what I learned film on after coming from an F3P. It has a vast array of options & accessories carried over from my F3P kit such as my fave, the SB-21B Macro TTL, PB-6 Auto Bellows and more. but if you want the modern look of DSLR & some amazing added featurews such new i-TTL BL FP , D lighting, 3D colour matrix, 11 point AF & 8 fps, integrated multi function back LCD, it's a F6, hands down. You do get what you pay for if you're serious into film.
But the F4 can do a lot if you learn it a little different. It truly is a milestone in the camera industry.
Thank you!! :)
I’ve just bought one for only 115€ , and surprisely it is in good conditions and fully working😀. I took it just for my collection of nikon film cameras, but I’ m thinking to shoot some roll of film. Thank you for the review. Alessio
Did you steal it!?? Just joking!! That is a really good price! Great find. :)
No respect for some film camera. That “IS” a flagship
@@alessio71r18 I would have bought another too as a spare at that price 👌🏻
Yes Matt i have two f4s one just for spares. Pair it with Nikon 60mm 2.8 micro plus Nikon 135 ai and my favourite Nikon 85mmf2. I used some G lenses but didn’t get good results from them.
Thanks Chris! I was using the 135mm a few days ago! ..and agree re. G lenses.
I think your photography is absolutely brilliant. And I like the idea you are using a Nikon AF 60mm f2.8 Macro for portraits. I own an F5 and hope to own an F4E soon
Thanks Peter, very kind!
Matt,
the Nikon F4 was actually a revolutionary camera at the time rather than an evolutionary camera which followed right up the the F6
The only thing people have to watch out for if buying one is the very common problem of the liquid crystal display suffered bleeding making reading via the viewfinder display difficult to impossible
Great video!!
Hi Ronald, thanks and for the correction and yes sorry my overview probably didn't give the F4 enough praise in it's design at that time.
so true!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom it’s okay, I’m very passionate and nerdy about Nikon’s probably like you are about Leica and their clones
All the very best
@@ronaldsand3000 thanks! Yes I’m a mere beginner for Nikon vs Leica :)
I currently have an F80,100 & F5. And I love them. I had an F4 for a little over a year and carried it around every day, but it just never felt comfortable to me in my hand. I shot with it and felt uncomfortable.
So I put it on the shelf, until a buddy had his gear stolen. I gave it to him because it was doing me no good just sitting there.
That’s nice of you to pass it on. It’s heavy bs F80 & F100. Ii sold both of those but I miss the lightweight AF setup occasionally!
Sir I have a Nikon 4s I bought it in 1998 and I still use it some time. I love the way it is. Plus I have a Bromide ETRSi Zenza 6.4 format camera with three super Zenza lenses. Plus I use a TLR twin lens reflex Mamiya C330 with three lenses. I love the Mamiya and Bronica. They are great workhorse tools and the results they give is amazing. Mamiya prints are 6×6 format and I can enlarge them to wall size prints. Super results without investing on a expensive camera equipment.
Thanks for commenting and great to hear you have these nice cameras!
I got my F4 about 2 months ago and I love it, the photos I've taken are awesome,I shoot color film mostly ektar 100 through my F4 and b/w through my Nikon N90s and I love both cameras
Thanks Dennis! Yes a solid setup. Built like a tank!
As a Nikon fanatic, and someone that doesn’t use Leica, I appreciate you doing these videos on non-Leica gear.
Thanks Alex!
Superb presentation as usual !
Thank you!
Awesome review
Nikon makes solid build camera and lens back.
The F4 and F5 was the world's top news and sports.
It’s was out of most people Reach over Au $2000 for F4 and F5.
Now I can easily get them for $400-$500 mint condition.
I’ve own Ft2, Fe-MD-12, F5x2 and waiting on F4, F4s and F4E.
Looking forward to watch all Channel. (subscribed) !!
Thanks mate! Yes the F4/F5 are indeed solid! That said I just got a "Leicaflex SL" ..sounds expensive i'm sure from the name but they are actually Nikon price! It is now my most solid camera but only 1% of the functions of the F4 & F5.. I 'll do a video. Cheers!
Love my F4 and F80. I used to have an F100, but the F80 does everything the F100 does, and imprints exif data on the film between frames, and mostly, does not have the sticky back problem that plagues the F100. Great video, keep it up!
Thank you Duncan! Did you see my F80 video? :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom You're welcome :) Yes, I did see your F80 video. Such a hidden gem. Do you still have the F80 and F100, and did your F100 have any of the common stickiness?
@@duncanthorn6338 I bought the F100 recently so I made sure to buy without a sticky back. I will likely sell it once I’ve reviewed it. It’s a great camera just not for me. I sold the F80 when I discovered the FG-20. I like full manual cameras I think.
Another absolute jem is the F75. I have 3 of these, and they are so small and light, but loaded with F5 like features. A great camera for travelling light.. or when you don't want to risk your more beloved cameras. You can get them for about £30. They shoot in reverse, which is quirky I have the (rare) battery grip, and it turns the F75 into a perfectly formed little plastic power punch shooter!
@@zx7-rr486 Interesting! Have you also used the F80, and if so, how do they compare in actual use?
How do you use a Nikkor Pre Ai, to obtain the correct exposure? Press the deph of field button First, obtain the measurement, and then press the shutter? Thanks 🤙👏👍🇦🇷
Hi! Maybe Google it to be 100% sure as I shoot full manual so never need it
I sometimes re-watch your videos just for fun and to reconnect to my camera collection. :)
Thanks for sharing! I do that with videos from others to recap info!
I just got my F4 from Ebay. I haven't shot a roll yet, but it sure feels good with the AF 35-70 2.8 lens.
Congrats David, a solid camera!
Bought the F5 om your recommendation and added an F100 so i could switch easily between color and b&w film using the same lenses :) F100 is awesome too!
Thanks Thomas! Sorry to cost you money! :) Yes the F5 is lovely and the F100 is great too. Nice size and weight. The F4 is somewhere in the middle!
I was pleased to find my F4 can happily use my AF-S lenses from my DX cam. At the wide end there's vignetting, of course, but it's easy to not go that far. It allows me to carry a small and light 21-55mm standard zoom which produces some reasonable results.
Great! Yes it's always fun to experiment I think
Thanks Matt. I'm waiting for my F4 and per your advice, just bought the 60mm as well. It will be my first Nikon camera and looking forward to many adventures with the beast. Cheers!
Great! It’s a top performer for sure though I use smaller lighter models more now with MF lenses, FE2 etc for Nikon (or my usual Leica). F4/F5 are still my choice for AF
I bought an F4 and it's awesome. I have a
the MB-23 grip which turns it into a massive beast, that is bigger and heavier than my F5. But I prefer bigger cameras for handling. BTW.. you dropped your F4!!!? I never use mine without a strap.
Thanks, I was using during teaching a workshop with many cameras. Can’t remember exactly what I did.
Hello Matt, I have two f4's , in my opinion the best 35mm camera ever made, with exception
to perhaps the f6. Love your videos, many thanks. Jack.
Thanks Jack! A pair of F4 is a strong setup, nice!
I'm seeing this video 3 years after it was uploaded. I bought a near mint F4s and FM2N in Oct of 24. I got both plus a camera bag and a lot of accessories for $400. There was a PB-6 double bellows and 12 rolls of Fujii slide film in the bag. Some of the film is Velvia. The containers were taken out of the box so there's no expiration date on them. I also don't know how it was stored before I bought it. I could probably shoot a roll and bracket my shots and have it developed to see if they're ok.
Cool review just got my Nikon F4 and never looking back!
Congrats!! Great camera :) You might like some of my other Nikon vids if you are a Nikon guy :)
Matt,
I have to laugh to myself when I see a new camera review of an older film camera from you. It's like we were mind-melded at some point in the past. *lol* I laugh because it's often, "Oh, Matt Osborne has one of those too ..." Well, except for the Leica cameras and lenses. I do not have any except the 90mm f/2 Leica I picked up on your recommendation. But I do have a few of the Voigtlander lenses (VM mount) you've talked about. Now .. back to the Nikons ...
I own an F100, and F4 and an F5. I worked at a camera store back when the F4 was new and couldn't ever afford one. I bought it, the F5 and the F100 over the years because I picked them up in immaculate condition for 1/10th what they sold for new. Of the three I find myself gravitating to the F4 because of its analog controls ... despite the F5 and F100 having better/faster autofocus, 3D Color Matrix metering, etc.
I often shoot my F4 with the Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 AIS in spot-metered manual (even though Matrix metering works with it).
The 60mm Micro-Nikkor f/2.8D is also one of my favorite lenses. I tend to use that more on the F5 ... despite it working perfectly fine on the F4.
I had an F3T in Champagne that had some issues so I got rid of it. One day I'd like to find another. I really loved the weight of that one.
Take a look at my Flickr Album for "Film Sim: Kodacolor II 126" (www.flickr.com/photos/danteciullo/sets/72157715076237762 ) and you'll see some images I've made of some of these cameras and lenses you often talk about. I know we've commented back and forth a couple times over there on Flickr but I don't know if you've ever taken a look at my photos.
Thanks! Haha I guess we have good taste then! :) I recently got the 28mm f2.8 AIS but not the 24. The 28 is amazing. (I might do a review on these as I have a few similar lenses I collected over the years). Yes I can't decide with these AF bodies.. I like the analogue controls like you, but i'm getting tempted to going to all MF bodies. I like the older stuff I think :) Thanks for the link. I struggle to keep up with all the comments but I will take a look and I appreciate you writing :)
It says link not found?
F4 with 2.8/28 Voigt and F4s with 1.8/85 AFD here, still use them beside my dF. In fact it’s the dF that made me back into film photography.
Great! Love those Voigtlander lenses. See my recent Nikon video.
I have two F100's and I love that camera with the 35 F2 and the Tokina 100 2.8.
Sorry I missed this, love the 100mm! :)
The only Nikon camera I kept for collection, I had about 5 FM2, a FE, a FE2, a FA, a F801s a F100 and a F3HP, but as I bought a Df with 20mm and 28mm Voigtlander, it’s gonna get out from retreat… The F4s fits so well in the hand, it’s a machine to make images. Now I’m looking for TriX films for a good price.
Great. I tend to use the smaller bodies mostly now. FE2 for last 3 days with SL 90/2.8 APO - dream setup! (Love those SL series Voigtlander lenses)
Yea man! I love my F4. It is one of the few cameras you can photograph with and hammer a nail with. It is also a good looking body. Have you tried the F6? It is the love child of the F100 and F5.
Nicely put Henry ha. No I’ve not tried the F6 yet.
Excellent video Matt, I just got my $200 Dollar F4 on Ebay. And I also have the 60mm Macro, Looks like i better get out there and shoot a roll to Tmax b/w. What other lenses do you recommend?
Amazing, congrats. The bad news is you are now all out of excuses! :) Killer combo! I use MF lenses currently on older bodies but I still have these. 180mm Nikkor 2.8 is nice and Tokina 100mm Macro.
Thanks Matt for the good review. I just bought an F4 but haven't received it yet. I also have two F's, an F2AS, FM2n, and an F6 on the film side. I wanted it so I could mount all my MF Nikkors as well as my AF G lenses and shoot slide film without the complicated menu system of the F6. We'll see how that goes! It also opens the door to the AF-D lenses I want to try out.
Thanks and congrats on your purchase! Yes some AF-D lenses are great. 60 Micro, 180mm for example.
I love the Nikon F4 and I used it some time ago with Fujichrome slide film to illustrate a book, 5 thousand copies were printed but alas I never got paid, it took me about six months to shoot.
5000 copies and not paid!! I hope the costs were at least covered? You must be proud of the book regardless. I have a book on Patreon for sale and I sold less than 10 haha :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It was for my local church, I am informed that my place in Heaven is guaranteed.
@@mamiyapress haha I hope so! Nice :) :)
Hi Matt, another common point it seems, Nikon cameras ;o). I came to the F4(s) in 1989, straight from a used Nikkormat, my first SLR, through an F2 (bought new in Liverpool while I lived there for a year and did not have to pay the then 20 or 33% (I do not exactly remember but just know that at the time it made a huge financial difference for me) French VAT on cameras), then an FE (as an auto-exposure complement to the F2), an F3 and finally the F4 which was my last professional film camera until 2006 (when I got a D200 and then a D3), so 17 years with it. [At the time the M6 was more for personal use]. I did everything with it: photojournalism (news, sports,...), landscape and social-documentary projects, portraits, architecture, theatre, modern dance, macros, and an MFA in 1999-2001. So yes very versatile. Why didn't I upgrade to an F5? .. just because the F4 offered everything I needed and I would rather keep my budget for lenses and film (yes film had a cost then too ! ;o). It was a major jump from the F3 (integrated motor drive, all the buttons of the previous generations (so easy transition), locks on major dials, illuminated viewfinder, "quiet" advance mode (Cs), matrix metering, adjustable diopter button on prism, autofocus, auto loading, fast motorised rewinding of film, AE-L and AF-L locks (and AE-L + AF-L combined too) under my finger... in sum a paradigm shift for Nikon catching up with Canon). I still have it and it still works. More recently I acquired an F5 on eBay, as I had been looking at it for years but had never decided to upgrade, not seeing the point in pure photographic terms. For me the F5 is just a refined F4, what has been added could not "revolutionise" my practise the way moving from the F3 to the F4 did. All the best. Keep the good work and the humour !
Thanks Bruno! I still have my F4 and some AF lenses but I always pick up smaller bodies first these days. Did you see my F5 video? One of my most popular at the time!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Yes, the F4(s) is a brick and a reliable one. It was quite a revolution at the time in the Nikon pro line when it came out. I was so pleased with mine that I skipped upgrading to the F5 (even bigger and at the time I would rather use my budget buying AF lenses and Leica stuff ;o) The F4 did everything I needed a professional SLR to do (I also did a lot of photojournalism and used it several times for prolonged periods under pouring rain without a single problem). I dropped it, scratched it, never had to send it for repair, and I still own it.
love this camera so much, I have a pretty minty one I use with ais lenses for photoshoots. but usually use one of my smaller cameras for general work. btw clean your camera!
Yes great camera! I'm like you in that I now mostly use the smaller MF bodies (see the FMs/FEs video) but I like the F4/F5 for AF lenses. (Yes sorry mine hasn't been used for a few years!) :)
Thank you for the review .i am now using the F4 more and a pleasure to use ,as my F5 recently let me down. it would not advance the film anymore. worked perfectly before.have to find someone to fix it ,if there is any repair shop in the uk .
Thanks Al! Sorry to hear about your F5. Try Camserve in the UK for basic repairs.
Thnx Matt, for this very nice and good review! I own a F4 several years now, with great pleasure in use but .... not it combination with the 60mm f2.8D ... till now, because I got myself a 60mm f2.8D occasion today haha ... Besides that I shoot with the D850 for my professional work, curious how the 60mm will work with that camera as well ... For portraits I use most of the time the Nikon AF 105mm F2.0 D DC. (👌) Have you tried that one as well?
Nice. Yes a Patreon has a DC lens. Maybe I can make a video one day.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Hey Matt, yessss, that would be awesome ... people just need to know how amazing this lens is ... ! 💥
Another great review mate. Looking forward to that F100 review. A upgrade on my FG since we chatted a few weeks ago its working great a real wee beauty. Since then I've also got a FG 😏😁 in great condition except for a damaged LCD in the view finder but I got a second FA that's not working but has a working LCD so with a particular strip down of both cameras and swap out the lcd's I'll have a B+ condition 100% working FA with all the covers and caps which as you know older Nikon's sometime are missing especially the pc socket and moterdrive electrical connection cover also its is basically a manual focus F100 for under £120.
Ah good work you are smart (and more capable than me!) I just picked up another FG-20 as a spare. So cheap I couldn’t not buy it!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom at this rate we'll be calling you the Nikon guy, oh can't do that that title is already gone lol. Its actually not to difficult to work at these older cameras its basically just talking your time and not rushing so you don't damage or lose parts like springs or screws and remembering where everything goes back, it's only really soldering and de-soldering any small parts that needs a bit of skill, confidence and practice and of course a few tools. I forgot to mention that the 60mm nikkor is a cracking lens and not that expensive especially compared to the 50mm f1.2 Ais but sharp.
@@612morrisonthanks! I recorded the F100 video yesterday actually haha but to keep my title I’ve recorded a Leica one for today. Yes the 60mm is excellent.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks buddy I'll watch out for it 👍
Hi Matt love this channel you’ve created I’m a big Nikon fan and yes I have a F4s I think the main reason I like this camera is because it’s like my older cameras I also have F5 also hmmm might have to stop watching this channel costing me a fortune Lucky for me you put out another video on how to save money to buy more cameras and lenses thank you so much, now have added even more gone to Hasselblad camera and lenses, but I’m loving it, thanks for all your videos I look forward to them all the time. Have been learning so much cheers Mate 🇦🇺
Thanks Brendan! Very kind. I did a recent how to develop film cheap so that might help you save a bit at least :)
Thanks Mate yes I Develop my film also lot’s of fun cheers.
Hey Matt… really enjoying your review about F100, F5, and F4… so is autofocus fast on this F4? How do you compare it to F100 or F5?
Thanks, the AF speed is lens dependent on all bodies. A 50G lens on the F100 was super fast and F5 is the fastest I think.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks👍
Hey Matt. You've done a review of just about all the relevant nikon slrs, except the F3. Any particular reason you've left out the F3?
Hi, yes the only recent is i've never owned it. I will try to get one one day to review. Currently i'm back to shooting mostly Leica and use the older Nikon the most, FE2 FM2, FG-20 etc
@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom - Thanks for your replies to my recent questions. I think you would really enjoy the F3 like the smaller nikon slrs you mentioned. It has that 100% viewfinder that you really like in the F5, but in a smaller package. I actually have two of the F3's. My favorite slr body ever made.
Great video Matt. I always wanted an F4, but skipped straight to the F5. Strange now to think that the F5 battery tray costs nearly as much as a beater Nikon body ! Must be made of Unobtanium ?
Thanks John! Yes I saw lots of F5 for sale with no battery tray when mating that video!
That 60 macro looks great! How would you say does it compare to the 55 2.8 ais macro?
Thanks Lugenm I would say both are excellent and similar. I've never tested side by side.
I picked up a Nikon F-301 (N2000 in the states i think) for $25. It doesnt have AF, but does autoexposure well and is very light.
Great! I think I have a F-501. Crazy cheap and they do the job. Mine has AF but you might as well just MF. I now use the older models like FE2 etc.
I am lucky to have an F, F3, F4, F5 and an F6. Great film cameras but obviously different. My fave is the F4 as I love the direct input with knobs and switches. And a pretty great looking camera too
Thanks Cathy! Nice. Yes the F4 knobs and dials are great for sure. I tend to use the older models the most, FE2, FM2, FG-20 etc (see those vids) :)
I have an F4s and an F100. I use my F100 more because it is much lighter but this inspired me to maybe go shoot the F4s tomorrow. Also, I recently bought a K&F Concept adapter to use my old manual Nikkor lenses on my Leica M digital bodies but you need to use live view because there is no rangefinder coupling. The images come out great. I didn't test it with the 60mm macro but now I'm inspired to do that too.
Nice yes I use Nikkor glass on my M240! Did you see my EVF video?
Exactly the talk I'm searching for. F4 vs F100.
Can you recall how many rolls can you shoot with a fresh set of x4 AA batteries on your F100 + AF lenses?
@@eladbari - I couldn't tell you because I shoot a bunch of different cameras constantly and I tend to remove batteries often in case I don't get around to shooting with a specific camera for awhile.
Nice one, that thing looks a beast. I used to have a Konica with four battery's in the hand grip but it wasn't in the same league as your F4 & certainly wouldn't have survived tumbling down concrete stairs! 👍
Thanks Nigel, they were really nasty open concrete style too. A Leica would be dented? + need recalibrating so I think it did better than most cameras I can think of.
The F4 is one my most prized cameras in my collection. Its big, heavy, but attractive, and fun to shoot. It really connects you to the image making experience with its dial system.
Thanks, yes i'm definitely a dial fan too!
Thank you for the video. Which model do you think is better than the others in all aspects? f4-f5-f6 and f100
Thank you

Feedback
FM3a :) ..Is what I use, but I have the f3,4,5 too. F3 also great! Sold f100
It does not seem to matter what camera you use, the images are always beautiful. Today I have an itch for Nikon film camera. There is a lot of figuring out.
Like why is the FM2 more expensive than the FA and why is the FM3 more expensive still? I have an EOS-1n so that's my heavy camera. Today I feel as if my final choice is the FA + 2/35mm Nikkor. But I am looking at the reviews still.
Ken Rockwell 😎roots for F4.
Thanks! F4 & F5 are tanks, M models are safer as less electronics, E models have the nice meters. See the various videos.
Hey Matt!, I purchased a Nikon F4S in August on eBay from Japan. I love the feel and the sound of the curtain and shutter. Thanks for the inspiration and information. I have a Nikon D7000 which I am about to trade in for a Nikon D800. Thanks…..Thomas.
Congrats and thanks, I still have my Nikon film bodies (quite a few) but tend to use mostly Leica (all models). The D800 was a great workhorse but consider the Leica SL before you do. I just converted another 2 ex Nikon to the SL.. they could not believe the colours were good out of camera and they didn't need to waste hours trying to fix skins tones etc etc). Prices are lower now but D800 will be cheaper. Can then use Nikon glass on SL for decent colours (for digital) but without AF so I get not for everyone. If MF AIS glass its no issue.
Love my F4s and F3hp feel solid in your hand and I adore the simplicity they will probably out live me
F4 is a bargain at the moment compared to other Nikon classics go grab one you won’t be disappointed 👍🏻
Thanks Jonny, yes I appreciate the manual controls it still offers :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom definitely I love the back to basics feel I enjoy the simplicity
Hei 😊 I use Nikon F5 since about 3 years. In the future I liked to have F6 on the side because it’s just smaller. The very reasons I use Nikon F5 are: it take Zeiss classic lenses ❤️and is , with pair with F6 most advanced and solid build film camera in the world. Period. 😁Beside this one I love to use Canon FTb. FD system gives me totally different look than anything else. Cheers 🤘
Thanks Damian! Zeiss glass, nice!
This F4 is definitely my all time favorite 35mm camera. Such a wonderful tool.
Thanks Michael! It’s a great workhorse!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Yes indeed! Most welcome!
I absolutely adore my pair of F4 bodies.
While it’s the first autofocus body with ‘matrix’ or segmented metering. It was not the first Nikon.
That title goes to the FA manual focus body, released 5 years earlier.
Thanks for confirming, yes a few others corrected me too, apologies!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom No apologies required. Enjoyed the video, Matt. Reminded me to use my F bodies more than I am.
Mainly shoot with the F and the F2AS, but I thought I’d give the F4 a try as I got an F4 for £114 on eBay today. Going to be using ai’d lenses in it however! Not sure if I’ll keep it but I’m looking forward to trying it out
Thanks Sam! Amazing price! Talk me shopping next time ha! :) Nice camera, you might find it OTT/ heavy for AIS lenses (I use the manual bodies for those lenses)(see my other vids) but you won't loose money on it so win win!
i have owned my F4s for over 10 years and i love it. it is called 'the tank' for a reason. it was such a good camera i passed on the overpriced F5. with the really low prices on F4s and F5s, maybe i should buy a few more bodies! :)
Yes they are great value now, f4 or f5
Hello Matt.
Great review. I really enjoy your reviews And especially your sample portrait shots.
I have 3 nikon manual focus (35mm , 55mm , 105mm ) and 3 nikon afd lenses (50mm , 70-210 , 300mm ) and a tamron 90mm macro (g) lens . I use them on my D7000 and i want to purchase another film camera to use them in film photography . Considering that three of them are manual focus lens Which body do you prefer something like fe , fm2 , ... or f4s .
Regards.
Mohammad
Thanks Mohammad! If you want to use your AF lenses too the F4S makes sense. You can use that with MF too. If you only had MF lenses I like the FM2/FE2.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank you matt for your answer . I also watched your video about the difference between 35mm and medium format Also the video that told why you use digital in 2021 all of them were really useful and practical . There is a big question that don't have an obvious answer : digital vs analog . I saw a video from angry photographer that reviewed nikon f4 and said in 2017 "the film is dead" . This question has a different answers for different Type of photography . For example for photojournalism in these days and as you said when customers want digital there is no sense for analog. But I'm a hobby photographer and just take a photograph of my family and friends and each beautiful subject that i see , and making a decision is a little hard for me . Do you have any suggestion or a video that help me and who is like me ? And also please tell your decision about angry photographer's Sentence .
Regards.
Mohammad
@@mohammadvarzideh780 thanks. Remember this is personal choice. It’s like why people use Sony or Fuji.. or Nikon or Leica. I moved to film originally as I really didn’t like the look of Pro Nikon DSLR. Later I discovered Leica digital and I like the look enough to use it BUT I still prefer the film look. Digital is easy to share quickly on social media and with family. I think film is a more lasting memory. You could use both. Cheap film SLR, see my FG-20 or Nikon F80 videos + cheap digital. Both have their use. Low light indoor digital is still better.
Matt, did you try the F6? I feel somehow this would be the end game for SLRs - at least for me.
Instead of upgrading many times and finally end with that anyway, it might be better to wait, and then go there directly. It is smaller than F4 and F5 - more like F100 I think. Price is like a Voigtländer Bessa R.
We are all different, but I feel more comfortable with SLRs than range finders, even I do like my Leica M5 (my only range finder).
Thanks Kim, if you like DSLR style shooting then I say say F6. If like me you like older stuff I’m much closer to the FE2 style cameras. I’m a bit anti automation deep down I think ha :)
I have a Nikon F4 standard , with the autofocus light in the viewfinder you could use the regular manual lens and you can still go by the light in the viewfinder the green focus when you use a manual lens , with 4 carbon fiber shutter blades with anti balanced shutter , no one today needs the power pack 6 × AA lol on automatic you can go through 36 exposures of film in 6 seconds with 6× AA ... film costing what it does today , if you had the Nikon f4 on automatic and you have the film ISO set to say 200 it will not let you take any pictures the red light will come on letting you know that you have to put it on DX in Auto , and yes the Nikon F4 is built like a tank . I fitted mine with a Nikon ED 80 - 200mm lenses a little bit heavier than the camera
Nice, yes a solid camera. I still own mine but have used MF bodies for years. FE2, F3, FM3a (video still to come!)
Yep, I did use 2 F4s-es professionally way back than. I had just one AF lens, the 80-200 f2.8 D. And the Ai(s) 24 2.8, 35 1.4, 50 1.4, 85 1.4.. Still regret having to sell them to buy a Canon D30 ( NOT 30D )... A D30... Oh my....
Thanks! Nice lenses! You are the second person to mention the 24mm f2.8 AIS. Is it as good as the 28 2.8 AIS? I used to use a 80-200 too for weddings! Never to late to buy a cheap Nikon body again and a few lenses :)
Have a Nikon F4(s) and a F6. The F4 works also with non-AI lenses if you push the AI lever to the side. The F4 is also able to use matrix metering with manual AI(S) lenses (see Manual page 86). Works also with Auto Focus teleconverter TC-16A to focus some Nikon manual focus lenses. The F4 could maybe the most versatile F camera ever made. Better then the F5. Only issue is the slow autofocus system, so Professional photographers switched to CANON, because of this.
Thank you Albert! Really great information thanks. Happy to hear you use one too! :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom please check out the F3AF lens AF 80mm f/2.8. Great lens which works (undocumented) also on the F4. (Have both and it works) Optical Image quality wide open maybe beter then your AF-D 85mm f/1.4 lens.
@@alberte58 thanks Albert! Always good to know thanks :)
Found option of F4s with 35-70mm lens (don't care much on lens I have my own) for $200. But that white opal plate on a viewfinder that used for gathering light for readouts is like pushed down little bit. Camera looks just fine in real life all things are working, but I'm torn apart and even $200 is a big money for me. On the other hand F4 checks all marks for me for 35mm film camera. But the readouts is kinda of hard to see in viewfinder, I thought it could be an issue because of that opal plate, but it seems like a general F4 problem (according to my googling, reddit etc).
I’ve not tried the S but the F4 worked great for me. I tend to use older models the most now, FE2 etc.
*2 Questions, Matt!:*
1. Any real advantages of the F4 over the F100?
2. In your experience- how many rolls will x4 fresh AA batteries last, using an AF lens? (On the F100 I find it quite short. Maybe like 3-5 rolls)
Thanks!
Hi, the F4 is a lot tougher, no stickiness, proper knobs and dials not LCD menus, can manually rewind, no weaker back door.. F100 is lighter. I'm not as much of an expert on these as my Leica gear but that's how I see it. (The F4 seems very popular with those that use a lot of Nikon gear and ex-pro users). F100 more with newer users.. as I see it. Sorry not sure about batteries, they might be something on the Nikon website. If you manually rewind you get longer life.. if you use less AF you get longer life.. I think.
the F4 can do matrix metering with manual focus lenses and will show you the aperture that they're set to. the F100 will show the aperture as "F--" and can only offer spot or center weighted average for manual focus lenses.
If you don't have manual focus lenses, get the F100. the autofocus in the F4 is awful and it's the camera that lost nikon the professional market since canon's EOS 1 was so much better.
Hi Matt,
Would the F4 with a Sigma 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 lens be good to use for shooting artists at concerts, low light settings etc? About 1-2 metres away from my subject
Could you recommend a good lens for shooting concerts?
No not really. Its basically a f6.3 lens. You need the 70-200 f2.8 (I used than then got the 200 f2, then the smaller 180 f2.8). You will need f2.8 constant.
See above
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thank you! Would it be possible to provide a link to these lenses so I can check them out? I was not able to find them on google
I've been using my F4 ever since I got it 6 months agouti is now everyday go to camera
Great camera! I used mine for a period too. Still have it.
I’m confused with G lenses compatibility on F4 and F5 bodies. I have an 85 1.8. Will it work with either body? What are the limitations?
G lenses have no aperture ring so an easy way to think of it is if the camera has a top plate LCD like the F80 F100 F5 that I use, it works fully. If no LCD like F4 it will work partly (in modes where camera decides the aperture not you as you have no way to select the aperture setting. If you use on older bodies like FE2 it only works at F16 (fully stopped down)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom awesome explanation. What about metering on F5 using vintage or manual lenses? Any limitations here?
still my favorite F camera, I shot 1000's of rolls fuji film when I worked for O'Neill . I have a F4E in it's original box, brand-new... The magic of this camera is that it's basically a digital film camera with 'analog' controls.
Wow, I never shot film when it was the normal/ pre-digital. I kind of wished i'd experienced it then to appreciate it more now. F4E nice!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I actually shot so much film that at the lab they kept chemicals especially in stock for me, crazy now when I look back. I think I owned over 8 F4's in different configurations 😅
@@IkkeNiet22 wow a different world! :) thanks for sharing
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom very different! Thanks for the nice post, just dropped a portra 400 in my F4, taking it out right now! 😎😎😎
@@IkkeNiet22 great tag me on insta if you post and I can take a look :)
I have the Nikon F4s with the MB-21 grip and MF-23 Multi-Control Data Back. I shoot more film through that camera than any of my other 6 Nikon SLRs mainly because of the auto focus capability with the D series lenses. Just a point that I don't think you mentioned. The F4 can not auto focus G series lenses. I've tried all 4 of my G lenses and none of them auto focus on the F4. Because of that I bought a Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5 D macro lens, which auto focuses just fine.
Thanks and yes good point on G glass. I have the F100 for a while to use G lenses. I think my F5 might accept G glass too but I forget.
i love my F4...I don't use the external battery packs because i shoot in manual and use transparency and b&w for portraits, stll life and landscape. I am going to look into getting the 60mm f2.8 micro for portraits instead of my 50mm f1.8D
Thanks John, yes the 60mm Macro will easily out perform your 50mm. If you need a fast lens the 50 1.8G is sharper from my experience. (See my Nikon F100 video).
I'm new to Nikon system in general. I just got the F4 but with a vintage 50/1.4 lens but I dont know if its pre AI, AI-s or whetever. The thing the I noticed is that I cant shoot Appeture priority since the lens always stays open at 1.4. Any tips? Thanks!
Hello, congrats on your F4. It might be worth getting a cheap Nikkor 50mm f1.8D AF lens and then you can use all the functions.
I regret selling my F4E (boxed and mint) as I miss that camera. I moved to Nikon from Canon as I could buy cheaper manual lenses as I was a poor student at the time. Have an M42 to Nikon adapter and used to use my M42 Carl Zeiss lenses with it. The 35mm f2.8 Flektogon is an amazing lens (I have 2) and is getting quite collectable now I think. Both cost £5 each from a charity shop! They focus quite close as well (less than 20cm). Also have other CZJ lenses that I used on the F4E like the 135mm Sonnar.
Thanks Rhys! Yes I think most of us regret selling something. I just got the Nikkor 28 2.8 ais to focus to 0.2m. I really like it.
Can't wait for the F100 review. I love my F90 but you always want to upgrade :-)
Thanks Kim! The F100 is certainly a nicer (more social ha) weight vs the F4. Yes I need to try to use the F100 so I can make a video but I have quite a few cameras on the go to test. Sorry for the delay with it!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Well, sounded like a long time for an impatient person like me, so I got the F100 :-) :-)
I find it amazing!
Also having a digital Nikon D750, I can set it in many ways to work the same, like back button autofocus! Also aperture is set on the camera and it works with G-lenses. It is awesome, but far away for old manual stuff, I agree.
I am still looking forward to your review of it, and I am not sure I have given up the F6.
@@KimHojbergJensen thanks Kim, yes it is basically a DSLR with film in ha. Perfect for those liking that style. I will probably sell mine after the review to focus on older cameras.
@@KimHojbergJensen Congrats btw!! ** :)
Got one of these but no lenses. You are using the 60 mm f2.8 micro. Now how, in your opinion does this lens compare to the 55 mm f2.8 micro? Thanks.
Hi Peter, i've not tested them side by side but from real results they are both excellent. I use the 60mm on the F4/F5 and 55mm on the FM/FE/FG series. See the Nikkor 50s vid I did for the 55mm results.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks Matt. Have seen your 50's vid a couple of times. I have been leaning towards the 55 mm.
@@peterdadson7713 thanks Peter, the 55mm is excellent!
I use a Nikon F100 and for me it's a good middle ground between the all the professional F
Thanks yes it offers a lot and a nice weight. I will review it :)
The Nikon F4 was the turning point in SLR photography. It represents the most advanced leap in SLR technology. Everything since then has been minor in upgrades.
I enjoy the knobs and dials of the F4 vs my F5 but I still go to my older bodies the most for the smaller firm factor and MF lenses. FE2 FM2.. even the FG20 :)
I'm struggling now in search of a budget Nikon SLR, and my region has very limited availability of vintage cameras, which usually overpriced. I recently was able to buy Voigtlander 58 1.4 for around ~$370 but it's first iteration without bunny/rabbit ears, and wanna try film photography for the almost the same reasons that you start to shoot film (which you explicitly told in "Why you still shoot digital"). And my point is, if camera fully depends on batteries, it should be advanced enough with good metering, and with easily available battery type, and my choice is F90x, but all similar cameras doesn't have split prism focusing and I'm really doubt that focus confirmation on those at 1.4 gonna be accurate.
Or I wanna fully manual, maybe FM2. But even F90x is bit beyond my budget, FM2 is really overpriced in my region and there's no way to tell the condition of camera, we simply don't have developed used gear market (such as Finnish Kamerastore), which can do proper tests etc. Thought about FG-20, but electronically depended shutter is pushing me away, and lol, there's only two options in my country now, one for ~$150 and other ~$300 for body only! And now I'm lost. But I really wish of there was a F90x with split prism focusing screen, didn't find much info on possibility of changing focusing screen in those models, sadly (only found very old forum messages with links to discontinued products on b&h and actual zero info on actual physical possibility of such detail replacement).
Yeah, my tiny budget is around $50 maybe :(
And since my lens doesn't have that bunny-rabbit ears I don't consider older Nikon cameras, but I guess metering is not that accurate on those anyways (due to the old age or other stuff).
Sorry to hear John, there are many budget Nikons available like the F80 but as you say battery dependent. The FG-20 are cheap enough to replace if break vs more popular cameras costing 5x more. Can you not import? Even with fees it will be cheaper it sounds. I still import from worldwide if cheaper than uk, even with 20% fees.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom yeah, before 2013-14 I used to buy on ebay pretty often. Now delivery costs might be up to 50% of the total product cost if not more. But there's a small hope on Finland, since I live in Saint Petersburg and there's tons of people who constantly visiting Finland for some supplies. But due to the covid restrictions it's not gonna be possible for now, I think. Also I heard info on possibility to adapt Nikon F lens onto Pentax K bodies, gonna check that too.
@@quite1enough good luck with it John and it’s lovely to hear from you all the way from St. Pete’s (I got the St.P to Moscow sleeper train once but only got on at Tver)
If I want to use manual focus lens, is the F4 the best Nikon camera to choose?
For me no. I prefer the FE2 but any of those bodies or the FG-20 that I also love. (I prefer split prism for MF and not the weight of the AF bodies bug that said I have used the F4 and F5 with MF lenses.
I had to come to the realization that, as much as I love photography, I am more "camera lover" than "amateur photographer."
Very difficult for me to pick the camera which feels the best in my hands. Despite having average sized hands, I have always loved LARGE camera bodies. Nikon F3HP, F4s, D3s, Canon EOS 1n, Pentax 67........ALL of them speak to me. Gun to my head, it would most likely be the size, weight, build quality, and simplicity of the Nikon F4s. Had one, and stupidly left it in the car and I suspect that the heat led to the dreaded LCD bleed, as the LCD had previously been as sharp as new.
My only concern in buying another is the age of an F4s, and it is my understanding that those old LCD screens cannot be repaired or replaced. Has anyone experienced anything to the contrary?
Ha thanks, yes i'm a sucker for old cameras as your probably guessed! I can't help on the F4S LCD but maybe buy a model without an LCD so no worries.
I bought the F4S version new many years ago. It was a tank but for me a beautiful camera to use with the 180mn 2.8 af ais lens. I sold it at huge loss in total mint condition after I transitioned to digital and everybody said film is dead and will never come back.😢
Sorry to hear. Easily done. I sold my Contax 645 before the price tripled.
Quick question Matt ... If you were going to buy a new SL camera which would you buy or would you wait for the SL3 and SL3s@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom
You should do an episode about why we shoot film in 2021. Many would be very interested.
Thanks Michael, nice idea, I’ll give it some thought and will do .. you might see me put a poll out to collect some data :)
I am shooting film more than digital now I just live the feel of it and it makes you think more about what your shooting I have now added more film cameras to my collection along with my F4s and F3hp I now have FM and FM2n and my F90x I love the feel of the older ai and ais lenses my current two favourites are my 135 2.8 and 105 2.5 both ais sharp beautiful bokeh
@@JonnyEnglish-gu1cs great to hear! I used the 135 on the FM2 recently and made a patreon video showing it (not yet posted). Yes I love the AIS lenses too 👌🏻
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom fantastic beautiful camera FM2 the metal feel great as you know the 135 is beautiful lens look forward to seeing your review 👍🏻
@@JonnyEnglish-gu1cs thanks! Give me some time as I have quite a backlog but it’s on the list :)
I've had all 3 at some point or another. Now I just have the F4 and the Fm2, which I'll never sell either
Nice, I have both of those too but I use the FM3a for the needle dial. (Video is coming soon)
@ i forgot I had that too. The fm3a