Make sure to check out the F4 videos from Kai W ruclips.net/video/1CCZjPicCBQ/видео.html As well as The Camera Store TV ruclips.net/video/HMqmENnOZ8w/видео.html
i should have keep a 80's design magazine feature F4 on the cover, has a details BTS design process of F4 , hope I can find it and made a video on F4 too , it my dream camera of schools aged, I bought it 2nd hands many years afterward when I can afford it too.
Great video , makes it really tempting to buy one, but I think I will stick with my nikon f3 for now.Also do you have any suggestion of a book about the history of photography? I have the book written by Tom Ang .However I was looking for something a little bit more detailed.
I still have my F4 that I bought in 1992. My absolute favorite and I will never sell it. I have many other Nikon bodies, but there has never been a more solid camera built since the F4 :)
Fujifilm X100, X100s, X100t, X100f.. Since 2011 though but still pretty often. The same with their other cameras. If you want to make money nowadays you have to release an updated Camera every year at least. However, people are way too obsessed with having the latest camera, if a camera was good in 2011, it still is. It's not like high end cameras are easily broken.
It's not just the Nikon F4. I've just noticed that people have released several videos about my old Minolta XG-M lately (great camera BTW). It seems that 35mm is getting really popular again.
No disagreement re the versatility of the F4, but, nonetheless, the only Nikon F-series I never warmed to. I've been shooting Nikons since 1979 - my current arsenal includes six F2s (four F2ASs, an F2A and an F2) , a pair of F3s (F3HP and an F3P), a pair of F5s and an F6. Perhaps my issue with the F4 was its bulkiness? The ergonomics just never worked for me: I tried both an F4S and an F4E - same reaction to both.
My favorite Nikon EVER. Loved it since day one. It's the last camera with knobs, but the first with the mega light meter and a great drive. AWESOME shoutout to a great camera. Glad you did this video.
I have a F4S and another to be canibalized for spare parts. Love the metering that stills spot on, the weight that's perfect to me and the results are awesome. Can't be more happy.
I got one before the price went through the roof, in as new condition and love it. Love taking photos with it and just holding it. Mind you had to take up weight lifting to carry it around:
I'm starting to suspect that it's no coincidence that virtually every photography RUclips channel I'm subscribed to are doing Nikon F4 videos... -On the eve of Nikon's 100th anniversary... ;-)
I've had an F4s since 1992 and still love it but completely agree that it is too heavy for extended use especially as I have achieved the half century mark and prefer an F100 for film work or a Fujifilm X100T for candid work.
Had the F4s myself for a year or so but, like you said, the weight was just too much. In a camera bag with a couple of lenses and a flash unit I struggled to even pick it up. Traded it in for a Canon EOS5.... which was flimsy and shit.
Ahhhhhhhhh..............My life as a professional photographer started with the F3 and ended with the F4. Two cameras....35 years. Neither broke or wore out. I was a newspaper photographer in Australia. The last setup I had was the F4S with the 28-70 f2.8 AFD. It was absolutely indestructible. They used to say that if you were in a war zone, if you ran out of film you could throw your camera at the enemy and if you connected..... The other lens I had was the 50mm f1.4 AFD which replaced the AIS version that was on the F3. The only digital camera Nikon had that I enjoyed using almost as much was the D700. On the F4S I used TriX and Provia...mainly TriX. I must have shot thousands of rolls of it. I used to have it set to spot focus and dailed in -0.5 stop of exposure compensation. The editors liked them darker rather than blown out. But it was not stealthy. The shutter was loud, but in the clutch of news photographers, everyone was loud. All in All, how wonderful it would be to have an F4 with a transplanted digital sensor. Pefection.
Well, the Nikon DF comes pretty close to that. It's got a D4 sensor and dials for pretty much everything on top. And it looks like a giant FE - I never liked the F4 look. Cherry on top, you have one of all-time best FF digital sensor for less than 2K, because no one wants it. They say it doesn't have video (I do both and I cringe every time a still photographer "miss" video...?!), and they say it got only "one card slot" (I swear, HOW was it possible to film with ONE roll only and NO back-up?! xD) and they say the battery life ain't good - it last 500 shots. Get one.
Ive been using an F4 for a few years now, was the camera my father used to shoot supercross magazine back in the 90's. Such a great versatile camera, and the weight is actually a strong point in my book; allows for steady shots at slower shutter speeds, and gives a very weapon like feel to the camera, which is nice for sighting in your targets and pulling the trigger. :) Great video, thanks!
Warning about eBay F4: Watch out for needed missing parts. The listing I bought from did not lie -- he just listed what's not included with obscure part numbers without stating what they were and that they were necessary.. I paid $118 per the stated price, but then had to buy from other listings $41 viewfinder and $75 battery grip, both necessary to operate the camera. I must say the result looks like new.
Design-wise it looks impressive, but I've never looked at or handled one. My dad had an F3 which I loved to borrow and use in the late 80s and it's still my favourite camera.
I own an F4 and yes its just the weight thats been bothering me so much. Probably one of the reason why i use my Nikon EM primarily now is because i dont need to carry big bulky batteries for it to work and the its damn simple and lightweight.
Haha, everyone is talking about the F4 on RUclips now! If I were more enterprising, this would probably be a great time to sell mine, but obviously you guys can't have it. ;)
I am travelling but seem to think my old f801 has matrix with all lenses - am I wrong? Ridiculously cheap - albeit noisy - cameras with solid build and features.
The first time I saw a Nikon F4 was at my High School in Benton, Kentucky in 1993. A photographer was visiting one day and had one with him, I couldn’t stop looking at it. He let me hold it and I was instantly in love. Now, 29 years later, I’ve got my very own mint condition F4-looks like it just came out of the box-and it’s definitely the most beautiful thing ever designed by a human! I use it without the battery grip and with manual focus, Ai-S lenses. I think it’s the best vintage body for manual focus lenses. All I need are dedicated knobs and a spot meter and I’m SET! Love this camera, I might even be buried with it! I want to be holding this F4 in my casket-with the 105mm f/1.8 mounted on it!
Save your money and get an F100 instead, it's better, lighter, made of magnesium alloy instead of alluminium (like the F4), better specs, better AF than the F4 offered
They're still affordable in 2021, a quick search through Ebay shows the price goes for US$ 200-250 for an excellent condition one, and US$ 300 for near mint condition. Unless the price was much lower than this (I doubt), it hasn't increased by much.
@@n0w3lly90 I've been looking to get the F100 for a long time now, but I decided I prefer the interface of the F4, with dials and buttons. It's just personal preference, but I agree that the F100 is superior in many ways. And it's nearly a decade newer than the F4, so less change of the eletronics failing.
Want to know why everyone on RUclips is suddenly making videos about the Nikon F4? That camera came out in 1988, which makes next year it's 30th year. A video out now, a year before everyone starts making 30-year anniversary videos is good for RUclips SEO. 🤓
Nikon has always been my camera of choice. F3 I absolutely love most. I own a mint once a year serviced F4, even though the F3 is my favorite of al cameras ever made. The F4 is the camera i use most, even over my F3. To be honest i don't even notice the weight anymore unless I'm using something else. Great video really good points. want some real fun with this camera, get yourself a true Helios 44 Zenit 13 blade lens. True you need an adapter ring and it's manual focus....but the swirly bokeh this camera and that lens produce together, perfection. And don't get cheap and get anything other than the original silver 13 blade, anything less is no where near the same..have fun.
I just did an inflation calculator of the 1988 $2,500 Nikon F4s camera and at todays inflation, the price to own it would be: $4447.95. I just bought the body last week in near mint condition on eBay for $189. It is supposed to arrive this Saturday.
Do you want another one??? I still have mine, not used it for years though. I loved almost everything about it, loved the feel of it, always liked a heavy camera. The one thing I always had a problem with was getting a new film to "catch" when I loaded it. That was a pain. Thanks for the video.
Guess the five reasons in this vid stand a quite high chance of materialising as USPs in a future Nikon Df successor launch - maybe coinciding with the Nikon 100 year anniversary... Maybe, maybe not... if Jared Polin or Matt Granger turns out a 4th vid it would be a wrap...
Hold on to them. Everyone is suddenly is into films and analogue photography and most of them haven't the faintest idea what the hell they are talking about. Even the price of the vintage Zeiss Ikon cameras, that until recently no one would touch have gone through the roof.
@@lensman5762 oh, yes, I will and I know what you mean - I started my photography 1979 mostly black&white with my own darkroom and I`m able to shot good looking photos right "out of the box", no need for complex postprocessing which I don`t like either
I've been shooting with my F4S a lot more often of late, as an autofocus camera, it wasn't that great compared to the F90X or F100. Now using an F4 as a manual focus camera, using Ai or Ais lenses with Matrix metering with the camera on Aperture Priority, I get magic, espeically out of colour negatives.
Bill, do you apply any exposure compensation when using matrix metering on F4? I got F3 as my every day camera and bought F4 recently to have AF+100%coverage vf+lens compatibility. However, I am quite sceptic in terms of matrix accuracy for C41.
I have an F4E and love it. I followed the progression, FTN, F2A, (skipped the F3) and finally F4E. The F4E feels terrific in the hands, and the "E" version makes changing batteries a quick and easy compared to the F4S.
i'm happy with the F4 hipe, so i can finally sell this paperweight. And i do have other thoughts and experiences with this camera which everyone seems to have forgotten that it had a lot of problems, like the battery housing, breaking strap attachment out of the magnesium, slower than the Minolta 9000 AF focussing, (try an 80-200 AF 2.8 :-) and a rather wide grip which required muscle training. As a manual shooter matrix metering was tricky to say the least and used to centered weighted with a slight up or down depending pos or negs more consistent. The high eyepoint like the F3 HP, was super. But... Then came the smooth curves of the Canon EOS 1, with their USM, in lens autofocus motor which blew the Nikons completely out of the sports department, and even die hard Nikon news users traded their gear for the canon EOS AF system. One of the biggest brand swaps in the camera history. So I have 5 reasons to sell this weight as soon as possible:-)
I have always wanted an F4! My stepdad had one in the 80s. I just got one about an hour ago and I'm so pumped to figure it out. I am looking at it like a journey of discovery. I love doing portraits so that's going to be my focus. Videos like this just get me even more pumped! Thank you!
All of a sudden we have an F4 revival!( Kai Wong and Chris @ the camera store both did videos on this within the last week). Would like to hear about the f6 also.
My F4 is a real joy to own. I still love my F2's but this is just about everything I want in a film camera. I couldn't even think about purchasing one new... The used market is indeed rich with them at a bargain. It fits all my 20+ F mount lenses with ease. I think the autofocus speed turned many pros off. Thanks for the video, as always so well done.
I do.. It's a spectacular camera. Not the F4s, the F4 is heavy enough for me. However, I prefer shooting mostly with my F2 or Olympus OM2n, especially the Olympus. The meter is amazing, the lenses are excellent and it's so small and light to carry around.
I really don't understand why people are so turned off to this camera Nikon F4 ... Just baffles my imagination ... to why people will not talk about .. yes it's fully automatic back in the day ... the price back then cost $ 2,500 ... in today's price would be $5, 000 you know yes I can say that the Nikon F3 they made so many variations .. And you look back The Nikon F4 ... Go Right to the F5 and F6 ... over look like the Nikon F4 is the elephant in the room REALLY ... you know I took a lot of awesome portraits and and pics of my daughter with a Nikon F 60 in the 1990s and the F 60 cost me $600 in Canada .. with lens that cost me $ 250 back then I bought a Nikon F4 cost me $217 off of Amazon ship to Me , Right from Japan and I went out and bought a Nikon ED 80 - 200mm 2.8 f Used like new lens used $280.00 Canadian ... yeah sure I want a Nikon F and a Nikon F3 ... Nikon made like 10 variations of the F3 ... well LOL I was 22 years old when its was introduced to the Nikon line up F 4 .. and in living in Canada ... always and dreamed of owning this camera ... and by the way I recently took pics of my granddaughter 2024 ... with a Nikon F4 and a Nikon ED 80- 200 mm 2.4 f .. older push and pull Focus 2 rolls film .. I had no problem with the weight , alot of people say about the Nikon F4 ... No one experiences what is true photography is until you pick up a 35 mm camera it's no fixing the contrast before or color or ... it's accomplishment I've taken the picture and using 35 mm you learn pretty fast your mistakes and you correct it , I think Nikon looked at Nikon F 4 as a Camera ... People loved the Nikon F3 and since F4 was so Advance and with a counterbalancing shudder carbon fiber shutter blades and the F4 with it Advance .. they just dropped it ... the 4 × batteries F4 What I have .. then 6 batteries .. then 8 × AA pack .. like I have a Nikon F4 standard it has no problem functioning with batteries that are used . Why would they come out with so many variations and only three ... not like Nikon 3 lol .. so mind boggling that people will just look over the Nikon F4 .. You type in the best camera of the 1980s Google it and you will not ever ever ever ever ever find the Nikon F4 anywhere lol
I had a Minolta Srt Super that had a what is called "CLC", CONTRAST LIGHT CORRECTION which I believe is pioneer in sort of matrix metering though in two parts of image in diagonal.. Nikon F3 ad a mechanical shutter of 1/100s as backup...just musing...
I like my F4, I like my F3, I like my FM2, I like my FE, I like my FTN, I like my FA, I like my F100, I like.....I like Nikons! Do you need all all them? No, but it's great to own them and to shoot film with all the great Nikon lenses.!!!!
I use Nikon F100 with manual Nikkor Ais lenses. Does this trigger Center weighted metering for me? Eveluative? Or some other method? Theres matrix mode, but i think it only works for modern Autofocus Nikon glass... :|
Ultimately, you have just run thru' all the reasons as to why I own an F4 - it's a blisteringly good camera, notwithstanding it's mass ( I bought mine pre-owned too); versatility is the key - & like you, I have had a roll of Ilford FP4 B & W film sitting inside for over three years - I must finish it up & D & P same. I like the immediacy of DSLR's, but on a point of contradiction, the anticipation of developing negatives & printing on paper myself, is all too enticing. Whilst I agree the F3 was a phenomenal camera, I'll never sell my F4 - like all Nik0on bodies, it's built like a tank - you can drop it in the mud & it's still good to go; I'm six years too late to the party, but I endorse every word in this presentation - Thank you !!
First off, I am a Canon girl. (I actually grew up on my Dad' Argus C-3,('nuther story for another time.)) So, if you could, please tell me what this Nikon can do for me. I've always shied away from Nikon because of the expense of their whole weapons system (I'm on a veterans' disability "budget," so I need a system that's "economically Friendly." I've always loved photography but the $$ for film got WAY over my head and I had to $top. In any case, if I'da had my 'druthers,I would have almost always leaned toward Canon, even when I has LESS $$. My Brother, however, when he died from the CA in 2009, willed me his C EOS10D, which I used for about 3 years before I got may 7D. (Miracle how I got That, but...) Canon's weapons system had always, in my mind been economically friendly ANYway, so when I Did get my 7, the guy I got it from gave me a really fair-dinkum price on it. I found the glass a lot more "$-friendly as well. SO ... Sell me on why I should swing over to Nikon. I MAY be able to get back into film, $$wise, and I MAY actually NEED to get back into film to "Get Back To Basics," as it were. And, upon seeing your VDO title about Why I "Should" get a Nikon F4," I priced on out on AMZ ( worked out to about used: $250+/-) ((I May jump, on your Go/Nogo)) but what $$ is Nikon glass going for and what would you recommend for a prime (maybe either 50 or 85mm) or zoom ( My usual goto is a 17-85 mm) and how $$ friendly would those be? Secondly, at min. 08:46,you mention that Ektachrome has expired. What/if any, would be a suitable sub for that film? Thank you very much for your considered and expeditious response. Kjiersten (Sorry for being sodamm long-winded, Me Mum told me I shoulda been a preacher!!)
Fast forward 6 years and I recently bought a Near Mint+++ F4s for $169.99 on ebay and a Near Mint F4s with MF-23 data back for $199.99. I'm returning the first F4s because it won't auto focus my G lenses in P or Ph modes but I do love the feel of the camera. I shot a roll through it using manual focus and love the focus indicator lights with the Green circle when the camera is in focus. That's a "must have" feature with the standard focusing screen that comes with the camera.
You' want to sell one and are doing this video to get the price to go up! My Nikkormat ft2 with a K split rangefinder viewfinder is so easy to focus and has accurate metering too. Nikon F4 would be nice to have. I have 4 Nikons already. I don't know how they get into my house. I have a FE, a N75,a Nikkormat ft2 and a Nikon D300s. 24mm 2.8 afd, 35mm f2 afd, 50mm f2 ai, 50mm f1.4 s-c, 55mm2.8 micro Nikkor, a 105mm f2.5 p non ai and a 75mm to 150 3.5 e series zoom. I think they breed.
I'll give the reason I've decided NOT TO BUY the Nikon F4... "LCD bleed". During an earlier era, I could have Nikon repair, but now in the current year 2018, it is too late for repair support and available replacement LCDs. I want reliability, and will search elsewhere for legacy model film cameras.
If it turns out Nikon is making a digital F4 for its 100th year and you are all shills profiting from them with these "nostalgic" videos I will be so disappointed.
What th'heck is all this about film...Hey it's 2017....film is dead.....go thru the whole process, instead of in putting your card into Lightroom...have fun for hours in the dark room, while I'm out shooting with my D500 on a gorgeous day !
a nice dooms day (or mad max) camera (though, EMP may kill some electronics in it...) :-) the viewfinder is fantastic... and if it falls on your bare foot the foot will be to replace, not the camera :-) i once met an old guy sitting in cafe with his f4 on the table, for me it was like a baby magnet, i stopped to chat with him just attracted by his huge chunk of nikon. he giggled then i passed him my g80 with 14m f2.5 to compare :-)
You call that massive. I got massive for you in 1979 I was 18 and had to lug around a F2 Photomic with motordrive and battery attached to the bottom. I swear that thing was about 8 inches long and weighed some pounds. But I carried it proudly in my first job at a multi media production house. Yes that was multi projector slide shows. How yesterday!
Nice, but huge and heavy. Not the most comfortable to lug around all day. I much prefer my FE; it has everything I need, but nothing I don't-including the bulk of the F4!
I get it's film, but why not just get a Nikon D200 or something if you want a camera with good ergonomics, buttons, and spot, matrix, center metering, etc.? It's about the same price and digital.
Hi! Thanks for sharing this video, it really informed me very well. I was wondering what Nikon 35mm film camera you would recommend when shooting mostly colour film and when autofocus is very important. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this! Best wishes, Josefien
my god, I loved my F4. I loved my FM2n a little more, but then the world moves on and you find yourself not using them anymore. I feel bad for selling them, and wish I had them back, but then they would just sit on the shelf next to my two Nikon Fs...
Oddly enough, before any of these F4s videos were released, I began working on a book about the Nikon F4s. I don't know why the sudden interest has occurred, but it is overdue for this fantastic camera.
If you think the F5 is not intuitive you need to sit down and take a stress pill. It's a matter of taste ofcourse but anyone who sees this should know F5 is a super intuitive camera 'update' .."Hummer" .. and it's a fuckin besuty.
I personally prefer the F3 when shooting film but it seems this has that DSLR handling / feel, which some converts may prefer if trying film for the first time (especially Nikon users). Great breakdown and it's tweaked my attention in adding this tank to my collection!
Please note the Nikon F5 shown had the optional data back installed. This does not come on the F5 as standard. To say you need a cheat sheet to use it is incorrect. You only need it to adjust custom settings. The data back itself is a horrible piece of kit. I bought mine without it.
Loved my F3 so much I didn't put it aside until the F5 came out. F4 was just way to heavy (of course the F5 is no lightweight). It was easy to carry a Domke bag with a couple of F3HP bodies and some glass all day. That same kit with a couple of F4s was just to much to deal with. Don't get me started on the Nikon and Canon pro bodies. Weight has just gotten ridicuolos.
Dear Ted, Canny video, as always:) Me, I think I will stick to my Canon eos 5 & Canon eos 100Fn-much cheaper & easier selection of lens with no compatability issues lol ! Regards,
The F-4 is my favorite autofocus film Nikon and I have two of them: one regular and the other with the data back. The autofocus is fast enough for the way I shoot and the meter is dead on. I like the fact that the F-4 will take any Nikon mount lens I want to put on it, including the dreaded G lenses. Yes, the F-5 focuses a lot faster (and louder) than the 4, but it's larger, heavier and eats lithium batteries, so unless I need to photograph a hawk in a dive, it stays at home.Great video (as always) on a great camera! Thanks, Ted!
Thanks so much for highlighting the F4. I have an F4s also that I inherited from my brother when he passed away. I did not know that the Matrix Metering was great for E6 slide films. I've been primarily shooting with the F3HP and the FM2. I will now have to try using the F4 with some of the expired Kodak E100VS and Fuji Provia 100F rolls I have. Do you have any recommendations for shooting these expired films using Matrix Metering with the F4? Should I rate the film at something other than the box ISO/ASA or even push them?
Make sure to check out the F4 videos from Kai W
ruclips.net/video/1CCZjPicCBQ/видео.html
As well as The Camera Store TV ruclips.net/video/HMqmENnOZ8w/видео.html
Three great videos. The year of the F4? :)
i should have keep a 80's design magazine feature F4 on the cover, has a details BTS design process of F4 , hope I can find it and made a video on F4 too , it my dream camera of schools aged, I bought it 2nd hands many years afterward when I can afford it too.
Great video , makes it really tempting to buy one, but I think I will stick with my nikon f3 for now.Also do you have any suggestion of a book about the history of photography? I have the book written by Tom Ang .However I was looking for something a little bit more detailed.
1988-1997
I still have my F4 that I bought in 1992. My absolute favorite and I will never sell it. I have many other Nikon bodies, but there has never been a more solid camera built since the F4 :)
Remember the time flagship cameras actually lasted 10 years....not every 6 months
Eric Rossi buys a Sony 6500 when it comes out. That same night Sony releases the 6600 lol. Shelf life is down to the minutes.
you mean in a time when not everyone owns a camera in their phone?
Well to be fair if sensors were as replaceable as film the bodies would be good for just as long.
That's right with SONY but what about FUJIFILM?
Fujifilm X100, X100s, X100t, X100f.. Since 2011 though but still pretty often. The same with their other cameras. If you want to make money nowadays you have to release an updated Camera every year at least. However, people are way too obsessed with having the latest camera, if a camera was good in 2011, it still is. It's not like high end cameras are easily broken.
Third Nikon F4 video from a youtuber this week. What in tarnation? It's a sexy looking camera though.
It's not just the Nikon F4. I've just noticed that people have released several videos about my old Minolta XG-M lately (great camera BTW). It seems that 35mm is getting really popular again.
i like f2 or f3 cuz of its shape but i will take all of them if someone give me hahaa
Wot 'n tarnation !
No disagreement re the versatility of the F4, but, nonetheless, the only Nikon F-series I never warmed to. I've been shooting Nikons since 1979 - my current arsenal includes six F2s (four F2ASs, an F2A and an F2) , a pair of F3s (F3HP and an F3P), a pair of F5s and an F6. Perhaps my issue with the F4 was its bulkiness? The ergonomics just never worked for me: I tried both an F4S and an F4E - same reaction to both.
The f4 is not very sexy looking. Its a step away from the cool design its too big and rounded compared to the previous 3
My favorite Nikon EVER. Loved it since day one. It's the last camera with knobs, but the first with the mega light meter and a great drive. AWESOME shoutout to a great camera. Glad you did this video.
This guy knows his stuff best video I've seen on this camera yet
I have a F4S and another to be canibalized for spare parts. Love the metering that stills spot on, the weight that's perfect to me and the results are awesome. Can't be more happy.
I got one before the price went through the roof, in as new condition and love it. Love taking photos with it and just holding it. Mind you had to take up weight lifting to carry it around:
I'm starting to suspect that it's no coincidence that virtually every photography RUclips channel I'm subscribed to are doing Nikon F4 videos... -On the eve of Nikon's 100th anniversary... ;-)
It is weird. ALL of them...
I've had an F4s since 1992 and still love it but completely agree that it is too heavy for extended use especially as I have achieved the half century mark and prefer an F100 for film work or a Fujifilm X100T for candid work.
Had the F4s myself for a year or so but, like you said, the weight was just too much. In a camera bag with a couple of lenses and a flash unit I struggled to even pick it up. Traded it in for a Canon EOS5.... which was flimsy and shit.
Ahhhhhhhhh..............My life as a professional photographer started with the F3 and ended with the F4. Two cameras....35 years. Neither broke or wore out. I was a newspaper photographer in Australia. The last setup I had was the F4S with the 28-70 f2.8 AFD. It was absolutely indestructible. They used to say that if you were in a war zone, if you ran out of film you could throw your camera at the enemy and if you connected.....
The other lens I had was the 50mm f1.4 AFD which replaced the AIS version that was on the F3. The only digital camera Nikon had that I enjoyed using almost as much was the D700. On the F4S I used TriX and Provia...mainly TriX. I must have shot thousands of rolls of it. I used to have it set to spot focus and dailed in -0.5 stop of exposure compensation. The editors liked them darker rather than blown out. But it was not stealthy. The shutter was loud, but in the clutch of news photographers, everyone was loud.
All in All, how wonderful it would be to have an F4 with a transplanted digital sensor. Pefection.
Well, the Nikon DF comes pretty close to that. It's got a D4 sensor and dials for pretty much everything on top. And it looks like a giant FE - I never liked the F4 look.
Cherry on top, you have one of all-time best FF digital sensor for less than 2K, because no one wants it. They say it doesn't have video (I do both and I cringe every time a still photographer "miss" video...?!), and they say it got only "one card slot" (I swear, HOW was it possible to film with ONE roll only and NO back-up?! xD) and they say the battery life ain't good - it last 500 shots.
Get one.
Ive been using an F4 for a few years now, was the camera my father used to shoot supercross magazine back in the 90's. Such a great versatile camera, and the weight is actually a strong point in my book; allows for steady shots at slower shutter speeds, and gives a very weapon like feel to the camera, which is nice for sighting in your targets and pulling the trigger. :) Great video, thanks!
Warning about eBay F4: Watch out for needed missing parts. The listing I bought from did not lie -- he just listed what's not included with obscure part numbers without stating what they were and that they were necessary.. I paid $118 per the stated price, but then had to buy from other listings $41 viewfinder and $75 battery grip, both necessary to operate the camera. I must say the result looks like new.
Your video quality/content is getting better and better!
Nailed it.
Wasn't the Nikon FA the first camera with matrix metering?
What about the F100? Except for the custom functions, which you don't like, it supports matrix metering and actually all Nikon lenses, including VR.
Design-wise it looks impressive, but I've never looked at or handled one. My dad had an F3 which I loved to borrow and use in the late 80s and it's still my favourite camera.
I own an F4 and yes its just the weight thats been bothering me so much. Probably one of the reason why i use my Nikon EM primarily now is because i dont need to carry big bulky batteries for it to work and the its damn simple and lightweight.
Get one with the MB-20!
Haha, everyone is talking about the F4 on RUclips now! If I were more enterprising, this would probably be a great time to sell mine, but obviously you guys can't have it. ;)
can it work if i take away the motordrive?
I am travelling but seem to think my old f801 has matrix with all lenses - am I wrong? Ridiculously cheap - albeit noisy - cameras with solid build and features.
😵😵😵 squarespace
What do you think about the F100 vs the F4?
The first time I saw a Nikon F4 was at my High School in Benton, Kentucky in 1993. A photographer was visiting one day and had one with him, I couldn’t stop looking at it. He let me hold it and I was instantly in love. Now, 29 years later, I’ve got my very own mint condition F4-looks like it just came out of the box-and it’s definitely the most beautiful thing ever designed by a human! I use it without the battery grip and with manual focus, Ai-S lenses. I think it’s the best vintage body for manual focus lenses. All I need are dedicated knobs and a spot meter and I’m SET! Love this camera, I might even be buried with it! I want to be holding this F4 in my casket-with the 105mm f/1.8 mounted on it!
They were affordable an hour ago haha.
haha too true
You beat me to this comment lol,
Save your money and get an F100 instead, it's better, lighter, made of magnesium alloy instead of alluminium (like the F4), better specs, better AF than the F4 offered
They're still affordable in 2021, a quick search through Ebay shows the price goes for US$ 200-250 for an excellent condition one, and US$ 300 for near mint condition.
Unless the price was much lower than this (I doubt), it hasn't increased by much.
@@n0w3lly90 I've been looking to get the F100 for a long time now, but I decided I prefer the interface of the F4, with dials and buttons. It's just personal preference, but I agree that the F100 is superior in many ways.
And it's nearly a decade newer than the F4, so less change of the eletronics failing.
Want to know why everyone on RUclips is suddenly making videos about the Nikon F4?
That camera came out in 1988, which makes next year it's 30th year. A video out now, a year before everyone starts making 30-year anniversary videos is good for RUclips SEO. 🤓
Nikon has always been my camera of choice. F3 I absolutely love most. I own a mint once a year serviced F4, even though the F3 is my favorite of al cameras ever made. The F4 is the camera i use most, even over my F3. To be honest i don't even notice the weight anymore unless I'm using something else. Great video really good points. want some real fun with this camera, get yourself a true Helios 44 Zenit 13 blade lens. True you need an adapter ring and it's manual focus....but the swirly bokeh this camera and that lens produce together, perfection. And don't get cheap and get anything other than the original silver 13 blade, anything less is no where near the same..have fun.
Nikon FA actually was the first matrix metering camera.
I just did an inflation calculator of the 1988 $2,500 Nikon F4s camera and at todays inflation, the price to own it would be: $4447.95.
I just bought the body last week in near mint condition on eBay for $189. It is supposed to arrive this Saturday.
Do you want another one??? I still have mine, not used it for years though. I loved almost everything about it, loved the feel of it, always liked a heavy camera. The one thing I always had a problem with was getting a new film to "catch" when I loaded it. That was a pain. Thanks for the video.
It's a conspiracy to drive up the price ha ha ha (Not really)
Probably, Kai W recently made a video about this camera.. If one’s an incident, two’s a coincidence, and three’s a pattern.
camerastoretv did one too, so theres a pattern...
What exactly they are trying to tell us? Camera companies are no longer making good camera that can complete with F4?
Guess the five reasons in this vid stand a quite high chance of materialising as USPs in a future Nikon Df successor launch - maybe coinciding with the Nikon 100 year anniversary... Maybe, maybe not... if Jared Polin or Matt Granger turns out a 4th vid it would be a wrap...
I think Nikon should bring in a new model at an affordable price.
Suddenly the entire internet figured out how cool old Nikons truly are
I bought it many years ago and i don't regret. It's my favorite film camera. 👌🏼❤️
Currently shooting with the f3 and F4. I absolutely love these two cameras.
I`m still using my Nikon F4s since 1990 without any issues next to my Nikon D700 since 2009, both are all I need for my photography
Hold on to them. Everyone is suddenly is into films and analogue photography and most of them haven't the faintest idea
what the hell they are talking about. Even the price of the vintage Zeiss Ikon cameras, that until recently no one would touch have gone through the roof.
@@lensman5762 oh, yes, I will and I know what you mean - I started my photography 1979 mostly black&white with my own darkroom and I`m able to shot good looking photos right "out of the box", no need for complex postprocessing which I don`t like either
I've been shooting with my F4S a lot more often of late, as an autofocus camera, it wasn't that great compared to the F90X or F100. Now using an F4 as a manual focus camera, using Ai or Ais lenses with Matrix metering with the camera on Aperture Priority, I get magic, espeically out of colour negatives.
Bill, do you apply any exposure compensation when using matrix metering on F4? I got F3 as my every day camera and bought F4 recently to have AF+100%coverage vf+lens compatibility. However, I am quite sceptic in terms of matrix accuracy for C41.
I found body for $193, seller claimed that only ~1200 shots been made, should I buy it?
Thats nothing. Ive had film cameras I have shot at least 30000-50000 shots on before they needed maintenance.
Thanks ... just bought one! When I was teenager the F4 was the must but so expensive! More than 30 years later it’s mine now!
I have an F4E and love it. I followed the progression, FTN, F2A, (skipped the F3) and finally F4E. The F4E feels terrific in the hands, and the "E" version makes changing batteries a quick and easy compared to the F4S.
i'm happy with the F4 hipe, so i can finally sell this paperweight. And i do have other thoughts and experiences with this camera which everyone seems to have forgotten that it had a lot of problems, like the battery housing, breaking strap attachment out of the magnesium, slower than the Minolta 9000 AF focussing, (try an 80-200 AF 2.8 :-) and a rather wide grip which required muscle training. As a manual shooter matrix metering was tricky to say the least and used to centered weighted with a slight up or down depending pos or negs more consistent. The high eyepoint like the F3 HP, was super.
But... Then came the smooth curves of the Canon EOS 1, with their USM, in lens autofocus motor which blew the Nikons completely out of the sports department, and even die hard Nikon news users traded their gear for the canon EOS AF system. One of the biggest brand swaps in the camera history. So I have 5 reasons to sell this weight as soon as possible:-)
I have always wanted an F4! My stepdad had one in the 80s. I just got one about an hour ago and I'm so pumped to figure it out. I am looking at it like a journey of discovery. I love doing portraits so that's going to be my focus. Videos like this just get me even more pumped! Thank you!
All of a sudden we have an F4 revival!( Kai Wong and Chris @ the camera store both did videos on this within the last week). Would like to hear about the f6 also.
Love it, Just ordered an F4 and will have it soon, can't wait!!
My F4 is a real joy to own. I still love my F2's but this is just about everything I want in a film camera. I couldn't even think about purchasing one new... The used market is indeed rich with them at a bargain. It fits all my 20+ F mount lenses with ease. I think the autofocus speed turned many pros off. Thanks for the video, as always so well done.
I do.. It's a spectacular camera. Not the F4s, the F4 is heavy enough for me.
However, I prefer shooting mostly with my F2 or Olympus OM2n, especially the Olympus. The meter is amazing, the lenses are excellent and it's so small and light to carry around.
Review the Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4, so the price of mine will increase... lol. Good video man, I want that F4!!!!!
I really don't understand why people are so turned off to this camera Nikon F4 ... Just baffles my imagination ... to why people will not talk about .. yes it's fully automatic back in the day ... the price back then cost $ 2,500 ... in today's price would be $5, 000 you know yes I can say that the Nikon F3 they made so many variations .. And you look back The Nikon F4 ... Go Right to the F5 and F6 ... over look like the Nikon F4 is the elephant in the room REALLY ... you know I took a lot of awesome portraits and and pics of my daughter with a Nikon F 60 in the 1990s and the F 60 cost me $600 in Canada .. with lens that cost me $ 250 back then I bought a Nikon F4 cost me $217 off of Amazon ship to Me , Right from Japan and I went out and bought a Nikon ED 80 - 200mm 2.8 f Used like new lens used $280.00 Canadian ... yeah sure I want a Nikon F and a Nikon F3 ... Nikon made like 10 variations of the F3 ... well LOL I was 22 years old when its was introduced to the Nikon line up F 4 .. and in living in Canada ... always and dreamed of owning this camera ... and by the way I recently took pics of my granddaughter 2024 ... with a Nikon F4 and a Nikon ED 80- 200 mm 2.4 f .. older push and pull Focus 2 rolls film .. I had no problem with the weight , alot of people say about the Nikon F4 ... No one experiences what is true photography is until you pick up a 35 mm camera it's no fixing the contrast before or color or ... it's accomplishment I've taken the picture and using 35 mm you learn pretty fast your mistakes and you correct it , I think Nikon looked at Nikon F 4 as a Camera ... People loved the Nikon F3 and since F4 was so Advance and with a counterbalancing shudder carbon fiber shutter blades and the F4 with it Advance .. they just dropped it ... the 4 × batteries F4 What I have .. then 6 batteries .. then 8 × AA pack .. like I have a Nikon F4 standard it has no problem functioning with batteries that are used . Why would they come out with so many variations and only three ... not like Nikon 3 lol .. so mind boggling that people will just look over the Nikon F4 .. You type in the best camera of the 1980s Google it and you will not ever ever ever ever ever find the Nikon F4 anywhere lol
How can we CONTACT YOU?!?
Like to ask certain questions and know that we’ll receive an answer? We love your work
The reason you love the compatibility with MF lenses, is that the AF was nearly the worst ever made.
I had a Minolta Srt Super that had a what is called "CLC", CONTRAST LIGHT CORRECTION which I believe is pioneer in sort of matrix metering though in two parts of image in diagonal..
Nikon F3 ad a mechanical shutter of 1/100s as backup...just musing...
Still own a srt super. Good camera :)
I like my F4, I like my F3, I like my FM2, I like my FE, I like my FTN, I like my FA, I like my F100, I like.....I like Nikons! Do you need all all them? No, but it's great to own them and to shoot film with all the great Nikon lenses.!!!!
Shoot Leitz and you will see how real lenses perform. I was shocked.
提出這部影像管治當值，必需求的執政頻道暫停服務，收回成命頻道持有以贊助並危害性組織共同體系成員執政非法行為侵犯人權團體問題國家必須要立即停止頻道服務，國際性國家頻道治理安危維護與重懲處分維繫處理。2018.07.04✍💌🚅🌐
I use Nikon F100 with manual Nikkor Ais lenses. Does this trigger Center weighted metering for me? Eveluative? Or some other method?
Theres matrix mode, but i think it only works for modern Autofocus Nikon glass... :|
The most beautiful camera ever made
So my F4 has serial number 2470311 and I reckon it is a newer camera
with the updates? Shooting with Ilford 400 HP5+ wish me luck :)
Ultimately, you have just run thru' all the reasons as to why I own an F4 - it's a blisteringly good camera, notwithstanding it's mass ( I bought mine pre-owned too); versatility is the key - & like you, I have had a roll of Ilford FP4 B & W film sitting inside for over three years - I must finish it up & D & P same. I like the immediacy of DSLR's, but on a point of contradiction, the anticipation of developing negatives & printing on paper myself, is all too enticing. Whilst I agree the F3 was a phenomenal camera, I'll never sell my F4 - like all Nik0on bodies, it's built like a tank - you can drop it in the mud & it's still good to go; I'm six years too late to the party, but I endorse every word in this presentation - Thank you !!
First off, I am a Canon girl. (I actually grew up on my Dad' Argus C-3,('nuther story for another time.)) So, if you could, please tell me what this Nikon can do for me. I've always shied away from Nikon because of the expense of their whole weapons system (I'm on a veterans' disability "budget," so I need a system that's "economically Friendly." I've always loved photography but the $$ for film got WAY over my head and I had to $top. In any case, if I'da had my 'druthers,I would have almost always leaned toward Canon, even when I has LESS $$. My Brother, however, when he died from the CA in 2009, willed me his C EOS10D, which I used for about 3 years before I got may 7D. (Miracle how I got That, but...) Canon's weapons system had always, in my mind been economically friendly ANYway, so when I Did get my 7, the guy I got it from gave me a really fair-dinkum price on it. I found the glass a lot more "$-friendly as well. SO ...
Sell me on why I should swing over to Nikon. I MAY be able to get back into film, $$wise, and I MAY actually NEED to get back into film to "Get Back To Basics," as it were. And, upon seeing your VDO title about Why I "Should" get a Nikon F4," I priced on out on AMZ ( worked out to about used: $250+/-) ((I May jump, on your Go/Nogo)) but what $$ is Nikon glass going for and what would you recommend for a prime (maybe either 50 or 85mm) or zoom ( My usual goto is a 17-85 mm) and how $$ friendly would those be?
Secondly, at min. 08:46,you mention that Ektachrome has expired. What/if any, would be a suitable sub for that film?
Thank you very much for your considered and expeditious response. Kjiersten (Sorry for being sodamm long-winded, Me Mum told me I shoulda been a preacher!!)
Fast forward 6 years and I recently bought a Near Mint+++ F4s for $169.99 on ebay and a Near Mint F4s with MF-23 data back for $199.99. I'm returning the first F4s because it won't auto focus my G lenses in P or Ph modes but I do love the feel of the camera. I shot a roll through it using manual focus and love the focus indicator lights with the Green circle when the camera is in focus. That's a "must have" feature with the standard focusing screen that comes with the camera.
You' want to sell one and are doing this video to get the price to go up!
My Nikkormat ft2 with a K split rangefinder viewfinder is so easy to focus and has accurate metering too.
Nikon F4 would be nice to have.
I have 4 Nikons already. I don't know how they get into my house. I have a FE, a N75,a Nikkormat ft2 and a Nikon D300s.
24mm 2.8 afd, 35mm f2 afd, 50mm f2 ai, 50mm f1.4 s-c, 55mm2.8 micro Nikkor, a 105mm f2.5 p non ai and a 75mm to 150 3.5 e series zoom. I think they breed.
I'm really glad I already own an F4. After all of these videos the price on the used market is going to definitely start climbing!
I'll give the reason I've decided NOT TO BUY the Nikon F4... "LCD bleed".
During an earlier era, I could have Nikon repair, but now in the current year 2018, it is too late for repair support and available replacement LCDs.
I want reliability, and will search elsewhere for legacy model film cameras.
If it turns out Nikon is making a digital F4 for its 100th year and you are all shills profiting from them with these "nostalgic" videos I will be so disappointed.
Why is everyone making videos about the Nikon F4??? Pretty sure Negative Feedback and Matt Day are gonna come up with videos too lmao
What th'heck is all this about film...Hey it's 2017....film is dead.....go thru the whole process, instead of in putting your card into Lightroom...have fun for hours in the dark room, while I'm out shooting with my D500 on a gorgeous day !
have one reason not to own a F4 .. the F3
a nice dooms day (or mad max) camera (though, EMP may kill some electronics in it...) :-) the viewfinder is fantastic... and if it falls on your bare foot the foot will be to replace, not the camera :-) i once met an old guy sitting in cafe with his f4 on the table, for me it was like a baby magnet, i stopped to chat with him just attracted by his huge chunk of nikon. he giggled then i passed him my g80 with 14m f2.5 to compare :-)
You call that massive. I got massive for you in 1979 I was 18 and had to lug around a F2 Photomic with motordrive and battery attached to the bottom. I swear that thing was about 8 inches long and weighed some pounds. But I carried it proudly in my first job at a multi media production house. Yes that was multi projector slide shows. How yesterday!
I cant believe the f4 was affordable three years ago
Nice, but huge and heavy. Not the most comfortable to lug around all day. I much prefer my FE; it has everything I need, but nothing I don't-including the bulk of the F4!
I get it's film, but why not just get a Nikon D200 or something if you want a camera with good ergonomics, buttons, and spot, matrix, center metering, etc.? It's about the same price and digital.
Hi! Thanks for sharing this video, it really informed me very well. I was wondering what Nikon 35mm film camera you would recommend when shooting mostly colour film and when autofocus is very important. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this! Best wishes, Josefien
David Bailey & I swear by Pentax reliability. Pentax LX + SMC focal lengths offer great optics.
No option of using M mode for new lenses is quite big cons for me. F5 has no such problem.
This video is the cause of me buying a Nikon F4 on impulse today..... :P
my god, I loved my F4. I loved my FM2n a little more, but then the world moves on and you find yourself not using them anymore. I feel bad for selling them, and wish I had them back, but then they would just sit on the shelf next to my two Nikon Fs...
Oddly enough, before any of these F4s videos were released, I began working on a book about the Nikon F4s. I don't know why the sudden interest has occurred, but it is overdue for this fantastic camera.
If you think the F5 is not intuitive you need to sit down and take a stress pill. It's a matter of taste ofcourse but anyone who sees this should know F5 is a super intuitive camera 'update' .."Hummer" .. and it's a fuckin besuty.
The Nikon f801 can be bought for so much less and has probably 90% of the same features as the f4
Another beast to consider is the Canon EOS 1 series such as the 1V or 1N/RS cameras. Great video.
I have both of them, the nikon f4 and Canon 1n rs. Cannon's Pentahead is not separated but nikon f4 is. I changed split.
Wait... if you put an AF-D on here you don't lock it to the widest aperture? Interesting.
I personally prefer the F3 when shooting film but it seems this has that DSLR handling / feel, which some converts may prefer if trying film for the first time (especially Nikon users). Great breakdown and it's tweaked my attention in adding this tank to my collection!
I shoot Fuji kit because it has old school knobs and a great CMOS sensor. Film? Not so much anymore, sorry.
Please note the Nikon F5 shown had the optional data back installed. This does not come on the F5 as standard. To say you need a cheat sheet to use it is incorrect. You only need it to adjust custom settings. The data back itself is a horrible piece of kit. I bought mine without it.
Shall I get an F3 or an F4? A bit confused. The F4 seems to have improved on a lot of features vs the F3...
The Nikon F90 also supports matrix metering with old lenses but cannot mount pre AI glasses
Why are all the youtube channels talking about the Nikon F4 right now? Are you all just copying each other?
Get a Nikon FE instead. Light as a feather and auto clocks off long exposures.
Plus you can get the MD-11 grip/winder for it if you want, for around $50.
Mahler8 My one broke :( It won't wind the film anymore. Now I exclusively use my F4 when going analog. Miss the light weight though.
Or F100?
AWESOME REVIEW, JUST PURCHASED ONE WIT A LENS FROM CAMERATIQUE. THANK YOU.
You talk to fast for one who isn´t natural spoken your language. The video was informative and good anyway.
maybe Nikon marketing people trying to keep the converation alive while they go through a period of decline?
The "Greedbay" prices have skyrocketed that didn't take too long..
Did anyone ever make a digital back for the F4 so you could shoot digital with it?
Absolutely love my F4s and F3 beautiful cameras robust feel amazing in the hand my goto for film
Man, you talk so quick. What's the hurry ? Take a breath now and again.
Loved my F3 so much I didn't put it aside until the F5 came out. F4 was just way to heavy (of course the F5 is no lightweight). It was easy to carry a Domke bag with a couple of F3HP bodies and some glass all day. That same kit with a couple of F4s was just to much to deal with. Don't get me started on the Nikon and Canon pro bodies. Weight has just gotten ridicuolos.
Dear Ted,
Canny video, as always:)
Me, I think I will stick to my Canon eos 5 & Canon eos 100Fn-much cheaper & easier selection of lens with no compatability issues lol !
Regards,
For a second there I thought maybe Nikon was doing some sort marketing campaign
The F-4 is my favorite autofocus film Nikon and I have two of them: one regular and the other with the data back. The autofocus is fast enough for the way I shoot and the meter is dead on. I like the fact that the F-4 will take any Nikon mount lens I want to put on it, including the dreaded G lenses. Yes, the F-5 focuses a lot faster (and louder) than the 4, but it's larger, heavier and eats lithium batteries, so unless I need to photograph a hawk in a dive, it stays at home.Great video (as always) on a great camera! Thanks, Ted!
Thanks so much for highlighting the F4. I have an F4s also that I inherited from my brother when he passed away. I did not know that the Matrix Metering was great for E6 slide films. I've been primarily shooting with the F3HP and the FM2. I will now have to try using the F4 with some of the expired Kodak E100VS and Fuji Provia 100F rolls I have. Do you have any recommendations for shooting these expired films using Matrix Metering with the F4? Should I rate the film at something other than the box ISO/ASA or even push them?