For some reason I started collecting these 801/801s bodies and have 6 or 7, one is new in box. They were cheap and are heavy and well built. They work wonderfully for anyone starting to shoot film, or just grabbing one for walk around shooting and not worrying about loosing or wrecking it!
You may find it ugly, but for me the form following function design made it a thing of beauty and used it for 15-years until the first sensibly priced DSLRs arrived. I still have it and it works like new (the sound of the film drive is so satisfying) even though the body shows its age.
I was definitely being hyperbolic about the looks, its just the first in the more modern control system for Nikon and it was a big change at the time. I think this camera is very much an overlooked gem when talking about solid reliable and capable cameras.
I have an 8008s (US equivalent model), and a F100 (its successor), among newer Nikon bodies. The ergonomics of the 8008s just feels right. The batteries last for a long, long time. The F100 maybe "better" but eats batteries like there is no tomorrow. Remember that the 801/8008/8008s was the F4's little brother. I couldn't afford an F4 back in the day, but the 8008s fitted the bill. Mine still works just fine in 2024!
The autofocus is in my experience perfectly accurate, it's not the fastest in the world but still way faster than me manually focusing. I use mine for social occasions in fully automatic mode because it lets me concentrate on my friends instead of on the camera. And I can just hand it to someone else and let them shoot it without them needing a lecture on how to use it and without worries of it being dropped or damaged.
1/8000 is really useful for a film camera I think. If you'd loaded something like Portra 800 (or faster) for darker scenes and didn't finish the roll, you're not necessarily limited to shooting in low light or tiny apertures in daylight. It keeps your options open.
1/8000 is a fantastic surprise this camera has. Many other cameras of the era even in the same price bracket capped out at 1/4000. I think it adds to some of the universal appeal of the camera.
I have 2 of these bodies, an N8008 and an F-801s. Very comfortable to use with good metering and adequate lens compatibility. Definitely nice to have an option that runs on AA batteries.
It is a Nikon MR-3. it allows you to use a mechanical shutter release cable and is a shutter button itself. Mine has be on the camera so long it appears to be fused in place but that is fine as I find it handy to have, would recommend it. The same port on the front can support an interval meter for timed sequences of shots. Other than that I think you would have to look up the accessory listing for the camera to know what else you can attach there.
You're soooo right: the ugliest Nikon is the F401, and then the F90 with its greasy hatchback in addition to the fact that the F90 is too thick in the grip. The F801 is the only one I like of those of the 1980s and later: 'she' is perfectly made under the plastic surface; first I hesitated to purchase it because of all around plastic, but since about 2017, I have been wondered why. The F801 (I owned four of them and will keep one F801s still up to the inevitable that I die) does worth more than any cult Nikon of the downsizing era with FM/FM2/FE/FE2/FA: an integrated motor drive, the 1/8000 sec is a stunning option for pics with 'freezing water' or aperture wide open when outsight light is very bright: Take a portrait with aperture 1.4 in extremly bright daylight: here you are with 1/8000 s! And because I hate AF and use the 801in MF mode, I've not any problem with this fine camera. The normal batteries enjoy a very long life in this F801 body. And - last not least but most important - the results of the exposures are pretty perfect. This is the evaluation of a pro used to working with Nikon F, F2, mat, mat EL, EL2, FM/FM2, FE/FE2, FA, F4 - and moreover Nikon digicams;-)) And now the today's price: 25 euros in Germany, 50 with optics (AF28-85). In 1983, the pure body without lens cost DM 1398,-- Got it? It's a worthy bargain. @philosimot
The short answer is I only had that lens and a 50mm non AI lens. Weirdly the dx lens is more compatible (as long as you don't use wide angle) I have never had a large collection of Nikon lenses and I previously sold more appropriate ones. I think it is impressive the compatability the F-801 has!
I was happily using two of these professionally for a couple of years in the early 90's . Damn fine. Very reliable.
For some reason I started collecting these 801/801s bodies and have 6 or 7, one is new in box. They were cheap and are heavy and well built. They work wonderfully for anyone starting to shoot film, or just grabbing one for walk around shooting and not worrying about loosing or wrecking it!
You may find it ugly, but for me the form following function design made it a thing of beauty and used it for 15-years until the first sensibly priced DSLRs arrived. I still have it and it works like new (the sound of the film drive is so satisfying) even though the body shows its age.
I was definitely being hyperbolic about the looks, its just the first in the more modern control system for Nikon and it was a big change at the time. I think this camera is very much an overlooked gem when talking about solid reliable and capable cameras.
I have an 8008s (US equivalent model), and a F100 (its successor), among newer Nikon bodies. The ergonomics of the 8008s just feels right. The batteries last for a long, long time. The F100 maybe "better" but eats batteries like there is no tomorrow. Remember that the 801/8008/8008s was the F4's little brother. I couldn't afford an F4 back in the day, but the 8008s fitted the bill. Mine still works just fine in 2024!
I think the F90 would have been its successor, or maybe even the F70.
The autofocus is in my experience perfectly accurate, it's not the fastest in the world but still way faster than me manually focusing. I use mine for social occasions in fully automatic mode because it lets me concentrate on my friends instead of on the camera. And I can just hand it to someone else and let them shoot it without them needing a lecture on how to use it and without worries of it being dropped or damaged.
I love my F801. Found it in a bargain bin in a camera shop for £1. Threw some new batteries in it and it worked perfectly!
1/8000 is really useful for a film camera I think. If you'd loaded something like Portra 800 (or faster) for darker scenes and didn't finish the roll, you're not necessarily limited to shooting in low light or tiny apertures in daylight. It keeps your options open.
1/8000 is a fantastic surprise this camera has. Many other cameras of the era even in the same price bracket capped out at 1/4000. I think it adds to some of the universal appeal of the camera.
The top plate is actually not plastic, but a magnesium alloy.
I'll remember that the next time I hammer a tent peg in. Use the top plate not the bottom.
Thanks for the correction.
I have 2 of these bodies, an N8008 and an F-801s. Very comfortable to use with good metering and adequate lens compatibility. Definitely nice to have an option that runs on AA batteries.
Can I ask what that adapter thing is that you've got in the remote shutter cable socket? Great video, btw!
It is a Nikon MR-3. it allows you to use a mechanical shutter release cable and is a shutter button itself. Mine has be on the camera so long it appears to be fused in place but that is fine as I find it handy to have, would recommend it. The same port on the front can support an interval meter for timed sequences of shots. Other than that I think you would have to look up the accessory listing for the camera to know what else you can attach there.
@@projectsoffolly Thank you for explaining! Need to have a look into that.
You're soooo right: the ugliest Nikon is the F401, and then the F90 with its greasy hatchback in addition to the fact that the F90 is too thick in the grip. The F801 is the only one I like of those of the 1980s and later: 'she' is perfectly made under the plastic surface; first I hesitated to purchase it because of all around plastic, but since about 2017, I have been wondered why. The F801 (I owned four of them and will keep one F801s still up to the inevitable that I die) does worth more than any cult Nikon of the downsizing era with FM/FM2/FE/FE2/FA: an integrated motor drive, the 1/8000 sec is a stunning option for pics with 'freezing water' or aperture wide open when outsight light is very bright: Take a portrait with aperture 1.4 in extremly bright daylight: here you are with 1/8000 s! And because I hate AF and use the 801in MF mode, I've not any problem with this fine camera. The normal batteries enjoy a very long life in this F801 body. And - last not least but most important - the results of the exposures are pretty perfect. This is the evaluation of a pro used to working with Nikon F, F2, mat, mat EL, EL2, FM/FM2, FE/FE2, FA, F4 - and moreover Nikon digicams;-)) And now the today's price: 25 euros in Germany, 50 with optics (AF28-85). In 1983, the pure body without lens cost DM 1398,-- Got it? It's a worthy bargain. @philosimot
Why a dx lens with no aperture ring? If I am not mistaken f801 can't function properly with af-s lenses and beyond. Godd camera though, easy to use.
The short answer is I only had that lens and a 50mm non AI lens. Weirdly the dx lens is more compatible (as long as you don't use wide angle) I have never had a large collection of Nikon lenses and I previously sold more appropriate ones. I think it is impressive the compatability the F-801 has!
@@projectsoffolly I hoped I had misunderstood the cameras compatibility, it'be nice to work with newer lenses. Oh well, keep shooting.
In what way is it ugly? I have used it in many weddings and felt it's the has best ergonomics among many SLRs. Handling feels extremely intuitive.