Nikon F4: Unsung Cameras Of Yesteryear
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- The Nikon F4 was Nikon's flagship film camera in the late 80s and early 90s. Disappointing for many pros, it has an often maligned place in Nikon's history. However, Chris Niccolls loved his F4 and he tells you why in our latest instalment of Unsung Camera of Yesteryear!
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Special thanks to Todd Korol and John Dean
Shot handheld on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 MK II
Shot and Edited By Jordan Drake
Holy shit this is GREAT. I've always wanted you to do videos about film but never got around to asking you so this is me pleading you to PLEASE make more videos about film and film cameras.
I mean, just looked at how good most of the shots came out! Those portraits at the end were *amazing*. Even Chris' puddle shot was surprisingly epic looking. Everything just looks better on film imo
So please, guys, consider making videos about film photography because it's not dead yet. Not even close.
Nikon was popular amongst pros for its reliability and ruggedness - I don't remember many photographers in Vietnam running round with a Canon. NASA chose Nikon to take into space for the same reasons. I have used Nikon for over 50 years, shot thousands of rolls of film yet never had one in the repair shop. I cannot say the same for several buddies who preferred Canon, they were let down more than once and a body would often be out for repair.
The F4 was an amazing leap forward and the layout and many of its features were the foundation of modern DSLRs today.
Agreed.
Just right, John. And Nikon 35mm SLRs with either Af or MF, are for my taste much better designed, cuter, more ergonomical, than Canon - always, especially with their silly "thumbwheel". I am used to it, but still... i hate it, ever since..for decades. ;-)
Totally agree.....
Nikon borrowed NASA aerospace construction techniques for the camera electronics- beginning with the F3, because Nikon knew the camera electronics had to be dead-on reliable over many years to win over skeptical pros. 👍👍👍
best pics i've seen made by you. this camera inspires you.
High Chris, Nice to see your enthusiasm for one of my favourite cameras. After years of shooting for the press and as a photojournalist with Nikon F's, I bought 2 F4's in 1989 and fell in love with them. Finally moving on to Nikon Digital with the D2. However, I still own and for a weekend every year pull out my F4's and have great pleasure shooting processing and printing black and white. Those cameras are built to go on forever, classics in every way.
I love my f4! Like you, I saw it in a magazine as a teenager and instantly fell in love. Of course, I couldn't afford one back then, but eventually I was able to get one for nostalgia's sake. At first, I didn't really enjoy using it because of the weight with the mb-21, so it was mostly a shelf queen, but last year, I got an mb-20 (small grip) and it made all the difference. I've used it quite a bit since, sometimes even preferring it over my M6.. I've really grown to love it. I'm pretty sure it's my favorite SLR.
Beautiful episode from you Chris and Jordan. For sure it recalls me a lot of memories using professionally and personally the Nikon F4 and I fully agree with Chris about its perception and use of the camera at the time in avoiding autofocus dis-ability of the model and its preference for the MB-20 version (compact). Thank you for sharing your nice B&W pictures. Yes film photography at the time was a different challenge with deep concerns about the final output resulting of our photo sessions. It was really nice to revive all this!
This are the best videos of your channel by far. I know TCS is a modern camera store, but we love this old camera reviews. Just look the likes: 63 vs 0! Also this videos bring people than normally don't see TCSTV modern videos. So everybody wins here!
Wow, the video quality from the E-M1 in this video is incredible. Also, really got me interested in pursuing film photography again. Great review guys!
I shoot Canon these days but I'll never let go of my Nikon F4. I am a little bummed out that my F4 has LCD bleeding, not sure how that happened..but fortunately it wasn't one of the critical segments (exposure compensation). You are right - it is one of the best Nikons for use with manual focus glass. It is a joy to shoot. And dang. Now I'm in the mood for ordering more film and shooting it once again. :)
I have the F4 in my colection, is still fine, but I never understand why some people insist that it has big viewfinder and is the best for manual focus when in fact up to 1988 is the worst. It has only absurdly stupid 0.70X magnification. F3 has 0.80 and F3 HP 0.75X, and even 0.8 is so-so and 0.75 is bad.
Chris, thanks for sharing your love of the F4 and your Tri-X photos... beautiful work. Watching this video brought back memories of shooting with my first Nikon camera, a used, rough around the edges F3.
Thanks for a great video. I really like the ones of the analog camera's. I know you guys are busy, but I would love more of them.
Enjoyed living this with you.
Hello,
Verry nice video about Nikon F4. So nice and perfect pictures. Really :)
In the past F4 was unattainable in price for me (Poland). So I stoped on used F8008 (F801) in 2000's. Constantly out of time :)
Bogdan from Poland
Not to mention that it was one of the favorite cameras of the late Galen Rowell, so sad he passed so early. There is one funny story in one of his books, on which he was on a safari in Africa, and when he saw an elephant walking very close to him, he grabbed his F4 and started pushing the shutter, but the camera was out of juice. The F4 was the first Nikon to have so much electronics, that the battery life was considerably shorter than an FM, FE or F3. He was not accustomed to that, thus he thought he had enough juice to take the picture.
He eventually got it, but I believe it was with another camera. Can't remember the details exactly.
Made me want to shoot some film again. I've still got a few rolls of black and white in the freezer, I'll get some out.
Love these yesteryear videos, very informative and entertaining.
Lovely!
Damn you Chris, now I got to buy one, just when I thought my poor bank account is safe you have to show me this stunning piece of old technology, its awesome, thanks for this video :)
Awesome stuff. Love this series! I'm totally a child of the digital era, but this video made me feel nostalgic about those times I did not happen to live in... and now I'm itching to buy one of those great film cameras.
Would be awesome if you did a video on Pentax LX or Nikon's rangefinder S3.
great video i love this retro reviews! I have a Minolta Maxxum 9 it is similar to the f4 but does not allow to use md/mc glass. Hope with these videos people will get in to film, maybe a medium format review with a Mamiya 7 or Makina will be interesting.
Turn your back to the door also. I preferred HC110 for film.
Hey! Its AnalogRev!
I remember when this camera came out and everybody was saying the same thing, the auto focus was too slow. People were really pissed off about it. The magazines hated it, even the lady at the camera store tried talking me out of buying one. I was a canon shooter anyway so I wasn't interested in buying one. It was at this point people started switching over the canon the auto focus was a lot faster and more accurate and the crown was transferred to canon. The camera looked badass but it didn't perform well. And people expected a lot of Nikon in those days.
Try shooting F6 you will love it.
I want to get an f4 but I'm just waiting for a good deal lol. What are your guys thoughts on the Olympus OM-1? I might just get that instead. Also i shoot film photography on my channel, would love for you guys to check it out!!
Before you buy an Olympus, please try to borrow one and put a roll or two of film through it. Olympus put most of the controls on the OM-1 in different places than every other manufacturer: the shutter speed control on an OM-1 is where the aperture ring on a Nikon F or Canon F-1 is, the film speed control on an OM-1 is where the shutter speed knob on a Nikon or Canon, and the aperture control on an OM is forward of the focusing ring. If you are already a Nikon or Canon guy, an Olympus will drive you nuts.
jmowreader thank you for the info! I tried my friends and I get what you're saying 😂 once I found the controls I was like hmmmmm okay. Haha
That was really neat. How fun. Good photos too, I think you should stick to film. Was it the finite number that made you find better shots? How about the X-T20 next eh? The GAS is strong with that one.
nikon f4 was my first slr.!! let's take it out for a walk.! :P
Hope the next review will be the f5, been wanting to buy one for months, any thoughts about the f5? Or should i get the f4 instead. Thanks
Can you make a video about the Olympus E-P1? The camera that came out before my wife was born
Ive never heard the hate for this camera.
What about the F5 and the F100???
Were you shooting black and white film, or did you use a filter?
Love the video
good street photography Chris
I think the F4's biggest failing was the video quality.
The EM1 mkii did well though.
Only one film slot.
@@milesian1 AHAHAH
AHAHAHAHAA
Haha.
Wide angle lens, super steady movement...I guess Jordan saw The Revenant recently.
I've been a Lubezki fan since Y Tu Mama Tambien! The Olympus stabilizer just lets me ape that look with less effort.
Jordan @ TCSTV
TheCameraStoreTV .... how about a review of the classic EOS 1.
It's great to see the EM1 MkII in action it truly looks like an in-body-gimbal. May I ask how you kept the focus in the walk-n-talk section around around 8:00?
John Taylor YES that is a brilliant idea!
yep, helmut newton's one :-)
Where's the part where Jordan talks about the video features??
Funny thing is that you can in fact shoot videos on 35mm film cameras.
You get these CCD sensors on a film cartridge and basically it goes in like a film cartridge but instead of shooting film its a digital sensor that shoots pictures and some even do video.
Holy shit I've never heard of that. Do you have any links that could show how that works?
NikoBellic921 funny
Too busy massaging his ego
holly sh*. Best shots EVER!!
Igor Serra Got to agree! Some great shots there. And now I know where Chris's dodgy British accent comes from ;)
Igor Serra I just commented that and scrolled down to see if anyone would've agreed with me. I too think these pictures are the best he's taken! They are gorgeous.
Rutgers
Those three portraits though! Guess now Jordan is officially the handsome part of the duo
Yes! We can tell ol' Chris was feeling inspired that day, ay?!
In college, my roommate Dave Politi had an F4 and I am still jealous a decade later, even though I could probably get one for pennies now.
I'll put the Canon Élan 7 or there is one of the best film cameras out there. Still love mine today
Bbc
Love the portraits the best. They are incredible! Thanks for this step back in time for reflecting on how "easy" and we have with the modern digital cameras. Not to say they are better, but the experience is much different.
I used to own the F4s (like you have there) and took many of my best images with it in the mid 90's. The use of large, easy to use buttons and nobs (rather than LCD displays) made it much more useable while wearing gloves. I (stupidly) traded it for a Canon EOS5, one of the most dumb things I ever did.
I sold a bunch of Nikon equipment and bought an EOS1 along with several lenses and was happy with it until I tried using it in low light. The autofocus was dismal and my daughter's Nikon N-8008s would out-focus it every time. Our local Canon rep admitted that was a known problem but that they were working to fix it. Not the answer I wanted to hear, so I sold the EOS and switched back to Nikon. I've had my 2 F-4's for a lot of years and never had a problem. And I love the fact that they will take all of my Nikkors all the back to my original F lenses. I still have my Canon F! original model, and love it!
That is a great comment. I agree 100 percent.
This was my favorite video that you guys have done and helped remind me why I used to love my old Nikons back in the day. More segments like this, please.
This brings me back. While I much preferred Tri-X over Tmax, I never got better negatives than when I was shooting Ilford. I can't remember how many spools of HP5 Plus I went through.
Man thats a HUGE camera :) I much prefer the old school slimline rangefinders and some SLRs like the Olympus OM-1.
Same here, though I do like to switch it up every ounce in a while with this cameras advanced features
here, you can find some pics of realy huge analog 24x23 mm film cameras www.pinterest.de/mikey3680/classic-cameras/
He shoots better than Kai.
Kai's compostions are shit.
That's a pretty low bar IMHO.
Well, kai did review this camera with film from his fridge labeled 1980 lol
Kai is 95% joke, 5% camera reviewer
They can BOTH shoot on me.. Mmmmmmmm.. such attractive men! 🎉
I still have my F4, and an F6. Love them both for different reasons.
If you guys ever do more film camera reviews and need developing /scanning let me know and we can run it through the Jobo. Probably a bit more accurate temp control than Chris's fingers...
This is one of the cameras that made it into the movie Jurassic Park, used by Vince Vaughn who played the roll of a photographer. He was holding a few different cameras throughout the movie, but the Nikon F4 with grip was one of them. :)
LOVED my F2! Sold it in the 80s for peanuts. So wish I'd kept it.
I had two F4's. Loved every pound of them. At the time I used them mainly with Nikkor Ai MF lenses and also the 80-200 f2.8 AF first version which was deadly sharp. Later I found the F4's were a killer sharp combo with the 300 f2.8 AF-I which I STILL own and use with my D2x! The F4's AF focus confirmation light worked well for MF lenses. Also the power rewind was nice. Battery life was forever with the add-on grip. Interchangeable focusing screens was great to have also. Metering was also excellent. These F4 cameras were indestructible and super-reliable.
More Cameras of Yesteryear segments please!!!
That was a fantastic blast from the past. I too had an F4, purchased on its beautiful looks alone. Saw that body and the money flew from my wallet, I was shooting a pair of F3's at the time. My first auto focus Nikon I don't recall being disappointed by the AF performance, but of course I continued to use the MF lens in my collection adding just a few autos so I had nothing to compare it to. The only thing off putting was the plastic wrap so when the opportunity presented itself I moved onto the F5, a great camera which I still own but it sure isn't the sexy supermodel the F4 was. Wish I had that beauty back... Thanks for the trip down memory lane and sharing those terrific B&W's, the portraits at the end make me want to re-fire the F5, a feeling long gone from me. Cheers brother!!
The Nikon F4 was truly the BEST and most advanced Manual Focus camera Nikon ever made. Folks only hated it when they expected it to be an AUTO Focus camera.
can´t you guys start to make some albums on flickr or something so that we can look at the full res pictures :) love your vids :)
As far as camera beauty goes, I still think Nikon's prettiest camera was the FM3A (in black), which was way too late to the industry with manual focus.
yeah I got one of those too, in chrome, wish i had the black too!
yea,, and that df based on fm3 as well lol
To me it would have to be the F3 the prettiest camera which I own one still. But the FM3A is nice too
The illustion on the viewfinder giving the camera that pointy look is awesome
I`m still using my Nikon F4s since 1990 without any issues and I `ve no real problems with the AF system of this camera :-)
do a review of the minolta dynax 7
1. Again pinkish nose, lips, ears. 4/3 camera in all its beauty. But Stabilization is amazing!
2. F4 is amazing! Did you say 100% magnification viewfinder? You meant 100% coverage, 0.71x magnification? Yeah, it just poor viewfinder, even Canon's EOS 620 had 0.8x magnification, and manual-focus-only cameras (Olympus OM like) had 0.93-0.97x magnification!
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 :)
You got bit like i did by the Nikon Bug when i was 15..
Reading National Geographic growing up didn't help, Lol!!
Giorgetto Giugiaro Designed the F3, F4, F5 and the One Touch and a couple other obscure Nikon's.
Man i miss being locked up in my old darkroom...)0:}
The FA was a great camera as well.
Chris you're a real laid back cool guy, like your videos.
I started out with the Minolta x-700, then the Minolta maxxum 9000. years later, I switched to Nikon and got the f4e then the f5. I moved to Europe and started publishing for a magazine. more than two decades later when I switched to digital. I've owned the d100, d200, d3, d3s, and finally the d4s. I still consider the f4 one of the sexiest of the cameras I've owned. I still have it. it still makes the same sexy sound as 20 yrs ago.
Great shots! Bought two F4s and an F5 (spares or repair) on Ebay. Why is this a reasonable idea? Because they are so well built that repairs (with the possible exception of the LED display on the F4 which invariably degrades to a greater or lesser extent and is tricky to source and replace) are often trivial. Both F4s worked after cleaning the battery compartments with white vinegar and isopropanol, and in one example, microscopy enabled me to spot and remove particulates hampering the movement of the incredibly delicate (thin and brittle) titanium shutter. The F5 repair involved disassembly and fixing a short using electrical insulating tape, and repairing a degraded ribbon cable for the side shutter release. Now all I need to do is try and take some good photos :) Great job thanks
Now that Nikon killed off their DSLRs, time for another unsung camera episode? It would be really cool to see a 2022 D810 or D750 video.
I have one I think it's fantastic, I also have 2 Nikon F's a nikkormat FT-3 a 6006 and one digital I bought when they first came out a Nikon D 70 which I still use Canon is a consumers camera, Nikon is the Rolls Royce of 35 mmm and digital
What a great video. Did succeed in making me feel quite old.... oh dear I am. Never mind, this whole think takes me back. The combination of a great camera with my personal favourite film developed in true kamakazi fashion made me laugh my socks off as Chris of the Camera Store dives in the bog and then into the kitchen to poison his mate's lunch. No thermometer and still great images. Somehow the digital stuff can never quite capture the traditional thrill of photography as was but can't give up. Keep up the great videos easily the best channel! Note that you are 'passed puddles' though (haha).
Only Nikon with Matrix metering that works with manual and auto focus lenses. Not for weaklings or piussies though lol Let's go Wha-lers! :-)
I don't have this one, but have the Canon AE1 and Olympus OM1 on the shelf.
People who call the Nikon F4 the worst camera ever made obviously have not tried the Yashica Y35.
In 1975 I went to the camera store to get my first SLR. I wanted a Nikon but my mom's budget said Pentax. I got a black MX. A 50 and 135 lens. Worked great. Used it a few years then got Pentax MEsuper. With auto exposure! Started buying digital cameras 1998. Went to Nikon DSLR's 2005-June 2016. Now Sony A7R2. Which is about the size of my old MX. Always curious to use the F4. There is a famous street photographer on YT that uses F4. One benefit is if it's stolen, easier to replace than most DSLR's.
Nikon will be soon the unsung camera and lens manufacturer of yesteryear.
The Nikon F4 had to compete with EOS 1 the first professional-level EOS camera with the brand new EF autofocus mount.
Canon dumped its FD mount for its revolutionary FE mount which it still uses with great success.
Nikon protected its clients with older F mount lenses. Big mistake which Nikon would always pay. Of course Nikon F4 had inferior auto focus. It had to be compatible with legacy lenses. After that Canon was always the boss with its legendary 50mm f/1.0 and its f/1.2 autofocus lenses.
Achilleas Labrou. Screwdriver AF contact and Nikon didn't have USM technology back then.
I still LOVE the Nikon F4S. Perhaps my favourite camera ever. It's a design object of desire.
I loved how the pictures turned out! That black and white look is perfect. I think your photos taken with this camera are probably the most beautiful ones I've seen you take in a video.
That's easily the widest dynamic range autofocus Nikon camera...
This is my everyday shooter 📷 my pictures are amazing 🤯 I love it and choose it over the f3 and my canon f1 new🤩glad to hear you feel the same as me love at first sight MB20 with 50mm pancake nikkor the best of the best🍸😎
There's something about film grain that makes everyday images look special.. Great video guys! I think your entire videos are getting good enough to merit your own TV show!
I had an F4..... and I loved it. If there was a digital back for it, it would be a great camera. Thanks for this nice video.
Love this camera!! One of the best cameras I own. Love how you can use new and classic lenses unlike the Canon fan boys that are limited on what lenses that can be used with a Canon. Super fast shutter speed with F4s battery grip, up to 6 fps I believe. Anyways classic camera and definitely worth the buy.
Jay Anonymous Hey dude, it's a sick camera. I was thinking of getting on after seeing this video. Can you tell me if it shoots 4K or HD video, and it's gotta be in lomography. Also, how many card slots does it have?
Nikon Dslr Lmao its a film camera buddy!! Closest think to this digital world be the Nikon DF, but that doesn't shoot video at all. Nikon has alot of nice full frame cameras, just depends on what you want to do with your photography.
Nikon DF was a revival from Nikon F...
Nikon F4 its a Film Camera! Are you blind? There are no memory cards or video option! Do not be confused with the Nikon D4!
Great camera. I use the F4 and F6 along with my digital cameras. This is definitely a refreshing video. Thank you.
What lens did you shoot the portraits with? Easily some of your best photos ever in a review!
WOW!!!, Just, WOW!!! Probably your best video ever! Video quality, production, stills, the whole kit and kaboodle!!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane that I continue to live today! I still use my film cameras quite frequently. It still is a passion most people don't understand, it's wonderful to see that Chris still "Get's it", and damn if it doesn't show in his shots!! I've graduated to a F6 now which permits me my passions with a healthy dose of technology thrown in for good measure!! Maybe you guys would do another video show casing the F6; trust me it's a current day wonder camera, marvelous is barely enough to describe its capabilities or its technological perfection! Thanks for the video!!
Neat video! I picked up an F4 years after they became obsolete and fell in love with shooting it. The feel of it in the hand is second to none.
The most beautiful camera ever made. I'm still in love.
I am a camera salesperson, and totally digital professional for over 20 years........I played with this camera a while back and indeed it did make me want to shoot film again.
I love videos like this. My dad bought the Nikon F401 in the late 80's, which was our main camera until we got a D70 in 2004, but I guess Canon was already pulling ahead even then, as he always regretted he didn't spend a little more on a Canon like his friend did, which had better AF and better lenses. But I've always had a soft spot for Nikon as a result. I wonder if we would've gotten a Rebel instead of the D70 if not for his choice 15 years prior.
I used to shoot with the F3 back in the day then a colleague bought the F4 and we were just blown away with the physical size and design, it was a thing of beauty (to us anyway!). Looking at your results, wow the grain and feel of the b+w analogue images, I love it!
Yup. Those B&W portraits at the end were definitely the money shot! NICE
Very well done and great pictures! Hopefully to see the Contax RTSIII some day!
Those 2 rolls are fantastic. Chris you shoot better on film. Perhaps the medium is indeed the message.
What no comments from Jordan? What is his excuse? That you can't record video on this camera?/.
I have been using the F4 as my main film body for the past 2 years and I could not be happier. Especially with the addition of the MB-23 multi-control back and a K-type focusing screen. It doesn't matter where or what my day of photography throws at me, because all the F4 does is give me answers to any problems I may come across. Most of the time I use mine for documentary photography in which I use both MF and AF lens. I have never had a major problem with the AF system on the F4, always seems to be spot on; especially when used in conjunction with the AF-L button. I could talk about it for a long while, so I will end it here.
Hot, cold, rain, snow, and not yet used as a blunt object the Nikon F4 does it all!
You should try the Canon a-1 with the 50mms f1.2 non L. That's such a fun camera.
My favorite camera of all time! Still have it collecting dust in my closet.
I owned and used both F4e and F5..
Both are very very good sturdy cameras and fail-safe too. The heft and feel was wonderful...
The first 20s of this video is not good for OCD camera gear lovers - "Where's the camera strap? It's not secured to a strap! It's gonna fall! IT NEEDS A CAMERA STRAP!!!"
It would be great if you could also make a video about the EOS 1 which, if I recall correctly, was Canon's direct competitor. Thanks.
Wow those images were awesome, especially the portraits! Hope you do more of these videos.
Please more stories with classic photo cameras! Please! I love it!
Dam I love the F4. It just felt so good in the hands.
Love heavy cameras if you have shaky hands it's the one to have..
Been shooting with old D2x models lately and i am amazed what they can still do.
Best thing about the F4 was its capacity to take virtually any F mount lens. Unlike the F5 and EOS contemporaries it was available without a hideously large battery grip. If you own legacy glass and old AF lenses it's a solid camera.
I'm watching this video again now, two years later. I have a Nikon N90s inbound. The N90s was my favorite camera, back in the day; never really got to handle an F4. That said, the first camera that I looked for was an F4, but the damned things are STILL getting $200 on FeeBay! I couldn't do it. N90s' are going for more like $25.