Make sure to check out the F4 videos from Kai W ua-cam.com/video/1CCZjPicCBQ/v-deo.html As well as The Camera Store TV ua-cam.com/video/HMqmENnOZ8w/v-deo.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 :)
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!
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.
Want to know why everyone on UA-cam 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 UA-cam SEO. 🤓
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!
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.
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
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.
I lusted over the F4 when it came out, late 80's in high school yearbook class, wasn't until 2001 that I finally could afford one. It's by far, my favorite nikon body, ever. Great vid BTW. Thanks for sharing the love for this fantastic beast.
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.
had mine for just over a year and a half and it really is a phenomenal camera, has been very underrated and i could never see why, it really does everything you could want
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 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.
Your comment about everyone making f4 videos was exactly what I thought the moment I saw the thumbnail to this video. The funny thing is is that I just bought one are started using it today. Great video btw. Enjoyed your take on the camera.
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 Ted. By far the best F4s video on UA-cam. It's very important to understand what this camera meant to a lot of us, who lusted after it but could never dream of affording one. Needless to say, when I was offered one a few months ago for just $60, I pounced on it. It looks VERY well used, but from what I can tell, everything works just as it should. That alone is a testament to it's design, materials, and build quality.
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:
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.
I'm starting to suspect that it's no coincidence that virtually every photography UA-cam channel I'm subscribed to are doing Nikon F4 videos... -On the eve of Nikon's 100th anniversary... ;-)
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.
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.
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.
Lot of good points. I will agree. It was my 1st Nikon AF Pro. FA of 1983 would actually be the 1st Matrix Metering prosumer body or as they called it early on, Multi-Path Segmented along w/ TTL dedicated flash. So F4 was 5 yrs in the making of advancements on all of that, adding AE-L and more. F4 in 1988 also sold as the 1st slim down Pro SLR w/ integrated motordrive (standard grip MB-20) w/ only 4x AA cells. No longer was M shutter an option. F4S was the 2nd then F4E. All convertible. What took this to the next level for me was the MF-23 data back bring an advanced array of new features. It was a near analog mechanical look & feel with the digital electronic insides. I loved the NAi flip tab & electro-mechanical shutter release cable system w/ 2-stage feedback for AF/Meter. It truly is a milestone in photographic history. A 1st & a last of things.
I have decided to get my absolutely gorgeous Nikon F4 out of its display cabinet, and to start using it again, by using colour film, and then having prints made from the exposures, AND a CD with digital images of my film/analogue shots. The Nikon F4 is probably the best camera ever made, and it is too much of a great camera just to look amazing in a display cabinet ! I loved how you presented this masterpiece of art and engineering, and that you praised Nikon for keeping its lens compatibility over many decades for dyed-in-the-wool Nikonians. I would however, just like to comment that I love the weight of this incredible camera : when you lift it, you know that you are lifting a lot of art and technology, and not a featherweight piece of cheap plastic ! As you correctly commented, Nikon are to be commended for the lens compatability of their SLRs over several decades, however I find it extremely non-Nikonian of Nikon that they have not marketed a digital back for their SLRs, or just for the F4, thus converting them easily into DSLRs. Nikon holds a patent for this technology, so come on Nikon, it’s time to launch the world’s best ever camera into the digital age !!!!!!!!!!! What a milestone that would be for the company !!!!!!!!!!
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.
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 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.
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.
There's no question that the F4 is an iconic film camera, but if you have less money to burn and want a slightly more modern film camera, you can pick up a Nikon N80 for a fraction of the cost of the F4 and get 4 AF points (instead of 1), an auto film rewind feature that enables when you've reached the end of the roll, and full support for G lenses (PSAM modes).
good enough for the money. I can take it with me everywhere I go. Is light enough but not too light (around 500 gram without batteries and lens), relatively small, has I think the most quiet shutter among Nikon's (d/SLRs). Works well without loosing any of the features with newer VR and G lenses.
After many years of using an F2S, I simply had other hobbies to pursue. Then, a week long vacation trip to Montreal and Quebec came to be. The night before, I bought a very clean used F4S, sans operating manual, two lenses, and boarded the airplane. I left it on Program mostly, and lo and behold, my fingers fell naturally onto the classic control layout and I had no problem figuring out the shutter modes including "silent," and single auto-advance vs. continuous on the rotary switch around the shutter button. The SB-24 also worked beautifully for outdoor fill flash, and I had a pretty amazing bunch of completely impromptu images to look at when I returned to L.A. While I now shoot an F5, I can surely find a place for another F4, with the MB-20 on it to shave off a pound of weight off the thing. It's autofocus essentially stinks in low light, not even in the same league as the F5 that is so fast, it's brutal, but it is much easier to use. I understand why Nikon built their digital Df that also mimicked the classic dial and knob user friendly layout. Great review.
I have about 20 old Nikkor manual lenses, which I purchased during the transition between film and digital. Every single one of those lenses, I spent days if not weeks, or months researching them before purchasing. Although I have a Nikon FM2 and FE2 manual film cameras which I love, I was loooking for a Nikon film camera that had some type of focus assist with manual lenses, to assist my aging eyes, especially in dim lighting. My Pentax k-5 II digital camera uses focus-assist on all Pentax manual focus lenses including the famous Takumar lenses which is great ! My Nikon D7000 camera also offers focus assist with manual lenses, but its a digital camera. I had my eyes on the F4 for a long time, not just because of the way it looks, but because of all the features and its mystique. I mean this is a real Professional camera. Last year for my birthday, i decided to spring for one which was listed on ebay. It cost me a little less than $200, but I was even willing to pay a little more for better quality. This camera was in almost Mint condition coming from Japan. The only flaw I could find is a slightly scratched LCD sub-panel in the viewfinder. No big deal since the main LCD panel looks and works fine. Everything else also works fine. The added bonus is that this camera has AF(auto focus), so I could use it with the few AF Nikon lenses I own. I don't have anything against AF, but if your camera has it you might as well use it ! In the field and to my surprise, I noticed that the AF is pretty quick and locks on, unless you are in dim lighting. It's not the quickest and quietest AF, but it certainly might help in capturing pictures that you might miss using the slower manual focus. This camera is everthing I dreamed about ! Buttons instead of time consuming and complicated menus. Rugged as a Tank. Dust and moisture resistant. I really don't mind the weight unless I decide to slap on my Nikon 300mm f4.5 which also weighs a ton. Oh I forgot, the nice sounding shutter instead of the outrageously LOUD Slap-Slap of the Canons. I tend to prefer hefty cameras because that spells 'quality' and it reminds me how much I payed for them. Plasticky, light cameras just feel cheap to me. They tend to fall appart when you start running into things like desks, tables, or door frames(and my dog). If need a light, easy to carry all-day camera, I have other options like my Panasonic point-and-shoot. This is a camera you take around town and enjoy the entire experience. The cost of film these days slows you down and makes you think before hitting the shutter. It's not bang-bang camera that you shoot 36 frames in a minute, although it can be used this way. I thought about the F3, but I already own the FE2 and the FM2 that are great semi-pro film cameras in themselves. The F5 was way too big and too modern looking. The F100 which can be had for about the same price ast the F4 on ebay, was just too plasticky for me. The F6 is still beyond my budget even now, but hopefully I might get my hands on one someday...
Thanks, Ted, for this great rundown on the F4. Yes, an amazing camera, as all the F film cameras are. Through the 1980s and into the 1990s I made my living shooting the Nikon F2 for corporate clients. Still my favorite camera of all time, bar none, with extremely accurate built-in meters (once you learned how to read these meters it was a piece of cake to consistently expose Kodachrome and Ektachrome with great accuracy). This was doubly important for me as my principal client at the time was Eastman Kodak Company's Profesional Photography Division. I had the fortunate opportunity over those years to work with revolutionary films right when they were introduced (e.g. Kodachrome 200, Ekatapress color negative film for photojournalists, T-Max 400 and 100, and so on). Tremendous education! I also wrote for Kodak, preparing the press kits on such products as T-Max films, Kodachrome 200, Kodachrome 64 in 120 format, and the Kodak Digital Camera System in the late 1980s. The Kodak DCS, as you may recall, "married" a Nikon F3 body with a very early CCD sensor that replaced the F3 back and, of course, any film that normally would be in the camera. The captured digital image would be fed via tether to a cumbersome shoulder-mounted digital processing unit and the image then transmitted to the appropriate publication or news agency. I prepared a press piece on the first high-profile use of the Kodak DCS: A news photographer, AP if I recall correctly, used the DCS to photograph President George H.W. Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20, 1989. Within 30 minutes of the photos being taken the "Washington Post" had an edition out on the street with the photos. The power of digital! Anyhow, thanks Ted for all your good work educating those committed to photography!
not many channels I hit that like button before I even watch it. but you are 1 I can count on for amazing content ,excellent information. thank u for all u have done. 👍👏😆
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 !!
Have just purchased one from Japan and waiting for it to arrive,will hopefully get here in a week or so..an F4E version, paid 297$ Aus..look forward to taking it out on its maiden journey when it arrives, I fell in love with Nikon's back in 2012 when I bought my first DSLR..and old D100 that served me well till I could afford something better,so it was a natural progression when I moved to shooting 35mm film to buy Nikon F series camera's as I was already familiar with the system. love shooting all my 35mm cams, so much so that my digital camera gets little use these days.
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...
The Nikon F4 is a 35 mm autofocus (AF) single lens reflex (SLR) film camera, introduced in 1988 as the next generation in Nikon's line of F series professional cameras. With industrial design by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the F4 was the first professional Nikon to feature a practical autofocus system.
I miss my f3 and f4. I loved those tanks. I had an f3 with the nicad battery pack and winder. I would go through a roll of 36 exposures in a few seconds. The the f4 and its autofocus allowed me to become the official photographer of the Dallas Sidekicks when I was 19. I amazed at sports photos that were taken prior to autofocus.
Regarding center weight metering, i use that metering mode for all of my cameras (canon f1n, 1v and my 50d dslr). I shoot slide film with my f1n and 1v and get great results! It becomes a extra way of thinking about exposure when i need to meter for a good value and i cant stress through a roll of film!
I just bought a "Near Mint" condition Nikon F4s body and am trying to learn all I can since I have 2 head injuries. But from my research, this camera is the very best my money could buy.
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.
Absolutely brilliant review. I am a bit of a Olympus /Voigtlánder/ Contax all-mechanical bodies fanatic, but when I got the chance to get my hands on an F4s, well I did and... oh boy, what a stunning camera. I remember when it came out people would scream in horror at this model, the reactions were not all that good. One of the main reasons being the lack of not giving the option of a mechanical shutter speed in case batteries wouldn't work (even the 1st electronic model, the F3, gave you this option at 1/60th if I am not mistaken). Anyway, since I got one it became one of my favorite. I am still looking for an MB-20 battery grip as the MB-21 can be a bit too cumbersome at times. Again, very good review. Keep up with the good work (as always).
I confess. I have the F5. It takes great pictures. My son-in-law has dropped digital for film. I need to get back into shooting more film. There is a feel to film that cannot be reproduced by a digital camera. But, there are trade-offs between the two mediums and carrying both the F5 and my Nikon digital cameras, like I wish I can do, can be a bit burdensome since we do a lot of foreign travel by air. You have reminded me that I do need to shoot more film. I enjoy your show. Keep up the good work!
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.
I've used Nikon gear since my first F in 1968. Switched to the F3HP from the F2AS in 84. For some reason, I was never attracted to the F4. Didn't fully drop the F3 until the F100 came out. Loved the F5, but it was just way to heavy. Looking back, I may look for a used F4 just to try it out. The only potential complaint is the size and weight. The F3 was really the perfect Nikon in many ways, followed by the F100.
I don't like using the grip on the F4 (i.e., the F4s), it makes the camera bulky and heavy to carry around. Without the grip, it is actually quite portable and fits in most camera bags. The matrix meter is not color, but works beautifully in monochrome. I use the F4 to shoot B&W in cases where I want to shoot fast glass at wide apertures (e.g., portrait lenses wide open), and I need AF to nail the focus.
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!
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.
I bought one recently in 2024 and that cost me $250.37 It does have wear and tear on the camera but overall it is in very good condition I don't have the motor Drive attachment I don't need it might pick it up later .. when you have the motor Drive 5.7 frames per second the cost of film and developing lol , I put 4 ×AA used batteries in mine and it's still operated
I still can't believe you've not tried out a fuji x series camera still. From watching your videos over the years its obvious to me you will really enjoy the experience. This video only confirms it further. Someone in the US please lend Ted a old x-t1 if you have one gathering dust since you purchased your x-t2.
I'm glad you addressed the other vids right at the beginning lol. I came here to be like, "really? Another one?" When I got into film photography again year before last, I almost went with an F4, but decided to go with an F100 because I can use all my modern Nikon lenses on it, including VR functionality.
Fujis are layer out just like this. Honestly the most user friendly current digital cameras, no need for menus or looking at the screen 95% of the time, I often have my screen off and use the ovf for street and travel photography on the xpro2
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.
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.
the only problem with 35-70 f2.8 - quite often at some point the haze kicks in inside a glued glass element and then it's good for a trashcan (unless you find replacement just for that element and ready to tinker with it...)
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I just picked up an F4 body off of ebay and am looking forward to giving it a test run. Nice to hear that Kodak is bringing back Ektachrome.- perfect timing for this camera!
Thank you for uploading very informative video about F4 I just bought used F4 in Amazon for about $100. I prefer F3 as you say but F3 is bit more expensive than F4 so I decided to buy it.
I have a F5, but the camera for me is the classic F with a non-metering prism. No batteries, no fuzz. Always ready to take a photograph. Just me and my camera. All manual. All analog. As a matter of a fact I have 2 houses, usually one with color film and one with b/w.
HiTed. I liked the video. I will add that as a Canon shooter (GASP) this was a challenge. I have two Canon EOS 3's which I love for shooting Black and White film. Thanks as always and keep up the Channel.
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.!!!!
Make sure to check out the F4 videos from Kai W
ua-cam.com/video/1CCZjPicCBQ/v-deo.html
As well as The Camera Store TV ua-cam.com/video/HMqmENnOZ8w/v-deo.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 :)
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!
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
Currently shooting with the f3 and F4. I absolutely love these two cameras.
I bought it many years ago and i don't regret. It's my favorite film camera. 👌🏼❤️
Want to know why everyone on UA-cam 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 UA-cam SEO. 🤓
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!
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`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
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.
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 lusted over the F4 when it came out, late 80's in high school yearbook class, wasn't until 2001 that I finally could afford one. It's by far, my favorite nikon body, ever. Great vid BTW. Thanks for sharing the love for this fantastic beast.
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.
had mine for just over a year and a half and it really is a phenomenal camera, has been very underrated and i could never see why, it really does everything you could want
This guy knows his stuff best video I've seen on this camera yet
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'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 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.
Your comment about everyone making f4 videos was exactly what I thought the moment I saw the thumbnail to this video. The funny thing is is that I just bought one are started using it today. Great video btw. Enjoyed your take on the camera.
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 Ted. By far the best F4s video on UA-cam. It's very important to understand what this camera meant to a lot of us, who lusted after it but could never dream of affording one. Needless to say, when I was offered one a few months ago for just $60, I pounced on it. It looks VERY well used, but from what I can tell, everything works just as it should. That alone is a testament to it's design, materials, and build quality.
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:
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.
I'm starting to suspect that it's no coincidence that virtually every photography UA-cam channel I'm subscribed to are doing Nikon F4 videos... -On the eve of Nikon's 100th anniversary... ;-)
It is weird. ALL of them...
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.
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.
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.
Lot of good points. I will agree. It was my 1st Nikon AF Pro. FA of 1983 would actually be the 1st Matrix Metering prosumer body or as they called it early on, Multi-Path Segmented along w/ TTL dedicated flash. So F4 was 5 yrs in the making of advancements on all of that, adding AE-L and more. F4 in 1988 also sold as the 1st slim down Pro SLR w/ integrated motordrive (standard grip MB-20) w/ only 4x AA cells. No longer was M shutter an option. F4S was the 2nd then F4E. All convertible. What took this to the next level for me was the MF-23 data back bring an advanced array of new features. It was a near analog mechanical look & feel with the digital electronic insides. I loved the NAi flip tab & electro-mechanical shutter release cable system w/ 2-stage feedback for AF/Meter. It truly is a milestone in photographic history. A 1st & a last of things.
Nikon FA actually was the first matrix metering camera.
Suddenly the entire internet figured out how cool old Nikons truly are
I have decided to get my absolutely gorgeous Nikon F4 out of its display cabinet, and to start using it again, by using colour film, and then having prints made from the exposures, AND a CD with digital images of my film/analogue shots. The Nikon F4 is probably the best camera ever made, and it is too much of a great camera just to look amazing in a display cabinet ! I loved how you presented this masterpiece of art and engineering, and that you praised Nikon for keeping its lens compatibility over many decades for dyed-in-the-wool Nikonians. I would however, just like to comment that I love the weight of this incredible camera : when you lift it, you know that you are lifting a lot of art and technology, and not a featherweight piece of cheap plastic ! As you correctly commented, Nikon are to be commended for the lens compatability of their SLRs over several decades, however I find it extremely non-Nikonian of Nikon that they have not marketed a digital back for their SLRs, or just for the F4, thus converting them easily into DSLRs. Nikon holds a patent for this technology, so come on Nikon, it’s time to launch the world’s best ever camera into the digital age !!!!!!!!!!! What a milestone that would be for the company !!!!!!!!!!
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.
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 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.
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.
There's no question that the F4 is an iconic film camera, but if you have less money to burn and want a slightly more modern film camera, you can pick up a Nikon N80 for a fraction of the cost of the F4 and get 4 AF points (instead of 1), an auto film rewind feature that enables when you've reached the end of the roll, and full support for G lenses (PSAM modes).
resently bought N80. Cool camera for only $20
Suntoryjim
Suntoryjim and supports VR too 😉 ... although I like the AF on F100 better 😃
The N80 (F80) is nowhere near as reliable as the F4. I had both. My F80s is like a toy camera, feels cheap and plastic.
good enough for the money. I can take it with me everywhere I go. Is
light enough but not too light (around 500 gram without batteries and
lens), relatively small, has I think the most quiet shutter among
Nikon's (d/SLRs). Works well without loosing any of the features with
newer VR and G lenses.
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.
After many years of using an F2S, I simply had other hobbies to pursue. Then, a week long vacation trip to Montreal and Quebec came to be. The night before, I bought a very clean used F4S, sans operating manual, two lenses, and boarded the airplane. I left it on Program mostly, and lo and behold, my fingers fell naturally onto the classic control layout and I had no problem figuring out the shutter modes including "silent," and single auto-advance vs. continuous on the rotary switch around the shutter button. The SB-24 also worked beautifully for outdoor fill flash, and I had a pretty amazing bunch of completely impromptu images to look at when I returned to L.A. While I now shoot an F5, I can surely find a place for another F4, with the MB-20 on it to shave off a pound of weight off the thing. It's autofocus essentially stinks in low light, not even in the same league as the F5 that is so fast, it's brutal, but it is much easier to use.
I understand why Nikon built their digital Df that also mimicked the classic dial and knob user friendly layout. Great review.
I have about 20 old Nikkor manual lenses, which I purchased during the transition between film and digital. Every single one of those lenses, I spent days if not weeks, or months researching them before purchasing. Although I have a Nikon FM2 and FE2 manual film cameras which I love, I was loooking for a Nikon film camera that had some type of focus assist with manual lenses, to assist my aging eyes, especially in dim lighting.
My Pentax k-5 II digital camera uses focus-assist on all Pentax manual focus lenses including the famous Takumar lenses which is great ! My Nikon D7000 camera also offers focus assist with manual lenses, but its a digital camera.
I had my eyes on the F4 for a long time, not just because of the way it looks, but because of all the features and its mystique. I mean this is a real Professional camera. Last year for my birthday, i decided to spring for one which was listed on ebay. It cost me a little less than $200, but I was even willing to pay a little more for better quality. This camera was in almost Mint condition coming from Japan. The only flaw I could find is a slightly scratched LCD sub-panel in the viewfinder. No big deal since the main LCD panel looks and works fine. Everything else also works fine.
The added bonus is that this camera has AF(auto focus), so I could use it with the few AF Nikon lenses I own. I don't have anything against AF, but if your camera has it you might as well use it ! In the field and to my surprise, I noticed that the AF is pretty quick and locks on, unless you are in dim lighting. It's not the quickest and quietest AF, but it certainly might help in capturing pictures that you might miss using the slower manual focus.
This camera is everthing I dreamed about ! Buttons instead of time consuming and complicated menus. Rugged as a Tank. Dust and moisture resistant. I really don't mind the weight unless I decide to slap on my Nikon 300mm f4.5 which also weighs a ton. Oh I forgot, the nice sounding shutter instead of the outrageously LOUD Slap-Slap of the Canons.
I tend to prefer hefty cameras because that spells 'quality' and it reminds me how much I payed for them. Plasticky, light cameras just feel cheap to me. They tend to fall appart when you start running into things like desks, tables, or door frames(and my dog). If need a light, easy to carry all-day camera, I have other options like my Panasonic point-and-shoot. This is a camera you take around town and enjoy the entire experience. The cost of film these days slows you down and makes you think before hitting the shutter. It's not bang-bang camera that you shoot 36 frames in a minute, although it can be used this way.
I thought about the F3, but I already own the FE2 and the FM2 that are great semi-pro film cameras in themselves. The F5 was way too big and too modern looking. The F100 which can be had for about the same price ast the F4 on ebay, was just too plasticky for me. The F6 is still beyond my budget even now, but hopefully I might get my hands on one someday...
Thanks, Ted, for this great rundown on the F4. Yes, an amazing camera, as all the F film cameras are. Through the 1980s and into the 1990s I made my living shooting the Nikon F2 for corporate clients. Still my favorite camera of all time, bar none, with extremely accurate built-in meters (once you learned how to read these meters it was a piece of cake to consistently expose Kodachrome and Ektachrome with great accuracy). This was doubly important for me as my principal client at the time was Eastman Kodak Company's Profesional Photography Division. I had the fortunate opportunity over those years to work with revolutionary films right when they were introduced (e.g. Kodachrome 200, Ekatapress color negative film for photojournalists, T-Max 400 and 100, and so on). Tremendous education! I also wrote for Kodak, preparing the press kits on such products as T-Max films, Kodachrome 200, Kodachrome 64 in 120 format, and the Kodak Digital Camera System in the late 1980s. The Kodak DCS, as you may recall, "married" a Nikon F3 body with a very early CCD sensor that replaced the F3 back and, of course, any film that normally would be in the camera. The captured digital image would be fed via tether to a cumbersome shoulder-mounted digital processing unit and the image then transmitted to the appropriate publication or news agency. I prepared a press piece on the first high-profile use of the Kodak DCS: A news photographer, AP if I recall correctly, used the DCS to photograph President George H.W. Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20, 1989. Within 30 minutes of the photos being taken the "Washington Post" had an edition out on the street with the photos. The power of digital! Anyhow, thanks Ted for all your good work educating those committed to photography!
Addendum: On eBay, just picked up a near-mint F4 from Japan ($250).
Couldn't resist! Have now the F2, F3 and soon, the F4.
Now all you need is a Nikon F to complete you collection...lol
Have one of those, too :)
The F, that is ...
not many channels I hit that like button before I even watch it. but you are 1 I can count on for amazing content ,excellent information. thank u for all u have done. 👍👏😆
Ultimately, you have just run thru' all the reasons as to why I own an F4 - it's a blisteringly good camera, notwithstanding it's mass ( I bought mine pre-owned too); versatility is the key - & like you, I have had a roll of Ilford FP4 B & W film sitting inside for over three years - I must finish it up & D & P same. I like the immediacy of DSLR's, but on a point of contradiction, the anticipation of developing negatives & printing on paper myself, is all too enticing. Whilst I agree the F3 was a phenomenal camera, I'll never sell my F4 - like all Nik0on bodies, it's built like a tank - you can drop it in the mud & it's still good to go; I'm six years too late to the party, but I endorse every word in this presentation - Thank you !!
Have just purchased one from Japan and waiting for it to arrive,will hopefully get here in a week or so..an F4E version, paid 297$ Aus..look forward to taking it out on its maiden journey when it arrives, I fell in love with Nikon's back in 2012 when I bought my first DSLR..and old D100 that served me well till I could afford something better,so it was a natural progression when I moved to shooting 35mm film to buy Nikon F series camera's as I was already familiar with the system. love shooting all my 35mm cams, so much so that my digital camera gets little use these days.
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 :)
The most beautiful camera ever made
Got a Nikon F4 with MB-21 today for 90€. Seems to work fine. Hopefully the first roll of film will proof that.
The Nikon F4 is a 35 mm autofocus (AF) single lens reflex (SLR) film camera, introduced in 1988 as the next generation in Nikon's line of F series professional cameras. With industrial design by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the F4 was the first professional Nikon to feature a practical autofocus system.
I miss my f3 and f4. I loved those tanks. I had an f3 with the nicad battery pack and winder. I would go through a roll of 36 exposures in a few seconds. The the f4 and its autofocus allowed me to become the official photographer of the Dallas Sidekicks when I was 19. I amazed at sports photos that were taken prior to autofocus.
Regarding center weight metering, i use that metering mode for all of my cameras (canon f1n, 1v and my 50d dslr).
I shoot slide film with my f1n and 1v and get great results! It becomes a extra way of thinking about exposure when i need to meter for a good value and i cant stress through a roll of film!
The Nikon F4 is awesome... I own 3, all in mint condition... The F4 will always be popular.
I just bought a "Near Mint" condition Nikon F4s body and am trying to learn all I can since I have 2 head injuries. But from my research, this camera is the very best my money could buy.
Once again you've blown my mind with your passionate description of a camera I must own! Thanks!
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.
Absolutely brilliant review.
I am a bit of a Olympus /Voigtlánder/ Contax all-mechanical bodies fanatic, but when I got the chance to get my hands on an F4s, well I did and... oh boy, what a stunning camera.
I remember when it came out people would scream in horror at this model, the reactions were not all that good. One of the main reasons being the lack of not giving the option of a mechanical shutter speed in case batteries wouldn't work (even the 1st electronic model, the F3, gave you this option at 1/60th if I am not mistaken).
Anyway, since I got one it became one of my favorite. I am still looking for an MB-20 battery grip as the MB-21 can be a bit too cumbersome at times.
Again, very good review. Keep up with the good work (as always).
I confess. I have the F5. It takes great pictures. My son-in-law has dropped digital for film. I need to get back into shooting more film. There is a feel to film that cannot be reproduced by a digital camera. But, there are trade-offs between the two mediums and carrying both the F5 and my Nikon digital cameras, like I wish I can do, can be a bit burdensome since we do a lot of foreign travel by air. You have reminded me that I do need to shoot more film. I enjoy your show. Keep up the good work!
Absolutely love my F4s and F3 beautiful cameras robust feel amazing in the hand my goto for film
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.
I've used Nikon gear since my first F in 1968. Switched to the F3HP from the F2AS in 84. For some reason, I was never attracted to the F4. Didn't fully drop the F3 until the F100 came out. Loved the F5, but it was just way to heavy. Looking back, I may look for a used F4 just to try it out. The only potential complaint is the size and weight. The F3 was really the perfect Nikon in many ways, followed by the F100.
thanks to this video i recently bought this camera and i love it! thank you!
I don't like using the grip on the F4 (i.e., the F4s), it makes the camera bulky and heavy to carry around. Without the grip, it is actually quite portable and fits in most camera bags. The matrix meter is not color, but works beautifully in monochrome. I use the F4 to shoot B&W in cases where I want to shoot fast glass at wide apertures (e.g., portrait lenses wide open), and I need AF to nail the focus.
I just bought this camera on eBay for $65 and $25 for shipping I can't wait to get it thank you for your video
PS I have lots of Nikon lenses
Your video just convinced me to buy one! Looking forward to receiving it!
Great. Just after I sell my F4 I get three videos in a row reminding how nice camera it was.
zupperm Whops. That was a mistake I guess ^^ I don't think I'll ever sell mine
Matrix metering was first introduced on the FA.
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!
I got one Nikon f4s. Brilliant and timeless!!!!
Makes me wish I hadn't got rid of my Nikon FM and Ai lenses! Great video!
The Nikon F90 also supports matrix metering with old lenses but cannot mount pre AI glasses
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.
If you like retro dials and great image quality, you must check Fuji XT2 or Fuji XPro2
I bought one recently in 2024 and that cost me $250.37 It does have wear and tear on the camera but overall it is in very good condition I don't have the motor Drive attachment I don't need it might pick it up later .. when you have the motor Drive 5.7 frames per second the cost of film and developing lol , I put 4 ×AA used batteries in mine and it's still operated
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 still can't believe you've not tried out a fuji x series camera still. From watching your videos over the years its obvious to me you will really enjoy the experience. This video only confirms it further.
Someone in the US please lend Ted a old x-t1 if you have one gathering dust since you purchased your x-t2.
I'm glad you addressed the other vids right at the beginning lol. I came here to be like, "really? Another one?" When I got into film photography again year before last, I almost went with an F4, but decided to go with an F100 because I can use all my modern Nikon lenses on it, including VR functionality.
Love this just bought an F4 because of your video 🤯 thank you for making my choice easy 🍸😎
REALLY enjoy your vids! Very helpful, useful information. Thank you for making these.
Lol! I was thinking the same thing when I saw you posted this video. Thanks, great video. I thought maybe it was an anniversary or something.
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?
I was just about to comment that it seems everyone is making a video about the Nikon F4 which is one of my favourite film cameras i have used.
Love the pictures you shot on Provia wonderful colors. Great video as usual! thank you
Fujis are layer out just like this. Honestly the most user friendly current digital cameras, no need for menus or looking at the screen 95% of the time, I often have my screen off and use the ovf for street and travel photography on the xpro2
David Bailey & I swear by Pentax reliability. Pentax LX + SMC focal lengths offer great optics.
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.
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 Love and still use my Nikon F4 to this day!!
I got one two years ago with a 35-70 2.8 for 150. Now I use it even more then my d7200.
the only problem with 35-70 f2.8 - quite often at some point the haze kicks in inside a glued glass element and then it's good for a trashcan (unless you find replacement just for that element and ready to tinker with it...)
Nice video, thanks for sharing. I just picked up an F4 body off of ebay and am looking forward to giving it a test run. Nice to hear that Kodak is bringing back Ektachrome.- perfect timing for this camera!
Your video quality/content is getting better and better!
Thank you for uploading very informative video about F4 I just bought used F4 in Amazon for about $100. I prefer F3 as you say but F3 is bit more expensive than F4 so I decided to buy it.
Old Nikon for sure beat Canon. At that time, Nikon was a king.
I have a F5, but the camera for me is the classic F with a non-metering prism. No batteries, no fuzz. Always ready to take a photograph. Just me and my camera. All manual. All analog. As a matter of a fact I have 2 houses, usually one with color film and one with b/w.
The (Titanium) F3 was the last film camera I owned, and it was wonderful. (using a D810 and D7100 today)
The "Greedbay" prices have skyrocketed that didn't take too long..
AWESOME REVIEW, JUST PURCHASED ONE WIT A LENS FROM CAMERATIQUE. THANK YOU.
Wasn't the Nikon FA the first camera with matrix metering?
HiTed. I liked the video. I will add that as a Canon shooter (GASP) this was a challenge. I have two Canon EOS 3's which I love for shooting Black and White film. Thanks as always and keep up the Channel.
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.