Started taking pictures 55 years ago. Because of the limited number of exposures on a roll, and the cost of development - had to make every shot count. Would always think about composition and exposure before pressing the shutter...... No matter if you are shooting film, or digital; the fundamentals are the same - Good pictures convey a feeling. Great pictures tell a story....
As someone who grew up shooting film and developing my own negatives in the early in 70's I found your review interesting. You seem to be trying to wrap your head around the idea of film and why anyone would use it today in addition to reviewing the F6. There are many benefits to digital photography. All I can say is that it is different style of photography much like wet plate colloidal. It is very hands on, requires patience, and can be expensive. I love not only the look of film but what that it requires a hands on approach and forces me to slow down. I like the fact that I have only a few images to review instead of hundreds and I know where those images are and that they will be there 50 years from now. I happen to own all of the F models and the F6 is arguably the best one though the F5 will give it a run for the money. It's a pure joy to shoot with and as you remarked it has some similarities to D2S which will make it an easier transition for digital photographers. You can't go wrong owning this camera and it will certainly be worth it for you to invest in the tank, reels, and chemistry to develop your own film. It's quicker and cheaper. Shoot with it for a month (no digital). I bet it will make you a better photographer.
I owned the F-3, F-4, F-5 and F-6. I liked the F-5 best as it continued the modularity of all the previous F models and was the first Nikon with a good auto-focus system. That being said, the quiet smooth shutter sound and film advance on the F-6 was truly amazing. Nikon advertised the F-5 as from the future and claimed the F-6 was developed in an anechoic chamber. I wish all my digital camera shutters were as quiet as the F-6's!
I just purchased a "pristine" used F6. It is so clean, it looks brand new and out of the box. I also ordered the MB-40 Battery grip. I'm a 30+ year Nikon shooter and am really looking forward to using this camera.
I've got an F6 coming from Japan in a few days and have to say that this is the best, most comprehensive review of the camera that I've seen. Thank you
I was a formally trained photographer in the Marines in the early/mid 90’s, and we had mostly the F3, which could take a beating and keep shooting all day, then along came the F4 which had all kinds of bells and whistles but would stop working if it got the least bit dirty. Loved the F3, but have to admit that 25 years later I’m a Canon shooter. We did see the infancy of digital, we attached a special back to the camera that had a sensor in it, and it had a cable to a hard drive that you wore on your belt, it was about the size of a VHS tape and held maybe 150 images.
I've been shooting Nikon since 1972; I started with the F2. Paraphrased: "every press of the shutter costs money." It took me *forever* to get out of that mindset after I moved to digital.
Honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with thinking about what you're doing every time you press the shutter release. This project has made me even more mindful in my digital photography. ...I think there's a video topic in there somewhere. Thanks for the idea! :)
Started in the late seventies with F2A + motor drive and probably only had that mindset in serious mode when I used the 500 C/M's Polaroid back or wasting color print papers. 🙂
Film really does have a place in the creative world. I'm a bit behind with the Nikon F4, but man it is a total pleasure to create with. And the lens back and forward compatibility is unique to Nikon, knock yourself out!
Leigh, the F6 is a camera for life, your Z's will come and go :) ps its viewfinder appears to be even bigger than D850's although numbers would say the opposite (0.75x vs 0.74x); actually, having had most top of the line dslrs, I think the F6 is brighter and better than them all.
I had to save money every month to buy my first "real" cam as a teenager, which was the FE with the 50mm, 1,4. I still have it, still love it and still take her out once in a while.
This might be the craziest idea of the century. But if Nikon is hesitant whether they would sell enough units of a new F7 based on the D850 or D6. Why not do a kickstarter? (The window of opportunity will close when Nikon stops making DSLRs.)
Thanks for sharing...I still have my Nikon FG20 film camera & loved using it around Europe in the 90's...I have always been told by 'old' professionals that film is true photography which really tests your skills... cheers 😀
My first SLR was the Asahi Pentax Spotmatic 35mm camera and 4 lenses purchased in 1966. I still have the system and It still works well. I do limit my exposure because I figure it costs me about a $1 a frame to produce an image. I use an outside source to process the film and digitize the image. It was fun to put this back into operation a few years ago when I took it out of retirement. Thanks for the review of film cameras.
I have an f100 which I love, however was disappointed to find out it doesn’t have mirror lock up for macro copy work, so now I’m looking at getting a f6. Also the f6 prints the exposure details onto the film which is super cool
Beware of the F100 back side - it's quite often sticky, because of some vaporizing adhaesive. Same goes even much stronger with the F80, sad but true. I have had 3 F80, which became all very sticky, so it was impossible to use it anymore, tried cleaning with 90% isopropanol on one body, didn't worked out as expected, and sold them all over time. /fixed typo
There is one thing to worry about is there is no manual rewind option and my F100 actually can’t hook into the reverse gear one time. I have to use a dark bag to get the film by opening the back. Luckily an mechanic fixed it. Just always bring a dark bag with you
Actually the F5 is the best 35mm film SLR ever made. The last true system camera from Nikon. It takes AAs, needs no additional grip, has interchangeable viewfinders and you can find it around 300 bucks.
Welcome to real photography - where it’s all about skill and not about luck. I learned to develop film and make my own BW prints at age seven, back in 1962, using my dad’s Rolleiflex and later his Nikon F2 Photomic. I truly miss thst creative process, and still have those wonderful cameras.
Great video Leigh on your Nikon F6. I can relate to what you are saying regarding being mindful of the shots you take with a film camera. I am a Nikon person and I have got a couple of Nikon 35mm film cameras with my favourite being my Nikon F5. The F5 is a beast and would chew through a 24 or 36 exposure film in a matter of seconds if one was not mindful. I am down under in Australia and I do remember back over 20 years ago when 35mm film was cheap to buy and cheap to get processed that was around the AUD $9.95 and that did include the film negatives as well and it was usually processed in a hour or overnight if one wished. I recently used my F5 to take photos of my stepdaughter’s wedding back in September 2021 where I mainly used Kodak Portra 400 Professional 36 exposure film. My daughter put four films in at a local camera shop who sent the films up to their Sunshine Coast store where they processed the films. Well it took a fortnight to get back the photos and it cost over AUD$110, and to top it off if we had known it we could have driven there within a hour and had the processing done same day. I got my F5 from Japan and it is in mint condition with it’s original box and everything else back in January this year. I am so happy with the F5 and I won’t ever part with it.
Fab review. I just picked up for £40 the Nikon F80, has lots of the main features and functions on the F6, just consumer level build quality. Highly recommended the F80 and F100 as a cheaper alternative.
The F6 is a bucket-list SLR for me, even with the 7 other Nikon SLRs I have. I wound up getting an F100, which allows me to use my modern lenses I use with my DSLR, including my Tamron 70-200.
Delighted to discover your UA-cam channel, Leigh. It was a "suggested" video, no doubt due to the sorts of pieces I watch. Two reasons I subscribed: (1) Your quiet (hype-free) eloquence sets you apart from a lot of the noise out there (as well as the time-wasters who are barely literate and out of their depths, as well as those who can't seem to post without the dreaded click bait headline). You also remind me of the low-key, low-hype camera shop gal from whom I've purchased lots of gear over a good three decades). (2) There was an immediate resonance with my continuing appreciation for film photography, alongside of digital, for the deliberateness it entails, as well as the tactile pleasures of manual focusing and using gear that was clearly built for the ages. I've become a subscriber, based on this video, and will look forward to viewing the upcoming one discussing how you and your partner-in-crime digitize your film images, as well as exploring your previous posts.
Great review! I shoot digital, Nikon Z50 , D500 and love them. I also have never stopped using film 🎞 . I have an F-100, FM2n, EM and Pentax ME Super. Love film as well ! 📸😊
I shoot film for fun also, It was what I started using when I discovered photography in the late 60s. Now in 2023, after decades shooting digital, film is not fun anymore. It's now cost much more (to buy and process) and it takes time. It takes a few days to see your image. I still like film, but I keep it down to 2 rolls a year. Thanks so much for a great video.
We are in a different era for film photography. When I started out in the 60's, I never thought about the cost of film or developing. I'd carry five or six rolls in my pocket every time i went out. Film cost between $3 and $8. Development and prints or slides cost about $5 to $7 a roll. You could get it done almost anywhere. Results came back in less than a week.
Loved this episode. Reminded me that so many younger people have probably never experienced film and wouldn’t understand all the subtle differences in films or what “one hour processing” is. For absolute mindfulness of the whole process I recommend trying a large format camera. You’ll quickly gain an outsized realization of the cost of pressing the shutter release, but your photographs will improve.
@@archivist17 I preferred medium format for film, but that is still a roll film format. Large format is a more immersive experience, imho, loading the film holders in the dark or a bag, calculating the exposure and required exposure, loading the developing tank or (gasp!) trays, contacts you can see, and room sized enlargements. Plus the swings and tilts. It’s been many years since I shot film of any size, and I do miss it. I take out my Nikon body every year or so and think if shooting. I miss it.
As a younger person I got into photography well after they transitioned into digital, but I got a film camera from my dad and got lucky and got into a high school with photography classes and even labs to develop film ourselves, didn't really start using digital until this year, love how much thought it takes to shoot on film
IMO, one thing probably remains different is that some old timers had a lot of 'chemical smell and sweat' stories to tell. Pressing the shutter button could be just half of the story. In another YT video, the creator revisited the past about the countless hours in the darkroom and how many Masters were experts in darkroom techniques. I think many analog children will stop thinking in term of gatekeepers but cave people instead. Cost wise, the $$$ of those color print papers & chemicals mounted up fast from the many test strips and proofs. Then there were the Polaroid for our MF and mounting tools & frames. Come to think of it, so is the computer setup for digital. All those 10,000 rpm SCSI drives & dual processors in the early days, file server, backup tape/CD/DVD/BD, NAS, photo printers, software, etc. Nevertheless, I think I understand the thoughts from a different generation, since I had been young once, IT for just as long as my photography journey (over four decades) and shooting digital since 2000.
@@bfs5113 chemical smell and sweat: you got that right! “Rising Winter Storm” by Ansel Adams had 57 different darkroom manipulations. Not much different from Photoshop.
A very well balanced review, Leigh. I think if anyone wants to get into (or, back into) film photography, they have to weigh the pros and cons and decide for themselves whether it's something they can go with. However, now that Raymond has caught the bug and gone over to the Dark Side, maybe he can be talked into also getting some medium and large format cameras, too :D :P :P :P Oh, and the F6, that's a camera I've always wanted as well :D
My favorite autofocus film SLR though I prefer my Leica MP rangefinder when shooting film or the manual focus F3. Nikon made a fantastic camera in a relatively small package compared to the F5 and F4 when they made the F6. Thanks for the video!
Very cool review...I am hobbyist photographer and soon to be 68 years old. I started out with film cameras (instamatic Kodak camera forgot the model number I was 12 years old); my first real film camera was an Pentax ME Super and then a Minolta maxxum 7000i and then went to digital camera. To be honest I don't miss my film camera, totally prefer to shoot with a digital camera. But being a professional photographer like yourself and Raymond, I can understand the fun of using a film camera.
Photography is expensive enough without going back to film. I was not really all that wrapped up with developing etc. Chemicals cost as well and they smell. More than happy to stay with digital thank you
I started out with a Kodak Instamatic 400 in 1965. Always loved but never got the ME Super. The Nikon film cameras especially IMO the FE, F3, F4, F5, and of course the F6 are unmatched. Ken Rockwell has the most comprehensive reviews I’ve ever seen, online.👍
so happy to see a review of the f6! there aren't many videos about it and none of them are very good. unfortunately, since this camera is so expensive i'll just stick to my F5.
An interesting video. 2004 was the year I believe Canon released what was to become my first DSLR in the EOS-20D. I also remember at the time, reading in the news section of a photo magazine I had, about Nikon releasing this F6 film SLR and being quite surprised by that (Nikon still kept to that 8 year schedule for releasing a new F series pro camera body) as by then, I assumed Nikon had laid to rest their pro film cameras with the F5 being the last in the line. And yet this model was kept in production for about 16 more years! Who would of thought 🤷♂️
Leigh, great video on the F6! I am using F2A with AIS lenses 552.8 and 105 2.5. It is through back, but I found that shooting film solves a lot of problems with complacency that digital has. I process the film myself and scan the negatives on a D610. Like said in the video, the film is not cheap. the It has a look all its own, and digital photography will never match the face of the film. Why not do a video only film channel? There are several UA-camrs doing that but join the crowd. Thank you for a very good video.
This is a really excellent video for an audience that either hasn't shot film in a long time or has never shot film. (Personally I haven't shot a film camera since I was a kid, and that was a point-and-shoot!) It really is a different world and I can understand what you mean about film slowing you down and forcing you to think about your captures more (I'm constantly forcing myself to do that on digital). The grain on the film you used was very nice too. I've considered buying a film camera before, specifically an F100/F80. Any plans on looking at these other late-model film cameras from Nikon? That would be fun!
I still shoot film today, almost 40 years since I first bought my first brand new Nikon SLR, an FM. Today I have and FTn, three F2's, F3 Press, and and F5. Whilst the F6 is certainly the final hurrah in the professional F series, my personal opinion on the F6 is that its just a souped up F100. The F5 is just as good (if not better) in my opinion and I have no desperate need or urgency to purchase a F6, if for nothing else than the crazy prices they fetch today.
Nikon F6 is silky smooth and so quiet as far as SLRs go. If you can get one I highly recommend it. My 2c. I have every F from F to F6 and i love to use them all. F6 is a class above though.
I find that people notice the "noise" not because it's loud or obnoxious, but because it's a sound they've either never heard or one they haven't heard in 20 years. Btw, the F6 also supports all of Nikon's modern flash units and modes in addition to virtually all F-mount lenses since the discovery of dirt.
Cool Nikon F6 film camera. How do you like the transferring of analog photos to digital through scanning and how about editing film photos after scanning ?
film forces your skills as a photographer out of your pores...I shoot with an F100 together with an D850...all bases are covered. no need for mirrorless.
While I cut my teeth on film at the time that 400 ASA was a new marvel, film's limitations were a huge hindrance. Worst of all was having to change rolls during action! The first thing that my brain screamed as you showed your wonderfully-composed film shots was *GRAIN*
@@LeighAndRaymond I don't know if it's still available, but there is an adapter to allow the grip to use the Nikon EN-EL4a battery, instead of 8 AAs (you need the MH-21 to charge it).
Enjoyed the video and review of the F6, which is a wonderful film camera. Were you also going to post a link to the video that shows your approach to scanning negatives, aka “date night” ?
I heard your comments on the F6 and how noisy it is when shooting. Haha, it's less noisy than the Canon Eos 1v, Canon's equivalent to the F6 in the 2000s in film photography. I have a Nikon F90x from 1994, which is the N90s in the USA, now thats noisy.....
I use a Nikon F801, Canon AE1 Program and Pentax Spotmatic, all of which take excellent film photos and range from completely automatic to completely analog. In total I spent $90, $39 and $40 for the three cameras. The two parts I accept but dislike is the cost of film and developing / scanning (although I can get it back locally the same day) and I especially don't like not having access to the photos until the roll is completely used. Regardless of this I use my Sony digital day in and day out but shooting film is very enjoyable.
I have my mom's old Canon AE-1! It doesn't work and I've been saying I want to get it fixed for years. This project and the response it has gotten so far definitely has pushed me over the edge - I'm going to talk to some camera repair shops about it. :)
Leigh, if it ends up costing too much to get it fixed, you might want to go on KEH and look at getting a "new" one for yourself. You would most likely pick up one in really good nick for less than the price of fixing the old one. But, I would definitely make inquiries about getting your Mom's old one fixed!! Although, once she sees it all shiny and new, the feather duster might come out to keep "young lady's meddling mitts" off "of my camera!!!" :D :P
Interesting 🤔 to hear a younger persons 😂take on film photography. I’ve owned an F6 since 2004, also a couple of F100’s, and a whole plethora of Olympus OM equipment Digital is a relatively new experience for me, the last 20 years 😂 Just upgraded from a D800 to D850, complicated and sophisticated, yeah and I’ll admit the results are amazing In the day, Fuji Velvia was the go to slide film stock
You should try a Leica film camera and tell us again about the sound of film cameras 🙂. In terms of scanning, I would consider the following better options: Kodak Pakon Scanner, Nikon Coolscan 5000 or 9000, or Valoi or Negative Supply digitalization film carriers.
Or any leaf shutter system. My Olympus XA and Minox 35 are almost silent. I remember on the other hand, after using my first camera - an OM-1 - I got an OM-40. It sounded like a barn door slamming compared to the whispery OM-1.
We actually own a flatbed scanner but often choose to use the method we demonstrated in this video. Tell me more about the options you listed though - what about them is better to you?
@@LeighAndRaymond The Pakon scanner was a 35mm minilab scanner. I scan a full roll in about 4mn with most of the time zero processing to do afterwards. There is a learning curve to set it up and then it's a breeze. Because of the recent film resurgence, they are not cheap anymore. The Nikon Coolscan 5000 (35mm) or 9000 (35mm and 120) is the best pro-summer scanner made. Much slower than a Pakon but you can get great scans. It requires more fiddling with the software. For you guys, I think the Negative Supply holder might be the best solution or the new Valoi holder if you want to pay a bit less. It is designed to digitalize with your digital cameras (you have plenty). The best is to get a copy stand, your mirrorless, a macro lens (or even better a copy, reproduction or process lens with bellows) and the holder. On the software side, Negative Lab Pro integrates with Lightroom and will make your life with processing the images much easier. You can use NLP with most of the hardware solutions existing. Hope it helps
My first camera, that I still use, is a Yashica FX-2 (vintage 1976). If you're on one side of a football field taking pictures with it, the people on the far side of the field know it.
A quick point about graininess. You should not be seeing grain in those images. A proper scanner would not accentuate or exaggerate film grain. That's not a personal jab or anything, just a technical point. Scanners matter, and a lot of them are terrible, sadly, including the setup you used here. As for the F6, I think I kind of want one...
I own Nikon F4 Standard body , with NIKKOR 80 -200 mm ED lens ... you know the Camera body on a Nikon F4 .... with carbon fiber shutters is better than the Nikon F6 right the difference is the Nikon F 6 didn't have mechanical Parts as the Nikon 4 the only difference is it was only was a digital display on the Nikon F 6 just like the Pentax MX Yoni digital Dissapeared
I went back to film (35mm) using Canon's EOS cameras and EF lenses do to the high cost of going to a DSLR full frame camera. All used equipment from Ebay of course in excellent to mint condition at a very low cost. In the last 2 years I've accumulated 8 Canon EOS camera bodies and 7 EF lenses. The most expensive camera body was the EOS 1 in excellent to mint condition w/PB-E1 Power Booster at $150 out the door from ebay. The most expensive EF lens (micro) was 141.04 GBP out the door. All 7 of my EF lenses will work with their DSLR bodies and the RF bodies with their smart adapter. But for right now I'm staying with film. My experience with Canon goes back to the days when I was living in Japan from 1969 - 1972 as a "military brat" staring out using a Canon FTb with their FL/FD lenses then going on to the F1/F1n & A1 with their FD/FDn lenses. I never purchased any of their T series cameras while holding off on their EOS series for a number of reasons.
to me this camera is new lol, (not as in I remember when It came out, I was 2 lol) the cameras I shoot range from the late-40s to mid-80s lol! also planning on getting a plate camera from the mid too late 1800s
I shoot lots of film. At this moment have 9 rolls in progress between 6 backs and numerous cameras. Have an f100 and f5 but just purchased an F6. It appears bullet proof and should out last the already stickey f100. The f5 should outlive them all but am selling it. I use manual focus lenses and the focus confirmation arrows/meatball is hard to see at the top of the view finder. On F100 and F6 it's easily seen at the bottom next to the meter bar. Yes, she is right, I shoot film for the real grain, sorry, digital grain is close but no cigar and the colors of portra that sorry, would take too long to try to reproduce digitally. Again, plugins close but no cigar. Both f100 and f6 give me auto focus ,auto advance, a dead accurate meter to spot meter on caucasian skin and add 1 stop light to side of dead center. It also gives 1/8000 sec so I can shoot wide open in broad daylight without a nd filter. The metering in the f6 is so reliable, for street I will switch from manual spot metering to matrix aperture priority and with zone focused manual lenses, I have a point and shoot with zeiss glass and the film of my choice.
How can you give me an example of a Nikon e lens with electronic aperture. Like will my 50mm 1.4 AF-S ED lens work on this? Is that what you mean? Thank you 🙏 kindly
Nikon makes newer lenses designated E as in electronic aperture control. ED designated low dispersion "ED" glass. Yes your 50mm 1.4 ED AF-s lens will work perfectly on an F6
Wow. Revieving a Nikon F6 and not knowing what it is, that is ...special. The F6 is by far the best analog camera ever made. No other camera can match its specs. There are a lot of good filmcameras and everyone have their favorites, but spec wise the no camera that matches the F6. I love my Canon F-1, both old and new, and my T-90 (probably the best specs of a filmcamera without autofocus) and regret selling my Nikon F3. And if you want it simple, buy a Leica M6. But the best out there is the F6, and it will never be a better film camera. It's as simple as that.
After having this camera for about 6 months, it is worked it's way into my prime carry camera with b&w tmax 400. Second body, f100 with portra 400. I do like the super sharp detailed clean images I get from my d850, but it seems to stay at home to scan my negs with a zeiss 100mm makro. It kicks out shots that look just like everyone does, sterile, no character. For a film photographer, that is boooring. Cliched. I can change from fine grained acros 100, or tmax 400 to a dreamy 3200 at 1250. The F stopper guys realized they found they couldn't create the exact look of portra 400, with it's gorgeous skin tones. This camera is like shooting digital except onto film, not a sensor. Can't change iso instantly, but can set to rewind with tag out of cannister, note number of exposures and later re load after changing to a different film stock. 2 bodies reduces that. Not quite the convenience of changeable backs like my mamiya rb67 or 645. And what brought me back to film was 10 years ago, a medium format Hassie was 40 grand plus thousands for lenses. My RB plus a few backs and lenses was less than a grand. And that's a 6x7 neg, not the digital "crop" medium format that is less than 645 for 10 grand. As someone who started with a medium format camera in 1959 and had a darkroom, all the bells and whistles of a digital camera are unnecessary for me to take stunning images. In studio, or in the field I have meters for each so few images lost for exposure. This camera matrix metering is dead on and like you said, if it is a scene that could trick the matrix meter, just add some exposure compensation and the button is in exactly the same spot as my digital as is the back button focus. The main difference in appearance is ther is a tiny crank in the top l dial, and in the back a slit to see the film cannister markings and a tiny lcd that doesn't shot the last shot. In 64 years of shooting dozens of cameras right up to the d850, this is by far my favorite camera. Oh, I develop and scan so my processing takes 3 hours and costs about $3 a roll. To precisely maintain critical color chemistry temperature, I got a sous vide for $100 tha multitasks making the most tender steaks I have ever had. Medium rare from sear to sear!
@ Ideas for film: In ye olden days, there was this "miracle" of the sharpness of National Geographic photos. At the time those made me understand the impact of directed light! I wonder if that might be a useful subject to talk about directed light: The "grainy" film often pushed to get the shot, compensated by clever use of directed light that carved out surface structures and became this "National Geographic look!"
Please try also a Leica R9 with the superb Leica R Lenses. Yes I am from Germany and an analog Leica M + R enthusiast. Sorry for that. But a very good 👍 video and good photos with that very nice Nikon F6 camera!!!
If you want some real experimental film chemistry fun, look at "ECN2" stocks. They used to be movie studio only, but you can now develop them at home 😁
When F3 are going 300.00 to 800.00 I wouldn't call that free also FM and Fm2 is going around 300 that's also not free . I guess she is alot richer then I am.
Very nice review of the F6. I own the F3 and the F100 and love both of them. I can say that with the F100 I can shoot of a roil of film much faster than with my F3. The F3 offers something different though, It has much more precision with manual AF and more tactile controls that I like. I have been shooting digital for over 10yrs but almost a year ago I picked up a Canon AE-1 at a thrift store for $15 and ever since then I barely touch my digital cameras. Please do more reviews on film and film cameras.
That is not DX as in digital apsc size sensor. it is DX code on the film canister, which camera reads automatically and set the iso automatically. All it is saying there is ISO is currently set according to DX reading, not manual iso
You spoke a lot about the cost of shooting film The cost of depreciation in value of any high end digital camera far exceeds the cost of any amount of film an enthusiast may shoot and print In the same period of time
Good point 💡💸 I'm content with Nikon D7000, not willing to upgrade as long as it holds out. While I long ago sold my film cameras, I do have my brother's Canon AE-1...another reliable workhorse from pre-auto-anything, it may not even use any batteries at all. I could certainly give that a spin if the film mood struck me.
Hey "SnapChick", love your videos! For brevity, I'm a father of 6 fast kids who loves landscapes. I come from a Nikon background but have used them all... looking at the Z6ii or the A7RIII. Thoughts? Love Nikon's Z lenses, ergs, & colors, love Sony's mature lens lineup. Both about the same $$$ in the end. Thanks for lending your thoughts. I've posted in the Sony/Nikon DPR forums as well, but find all the reviews on your channel very unbiased. Thanks for lending your thoughts! Sub'd :D. (I thought I'd post in your most recent video with the odd chance you might see this reply)
Meh... no nostalgia for film from me. Dust, scratches, cost and time needed. The X100V gives me the feel of an old high end camera... which is what I have nostalgia for.
I love our X100V as well. It and our Q2 certainly offer a different feel than our modern interchangeable lens cameras. Mixing it up is a necessary part of my creative process. :)
It's not really the best offer that they provided in the Nikon F6 ... in 35mm it's the Nikon F4 the only reason Nikon made the display in the F5 , 6 because they realize the cameras are going in the digital ... a Nikon was bent on making the best 35 mm film Camera ever ... where did it all start was the Nikon F4 .. carbon fiber curtain shutters to prevent picture shake at 1/30 second and even at 1/15th second.. in had held ... actual knobs and buttons and lock buttons ...1800 parts , 300 of those make up the prism design
cant argue the quality of this colorful kodak 400 film damm it so sensitive no wonder they found the manhattan project with their film xD honestly the F6 reall looks wrong from outside from a film camera perspective :) but quality seems nice if there wouldnt be a health risk by DBP plastic (carcinogen) otherwise seems like the analog camera for the modern digital shooter wanting to get into analog
I wonder if this camera has 200 autofocus modes including, nasal hair and hairy leg focus modes? Sorry, I was being sarcastic, just sick of all the B.S that is now being put in modern digital cameras and sold as progress. Great presentation.
I love the look of film but it is prohibitively expensive. Buy the film, develop the film, scan and/or print the film. By the end, you're paying more than $1 each time you snap a shot. I save it for special occasions only now.
I have the very low resolution D850 and two F2A's which wipe the floor with the 850 with MUCH higher resolution. I've seen high resolution, and 60mp (Leica and others) and 100mp (Hasselblad) are so far behind they are invisible. We must wait 40 years.
Ehhh, the matrix metering in the newer Nikons actually does make a noticeable difference. Also the fact that you can run “modern” G glass on the F6. That being said, I don’t think any of that actually makes the F6 better depending on what you’re looking for.
A pleasure to shoot! My Nikon gear has never let me down from Vietnam to now. Film lives so make every shot count.
I still take out my FE and FA for "special occasions". Built like tanks.
Started taking pictures 55 years ago. Because of the limited number of exposures on a roll, and the cost of development - had to make every shot count. Would always think about composition and exposure before pressing the shutter......
No matter if you are shooting film, or digital; the fundamentals are the same - Good pictures convey a feeling. Great pictures tell a story....
As someone who grew up shooting film and developing my own negatives in the early in 70's I found your review interesting. You seem to be trying to wrap your head around the idea of film and why anyone would use it today in addition to reviewing the F6. There are many benefits to digital photography. All I can say is that it is different style of photography much like wet plate colloidal. It is very hands on, requires patience, and can be expensive. I love not only the look of film but what that it requires a hands on approach and forces me to slow down. I like the fact that I have only a few images to review instead of hundreds and I know where those images are and that they will be there 50 years from now.
I happen to own all of the F models and the F6 is arguably the best one though the F5 will give it a run for the money. It's a pure joy to shoot with and as you remarked it has some similarities to D2S which will make it an easier transition for digital photographers. You can't go wrong owning this camera and it will certainly be worth it for you to invest in the tank, reels, and chemistry to develop your own film. It's quicker and cheaper. Shoot with it for a month (no digital). I bet it will make you a better photographer.
The F5 was a nice camera as well.
If you have never shot one, give the FA a look. IMO it is one of Nikon's best.
I owned the F-3, F-4, F-5 and F-6. I liked the F-5 best as it continued the modularity of all the previous F models and was the first Nikon with a good auto-focus system. That being said, the quiet smooth shutter sound and film advance on the F-6 was truly amazing. Nikon advertised the F-5 as from the future and claimed the F-6 was developed in an anechoic chamber. I wish all my digital camera shutters were as quiet as the F-6's!
I just purchased a "pristine" used F6. It is so clean, it looks brand new and out of the box. I also ordered the MB-40 Battery grip. I'm a 30+ year Nikon shooter and am really looking forward to using this camera.
I've got an F6 coming from Japan in a few days and have to say that this is the best, most comprehensive review of the camera that I've seen. Thank you
I was a formally trained photographer in the Marines in the early/mid 90’s, and we had mostly the F3, which could take a beating and keep shooting all day, then along came the F4 which had all kinds of bells and whistles but would stop working if it got the least bit dirty. Loved the F3, but have to admit that 25 years later I’m a Canon shooter. We did see the infancy of digital, we attached a special back to the camera that had a sensor in it, and it had a cable to a hard drive that you wore on your belt, it was about the size of a VHS tape and held maybe 150 images.
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing that and thank you for your service.👍👍👍🤠
I've been shooting Nikon since 1972; I started with the F2. Paraphrased: "every press of the shutter costs money." It took me *forever* to get out of that mindset after I moved to digital.
Honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with thinking about what you're doing every time you press the shutter release. This project has made me even more mindful in my digital photography. ...I think there's a video topic in there somewhere. Thanks for the idea! :)
Started in the late seventies with F2A + motor drive and probably only had that mindset in serious mode when I used the 500 C/M's Polaroid back or wasting color print papers. 🙂
Film really does have a place in the creative world. I'm a bit behind with the Nikon F4, but man it is a total pleasure to create with. And the lens back and forward compatibility is unique to Nikon, knock yourself out!
Any F camera is great. Top 3 are the 3, 5 and 6. I would say the F3 started it, F5 is the flagship, and the F6 is the updated version of the F5
Leigh, the F6 is a camera for life, your Z's will come and go :) ps its viewfinder appears to be even bigger than D850's although numbers would say the opposite (0.75x vs 0.74x); actually, having had most top of the line dslrs, I think the F6 is brighter and better than them all.
Great video. Please cover more film cameras! You should definitely cover either the F100 or the legendary F3
I still use my F4s and FM2 titanium. Love film and develop my own B&W film. I will never sell these cameras. Far too many memories.
I had to save money every month to buy my first "real" cam as a teenager, which was the FE with the 50mm, 1,4. I still have it, still love it and still take her out once in a while.
Would love to see an updated Df/F7 with an interchangeable back. The attention such a product would draw would be worth it for Nikon.
Totally agreed - I bought two F6 new last year - the last two bodies made. The best purchase I have ever made
This might be the craziest idea of the century. But if Nikon is hesitant whether they would sell enough units of a new F7 based on the D850 or D6. Why not do a kickstarter? (The window of opportunity will close when Nikon stops making DSLRs.)
@@erikehrling4715 Thats a very good idea but may be too progressive for the culture at Nikon.
I'd settle for a reintroduction of the Coolscan ED scanners.
Thanks for sharing...I still have my Nikon FG20 film camera & loved using it around Europe in the 90's...I have always been told by 'old' professionals that film is true photography which really tests your skills... cheers 😀
My first SLR was the Asahi Pentax Spotmatic 35mm camera and 4 lenses purchased in 1966. I still have the system and It still works well. I do limit my exposure because I figure it costs me about a $1 a frame to produce an image. I use an outside source to process the film and digitize the image. It was fun to put this back into operation a few years ago when I took it out of retirement. Thanks for the review of film cameras.
Pentax Spotmatic - A terrific camera. I always loved the Pentax line. Wanted but never got the Pentax ME Super.
If you want a less expensive F6, choose the F100. No lcd back to fool with, workhorse body and uses AA Batts without the grip. Great review! 👍
Great point, same reason I bought an f100!
I have an f100 which I love, however was disappointed to find out it doesn’t have mirror lock up for macro copy work, so now I’m looking at getting a f6. Also the f6 prints the exposure details onto the film which is super cool
Also about a fifth the cost
Beware of the F100 back side - it's quite often sticky, because of some vaporizing adhaesive. Same goes even much stronger with the F80, sad but true. I have had 3 F80, which became all very sticky, so it was impossible to use it anymore, tried cleaning with 90% isopropanol on one body, didn't worked out as expected, and sold them all over time.
/fixed typo
There is one thing to worry about is there is no manual rewind option and my F100 actually can’t hook into the reverse gear one time. I have to use a dark bag to get the film by opening the back. Luckily an mechanic fixed it. Just always bring a dark bag with you
Actually the F5 is the best 35mm film SLR ever made. The last true system camera from Nikon.
It takes AAs, needs no additional grip, has interchangeable viewfinders and you can find it around 300 bucks.
Yeah, F5 built for hard professional use, F6 built for rich hobbyists.
@@efreutel Exactly, there are actually no true professional Nikon SLRs anymore after the F5.
Welcome to real photography - where it’s all about skill and not about luck. I learned to develop film and make my own BW prints at age seven, back in 1962, using my dad’s Rolleiflex and later his Nikon F2 Photomic. I truly miss thst creative process, and still have those wonderful cameras.
Excellent review!!!
Keep on the good work
Cheers
(i'm a F3 fan)
Thank you!
Shooting film makes me happy.
The discontinuation of the F6 adds a whole new level of nostalgia to Paul Simon's song.
"I got a Nikon camera. I love to take a photograph."
Great video Leigh on your Nikon F6. I can relate to what you are saying regarding being mindful of the shots you take with a film camera.
I am a Nikon person and I have got a couple of Nikon 35mm film cameras with my favourite being my Nikon F5. The F5 is a beast and would chew through a 24 or 36 exposure film in a matter of seconds if one was not mindful.
I am down under in Australia and I do remember back over 20 years ago when 35mm film was cheap to buy and cheap to get processed that was around the AUD $9.95 and that did include the film negatives as well and it was usually processed in a hour or overnight if one wished. I recently used my F5 to take photos of my stepdaughter’s wedding back in September 2021 where I mainly used Kodak Portra 400 Professional 36 exposure film. My daughter put four films in at a local camera shop who sent the films up to their Sunshine Coast store where they processed the films.
Well it took a fortnight to get back the photos and it cost over AUD$110, and to top it off if we had known it we could have driven there within a hour and had the processing done same day.
I got my F5 from Japan and it is in mint condition with it’s original box and everything else back in January this year. I am so happy with the F5 and I won’t ever part with it.
Nothing like the thunk of the mirror slap. Very reassuring.
Fab review. I just picked up for £40 the Nikon F80, has lots of the main features and functions on the F6, just consumer level build quality.
Highly recommended the F80 and F100 as a cheaper alternative.
Produced until 2020 THAT shows Nikon in a different light! I knew about the decades long run of the Fm1 but this...Amazing!
The F6 is a bucket-list SLR for me, even with the 7 other Nikon SLRs I have. I wound up getting an F100, which allows me to use my modern lenses I use with my DSLR, including my Tamron 70-200.
Your timing is perfect. Just got a Canon EOS/ELAN ii from my sister to explore 35mm analog. Lots to learn but am up for a new creative challenge.
Great camera, the only concern I have is the batteries it uses.
They are not that common and may be difficult to acquire in the future
Get the Nikon N80 instead
Delighted to discover your UA-cam channel, Leigh. It was a "suggested" video, no doubt due to the sorts of pieces I watch. Two reasons I subscribed: (1) Your quiet (hype-free) eloquence sets you apart from a lot of the noise out there (as well as the time-wasters who are barely literate and out of their depths, as well as those who can't seem to post without the dreaded click bait headline). You also remind me of the low-key, low-hype camera shop gal from whom I've purchased lots of gear over a good three decades). (2) There was an immediate resonance with my continuing appreciation for film photography, alongside of digital, for the deliberateness it entails, as well as the tactile pleasures of manual focusing and using gear that was clearly built for the ages.
I've become a subscriber, based on this video, and will look forward to viewing the upcoming one discussing how you and your partner-in-crime digitize your film images, as well as exploring your previous posts.
Great review! I shoot digital, Nikon Z50 , D500 and love them. I also have never stopped using film 🎞 . I have an F-100, FM2n, EM and Pentax ME Super. Love film as well ! 📸😊
Nice camera! I've been shooting film for over thirty years. I've had my F100 for over ten years and will never give it up.
I shoot film for fun also, It was what I started using when I discovered photography in the late 60s.
Now in 2023, after decades shooting digital, film is not fun anymore. It's now cost much more (to buy and process) and it takes time.
It takes a few days to see your image. I still like film, but I keep it down to 2 rolls a year.
Thanks so much for a great video.
We are in a different era for film photography. When I started out in the 60's, I never thought about the cost of film or developing. I'd carry five or six rolls in my pocket every time i went out. Film cost between $3 and $8. Development and prints or slides cost about $5 to $7 a roll. You could get it done almost anywhere. Results came back in less than a week.
So?
No one has a time machine.
Welcome to reality.
If you factor in buying power and inflation it’s actually not that far off from prices today.
Loved this episode. Reminded me that so many younger people have probably never experienced film and wouldn’t understand all the subtle differences in films or what “one hour processing” is. For absolute mindfulness of the whole process I recommend trying a large format camera. You’ll quickly gain an outsized realization of the cost of pressing the shutter release, but your photographs will improve.
I was going to suggest medium format as a move in that direction, but there is no doubt that large format is a world of its own.
@@archivist17 I preferred medium format for film, but that is still a roll film format. Large format is a more immersive experience, imho, loading the film holders in the dark or a bag, calculating the exposure and required exposure, loading the developing tank or (gasp!) trays, contacts you can see, and room sized enlargements. Plus the swings and tilts. It’s been many years since I shot film of any size, and I do miss it. I take out my Nikon body every year or so and think if shooting. I miss it.
As a younger person I got into photography well after they transitioned into digital, but I got a film camera from my dad and got lucky and got into a high school with photography classes and even labs to develop film ourselves, didn't really start using digital until this year, love how much thought it takes to shoot on film
IMO, one thing probably remains different is that some old timers had a lot of 'chemical smell and sweat' stories to tell. Pressing the shutter button could be just half of the story. In another YT video, the creator revisited the past about the countless hours in the darkroom and how many Masters were experts in darkroom techniques. I think many analog children will stop thinking in term of gatekeepers but cave people instead.
Cost wise, the $$$ of those color print papers & chemicals mounted up fast from the many test strips and proofs. Then there were the Polaroid for our MF and mounting tools & frames. Come to think of it, so is the computer setup for digital. All those 10,000 rpm SCSI drives & dual processors in the early days, file server, backup tape/CD/DVD/BD, NAS, photo printers, software, etc.
Nevertheless, I think I understand the thoughts from a different generation, since I had been young once, IT for just as long as my photography journey (over four decades) and shooting digital since 2000.
@@bfs5113 chemical smell and sweat: you got that right! “Rising Winter Storm” by Ansel Adams had 57 different darkroom manipulations. Not much different from Photoshop.
Nice video. This really makes we want to start shooting film.
A very well balanced review, Leigh. I think if anyone wants to get into (or, back into) film photography, they have to weigh the pros and cons and decide for themselves whether it's something they can go with. However, now that Raymond has caught the bug and gone over to the Dark Side, maybe he can be talked into also getting some medium and large format cameras, too :D :P :P :P Oh, and the F6, that's a camera I've always wanted as well :D
Yep: Gotta get a Hasselblad 500CM or a Rolleiflex, at least!💰💰🤡🤡🤡
My favorite autofocus film SLR though I prefer my Leica MP rangefinder when shooting film or the manual focus F3. Nikon made a fantastic camera in a relatively small package compared to the F5 and F4 when they made the F6. Thanks for the video!
Very cool review...I am hobbyist photographer and soon to be 68 years old. I started out with film cameras (instamatic Kodak camera forgot the model number I was 12 years old); my first real film camera was an Pentax ME Super and then a Minolta maxxum 7000i and then went to digital camera. To be honest I don't miss my film camera, totally prefer to shoot with a digital camera. But being a professional photographer like yourself and Raymond, I can understand the fun of using a film camera.
Photography is expensive enough without going back to film. I was not really all that wrapped up with developing etc. Chemicals cost as well and they smell. More than happy to stay with digital thank you
I started out with a Kodak Instamatic 400 in 1965. Always loved but never got the ME Super. The Nikon film cameras especially IMO the FE, F3, F4, F5, and of course the F6 are unmatched. Ken Rockwell has the most comprehensive reviews I’ve ever seen, online.👍
so happy to see a review of the f6! there aren't many videos about it and none of them are very good. unfortunately, since this camera is so expensive i'll just stick to my F5.
An interesting video. 2004 was the year I believe Canon released what was to become my first DSLR in the EOS-20D. I also remember at the time, reading in the news section of a photo magazine I had, about Nikon releasing this F6 film SLR and being quite surprised by that (Nikon still kept to that 8 year schedule for releasing a new F series pro camera body) as by then, I assumed Nikon had laid to rest their pro film cameras with the F5 being the last in the line. And yet this model was kept in production for about 16 more years! Who would of thought 🤷♂️
you should try fast glass and ADOX 20 film, RPX 25 or Ferrania P30 if you want low grain images.
Leigh, great video on the F6! I am using F2A with AIS lenses 552.8 and 105 2.5. It is through back, but I found that shooting film solves a lot of problems with complacency that digital has. I process the film myself and scan the negatives on a D610. Like said in the video, the film is not cheap. the It has a look all its own, and digital photography will never match the face of the film. Why not do a video only film channel? There are several UA-camrs doing that but join the crowd. Thank you for a very good video.
My old F2 A from the late 1970th (if I remember correctly) is still going strong even if I only let it exercise rather seldom nowadays.
I had one of those. Still have my F4s. Lovely cameras
I’d love an F6, but it’s out of my price range.
Pretty happy with my FM2n and F5 though.
This is a really excellent video for an audience that either hasn't shot film in a long time or has never shot film. (Personally I haven't shot a film camera since I was a kid, and that was a point-and-shoot!) It really is a different world and I can understand what you mean about film slowing you down and forcing you to think about your captures more (I'm constantly forcing myself to do that on digital). The grain on the film you used was very nice too.
I've considered buying a film camera before, specifically an F100/F80. Any plans on looking at these other late-model film cameras from Nikon? That would be fun!
I still shoot film today, almost 40 years since I first bought my first brand new Nikon SLR, an FM. Today I have and FTn, three F2's, F3 Press, and and F5. Whilst the F6 is certainly the final hurrah in the professional F series, my personal opinion on the F6 is that its just a souped up F100. The F5 is just as good (if not better) in my opinion and I have no desperate need or urgency to purchase a F6, if for nothing else than the crazy prices they fetch today.
I thought every camera price was crazy when new. An arm and a leg for my F2A + MD & 500 C/M over four decades ago, and so was my D3 in 2008. 🤣
Nikon F6 is silky smooth and so quiet as far as SLRs go. If you can get one I highly recommend it. My 2c. I have every F from F to F6 and i love to use them all. F6 is a class above though.
Youre back to nikon now? Awesome ☺️
I've always had Nikon gear. I just also have other gear now. :)
Nice video , I wish they would reintroduce the Df in mirrorless Z form and add Z 6 video capable
I find that people notice the "noise" not because it's loud or obnoxious, but because it's a sound they've either never heard or one they haven't heard in 20 years. Btw, the F6 also supports all of Nikon's modern flash units and modes in addition to virtually all F-mount lenses since the discovery of dirt.
Used Fm10 for 6 years & f55 for 4 years. Amazing Nikon cameras for negative & slide shoots.
Worth pointing out you can get rechargeable 123s and either way they last forever in these nikons.
Cool Nikon F6 film camera. How do you like the transferring of analog photos to digital through scanning and how about editing film photos after scanning ?
The F6 looks amazing but if you like the more tactile bodies look at the Minolta 9 it’s gorgeous. Great vid Leigh cheers
film forces your skills as a photographer out of your pores...I shoot with an F100 together with an D850...all bases are covered. no need for mirrorless.
While I cut my teeth on film at the time that 400 ASA was a new marvel, film's limitations were a huge hindrance. Worst of all was having to change rolls during action! The first thing that my brain screamed as you showed your wonderfully-composed film shots was *GRAIN*
If you truly love film, then something like that wouldn't be of issue to you
My flash light uses cr123 batteries, they're a very common battery
I still have my F6, and I have the grip to go with it. I also have a few rolls of TechPan left ....
The grip is sitting in our Amazon.com shopping cart right now!
@@LeighAndRaymond I don't know if it's still available, but there is an adapter to allow the grip to use the Nikon EN-EL4a battery, instead of 8 AAs (you need the MH-21 to charge it).
It definitely work well with my sigma apsc mtf beast 50-150 2.8 II APO lens, af is relative fast and accurate
Enjoyed the video and review of the F6, which is a wonderful film camera. Were you also going to post a link to the video that shows your approach to scanning negatives, aka “date night” ?
I heard your comments on the F6 and how noisy it is when shooting. Haha, it's less noisy than the Canon Eos 1v, Canon's equivalent to the F6 in the 2000s in film photography. I have a Nikon F90x from 1994, which is the N90s in the USA, now thats noisy.....
I clicked because the title made me laugh 😂
It made me laugh too - that's how I came up with the title!
I use a Nikon F801, Canon AE1 Program and Pentax Spotmatic, all of which take excellent film photos and range from completely automatic to completely analog. In total I spent $90, $39 and $40 for the three cameras. The two parts I accept but dislike is the cost of film and developing / scanning (although I can get it back locally the same day) and I especially don't like not having access to the photos until the roll is completely used. Regardless of this I use my Sony digital day in and day out but shooting film is very enjoyable.
I have my mom's old Canon AE-1! It doesn't work and I've been saying I want to get it fixed for years. This project and the response it has gotten so far definitely has pushed me over the edge - I'm going to talk to some camera repair shops about it. :)
Leigh, if it ends up costing too much to get it fixed, you might want to go on KEH and look at getting a "new" one for yourself. You would most likely pick up one in really good nick for less than the price of fixing the old one. But, I would definitely make inquiries about getting your Mom's old one fixed!! Although, once she sees it all shiny and new, the feather duster might come out to keep "young lady's meddling mitts" off "of my camera!!!" :D :P
Interesting 🤔 to hear a younger persons 😂take on film photography. I’ve owned an F6 since 2004, also a couple of F100’s, and a whole plethora of Olympus OM equipment
Digital is a relatively new experience for me, the last 20 years 😂
Just upgraded from a D800 to D850, complicated and sophisticated, yeah and I’ll admit the results are amazing
In the day, Fuji Velvia was the go to slide film stock
You should try a Leica film camera and tell us again about the sound of film cameras 🙂. In terms of scanning, I would consider the following better options: Kodak Pakon Scanner, Nikon Coolscan 5000 or 9000, or Valoi or Negative Supply digitalization film carriers.
Or any leaf shutter system. My Olympus XA and Minox 35 are almost silent. I remember on the other hand, after using my first camera - an OM-1 - I got an OM-40. It sounded like a barn door slamming compared to the whispery OM-1.
We actually own a flatbed scanner but often choose to use the method we demonstrated in this video. Tell me more about the options you listed though - what about them is better to you?
@@archivist17 I love my thunder slapping Pentax 6x7 MLU :)
@@LeighAndRaymond The Pakon scanner was a 35mm minilab scanner. I scan a full roll in about 4mn with most of the time zero processing to do afterwards. There is a learning curve to set it up and then it's a breeze. Because of the recent film resurgence, they are not cheap anymore.
The Nikon Coolscan 5000 (35mm) or 9000 (35mm and 120) is the best pro-summer scanner made. Much slower than a Pakon but you can get great scans. It requires more fiddling with the software.
For you guys, I think the Negative Supply holder might be the best solution or the new Valoi holder if you want to pay a bit less. It is designed to digitalize with your digital cameras (you have plenty). The best is to get a copy stand, your mirrorless, a macro lens (or even better a copy, reproduction or process lens with bellows) and the holder. On the software side, Negative Lab Pro integrates with Lightroom and will make your life with processing the images much easier. You can use NLP with most of the hardware solutions existing.
Hope it helps
My first camera, that I still use, is a Yashica FX-2 (vintage 1976). If you're on one side of a football field taking pictures with it, the people on the far side of the field know it.
A quick point about graininess. You should not be seeing grain in those images. A proper scanner would not accentuate or exaggerate film grain. That's not a personal jab or anything, just a technical point. Scanners matter, and a lot of them are terrible, sadly, including the setup you used here.
As for the F6, I think I kind of want one...
I own Nikon F4 Standard body , with NIKKOR 80 -200 mm ED lens ... you know the Camera body on a Nikon F4 .... with carbon fiber shutters is better than the Nikon F6 right the difference is the Nikon F 6 didn't have mechanical Parts as the Nikon 4 the only difference is it was only was a digital display on the Nikon F 6 just like the Pentax MX Yoni digital Dissapeared
I went back to film (35mm) using Canon's EOS cameras and EF lenses do to the high cost of going to a DSLR full frame camera. All used equipment from Ebay of course in excellent to mint condition at a very low cost. In the last 2 years I've accumulated 8 Canon EOS camera bodies and 7 EF lenses. The most expensive camera body was the EOS 1 in excellent to mint condition w/PB-E1 Power Booster at $150 out the door from ebay. The most expensive EF lens (micro) was 141.04 GBP out the door. All 7 of my EF lenses will work with their DSLR bodies and the RF bodies with their smart adapter. But for right now I'm staying with film. My experience with Canon goes back to the days when I was living in Japan from 1969 - 1972 as a "military brat" staring out using a Canon FTb with their FL/FD lenses then going on to the F1/F1n & A1 with their FD/FDn lenses. I never purchased any of their T series cameras while holding off on their EOS series for a number of reasons.
to me this camera is new lol, (not as in I remember when It came out, I was 2 lol) the cameras I shoot range from the late-40s to mid-80s lol! also planning on getting a plate camera from the mid too late 1800s
So cool! Awesome review. I just subscribed!
so would you say the Sigma Art lenses work well with the F6?
I shoot lots of film. At this moment have 9 rolls in progress between 6 backs and numerous cameras. Have an f100 and f5 but just purchased an F6. It appears bullet proof and should out last the already stickey f100. The f5 should outlive them all but am selling it. I use manual focus lenses and the focus confirmation arrows/meatball is hard to see at the top of the view finder. On F100 and F6 it's easily seen at the bottom next to the meter bar. Yes, she is right, I shoot film for the real grain, sorry, digital grain is close but no cigar and the colors of portra that sorry, would take too long to try to reproduce digitally. Again, plugins close but no cigar. Both f100 and f6 give me auto focus ,auto advance, a dead accurate meter to spot meter on caucasian skin and add 1 stop light to side of dead center. It also gives 1/8000 sec so I can shoot wide open in broad daylight without a nd filter. The metering in the f6 is so reliable, for street I will switch from manual spot metering to matrix aperture priority and with zone focused manual lenses, I have a point and shoot with zeiss glass and the film of my choice.
How can you give me an example of a Nikon e lens with electronic aperture. Like will my 50mm 1.4 AF-S ED lens work on this? Is that what you mean? Thank you 🙏 kindly
Nikon makes newer lenses designated E as in electronic aperture control. ED designated low dispersion "ED" glass. Yes your 50mm 1.4 ED AF-s lens will work perfectly on an F6
Wow. Revieving a Nikon F6 and not knowing what it is, that is ...special. The F6 is by far the best analog camera ever made. No other camera can match its specs. There are a lot of good filmcameras and everyone have their favorites, but spec wise the no camera that matches the F6. I love my Canon F-1, both old and new, and my T-90 (probably the best specs of a filmcamera without autofocus) and regret selling my Nikon F3. And if you want it simple, buy a Leica M6. But the best out there is the F6, and it will never be a better film camera. It's as simple as that.
After having this camera for about 6 months, it is worked it's way into my prime carry camera with b&w tmax 400. Second body, f100 with portra 400. I do like the super sharp detailed clean images I get from my d850, but it seems to stay at home to scan my negs with a zeiss 100mm makro. It kicks out shots that look just like everyone does, sterile, no character. For a film photographer, that is boooring. Cliched. I can change from fine grained acros 100, or tmax 400 to a dreamy 3200 at 1250. The F stopper guys realized they found they couldn't create the exact look of portra 400, with it's gorgeous skin tones. This camera is like shooting digital except onto film, not a sensor. Can't change iso instantly, but can set to rewind with tag out of cannister, note number of exposures and later re load after changing to a different film stock. 2 bodies reduces that. Not quite the convenience of changeable backs like my mamiya rb67 or 645. And what brought me back to film was 10 years ago, a medium format Hassie was 40 grand plus thousands for lenses. My RB plus a few backs and lenses was less than a grand. And that's a 6x7 neg, not the digital "crop" medium format that is less than 645 for 10 grand. As someone who started with a medium format camera in 1959 and had a darkroom, all the bells and whistles of a digital camera are unnecessary for me to take stunning images. In studio, or in the field I have meters for each so few images lost for exposure. This camera matrix metering is dead on and like you said, if it is a scene that could trick the matrix meter, just add some exposure compensation and the button is in exactly the same spot as my digital as is the back button focus. The main difference in appearance is ther is a tiny crank in the top l dial, and in the back a slit to see the film cannister markings and a tiny lcd that doesn't shot the last shot. In 64 years of shooting dozens of cameras right up to the d850, this is by far my favorite camera. Oh, I develop and scan so my processing takes 3 hours and costs about $3 a roll. To precisely maintain critical color chemistry temperature, I got a sous vide for $100 tha multitasks making the most tender steaks I have ever had. Medium rare from sear to sear!
Your Portra photos look super grainy. Are you shooting it at box speed or 1 over? It really likes 200 ISO.
That seems like it's just badly developed, because they're also too low contrast, undersaturated and they have an obvious greenish hue.
@ Ideas for film: In ye olden days, there was this "miracle" of the sharpness of National Geographic photos. At the time those made me understand the impact of directed light! I wonder if that might be a useful subject to talk about directed light: The "grainy" film often pushed to get the shot, compensated by clever use of directed light that carved out surface structures and became this "National Geographic look!"
Developing your own film is much better than sending it off. A lot cheaper too once you stop screwing it up.
In car terms, a Canon Eos 1v is a rolls Royce, the Nikon f5 is a Lamborghini and the f6 is a Ferrari.
I have it since 2007 !!!
Please try also a Leica R9 with the superb Leica R Lenses. Yes I am from Germany and an analog Leica M + R enthusiast. Sorry for that. But a very good 👍 video and good photos with that very nice Nikon F6 camera!!!
Inside the R9 beats the heart of a Minolta. I’d take the Nikon any day of the week and btw I also own an M6 w/50mm Summicron. 🤠
If you want some real experimental film chemistry fun, look at "ECN2" stocks. They used to be movie studio only, but you can now develop them at home 😁
THANKYOU...
Thanks for watching! :)
When F3 are going 300.00 to 800.00 I wouldn't call that free also FM and Fm2 is going around 300 that's also not free . I guess she is alot richer then I am.
Some older digital cameras feel like film cameras because the sensors have a film-like quality
Does it have matrix metering
yes
Very nice review of the F6. I own the F3 and the F100 and love both of them. I can say that with the F100 I can shoot of a roil of film much faster than with my F3. The F3 offers something different though, It has much more precision with manual AF and more tactile controls that I like.
I have been shooting digital for over 10yrs but almost a year ago I picked up a Canon AE-1 at a thrift store for $15 and ever since then I barely touch my digital cameras. Please do more reviews on film and film cameras.
Did i see there is a DX and FX option? (4:48)
That is not DX as in digital apsc size sensor. it is DX code on the film canister, which camera reads automatically and set the iso automatically. All it is saying there is ISO is currently set according to DX reading, not manual iso
@@arunashamal - thanks for the clarify!
You spoke a lot about the cost of shooting film
The cost of depreciation in value of any high end digital camera far exceeds the cost of any amount of film an enthusiast may shoot and print
In the same period of time
Good point 💡💸 I'm content with Nikon D7000, not willing to upgrade as long as it holds out. While I long ago sold my film cameras, I do have my brother's Canon AE-1...another reliable workhorse from pre-auto-anything, it may not even use any batteries at all. I could certainly give that a spin if the film mood struck me.
Hey "SnapChick", love your videos! For brevity, I'm a father of 6 fast kids who loves landscapes. I come from a Nikon background but have used them all... looking at the Z6ii or the A7RIII. Thoughts? Love Nikon's Z lenses, ergs, & colors, love Sony's mature lens lineup. Both about the same $$$ in the end. Thanks for lending your thoughts. I've posted in the Sony/Nikon DPR forums as well, but find all the reviews on your channel very unbiased. Thanks for lending your thoughts! Sub'd :D. (I thought I'd post in your most recent video with the odd chance you might see this reply)
what make it better than the f5 or f100? dont to be rude but the samples photos you posted arent that impressive at all :P
Meh... no nostalgia for film from me. Dust, scratches, cost and time needed. The X100V gives me the feel of an old high end camera... which is what I have nostalgia for.
I love our X100V as well. It and our Q2 certainly offer a different feel than our modern interchangeable lens cameras. Mixing it up is a necessary part of my creative process. :)
I home develop black and white, but man, color is a righteous pain to develop at home - stinks to high holy hell with the blix.
It's not really the best offer that they provided in the Nikon F6 ... in 35mm it's the Nikon F4 the only reason Nikon made the display in the F5 , 6 because they realize the cameras are going in the digital ... a Nikon was bent on making the best 35 mm film Camera ever ... where did it all start was the Nikon F4 .. carbon fiber curtain shutters to prevent picture shake at 1/30 second and even at 1/15th second.. in had held ... actual knobs and buttons and lock buttons ...1800 parts , 300 of those make up the prism design
cant argue the quality of this colorful kodak 400 film damm it so sensitive no wonder they found the manhattan project with their film xD
honestly the F6 reall looks wrong from outside from a film camera perspective :)
but quality seems nice if there wouldnt be a health risk by DBP plastic (carcinogen) otherwise seems like the analog camera for the modern digital shooter wanting to get into analog
I wonder if this camera has 200 autofocus modes including, nasal hair and hairy leg focus modes? Sorry, I was being sarcastic, just sick of all the B.S that is now being put in modern digital cameras and sold as progress. Great presentation.
I love the look of film but it is prohibitively expensive. Buy the film, develop the film, scan and/or print the film. By the end, you're paying more than $1 each time you snap a shot. I save it for special occasions only now.
I have the very low resolution D850 and two F2A's which wipe the floor with the 850 with MUCH higher resolution. I've seen high resolution, and 60mp (Leica and others) and 100mp (Hasselblad) are so far behind they are invisible. We must wait 40 years.
The problem with film camera right now is: everything decided by lens. Result usually similiar from f6 or fm
Ehhh, the matrix metering in the newer Nikons actually does make a noticeable difference. Also the fact that you can run “modern” G glass on the F6. That being said, I don’t think any of that actually makes the F6 better depending on what you’re looking for.