Your Favorite Nikon Autofocus Film Camera

Dubiousone

Senior Member
I can't help it; it's an addiction. But I don't WANT to stop ! LOL!! I love my DSLR's. I've been getting back into more and more into film since my dive into DSLR's and re-discovering a favorite old hobby. Hard to pass up those old classics when they're so cheap!! I recently picked up, really really cheap by the way, a package deal that included a Minolta Maxxum Stsi with a Quantaray 28-90. I wanted the other stuff in the deal, not the camera. (Forgive me for mentioning the "M" word because I already traded that Minolta off after I shot a roll out of it...hmmm, big mistake.) It really was a full featured camera; full auto or as manual as it gets and everything in between. Auto film loading and advancing AND rewinding. Kind of sparked an interest in a setup like that (Don't ask why, there IS no why) so I went looking to see what Nikon (of course) had in that range. Hmmm, F-100, N90, N75, 80, 65, N2000, N-whatever. Found a local shop that had a N90 for sale went to look at it. Ended up taking it home! (it was a love at first sight thing) It came a hundred bucks over what I'd planned to spend but this one came with a really nice 50mm f1.8 autofocus Nikon lens. Ended up with another thrift shop deal, nice Nikon lens on an N2000 and so, I'm wondering, anyone still using these and, what do you think? What's your favorite and why?
 

Mike D90

Senior Member
Interested in the results here. I have owned one Nikon AF film camera, N2002, and never used it. I wanted an N90s but never got one. I owned an FM2n prior to that camera and Minolta before the Nikons.
 

Dubiousone

Senior Member
These days, I shoot Pentax, Nikon, Canon and Mamiya film SLR's regularly. I find using film forces me to focus on the basics. Besides, I like it! That N90 is a joy to use! Old tech for sure, but it's a real solid camera. Plastic over a metal body, heavy but very well balanced. The controls are laid out very nicely and the big porthole viewfinder is like my F3. I hardly had to look at a manual to figure the thing out, very intuitive.
 

Brian

Senior Member
My Favorite is the N8008s. The one I use is converted from a Digital DSLR, Kodak DCS200. 10 years ago I was using it to shoot Christmas portraits at my Daughter's school and one of the Dad's walked up and said, "Still using Film? I have three of those back home, but now use Digital for everything." He had a higher end P&S of the day. Told Him, "I've been shooting Digital since 1981. THIS camera (The N8008s) USED to be Digital. I converted it to film." Then pulled out the Polaroid SLR690, took his kid's portrait and handed it to her so she could watch it develop. Gave all of the Kids Polaroids to take home, and then prints for the parents.
 
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hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I still have my N90s as well as an N70. The N90s was terrific to use, and I never felt the need to move into anything more expensive. :)
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
IMHO, film still has a place in every facet of photography. I just un-retired my N70 for my 14-YO son to use for a bit. He's paying for film, and I'll help with the processing. I'm doing so to get him to think about what he's doing instead of clicking and picking.

He's got a Nikon AW100 that is good for an all-weather P&S camera under most conditions, including around and in streams and springs of our area. But he wants to do more. I see him getting my D90 one day soon, unless he opts to buy a different camera himself.

I'm likely to introduce him to my FM and FE, as well. Likely should have done that before handing him the N70.

Oh, and my favorite is still my 1st generation FM. Basic camera with metering, but works fine when the batteries are dead or missing!

WM
 

Sharin

Senior Member
I haven't even looked at my film camera in ages, but you're inspiring me to break it out! Two quick questions: Where do you have the film processed and do you like their services?
 

D12345678

Senior Member
Probably have to say my F80, but I also enjoy using the F100, F801s and FE. The F80 though just does everything so quickly and easily in such a light package. Shame the back on my one is starting to go sticky:(
 

LensWork

Senior Member
The F5. Of all of the auto-focus film Nikons, I only ever shot with the F4s and the F5. The F4s was clunky and slow. I actually preferred shooting with my F3HP bodies after the F4s came out. I did not really use auto-focus until the F5.
 

Dubiousone

Senior Member
I haven't even looked at my film camera in ages, but you're inspiring me to break it out! Two quick questions: Where do you have the film processed and do you like their services?

I have two; my main camera 'pusher' sends film out to be processed locally (except for B&W which goes to CA and takes a couple of weeks) and I recently found a place that does same day processing. He's a couple bucks more than my guy but when I want it NOW (LOL) that's where I go. He's got the standard Fuji machines and everything he's done for me has turned out beautifully. I don't do my own developing (yet) but with places so close and it's not that expensive, I might just stick to that. Cheaper to just develop the film but I'm not set up yet to scan negatives. I've got an HP flatbed and I scan the prints and for me, those will do just fine until I get better equipment. My favorite is the N90; I just plain LOVE that camera! So much, I bought a second, a N90s. It's a terrific camera! I think there's lots to be said about learning on a manual camera which reinforces the basics of exposure, DOF and so on but its nice to let the camera focus so one can pay more attention to the other details. My N90 also works great with my older Nikon lenses; much easier to focus than my D50 which is just as persnickety as my Pentax to focus manual lenses! I just picked up an N2000, not auto-focus but sort of the same, a 1980's camera. I got it with a lens I wanted and its got a stuck shutter dial plus the ISO dial doesn't lock. Everything else works just fine and someday, I'll give it to my guy and see if its worth fixing.
 

Friggs

Senior Member
For auto focus cameras, I only had two Nikons. A 8008 and a N90. The N90 was the one I loved and have missed. Have thought of getting one, but I need lenses first for my D300. I am switching back to Nikon form Canon. Once I get some lenses, will be a while, I do want to get a N90 again. But there will be a FE2 before that.

Bill
 
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Tom Roberts

New member
Re: Nikon N2000 parts wanted

I have two Nikon N2000 cameras. The second one was purchased as a "parts" camera. It had no battery tray or base plate. After cleaning the posts of battery corrosion I put my original
tray and plate on it and it worked. Now I'm need a used battery tray, base plate, and film rewind knob. This was one of my first Nikons and I have an affinity for it.
 

coolbus18

Senior Member
It's very close but I give it to the F4s just a tad over the F5. No command dials but dials for the functions and the sound it makes when the shutter fires---music to my ears! Oh and it looks so darned good!

_DSC1663.jpg and the back too!
 

mikeee

Senior Member
I have a nikon N2020 that I used until it died, and then picked up an N6006 for cheap. I still use the AF50mm that came with the N2020.
I guess I liked the N2020 better as I never fully learned all the stuff on the N6006.
 

Mark Carroll

Senior Member
i really like the f801{n8001 in some parts} but i love my f4 to, to grab a camera and run out the door itd likley be the 801,simply cause im faster with it and its lighter{also way more discrete}...so f4 for me}hmm untill i get an f3 hmm}
regards mark
 

coolbus18

Senior Member
Right now on my F5 is the 70-210mm f/4 AF. With the F5's motors this lens feels like it had some nitro add to focusing. @ Mark--yes I do love my F4s. It drips Nikon. Heavy, yeah but so is the F5. That 801 is a neat machine too. Enjoy!!
 
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