Best used film camera that accepts current lenses

degitt

New member
What used Nikon film camera (price is important) will accept and operate current AF lens such as Nikkor 70-300 1:4.5-5.6 ED VR?
 

pforsell

Senior Member
F100 would be my first choice and I can confirm it works with AF-S lenses and with VR, and with G lenses (that have no aperture ring) as I still have mine.

Also F5 is great, but if that's too big consider F6.

Also some of the plastic fantastic toy cameras work with AF-S, VR and G, but since those are 15~20 years old I wouldn't touch them. Anyway the compatible ones are F80, F75 and F65 (N80, N75, N65 in the USA).

Get F100 or F5. Those can be had for the cost of a dozen film rolls + developing.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
I don't know the answer, but possibly most bodies since the 1990s for AF-S. Before, forget it.

The AF-S focuses electrically, and of course VR is electric (and much newer), so the camera body will have to have the 8 or 10 electrical contacts inside the lens opening, at the top.

Here is a lens compatibility chart, with some film bodies on it.

Nikon SLR Camera and Lens Compatibility Chart
 

Bill16

Senior Member
From what I read somewhere, the nikon F4s should handle pretty much all of Nikon's lenses except Nikon 1 lenses of course!:)
 

pforsell

Senior Member
From what I read somewhere, the nikon F4s should handle pretty much all of Nikon's lenses except Nikon 1 lenses of course!:)

Mine doesn't. Does not operate VR and doesn't really work with G lenses either. In A and M exposure modes the aperture stays closed to minimum (f/22 or whatever).
 

STM

Senior Member
“Plastic fantastic” ? This is the kind of elitist clap-trap that one occasionally hears on the skeet/trap range from someone not shooting a Perazzi or Krieghof, that thinks the gear is more important than the shooters skill.

Although I understand what you are saying, the cameras he mentions are little more than toys compared to the F4/F5 and other far more capable cameras which might work. They were targeted for the occasional/casual photographer and not for a serious and/or advanced amateur.
 

carguy

Senior Member
“Plastic fantastic” ? This is the kind of elitist clap-trap that one occasionally hears on the skeet/trap range from someone not shooting a Perazzi or Krieghof, that thinks the gear is more important than the shooters skill.

Now that is post digging.

I'd suggest a N90/N90s, F100, F4-F6 depending on what the budget allows. All can use up to G glass (N90 cameras can use Aperture Priority with a bit of menu manipulation).
 

carguy

Senior Member
Although I understand what you are saying, the cameras he mentions are little more than toys compared to the F4/F5 and other far more capable cameras which might work. They were targeted for the occasional/casual photographer and not for a serious and/or advanced amateur.

I agree completely. They are consumer grade SLRs for sure. With prices today, those are disposable cameras. I'd do a N90 on up personally.
 

pendennis

Senior Member
The N90/F90's, especially the s/x designations are superb cameras, and can be had on the cheap. Just beware that some of them have developed a sticky back, which can be removed by judicious use of rubbing alcohol and a soft towel. They work well paired as a back-up to the F4. F4's will develop LCD "bleed" over time, but the part that bleeds is often not necessary to see, anyway.

The F6 is still priced fairly steeply, so I'd opt for the F100 or F5. I know the F5 is heavy, but it will do the job for years to come. The F100 is pretty much the "designated" back-up camera for the F5. I pair them together now.

There are no film cameras which will function with the latest e-type (electromagnetic aperture) lenses, not even the F6.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Being a “consumer” myself I’m not looking to buy a 4 pound used pro rig, If I was looking at that type of equipment to become a “pro” I wouldn’t buy a “used” anything, I’d buy a new D5. I really get the feeling that non “pros” are merely tolerated and not encouraged on this forum.

I don't understand why you feel that way. Probably more than half of the active members here are non-pros.

Some of the suggestions for film bodies are based on avoiding limitations with the new lenses. Many of the film bodies relied on an aperture ring which no longer exists on many new lenses. So some bodies might not be as easy to use as others that were built to accept lenses without aperture rings.
 

Andy W

Senior Member
Being a “consumer” myself I’m not looking to buy a 4 pound used pro rig, If I was looking at that type of equipment to become a “pro” I wouldn’t buy a “used” anything, I’d buy a new D5. I really get the feeling that non “pros” are merely tolerated and not encouraged on this forum.

Then you've got the wrong feeling. The majority of people on here are amateurs or hobbyists and are very helpful to those getting started.
 

carguy

Senior Member
Being a “consumer” myself I’m not looking to buy a 4 pound used pro rig, If I was looking at that type of equipment to become a “pro” I wouldn’t buy a “used” anything, I’d buy a new D5. I really get the feeling that non “pros” are merely tolerated and not encouraged on this forum.
I agree with the others, no idea where this assumption comes from.

Also, pros buy used gear as well :)
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
... I really get the feeling that non “pros” are merely tolerated and not encouraged on this forum.
Without discounting them, I too am confused where these feeling's are coming from. *scratches head* These forums have always been a haven of civility and camaraderie for me and I'm certainly no professional. I don't even aspire to be a professional photographer.
 

Refocusing

New member
I bought an F5 for $225 last year. It is a good companion to my D800. My lenses do all the the things I expect on both. Most work in all modes and AF. I have an older 55mm macro that has to be manually focused, but with macro I usually want that control anyway.
 
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