Nikon F6
- Thread starter BooBoos
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The English are somewhat into film too apparently...January assignment: Capturing achievement and inspiration on film | Art and design | guardian.co.uk
I read an interesting comment in another forum tonight to the effect of "mass production B&W film died in 1970 right?"
Film will be around for a long long time yet...
I read an interesting comment in another forum tonight to the effect of "mass production B&W film died in 1970 right?"
Film will be around for a long long time yet...
If I could have the sensor from the D800 or D4 in my F2 with DE-1 Eye-level Finder and have it super accurately meter and autofocus superman fast with brand new legacy type metal barrel lenses and have the shutter be completely silent (semi mirror less EVF) and still have the BRASS body with 3" Live View on the back...I wouldn't have NAS I'd have an orgasm! LOL
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I bought a used LN- F6 from Keh camera about a year ago. I paid just over $ 1500 for it. I have only shot about 6 rolls of film through it. So far I feel that this is the best camera I have ever owned. My FM2n is close, but the F6 just nails the focus and exposure every time. My D80 is a distant 3rd.
I believe Nikon still sells the FM10 which is made by Cosina? and I'm pretty sure Canon still makes a film camera.
I believe Nikon still sells the FM10 which is made by Cosina? and I'm pretty sure Canon still makes a film camera.
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Photowyzard
Senior Member
I just discovered this thread, I see it has been running for some time. In Toronto, you can still find and develop 35mm film, although it is limited. Limited, perhaps in terms of most stores don't carry film, but the few that do still offer good service.
I have been toying with getting an F5. I actually bought one but had to return it, it didn't focus properly and my D800 came in early and emptied my pockets. That.... and a new furnace, AC and kitchen refrigerator all within 3 weeks of each other. I am a little tight for cash! :glee:
I started with film, had a darkroom, rolled my own, had a bulk film canister and just LOVED B&W. I also did Cibachrome, but the cost kept me from doing more. Nothing was finer than an 8x10 Cibachrome print. Stunning!
After my F5 experience, I have trepidation over the quality of the used cameras. I called Nikon.ca to find out if they could fix the F5 I had, rather than return it. The response was "if we have parts". Not very encouraging. So, I am now on the fence on film.
In fact, I am leaning more towards giving up the thought forever and just sticking with digital. Believe it or not, I still have my trays, stainless still reels, enlarger and GraLab timer! My thinking was to spark up a darkroom again.
It is so much easier just sending in images to print or running them off at home on the ink jet. Other than the rush of seeing the image appear in the developer and nostalgia, I am not sure about 35mm any more.
Like others who commented in the past posts, I think film will still be around for perhaps, 5 more years, not 10. Once the movie industry goes digital, that will be it. It is not far away.
I have been toying with getting an F5. I actually bought one but had to return it, it didn't focus properly and my D800 came in early and emptied my pockets. That.... and a new furnace, AC and kitchen refrigerator all within 3 weeks of each other. I am a little tight for cash! :glee:
I started with film, had a darkroom, rolled my own, had a bulk film canister and just LOVED B&W. I also did Cibachrome, but the cost kept me from doing more. Nothing was finer than an 8x10 Cibachrome print. Stunning!
After my F5 experience, I have trepidation over the quality of the used cameras. I called Nikon.ca to find out if they could fix the F5 I had, rather than return it. The response was "if we have parts". Not very encouraging. So, I am now on the fence on film.
In fact, I am leaning more towards giving up the thought forever and just sticking with digital. Believe it or not, I still have my trays, stainless still reels, enlarger and GraLab timer! My thinking was to spark up a darkroom again.
It is so much easier just sending in images to print or running them off at home on the ink jet. Other than the rush of seeing the image appear in the developer and nostalgia, I am not sure about 35mm any more.
Like others who commented in the past posts, I think film will still be around for perhaps, 5 more years, not 10. Once the movie industry goes digital, that will be it. It is not far away.
+1 for Cibachrome Art. I was one of the first few ones to process Ektachrome paper on the Kodak drum when it came out around 1972 ±. Results were nice but most of the time I had to do a mask to reduce the contrast and then print. A lot of work in the total darkness.
I remember with nostalgia but don't regret these dark days.
I remember with nostalgia but don't regret these dark days.
Photowyzard
Senior Member
Yea, I am leaning this way of late. Never thought I would start to put the darkroom past behind me. They were good times, however. I remember them fondly!
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SamSpade1941
Senior Member
Back when I was a kid and worked at the news paper we only developed black and white. It was all D76 and Dektol processing, mainly D76 IIRC. We rarely if ever published color photos as I remember it because of the cost of development the they did not want to spend the extra money to print in color. I think our comics were inserts from syndication for the Sunday edition. One of the perks of working there was being allowed to occasionally being allowed to develop a roll of your own film. I wish I had had the opportunity to learn to develop color film.
Just to add a thought to this article. I am wondering why the F6 has not dropped in price at all. Why does nikon still have it in the lineup. Now, my thought is and is it possible nikon is working on a digital back for the F6.Is that why its still available?Any thoughts on this.
The F6, most certainly the last of the professional film bodies, is destined to remain in the Nikon catalog for some time. The F3 (the last manual focus pro Nikon body) was first produced in 1980 and was not dropped from the Nikon product catalog until 2003, well after the auto-focus F4 and F5 had come and gone. The F3 never dropped in price; in-fact is continued to go up until at the end the MSRP was something like $1,900!
SamSpade1941
Senior Member
Sadly though as advanced as the F6 is , THe F4 still remains the most capable AF 35mm pro camera ever produced by anyone. In some ways Nikon did improve on the F4 and in most others they failed horribly, the F4 does pretty much everything except use the VR feature on the newest AF S G lenses. It even matrix meters with the AI lenses. The newer cameras have more advanced matrix metering but it does not always work with AI lenses, I know the F100 and F5 IIRC revert to center weighted, I think the F6 works partially with AI lenses in matrix mode. I just find it sad that they could not carry on the capability of the F4.
At some point it is what I want in a 35mm AF camera.
At some point it is what I want in a 35mm AF camera.
You know the only thing I miss about film is.....the canisters. I loved those little round containers came in handy for many things. Film is Dead. If folks want to spend $1000.00 + on an F6 God bless them go for it! I can do everything with a digital faster cheaper and with less hassle. Just being able to change ISO on the fly is worth it to me. With film if was shooting ASA 64 then wanted to go to ASA 400 I would have to change the roll of film, why a pain that was esicially if you had 24 of 36 left what a waste that was.
Photowyzard
Senior Member
Sam, I couldn't agree more. There are so many advantages to Digital over film. However, to call it dead, I would say not quite yet.
I sparked up my interest in film again this summer and have been running around town with my F5. At first, I had some trouble finding out where to buy and develop. However, it is all under my nose, just as it was 20 years ago. The same stores supply film, develop both B&W and colour and the prices haven't changed much. Film is a bit more expensive. Prints are cheaper than ever.
Not everyone loves digital. In fact, I think the enthusiasts are the only ones who really worry about this. My father in law, for example, hasn't got a clue what a digital camera is and buys the same film, from the same store and uses his same old point and shoot and time has stood still for him. I believe, there are many like him.
I have to admit, since selling off my old Pentax 35mm and buying the F5, I am enjoying having film again. I still find it exciting sending off the roll and waiting to get the prints back. We have Canadian Thanksgiving coming up next weekend and it is an excellent opportunity to take pictures with the F5. My wife loves it because she gets the Prints immediately.
Maybe, film will be dead in 5-10 years, I think it still has legs. Also, I have noticed some company marketing a Polaroid type camera with the same instant film. I didn't catch the name, but this is a huge hit with my daughter and her teenage friends. She wants one for X-mas.
$99.99 for the camera and about $10 for the film. About the same money as when I used to use my SX-70. What was old is new again! Go figure.
I sparked up my interest in film again this summer and have been running around town with my F5. At first, I had some trouble finding out where to buy and develop. However, it is all under my nose, just as it was 20 years ago. The same stores supply film, develop both B&W and colour and the prices haven't changed much. Film is a bit more expensive. Prints are cheaper than ever.
Not everyone loves digital. In fact, I think the enthusiasts are the only ones who really worry about this. My father in law, for example, hasn't got a clue what a digital camera is and buys the same film, from the same store and uses his same old point and shoot and time has stood still for him. I believe, there are many like him.
I have to admit, since selling off my old Pentax 35mm and buying the F5, I am enjoying having film again. I still find it exciting sending off the roll and waiting to get the prints back. We have Canadian Thanksgiving coming up next weekend and it is an excellent opportunity to take pictures with the F5. My wife loves it because she gets the Prints immediately.
Maybe, film will be dead in 5-10 years, I think it still has legs. Also, I have noticed some company marketing a Polaroid type camera with the same instant film. I didn't catch the name, but this is a huge hit with my daughter and her teenage friends. She wants one for X-mas.
$99.99 for the camera and about $10 for the film. About the same money as when I used to use my SX-70. What was old is new again! Go figure.