Nikon F801 (s) and F90X aka N80 and N90s

[Nikkornos]

I still have 4 Nikon F801 bodies, of which, two of them are the S models with spot metering.
After so many years, they still function accurately and precisely, and of course, still very reliable.
If you have Nikkor lenses, they do not go wrong and are hidden gems of Nikon. And they are now only about S$100 each, or less.

My wife bought me a F90x to shoot our baby son in 1996. The camera still works like new today.
The only issue is the front of the top cover cracks after years, and the back of the film cover melts and become sticky.
The top cover and film back can be replaced by Cam hospital. Due to the sticky back, F90x is less trouble free than the F801.
The F90x can still be purchased at about S$100 used.

I like the one camera one lens approach. Carry F801+17mm 3.5 , F801+35 F2 or 28 F2 , F90x + 50mm 1.5 or 85mm F1.4 this has been my robust and high quality 135mm system for more than a decade. Lenses like 90mm F2.8 macro, 180mm 2.8 are also included for some nature shots.

Now is a great time to buy these bodies. The F90x cost over S$1200 when new. I cannot remember the price of the F801 when new.

Nikon bodies are not friendly with M42 lenses, The M42 adapter needs a lens to correct to infinity, which is a disappointment.

These bodies work great with the following budget lenses with superb results. Very often, can match 135mm cameras that cost 10X or even 20X more. Something of a nostalgia for me, but still works great today.

Tokina 17.5mm F3.5
Tokina 28-70 F2.6~2.8 AF ** Angenoux design, classic lens
Sigma 35-70 F2.8 ** this is the same lens as the Leica R 35-70 without the Leica badge
Sigma 24mm 2.8 AF ** this is a stella performer even on D cams
Sigma 28mm 2.8 AF
Sigma 50mm 2.8 Macro ** this lens is razor sharp
Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro
Tamron 28-200 F3.8 (surprisingly, the pictures are very very good)

 

[Nikkornos]

I have discussed with some Nikon enthusiasts and repair guys in Tokyo Japan.
The all told me one thing : Nikon was too stupid to build bodies and lenses that could last more than two or three decades.

The old AIS lenses still fetch a decent price even today, used. The mint ones are not too far off.
I bought a 80-200 F4 AIS recently. Mine was stolen in 1995 in UK (together with many others, like F601M, 24mm.. etc), finally got one back.
And the price is much less than a new Sigma zoom lens for APSC.

A Tokyo Nikon service told me today's cameras are built to last only for 2-3 years.
Cameras like D70, D40(x) and the D60 are now phasing out and prices dropped to 2-300. They are only a few years old.
for D40 and D60, they still use the similar sensor as many of the latest models. Shot at raw, there are technically not much diff.
Nikon has deliberately built in some weak spots, so the camera will become not usable even if you take good care of it.
Their aim is to keep selling new cameras, to guarantee their revenue and stay profitable, This is a fact for D cams.

Soon, new cameras will be built to last only 1.5 years. Like some hot P&S D cams, you can see the product cycle is getting shorter and shorter.
Not just Nikons, you can see the same trend in other brands. Some Japanese new D cams are very unreliable even when new, (name witheld), and do a search you know which ones.

 

[azzurri]

have yet to try the f801 line of cameras but got to agree that the f90x is still a great camera. imho, it's one of the most value for money film cameras out there. it's body is robust and it accepts nearly all the nikon lenses (apart from non ai and dx. and iirc, the vr capability doesn't work on it).

btw, the f801 is known in the us market as n8008 and not n80. n80 is essentially the f80, which is not too bad a camera too. albeit it doesn't accept meter ai/ais lenses

 

[Nikkornos]

have yet to try the f801 line of cameras but got to agree that the f90x is still a great camera. imho, it's one of the most value for money film cameras out there. it's body is robust and it accepts nearly all the nikon lenses (apart from non ai and dx. and iirc, the vr capability doesn't work on it).

btw, the f801 is known in the us market as n8008 and not n80. n80 is essentially the f80, which is not too bad a camera too. albeit it doesn't accept meter ai/ais lenses

You re right, the F801 is the N8008. I do not like the F80 because its inability to take AIS lenses.

I have yet mounted the new DSLR lenses on the F90x. I though it would recognize it as a G lens (?)

The F90x is anytime better than the very very very over priced Nikon FM3a or the FM2N now.

 

[azzurri]

oh yes, i keep forgetting about the g lenses. lol. yup, the f90x requires the aperture ring to change aperture.

my other gripe about the f80 is the battery. it uses the cr123a rather than aa batteries. it too is prone to the sticky rubber problem.

but if you take away those problems, it's pretty much a nice camera too. with a pop up flash nonetheless, which could be useful from time to time.

 

[Nikkornos]

oh yes, i keep forgetting about the g lenses. lol. yup, the f90x requires the aperture ring to change aperture.

my other gripe about the f80 is the battery. it uses the cr123a rather than aa batteries. it too is prone to the sticky rubber problem.

but if you take away those problems, it's pretty much a nice camera too. with a pop up flash nonetheless, which could be useful from time to time.

Oh yes, I also have the F70 with the space ship style read out. It is a neat camera, with pop up flash (?), and uses CR123a.
It does not have any sticky issues..... and I use it with the Tokina 28-70 F2.6-2.8 AF for tours.

 

[felixcat8888]

I too have one N90S (F90X) with a 35-700 Nikkor lens. I also have a F601 body with no lens. Both were given by a colleague.

 

[Nikkornos]

I too have one N90S (F90X) with a 35-700 Nikkor lens. I also have a F601 body with no lens. Both were given by a
colleague.

Felix long time no see, happy new year!

 

[sjackal]

I have two Nikon F5 that I mount modern AF, D series and G series lens on, but still takes AIs. One of the body I bought from a bro here had a coupling ring problem (problem disclosed and sold cheap), so can't mount the AIs lens, but still great coz I have many modern lenses.

I am hoping to land a F100 if the price is right for a lighter body.

 

[azzurri]

owned three f5s through the years and sold them all. have an f100 now and not regretting it. yes, from time to time, i do get the itch to get an f5 but when the weight for me is a partial turn off.

but what i prefer about the f5 to the f100 is that i can see the aperture of manual lenses from the viewfinder. but since you got lots of modern lenses, the f5 and f100 are awesome choice

 

[fatigue]

One of the body I bought from a bro here had a coupling ring problem (problem disclosed and sold cheap), so can't mount the AIs lens.

Quite common to some models but it should be a simple fix. It's usually caused by faulty spring or faulty spring hook