Nikon SLR

[Nikkornos]

Nikon SLR are getting really cheap. I don't know how long the film will last, but it sure is a sentiment.
Shooting B&W, print and slides have advantages DSLR cannot achieve.
As age is catching up, I depend more on the AF cam bodies. Here are some summary if you are interested.

Nikon F501 is the most compact AF body. (I dont keep anymore, wasted)
Nikon F601 (QD) has integral flash. AF is slow but capable. Compact unit. (still keep 1)
Nikon F801 (s) this body is professional grade. Superb quality. Now dirt cheap. (still keep 3)
Nikon F70 the interface is crazy. integral flash and decent AF. (still keep 1)
Nikon F90X Only $100-200 now. I bought new over S$1k in 1996. (still keep 2)

Nikon FM2 every body has its own character. mostly due to age or wear/tear. Meter aged hard to fix.
Nikon FM many were used to End Of Life.
Nikon FT2 can use non AI lens built like a tank (I still have some top plate spare parts if you are interested)
Nikon FT3 built like a tank , can have mirror constant lock up and fit a super wide lens with deep rear element
Nikon F3 more like a toy. Dont really bring out to shoot.

Do you think film will end in the next ten years? I don't know.
Since there are so many Leica, Nikon and Canon film stuff around, film should go on for a long while. :angel:

 

[Nikkornos]

Buying used old cameras have many risk of course.

F501 battery compartment can have corrosion issue.
F601 mostly hobbyist so not used to death like pro cameras.
F801 many used to near death.
F70 mostly hobbyist, but watch out for the CR123 battery
F90X the back film cover can become very sticky and melt (!) after years.

FM2 many used to near death
FM same
FT2 and FT3 were favoured by old time pros so may be used to worn. View finder can be dirty.
F3...... well, over priced for minty ones.

 

[lualua]

Eh siao eh, whats your problem? Thats my all time favourite workhorse, did assignments and weddings in the late 90s with it!

Nikon F3 more like a toy. Dont really bring out to shoot.

 

[Nikkornos]

Now is toy on table leh...neber used anymore....

 

[lualua]

hahaha mine too.... its a good paper weight.

Will film die in 10 years? I doubt so, at least black and white will be here to stay. Even if the major players fall out of the game, some smaller outfits will keep going, at higher premium that is.

 

[Riotbmx]

I think I'm a bit different here cos i don't use DSLR at all, but I do shoot with my iPhone and the rest with film. So I'm really hoping for others to shoot more to keep film alive. Sadly Kodak has given up on colour slides already, and Fuji has announced price increase(again).

I started with a FM my friend gave me, after wasting 2 rolls of film I found out that it's faulty. It's about 20cm off focus so it became my paperweight in the office. Switched to a FE, since it had "A" mode I didn't really like it at first cos I wanted to be like "hey I'm using a full manual camera here". But somehow I got into street photography and aperture priority makes it so much quicker to capture the shot. Wanted to upgrade to a F3HP at first, it looks sexy for sure but after trying out one I figured there's nothing wrong with my FE. The HP prism doesn't makes much difference to me, metering on my FE us always spot in so basically I'm paying for the looks and the additional 1/2000 speed. I bought my FE from a collector, the condition is great but it sucks because I got to be really careful when I use it and I hate using my camera like a guniang. Ended up getting a user condition FE in black, added a bunch of foam tape on the grip area and I'm really enjoying shooting street with it now. Hope someone will buy my chrome FE soon.

I have a few fixed lens rangefinders, but I still shoot with my Nikon 80% of the time. Of cos the mirror slap can be really annoying esp when you are very close to the subject shooting street, but for the price I'll just deal with it.

 

[Nikkornos]

Many years ago, I know a Hong Kong Nikon repair man. He had many years experiences. In his opinion, most Nikon SLR needed to have the infinity adjusted for perfect accuracy. He had a colimeter and I had my SLR for him to check the mirror etc. He also recommend upgrading the back pressure plate spring to make sure film is 100% flat on the film rails. Some even insert slices of sponge to help on that. If you send your FM to a repair man, he should be able to check the infinity by mirror adjust (provided the lens mount is accurate too).

I bought a FE from Mabel in Adelphi ground floor many many years ago in the 90s. If some of you still remember. The FE was great, but can be a bit crazy when the weather was cold (below 5 C). Together with a motor drive it was very bulky.

Slowly I moved to using a F601 which had AF integral flash and the focusing was easy on the bright screen (minus the external motor drive). The F601 and F501 was great for street using the 35mm F2 or the 24mm F2.8. As long as there are film I shall be shooting using Nikon, and at times Pentax/Ricoh for the light weight, compactness and cheapness.

 

[losheng]

I categorically reject the statement that the F3 is a toy! That's my favourite Nikon film camera of all times! Ha! It also proved itself by out-selling and out-lasting the F4. What do I like about it:

1. it's shaped and sized like a traditional camera, not the gorilla-sized bodies that all the AF cameras took on after it.
2. it has a great 100% viewfinder
3. High Eye Point is fantastic for someone wearing glasses to see the full frame
4. it uses dials, no confusing multi-level LCD menus
5. Great H screens for low-light focusing
6. makes me look like a better photographer than I really am
7. 80-20% metering provides a good balance between spot and center-weighted

I like the FM2 for the mechanical puristic appeal. But I like the F3 even more!

 

[fatigue]

Many years ago, I know a Hong Kong Nikon repair man. He had many years experiences. In his opinion, most Nikon SLR needed to have the infinity adjusted for perfect accuracy. He had a colimeter and I had my SLR for him to check the mirror etc. He also recommend upgrading the back pressure plate spring to make sure film is 100% flat on the film rails. Some even insert slices of sponge to help on that. If you send your FM to a repair man, he should be able to check the infinity by mirror adjust (provided the lens mount is accurate too).

There's a lot of simple ways to adjust the camera and lens to infinity. Some just use colimeter for sales talk

 

[fatigue]

I started with a FM my friend gave me, after wasting 2 rolls of film I found out that it's faulty. It's about 20cm off focus so it became my paperweight in the office.

If you're focusing within a few meters, 20cm off is a lot.
Probably the focusing screen is not placed properly. Also check if there's a diopter installed

 

[Riotbmx]

If you're focusing within a few meters, 20cm off is a lot.
Probably the focusing screen is not placed properly. Also check if there's a diopter installed

Maybe I'll bring it to you to see if you can save it

 

[Nikkornos]

There's a lot of simple ways to adjust the camera and lens to infinity. Some just use colimeter for sales talk

Well, there are many simple ways, and there are really serious methods to use Nikon test rig to calibrate.
Last time Shiro used to provide the service. I had a few FM, F3 and F90x adjusted. And the tech explained how much off.

Also, they calibrated the lenses and the body to meet tighter spec. (first the image on film plan, then the image thru view finder)
Its not a common thing to do, but once done can see a lot of improvement on the picture.
I used to shoot wide aperture using the 135mm F2 and also the 85mm 1.8 (MF), it helped.
Hong Kong in the 80s/90s were hot. That was a common thing to do.

 

[Nikkornos]

I categorically reject the statement that the F3 is a toy! That's my favourite Nikon film camera of all times! Ha! It also proved itself by out-selling and out-lasting the F4. What do I like about it:
.....
I like the FM2 for the mechanical puristic appeal. But I like the F3 even more!

Its no longer my fav cam because my Old Flower Eyes is cutting in.
The essence of 135mm is speed, and MF is out for me now.... AF helps. hee hee.

 

[fatigue]

Well, there are many simple ways, and there are really serious methods to use Nikon test rig to calibrate.
Last time Shiro used to provide the service. I had a few FM, F3 and F90x adjusted. And the tech explained how much off.

Also, they calibrated the lenses and the body to meet tighter spec. (first the image on film plan, then the image thru view finder)
Its not a common thing to do, but once done can see a lot of improvement on the picture.
I used to shoot wide aperture using the 135mm F2 and also the 85mm 1.8 (MF), it helped.
Hong Kong in the 80s/90s were hot. That was a common thing to do.

Thanks for clarification. Yes, correlation between film plane and viewfinder is very important. I thought the discussion was about adjustment of focus to infinity.
If everything else is adjusted properly, focus to infinity shouldn't be complicated.

 

[Riotbmx]

Thanks for clarification. Yes, correlation between film plane and viewfinder is very important. I thought the discussion was about adjustment of focus to infinity.
If everything else is adjusted properly, focus to infinity shouldn't be complicated.

Actually I asked that question before, but instead of constructive comments all I got was someone telling me how shitty Nikon shutter is when my question was about focusing.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/slr-compacts/1056583-focusing-calibration.html

 

[fatigue]

Actually I asked that question before, but instead of constructive comments all I got was someone telling me how shitty Nikon shutter is when my question was about focusing.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/slr-compacts/1056583-focusing-calibration.html

Some may not like Nikon FM but this is the camera that me and my dad used (we've got 6 sets) for almost 2 decades.
All abused but still in working condition. None had shutter replaced.

 

[betta01]

Well, there are many simple ways, and there are really serious methods to use Nikon test rig to calibrate.
Last time Shiro used to provide the service. I had a few FM, F3 and F90x adjusted. And the tech explained how much off.

Also, they calibrated the lenses and the body to meet tighter spec. (first the image on film plan, then the image thru view finder)
Its not a common thing to do, but once done can see a lot of improvement on the picture.
I used to shoot wide aperture using the 135mm F2 and also the 85mm 1.8 (MF), it helped.
Hong Kong in the 80s/90s were hot. That was a common thing to do.

Hi Nikkornos:
I will like to send mine F3 for the calibration mentioned above, can you PM me a shop or technician that does a good job.
Thanks alot

 

[Nikkornos]

Hi Nikkornos:
I will like to send mine F3 for the calibration mentioned above, can you PM me a shop or technician that does a good job.
Thanks alot

Hi Betta, you can try camera hospital, or P&G Andrew to do these. Negotiate the charges.

 

[Nikkornos]

Some may not like Nikon FM but this is the camera that me and my dad used (we've got 6 sets) for almost 2 decades.
All abused but still in working condition. None had shutter replaced.

My FM has taken more than two big boxes of film. No issues on shuttle.
FT3 my dad abused for more than 30 years. Still going on strong.

 

[betta01]

Hi Betta, you can try camera hospital, or P&G Andrew to do these. Negotiate the charges.

Thanks alot. I previously send mine F3 to Camera Hospital for light seal/damper foam replacement before. Will check with them for other services.