[Leica] Nikon F4

["Rod Fleming" <rodfleming@sol.co.uk>]

Hi


Ernie was asking about the F4.


great cameras, and a real bargain right now. I have three of them, two F4e's
and an F4s. This is bound to become a future classic as Nikon now have moved
onto electronic controls and digital readouts in the manner of the Universal
Japanese Camera (UJC).

There is a Nikon f4 site- try http://privat.schlund.de/t/theNAIL/F4.html

User comments- if you prefer conventional knobs and levers to push-buttons
and wheels, then the F4 has every other modern Japanese SLR beat on handling
hands down. It's streets ahead of the F3, and of course the offerings from
the other makers are all knob/wheel electronic control. Okay so the F4
controls may just be operating the same sort of electrics inside the body,
but it feels like a traditional camera to the user,  and for me that's a
major plus point. . Handgrips and body contours- this camera feels like
you've been using it for years the first time you pick one up.

Viewfinder- lovely, excellent displays, all parameters indicated, high
eyepoint relief makes it easy even for glasses wearers. Viewfinder displays
can be illuminated so you can see what's up even in complete darkness.
Interchangable screens mean you're not stuck with the autofocus version it
comes with- there are plenty of others. (oh, sorry- do you use autofocus?
Well forget the  F4.  :-)) All controls can be operated, and the indicators
seen, without taking the camera from your eye.

Auto-exposure- very very good. Metering in general is excellent and very
hard to confuse. All metering options are available in all modes.

Motordrive- fast, reliable, unobtrusive, quiet.  Film loading- hey, you just
try it. One thing the UJC has got sorted is film loading, and the F4 is no
exception. Put cassette in, pull film to red spot, close back and continue.
Ace.

Flash control- Well, with the SB24, this camera set the standard when it was
launched, and it still has to be substantially bettered.

Downside- big and heavy. Winds film into cassette unless you have the
control back or are pretty nippy with the off switch. (But you can do it
that way, unlike some other cameras.) Eats batteries- but not as much as the
F5.  Rewind controls fiddly to use if you're wearing gloves. (But not
impossible.) Autofocus- The F4's is rubbish. AE modes- manual and Aperture
Priority only with older lenses. (How come Canon could get the A1 to do
program with standard lenses in 1978 and Nikon could not do it 10 years
later?)

Biggest downside of all? This very robust and reliable camera rarely goes
wrong, but when it does its complicated electronics mean that it's usually a
Nikon repair - no problem there, Nikon are excellent, but they have stated
that they will hold stock of F4 spares for 10 years. What happens after
that? We don't know.

As for lenses, well, here are a few I'd find life hard without. The first
has to be the 85mm f2 AIS. Almost as crucial, but much more bulky, is the
180mm f2.8 ED- the manual AIS version, NOT the AF version with internal
focus. The 35mm f1.4 AIS and the 24mm f2.8. Avoid AF lenses and buy the
proper MF kit. The AF stuff feels cheap (but isn't).

Hope this helps


Best


Rod