Brucej67 wrote:
Are these cameras better than the Nikon F6?
I've owned and used all the models between the F2 and F6. At the manual end of the spectrum, the F3 was the best of the strictly manual focus F's. As has been mentioned the 80/20 metering and electronics were at the top of the heap.
The F4, in the opinions of others, was the best manual film camera ever made that had autofocus. While this may seem oxymoronic, I agree, everything was improved over the F3, and somehow Nikon managed to stuff autofocus in the camera. Metering was improved, and autofocus was at the top of the technology at the time. The functions layout was in line with the evolution of the F3, and the only shortfall was the LCD bleed in the viewfinder. I still use my F4s, and it has never failed. My AI, AIs, and non-G autofocus lenses all work well.
The F5 was my final working upgrade to the F3Hp. It was not a primary camera for my wedding photography (Mamiya 645 and C330), but I had it, ready to go, in the van, in case of a catastrophic failure. The F5, IMHO,
was imported from the future at the time. It has very high functioning metering and focusing systems even compared to today's digital models. While not as light, it does have a rock-solid feel that I've always liked.
A few years ago, I found a nearly new F6, and then added the MD-40 battery grip. While it was much more advanced, it just never seemed to be "my camera"; too close to digital, and not far enough advanced in film. While it does work with most Nikkor lenses, it has no provision for firmware updates, nor the ability to use the electromagnetic aperture lenses. A number of months ago, I traded it for a Hasselblad 500 C/M.
I still have my F2, F3, F4, and F5 cameras, and they all get rotated for use.