Customer Reviews
Best 35mm film camera ever made. 
2008-07-20
Well, ok, the F6 is better. So what? If you can afford an F6 you can afford a D300, and the D300 stomps the F6 into the ground for everything you would normally use a 35mm camera for anyway. The only things most pro's still shoot with film are usually done with larger formats nowadays. Like me, for instance. Some of my clients like black and white film. So I tried this and a Fuji GA645 (medium format, exposes a piece of film right at 3 times larger than 35mm) side by side. Both cameras metered almost exactly the same, but wonder of wonders (no, not really), the medium format made better images. Still, 35mm is fine for everything up to 8x10 prints.
Current pricing at Amazon is stupid. $[...] and up? Get real. You can get the same kit used from www.keh.com for about $[...], if that. Go ahead, buy "BGN" (bargain) grade, you won't regret it.
If you can find anyone to process and scan it, shoot slide film. There is simply no comparison between slide and negative, slide wins every time.
Unless you're in low light, then you need to be shooting with a digital SLR, not film.
What are you hanging around here for? Go take some pictures!
Great camera for the film fans 2006-06-10
I have used different cameras, from manual Russian cameras, to state of the art point-and-shoot. I have even fiddled with digital cameras, and considered switching to digital. Well, I decided to stick to film for now, so I bought the Nikon N-80 (known in Europe as Nikon F-80, same camera with minimal software differences).
This is a very good camera, which adapts to every kind of user.
Occasional users: You can set it to automatic mode, in which case you have a very expensive point-and-shoot camera (even though I don't know why would one buy this camera to use in auto mode only). For people with little experience the camera's many controls might be intimidating, and the included manual provides help only for people that know quite a bit about cameras. Also, the flash has to be popped opened manually in order to work, which many people would forget (like I do sometimes). Perhaps, for ocassional users, it would be better to stick to a point-and-shot camera designed for point-and-shot.
Advanced amateur photographers and hobbyists will get the most out of it. Think of a professional camera similar to F-100, without the proffessional price tag. They will have all the customizations offered. I love the simplicity of exposure controls. You can switch by turning a thumb-wheel between pairs of speed-diaphragm while keeping an optimum exposure (in auto mode). In addition, a good option is continuous or single shot metering mode, which comes handy in action situations. For situations when timing is important, the controls are so well placed that once you get used to them, you can change all the settings without even taking the camera from your eyes.
If you are a professional, you already know about this camera and about the F-100 line, which might be better for you in some situations (even though in 90% of the cases this camera would be more than enough).
Things that might need improvement:
In dark places, the focus is somewhat slow (even if the "illuminator lamp" is used), and if your subject moves, you might have a problem focusing fast enough in auto mode. I lost some pictures in the beginning, until I learned to circumvent this issue by switching to continuous focus, or even to manual focus. I think that any other camera in this class would have the same troubles in similar situations.
All things considered, I love this camera and I wish I had more time (and money) to play with it.
Great kit for amateurs, photography students, or pros! 2004-01-22
I love this camera! I am a photography student and freelance photographer, and this camera is amazing. It offers top-of-the-line features at a price a student can afford. It offers all-manual options that are perfect for student work - but also has the latest and greatest automated features. For example, Dynamic Autofocusing allows you to capture photos of moving subjects, even in continuous mode, all in focus. And, this particular kit comes with a Nikkor lens that goes from a wide-angle 28mm, to a normal 50mm, through to an 80mm telephoto for portrait work. A very affordable set up, and all at Nikon/Nikkor quality. I'd definitely recommend it!
