F4--Truly the Best between both Worlds (F3 & F5)
Written: May 14 '02 (Updated Dec 14 '02)
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Pros: Rugged, durable, dependable, reliable, low power consumption
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: If you want a rugged F3 with all fancy electronics and less power consumption of F5 (and fast AF is not your main concern), then F4 is the one!
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| paulphoto's Full Review: Nikon F4s Film Camera |
The Nikon F4 is a very solid piece of photographic machine, very durable, reliable and dependable. Being the first autofocus camera of the Nikon flagship, the F4 is aimed at pros and advanced amateurs, offering extensive control operations and features, such as its five exposure modes, auto and manual film rewind mode, comprehensive battery packs (MB-20, MB-21, MB-22 and MB-23), interchangeable prisms (DP-20, DA-20, DW-20 and DW-21), and more. I bought this camera used but in mint condition. It has served me well for almost 3 years now, and I have come to love it. There were a number of important reasons why I bought this camera. Among them were the rugged and dependability of the body construction, its 100% viewfinder, auto and manual film rewind capability, mechanical depth-of-field preview button with mirror lock-up feature, metering system, optional battery packs, mechanical cable release, and more.
FEATURES and OPERATIONS
The Nikon F4 offers five exposure modes: M, A, S, P, and PH (high-speed program), with stepless shutter speeds from 1/8000 to 30 seconds in P and A modes. In M and S modes, the shutter speeds are from 1/8000 to 4 seconds; and, unlike A and P modes which have stepless shutter speeds, the shutter speeds in S and M modes are in whole (one-stop) step, according to its mechanical shutter speed dial. However, the aperture set by the F4, in S mode, can be stepless, and this feature can also be achieved in M mode by fine-tuning the aperture ring manually by hand. It would be nice to have controllable shutter speeds down to 30 seconds particularly in M mode, since I prefer to use this mode a lot. Another important feature of the F4 is its T (Time) mode, in addition to “bulb” (B) mode. These two are on the shutter speed dial. In T mode, the shutter curtain can stay open for as long as you want it and does not drain the battery power. What a great way to save power in long time exposure! This is a great feature for photographing night scenes that take 1 or 2 minutes or trailing stars that may take 3-4 hours.
I love the F4’s auto or manual film rewind capability. With its manual rewind crank, I not only save battery power, I can also rewind film in mid-roll to leave the film leader out to be loaded back later. This saves time and eliminates the frustration trying to get the film leader out again with the unreliable film leader retriever. The camera also offers a mechanical depth-of-field (DOF) preview button with mirror lock-up. Again, this feature offers a great way to save power. Try this operation on the F100 or F5's electronic control for closeup photography. Without spare batteries and you'll be stranded. I've encountered this problem once with my F100 when the DOF preview button was used a lot. Unlike the Nikon N90s’ mechanical DOF preview button, the F4’s preview button is very easy to press and comfortable, requiring less pressure than N90s.
With its extensive four interchangeable prisms, the F4 offers a 100% field of view in the viewfinder. This is a great advantage for landscape and closeup photography, because you can compose exactly the way you want it to appear on film. I also like the F4’s mechanical cable release feature.
On the lower back of the camera on its left, there is a remote shutter release for a mechanical cable release like the AR-3. This is quite a great feature, because I can use the F4 with its battery pack MB-20, and I always use this combination in the field.
In addition to its primary shutter release button, the F4 also has several useful shutter release operations (a total of 4 when the F4 is attached to MB-21, 2 shutter release buttons and 2 remote). On the lower left on the front of the camera there is another remote release socket for remote trigger cord like the MC-12A or MC-12B. This MC-cord can be expensive compared to the AR-3, but it allows you to operate the camera much further away. The F4 has a fixed 10 seconds self-timer.
The Nikon F4 offers four film advance modes: S, Cs (Continuous in silent mode), CL (Continuous low speed), CH (Continuous high speed). In CH mode, the F4 (with its battery pack MB-21) can fire at a rate of 5.7 frames per second (fps), and 6 fps with its MB-23. In continuous silent mode (Cs), the F4 will fire at 1 fps with film advance in complete silence.
Unlike its siblings (like N90, or F100) or its successor (F5), the F4 can only track moving subjects in CL mode. The firing rate in CL mode varies depending on the battery pack the F4 is being attached to. For example, with its MB-20, it can shoot at about 3 fps, 3.4 fps with MB-21, and 4 fps with it MB-23.
It is unavoidable to mention about the disadvantages of the F4 when tracking moving subjects. Firstly, since it can only operate in CL mode, you will have to make sure to time the firing rate and take your finger off the shutter release button to avoid any unwanted frames. And second, the F4’s autofocus sensor in the brackets is dead at the center restricting creative and practical use in framing the subject. Again, I never use this feature in the F4, and therefore have no complaints.
There is another power pack of the F4, called the MB-22. It is not really a battery pack, but a power regulator that allows the F4 to use power from an AC signal. This unit requires the MC-11 power cord and the MA-4 AC/DC converter. I have never used this unit, so I really don’t know how it works.
AUTOFOCUS RESPONSE
The autofocus response of the F4 is somewhat slow and also noisy. The camera also has trouble focusing on less contrast subjects or in low light. To make comparison with the F100 or the F5, the F4’s autofocus response is very slow, and many users have complained about this problem. But don't forget that this camera was built during the mid '80s with CAM 200 autofocus sensors compared to the F100 or F5's Multi-CAM 1300 autofocus sensors. The F4 was still ahead of its time then.
In my opinion, this camera is suitable for almost every field of photography, except sports or wildlife, where fast actions require fast and precise autofocus response. Furthermore, the F4 does not have the new advanced automatic dynamic autofocus with tracking with lock-on. In this case, it is better to get the F100 or the F5.
I primarily use the F4 for still-life photography, specifically for closeups of flowers and insects, for landscapes and cityscapes, and I always focus manually, and therefore its slow AF response does not matter to me.
In terms of AF response, for subjects moving in moderate speed (like children playing or people walking), the F4 will have no problem tracking the subject.
METERING SYSTEM
The F4 is the only autofocus camera that offers Matrix Metering (with 5 segments) when either a manual focus AIS or an autofocus lens is used. Of course, with the MF lens you will lose AF operation. I have used and tested this metering system several times with my Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 to compare the exposure with the AF 50mm f/1.8, both taken in the same lighting condition, and the results were astounding. Theoretically, the camera knows when it is being held horizontally or vertically and will adjust the matrix pattern accordingly.
All in all, the matrix metering really works, just as it should. So if you have collected all the Nikon's legendary MF Nikkors, the Nikon F4 will accept virtually all of them (though there are a few lenses not compatible with the F4, and I don't want to dwell on this issue, but you can consult the manual). In addition, it has two more metering modes, namely, center-weighted (60/40) and spot (almost 100% sensitivity contained in a 5-mm circle), both are very useful.
COMPREHENSIVE FEATURES with MF-23
Compared to its competitors or its Nikon members (such as N6006, N8008s, or N90), the F4 does not have a top LCD panel to display information, except those in the viewfinder. But with its Multi-Function Data Back MF-23, the F4 becomes a very formidable camera with all sort of fancy electronics and digital display.
The LCD panel of the MF-23 becomes the F4’s LCD panel displaying complete information of your shooting data and more. While the MF-23’s back sticks out from the body by about 3/4 inch and takes away some room where your thumb rests, the MF-23 may prove very useful for those who would like to know about their shooting information, including loads of other features such as auto-bracketing.
The F4 can be bracketed only when the MF-23 is attached. Of course, it has loads of other operations such as data imprints in and between the frame, freeze focus, long time exposure, interval-exposure, etc. But the one feature I like most is the aperture display on the MF-23 LCD. In Aperture Priority mode when you use a variable aperture zoom lens (I used the 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6), the MF-23 will show the actual shift of aperture when you zoom. I think this is very useful if you are concern about the aperture setting and want to record your shooting data.
Believe it or not the Nikon F5 with its powerful MF-28 does not have this feature in A mode when you disengage the front command dial using CS 22-1. Remember that when you use a variable aperture zoom, the aperture direct readout window (of either the F4 or the F5) is useless, because you don’t know the actual aperture of the focal length being selected.
BEST FEATURES of F4 COMPARED to F3 and F5
While the F4S (w/ MB-21) does not have the sticky feel “fits like a glove” like the F100 or F5 and feels a bit cold when working in cold environment, it is very comfortable to hold, both horizontal and vertical. It has quite a solid feel when firing. Its weight contributes a lot to maintaining picture sharpness by reducing vibration during mirror flip.
The F4 has its own realm that sets it apart from its predecessor (F3) and its successor (F5)...it is one of a kind. In my opinion, the F4 has the best features of both worlds. For users of the F3, most of the layouts of the F4 are very familiar, most noticeable are the shutter speed dial, depth-of-field preview button with mirror lock-up lever, auto-exposure lock button, the multiple exposure lever and the exposure counter window. The advantages of the F4 over the F3, in addition to the fancy electronics, are the auto film advance and rewind capability. With the F3, you have to add that extra weight of the motor drive MD-4 with 8 AA batteries!
What about the F4’s advantages over the F5? First, we need to keep in mind that the F5 is the successor to the F4, and therefore it has all the advanced technology up its sleeve: the super-fast 8 fps with precise autofocus capability with its dynamic autofocus with tracking with lock-on or the world first 3D Color Matrix Metering, and numerous more. These features can be overlooked, which also can make the F4 to fall under the shadow of the F5.
The F5 is the ultimate photographic machine built with the working pro in mind, packed with all the technologies and features; and you have to carry that whole technology packed inside that massive weight and size with you everywhere you go. In terms of size, weight and suitability, these are the advantages of the F4.
With its MB-21 (called F4S) or MB-23 (F4E), the F4S or F4E can be as rugged (and robust) as the F5 for a working pro in tough and punishing conditions. Or, on the contrary, it can be a reasonably light camera (with its 4 AA cells MB-20) for a causal shooter walking along a beach or in a park, to keep a low profile. I think this is the great advantage of the F4 over the F5. When I need to travel light and use it as an amateur camera, the F4 with its MB-20 is a great package. The F5 cannot beat that.
In terms of advantages, the F4 is more suitable to be compared with the F5, because, unlike the F3, both are autofocus cameras. So let me list a few certain advantages between the F4 and the F5. While it is impossible to list all the features of the F5, which may require a whole written book, I will just list some relevant features between the two cameras.
Nikon F5 has
PROS:
1) The F5 is the fastest autofocus camera the world has ever seen, and has the widest autofocus area in the frame, even up to date.
2) The world first 3D Color Matrix Metering—the F5 can see colors!
3) All technologies that surpass the F4 and other competing 35mm SLRs, such as the F5's self-calibrating shutter speed.
4) And so on, and so on…need I say more?
CONS:
1) Massive and heavy—you need to carry that 8 AA-battery pack with you everywhere you go; with lithium batteries you can eliminate a bit of weight, but its size remains.
2) Appearance suitable only for working pros—cannot keep a low profile (it looks and feels funny to carry it for a snap shot along the beach or in the park).
3) Power consumption—yes, with all the technologies it does need power.
4) Will lose 3D color matrix and simple matrix metering when used with AI/AIS MF lenses.
5) Very expensive—for a superlative camera, there is a price to pay (over $2000)!
Nikon F4 has
PROS:
1) Can be as rugged as the F5.
2) Can be a tough pro camera with its MB-21 or MB-23.
3) Or it can be an amateur camera with its MB-20—a great camera to take along for a walk on the beach or in the park, because of its low profile appearance.
4) Will maintain its 5-segment matrix metering when used with AIS MF lenses (sometimes matrix metering is indeed better than the good old center-weighted one).
5) Power consumption is much less than the F5. If manual focus is used, it seems that the 6 AA cells of the MB-21 pack last forever.
6) The F4 now shows up very often on a used market for a very “cheap” or reasonable price ($500-$900 according to conditions).
CONS:
1) In terms of advanced technology compared to the F5, the F4 is without a doubt under the F5’s shadow. But beneath that technology the F4 is still in a world of its own; and that’s what makes it unique.
CONCLUSION
According to the PROS and CONS between these two cameras, the F4 is a worthy camera to own, suitable for both pros and amateurs. That’s the greatest advantage. For me, this is an awesome camera! This is the type of camera I grow to love (not love at first sight like my experience with the Nikon N90S, and then grow tired of it after awhile, regardless of its advanced 3D matrix metering technology over the F4). The more I use this camera the more I appreciate it, and the more I love it.
I don’t think this camera is for everyone, because it can be very heavy (w/ MB-21) and can be a bit slow in operation, especially if you don’t use it often enough to allow yourself to learn and understand its features and capabilities. But then again, this is not a point-and-shoot camera that you use on a Memorial weekend and then again on the 4th of July and Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It can only be the extension of your hands through times and experience using it. And for those who are looking for a piece of Nikon history and a camera that will last, this is surely the one. While it's perhaps difficult to find a new one, if you are lucky you can find one in mint condition like mine.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 650 used
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