pmcquown's Full Review: Nikon F100 Body Only 35mm Film Camera
There a lot of recommendations on the F100, so I’ll try not to focus too much on what other people have said. Instead, I’ll discuss the camera and bring in some of the similarities and differences between the F100 and the N80, N90.
Before my daughter was born I was preparing to document, in my and my wife’s own way, her introduction to the world. My wife had me busy with birthing classes, books and trips to the store in preparation of our daughter’s arrival. All along, though, I was thinking that it would be great if I could somehow document the event and have two cameras when she was born. The reason I wanted two was so I could have color and black and white. I got my wish when I decided to purchase a F100. The plan was that I’d purchase a F100 while keeping my N80 till just after the birth and then I’d sell it on Ebay. Luckily, I got my wish and was able to have two cameras while my daughter was born. I immediately sold the N80 for a narrow loss. Having used both camera extensively, I can say, the F100 is the way to go.
The F100 is a great, well-made camera. Therefore, it is one of the few pieces of equipment I’d highly recommend. The camera has a great feel to it, in size, weight and balance. One of the first things you notice when you pick up the F100, is how well balanced it is. The F100 feels equally comfortable with a lightweight 50mm f/1.8 lens stuck on the front as it does with the large and heavy 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S. The grip is neither over- nor undersized. The material used to cover the metal body is the same rugged rubber used on the F5.
The N80 on the other hand, just doesn’t feel right. The N80 is too light and is not well balanced. Features on the N80 are more of less the same as the F100. However, the F100 is much faster at everything. The F100 focuses faster, it advances film faster, it’s faster to get to more than 50% of the menus – the list goes on. A lot of people call the N80 a baby F100. This is true. There’s still a large chasm between the two, though. Bottom line, if you want to learn photography – then gets the N80. If you know photography you’re going to want the F100.
As for the N90, it’s just outdated. It’s a great camera and shouldn’t be passed up if you find it for the right price. Compared to the F100, though, the N90 just seems out of date. When looking at the N90, the F100's AF is significantly faster, and less prone to hunting. It is also considerably quieter and more precise in focusing. The only slight problem in the focusing scheme is that the two squares at the top and bottom does not focus on horizontal lines. Remember, though, multiple focus points aren’t included on any of the N90 models (they are on the N80, though). While having multiple focus points is a huge plus, not having the vertical points focus on horizontal lines seemed, well, odd. I am not sure if this is documented anywhere, but I tried it on various subjects with horizontal lines, it simply does not catch on. I wonder if it is a deliberate design by Nikon so that you will not be focusing on horizons when you compose a landscape using the rule of thirds.
There are lots of reasons to get a F5 over the F100. There are lots of reasons to get a F100 over the F5. Read Frank Van Riper’s review for good insight into that debate. Still, you’re torn between the N80 or the N90 and the F100. If you have experience and are looking to get a modern body, go with the F100, you wont regret it.
An evolution of the N90s with many of the F5s traits, the F100 is a lightweight professional alternative to the big F5. The list of features is not li...More at Buy.com
The F100 a 35mm SLR body geared to the professional and is situated beyond the N90 and behind the F5 as the #2 top camera in the Nikon line With its s...More at Amazon Marketplace
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