© Mark LaMonica. All Rights Reserved.
Nikon F6 User Report
The Imported From The Future F5 flagship
film camera was replaced by the F6 in 2004
using the tag line, Push the limits of 35mm
SLR photography. At the Nikon USA web site
click on SLR Film Cameras, you’ll see the
current lineup of film cameras. What’s even
better is the Flash Link that says, Push your
limits like never before, we just did F6.
film camera was replaced by the F6 in 2004
using the tag line, Push the limits of 35mm
SLR photography. At the Nikon USA web site
click on SLR Film Cameras, you’ll see the
current lineup of film cameras. What’s even
better is the Flash Link that says, Push your
limits like never before, we just did F6.
My F5 was by no means ready to retire, but after seeing those 2
slides of the covered bridge I had no choice and pulled the
batteries out of my F5 and made the F6 my new film body. The 2
major improvements in the F6 that had me looking to upgrade in
the first place are the 11-area AF system and total compatibility
with the Creative Lighting System.
There are so many advanced features and improvements over
the F5 that I can’t thank Nikon enough for bringing the new film
body up to the same level of technology as the digital lineup. If
you still use film like me, and need your shooting data for future
use, the F6 can imprint shooting data between frames, in the
frame, on frame 0 or downloaded to a CF card (via MV-1). No
more scribbling on note pads to keep track of all that techno stuff.
First thing is Read The Manual, even if you already know the
Nikon system it’s always good to review the manual first. After
that I setup all the custom features to my liking and purchased L
brackets for the body and MB-40 multi-power battery pack that is
used for extended cold weather operation. The I grabbed my
favorite color reversal films and off I went to photograph a variety
of subjects. I will admit I liked the feel of the F5, but I’m totally
blown away with the feel and handling of the F6 with and without
the MB-40.
slides of the covered bridge I had no choice and pulled the
batteries out of my F5 and made the F6 my new film body. The 2
major improvements in the F6 that had me looking to upgrade in
the first place are the 11-area AF system and total compatibility
with the Creative Lighting System.
There are so many advanced features and improvements over
the F5 that I can’t thank Nikon enough for bringing the new film
body up to the same level of technology as the digital lineup. If
you still use film like me, and need your shooting data for future
use, the F6 can imprint shooting data between frames, in the
frame, on frame 0 or downloaded to a CF card (via MV-1). No
more scribbling on note pads to keep track of all that techno stuff.
First thing is Read The Manual, even if you already know the
Nikon system it’s always good to review the manual first. After
that I setup all the custom features to my liking and purchased L
brackets for the body and MB-40 multi-power battery pack that is
used for extended cold weather operation. The I grabbed my
favorite color reversal films and off I went to photograph a variety
of subjects. I will admit I liked the feel of the F5, but I’m totally
blown away with the feel and handling of the F6 with and without
the MB-40.
Unleash your inner creativity with the
Nikon
F6
Nikon claims the F6 metering system is so
advanced and accurate, that it can properly
expose a man in a red coat on a white horse.
Since I didn't have either of these available, I
advanced and accurate, that it can properly
expose a man in a red coat on a white horse.
Since I didn't have either of these available, I
went and photographed a red covered bridge just minutes after a snowstorm. I set the F6 to aperture priority and
took this photograph along with another one from a different perspective. The results proved this camera Rocks!
took this photograph along with another one from a different perspective. The results proved this camera Rocks!
I photographed this Ski Jumper who was
traveling over 55 MPH. I used my 600mm and
took 1 shot while the news reporter next to me
did a 10 shot burst with a digital camera. He
then looked at the monitor and kept the best
shot. I did this for the following jumpers and he
finally said to me, How do you know you're
actually getting any keepers? I replied I know
my gear, I know my film and I have over 20
years of experience. The insert shows the
slide as captured aproximately 1.50 inches
wide. I scanned it as a 4x6 300dpi image and
cropped the face at native resolution without
sharpening for the image to the right. Not bad
for film eh? A vertical cropped version of this
image was used for a book titled 52 Weekends
in Connecticut.
traveling over 55 MPH. I used my 600mm and
took 1 shot while the news reporter next to me
did a 10 shot burst with a digital camera. He
then looked at the monitor and kept the best
shot. I did this for the following jumpers and he
finally said to me, How do you know you're
actually getting any keepers? I replied I know
my gear, I know my film and I have over 20
years of experience. The insert shows the
slide as captured aproximately 1.50 inches
wide. I scanned it as a 4x6 300dpi image and
cropped the face at native resolution without
sharpening for the image to the right. Not bad
for film eh? A vertical cropped version of this
image was used for a book titled 52 Weekends
in Connecticut.
Fuji Provia 400 RHP III