100% viewfinder old- style knobs construction manual rewind can be used with all nikon lenses, even 30 y.o ones

plastic viewfinder

I Bought my F4s used about 6 years ago in absolute mint condition, i could even say it ws brand new. serial # 258xxxx. Since then i've used it in 3 contitents, in the rain, snow, mud, and it has never failed me once. it's weight is a counter-measure for big lenses, keeps everything steady. It's auto-focus, according to some is slow, that's NOT TRUE, that's a point made to discredit the camera, the auto focus is fast enough for 99.9% of applications, if you don't believe me try one out, you will not be dissapointed. try one with a silent wave motor lens and then tell me it's slow

Customer Service

never had to use it for any of my cameras, i own 4 nikons.

Similar Products Used:

F5 F100 Eos-1v, 1n canon A-1, F-1 Nikon F-3

100% viewfinder takes any kind of nikon lens I use centerwight metering on my bellows Metering right on all metal, rock solid body The best camera ( i havent tried the f5 though) Nicely positioned controls easy handling Camera bag not necessary, it can take a beating

some say AF slow, but quick enough for me. on my 35-70 2.8 and 80-200 2.8 it pretty quick AF struggles in dim lighting-- then i use manual focus with focus screen b

Great solid camera. I bought one used a year ago, now i have three of these tanks. These bad boys can easily endure harsh conditions. The f4 is considered a manual camera turned auto. Has dials for all controls (i personally like this. It also easy exposure changes withoout looking) All the info you need can be seen through the viewfinder except the auto dx iso speed (dont need to since its auto). Stupid me accidently dropped this camera last week. It fell out of my camera backpack, fell on to the parking lot pavement, then bounced a foot off the ground. Result: 2 small scratches!!! No damage!! This would have killed any other camera.

Customer Service

pricey

Similar Products Used:

n80 8008s 6006 canon elan olympus om

Durable Fast Auto Focus Feels Just right in my hands

Did I mention it had only been in the shop once

So maybe this is a late review. My F4 has almost as many miles on it that I do. It's tried and true and has only managed to make it's way to the shop once. It has been with me through the extreme jungles of South America. Ran through a couple of water falls, fallen down a steep hill only to land in a small river bed. I picked it up and kept on going. Been in -10 degrees and kept on shooting for about 3 hours or so. I love it and won't give it up.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

A couple of different Canons

Traditional control layout. Fast flash sync. 5-6 frames/second for action work. Nice vertical release. High eyepoint finder (since I wear glasses). This camera just feels right in use. You can customise it for a specific use with various power sources and finders.

None worth speaking of.

Nice, solid workhorse with good AF performace. If you''re not a working pro making your living at sporting events or shooting birds in flight there''s nothing wrong with the AF speed of this camera. Being a user of classic manual focus cameras I really like the way Nikon kept many of the "traditional" controls in place. You can actually look at the top deck with the camera off and know if you''ve got it set up like you want. Good weight for steadying longer lenses, but sometimes I like a little less weight for trips, so I have an FM3a to substitute and use the same lenses. NICE.

Customer Service

Not had to use.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Elan 7E Nikon N2020

Ergonomics and weight.

None that I can think of, except that it''s a pity the top and base plates aren''t brass like the F3

Who are these people who say the F4 is too heavy? I am no Schwarzenegger but I am not a 7 stone weakling either and for me it''s just fine. A heavy camera is easier to hold steady. Similarly, for me the AF speed is no problem, all I know is it''s much faster than MF! All-in-all it''s a GREAT camera and I expect it to see me out.

Customer Service

Never used. Nikons don''t go wrong do they?

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F, F2, F3, FM2, EL2 Canon F1 (a long time ago)

Build, easy of use. Lay out of controls are logicaly placed and easy to grab. I especially like the mirror lock the 100% view finder the larg body for grip.

The metering selector switch can be turned by accident. I have an earlyier model, this was apparently fixed in later models.

The Nikon f4s will be the camera that I use for sometime to come. The camera, built like a tank, has everything that a person would need to take great pictures. I am not arguing that other cameras are not faster and that feature may of course be the need of some photographes. What I am saying is that you would be hard pressed to find a feature that this camera cannot offer.

Customer Service

Broke my SB-28 in a car accident, was very expensive to get fixed ($180)

Similar Products Used:

N90s, F3HP, Minolta Maxxum 9000, Olympus OM-1, Canon T50, CoolPix 995

Basically everything. It has all the features I have always wanted in a camera. 100% viewfinder, mirror lock up, tank like build quality, simple controls with things like an actual shutter speed dial and a switch for mirror lock up (not some forgotten custom function!) Some people say it is slow to AF....not for me. I find it plenty fast and its a lot faster then the new N80 I just picked up the other day. Another advantage is that you can get all these features for $1000.00US or less. To get this in a new Nikon camera you have to step up to the F5 at just under $2000.00US. I think this makes the F4s a bargain. Older worn models can be had for about $700, and mint ones like mine for $1000. Not a bad deal in my mind. I chose mine over an F100.

Maybe the size and weight if thats an issue for you. I just traded one of my two F4s'' (the older, beat up one) for a new N80 for times when I want to travel light.

This is a wonderfull camera, giving you all the features you need or want in one easy to use, logical package. It may not be the fastest anymore, or have the most flashy features but it has the sheer performance to be a true professional grade Nikon.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

F100, N80, Canon A2E

100% Viewfinder Built like a tank 1/8000 sec. max shutter speed Max. 5.7 fps Matrix, Center weighted and Spot metering Interchangable viewfinder Mirror lockup Exposure lock Autofocus Lock AF tracking Power or REAL manual rewind! Easy to read viewfinder info Removeable high speed battery pack- unlike the F5 Exposure compensation dial Plus, with the MF-23 Multi-Control back you also get data imprinting either on the picture or between frames, interval timer, exposure delay, LOOOONG Time Exposure up to 999 hours (not that you would ever use it), auto bracketing up to 19 continuous frames each with a different exposure!

It is kind of big, but that''s not necessarily a weakness Shutter speed dial doesn''t go above 4 second exposure, but that doesn''t mean you can''t get an exposure longer than 4 seconds The LCD illumination window is kind of odd Timer delay can only be set for 10 seconds, uh-oh call the cops!

The Nikon F4 is a great camera. But it''s almost like the forgotten child in the Nikon lineup and it shouldn''t be. It has every feature you could want in a professional camera. I won''t say that it''s light, but it''s not heavy either, it''s only heavier than the average 35mm SLR. Even though it''s old and some of it''s features are no longer the "best in the biz", it still has every feature that the newest camera''s have and more! It''s the Swiss Army knife of 35mm SLR''s.

Customer Service

never used

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2N Canon EOS1 Canon A1 Minolta Maxxum STSI

Rugged, great layout of the controls, can be serviced by most repair shops, good ergonomics, bright viewfinder, the best viewfinder info on any camera I''''''''ve ever used. Takes AIS lenses as well as AF, giving you a tremendous variety to choose from. AF is fine for just about any situation except sports, very easy to manually focus. Good verticle grip. Beautiful design!

Heavy and large. AF and AEX locks not easy to reach, although they can be toggled together.

The Nikon F4 is a classic blend where traditional camera controls meet modern electronics. When I first decided to buy a Nikon I considered the F4. Of course at that time they were still being manufactured and the price was beyond my means, I settled for a used F3. Finally, earlier this year I found a beautiful used F4s. Still pricey, but worth every penny. These cameras mark the boundary when cameras went from being controlled by the photographer to being hand held computers containing film. I was a little concerned about the reputation of the F4''''''''s autofocus, but surprisingly it''''''''s really not that bad, I use it for weddings so quick AF isn''''''''t that big a concern. If you want a ruggend, reliable camera, that frankly should still be in production, look for a clean, used F4. Avoid the ones that have seen heavy use, especially if they were owned by newspapers. Be prepared to pay top dollar, but you''''''''re buying a camera that should last the occassional shooter for decades to come. I certainly plan on using mine for many years.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F100, 8008s, Canon A2E

- Intuitive, classic controls
- Solid professional camera
- interchangeable finders and grips
- able to do matrix metering with AIS lenses (only AF Nikon to do this)

- AE/AF lock inconveniently placed
- slow AF
- no battery indicator
- viewfinder data a little dim (though its the only AF Nikon pro camera that gives you a direct look at the aperture setting

I like this camera especially for macro photography. Why? It has a viewfinder blind, it has interchangeable viewfinders,it has interchangeable screens, it has mirror lock up, it has DOF preview, it takes a conventional cable release, and the MB-21 grip (the small 4 battery one) allows it to work on a bellows with relative ease. Pretty snazzy, eh?

For other purposes, it's very good, but I don't take it out much for general photography: the slow AF is a bit of a drag (though it's not as awful as you would think given all the griping one hears). However, for macro work it absolutely shines.

This is really a very fine camera, and prices have gotten much more reasonable

Customer Service

I've had good experience with Nikon; haven't needed them with this piece of equipment

Similar Products Used:

F5, F100, N70, other 35mm and medium format SLRs