A better F3HP. Solid. Dependable. Sealed against dust and rain. Similar control layout. 1/8000 top speed with 1/250 sync. Fast motor. Can reduce weight a bit with alternative battery pack for grip. Matrix metering with AIS lenses a nice touch you lose with F5. Electronic focus indicator with AIS lenses. Later models very reliable as intial production glitches were ironed out and certain refinements added in. AF can be slow compared to newer cameras or the F5.

Very long eyepoint finder and low contrast makes manual focus on groundglass uncomfortable for me. Have to use electronic indicator. Heavy. Bulky to hold for some people (like my wife)

Great camera if you use AIS lenses. For AF, the F5 offers more features, better performance and is easier to hold. But is more electronic.

Similar Products Used:

Leica R, Contax SLR, Nikon

Easy to use, reliable, very good and precise tool

Heavy, slow Autofocus F90 is a lot faster and cheaper by the way

Heavy easy to use relaible body, slow AF not up to date buy a F90 and safe the money for a good lens

Customer Service

Did not need any service the last 4 years

Similar Products Used:

F90

Built like a Sherman Tank, excellent metering with matrix for older manual AI ans AIS lenses

A bit on the heavy side but then you don't have to be concerned over breaking the thing

PRO'S: STURDY CAMERA, EXCELLENT METERING, 'ANALOG' INTERFACE, WORKS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL WITH THE OLDER MANUAL NIKKOR LENSES, FEELS COMFORTABLE IN YOUR HANDS DESPITE THE WEIGHT
CONS: A TAD HEAVY ALTHOUGH THIS DOESN'T TROUBLE ME, THE VIEWFINDER IS MADE OF PLASTIC!!! CAN BREAK EASILY IF NOT CAREFUL. OVERALL, NO COMPLAINTS!!! A REAL BEAUTY THAT JUST KEEPS ON GOING!!!

Customer Service

Never needed it

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F2, Nikon N8008

A great balance of traditional control layout and modern matrix metering and autofocusing.

Great ergonomics and easy to hold, even vertically. IT's built like a tank (but also weighs as much as one...). Metering is dead on and i have no complaints about exposure.

Heavy. But you get used to it. Autofocusing is slow and not even close to modern EOS-1 type cameras, but if you want fast autofocussing for sports then this is not the camera for you.

The autofocusing is fine for most other uses. This is my first autofocus camera, so it's a god-send for my type of work.

A great camera if it suits your shooting style. I shoot people and travel images and its been a dream for me, even though it's 10 years old. It's built like a tank, but the weight isn't too bad, especially if you come from a medium format background (RB-67, older Mamiya 645 1000). I recommend it for anything but sports and action.

The F5 has more features, but the F4 is by no means obsolete.

Get a good clean one and it will last and serve you well for years to come.

Similar Products Used:

None

A very solid camera
Flash
F mount

HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY did I mention HEAVY.
Slow AF
bad handling
loud
alot of useless features

The camera that sent many dedicated Nikon users packing to Canon's EOS system

Customer Service

poor

Similar Products Used:

EOS-1

Durability, Stability, gives picture as framed, no nonsense camera, metering extremely accurate.

none

I bought my F4 used three years ago and have had nothing but exceptional service with it since. I use mf AI lenses and a AF 85. It is a flawless peice of work. My only complaint is that it does not seem to want to wear out so I can justify the expense of an F5.

Customer Service

not used

Similar Products Used:

Fujis from the screw lens days, Nikon FE and FM

Pro model that offers advanced features. All three metering modes work with older Nikkor lenses.

Auto-focus, I'm told, is a bit slow by current standards, though this was not the case when first introduced. I've not found this to be a problem, though, and I do use it to photograph some action subjects.

One of the best Nikons ever. I expect to have mine for a very long time, and will probably buy a second to replace my FE back-up.

Customer Service

Nikon USA probably offers the best customer service in the industry. I've contacted them on numerous occasions to purchase manuals for some very old products and they've always come through. DON'T buy Nikon manuals from the web auctions - contact Nikon first!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FTN, FM, FE, FG

Best analog control type camera.
- classic look, easy to control
- strong enough
- quite fast auto focusing
- birght finder

It's too heavy.
LCD display in the finder is little dark.
easy to lose eye pice.

Overall, this is strong and secure camera for ourdoor usage. Good looking also

Similar Products Used:

F3HP, FM2, EOS-5

Tough body--I hardly ever worry about denting, scratching, or brassing it. A stunningly beautiful body design, as though that had anything to do with taking good pictures, but hey! The best SLR viewfinder screen I've ever come across--bright, distortion-free, 100%. Images snap right into focus. Love the dial interface, never did care for buttons, thumbwheels, and LCD screens on the newer cameras.

I use prime Nikon AI and AIS lenses exclusively, so I can't comment on the autofocus performance. One more thing: way to much "child-proof" design in the control interface. Just the task of turning the camera on can feel like opening a bottle of prescription medicine.

This is the Michaelangelo's "David" of cameras. Giugiaro had a hand in designing it, after all. Inspiring in its rugged and reliable feel. Top-notch viewfinder. The F4s has become not only my main SLR camera, but also my only SLR camera.

Customer Service

I haven't had any need for it yet.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F3HP w/ MD-4.

build quality
design
dials and knobs
a tank but easy to hold
Great light meter
Good blend of traditional and new
Not a Canon :)

Nothing major,
see AF remarks

I have a confession: I bought this camera NEW, long after the F5 came out. I used to own one about ten years ago, sold it and kicked myself ever since. I actually missed the thing! The F5, which is incredibly competent, is also boring to me. It has no personality. The F4s looks great, feels even better in the hand and when coupled with a heavy lens actually balances better. Okay, so the AF is slow. Which means it's still lightning quick. What kind of action are you trying to stop anyway? The Techies love to split hairs and count milliseconds in photography but you're still getting a fine system. This is the best SLR ever. It's easy to use yet gives you all the best qualities of a pro camera. It has traditional layouts (none of that godawful, Canon-inspired "Command Dial" nonsense that infected the F5) yet has all the overrides you'd want to just let you shoot. And it also gives you access to the Nikon lens line which, though recently includes some stinkers, offers some of the best lenses around. It's tough, heavy and best of all, fun to use. I'm glad I have my F4s back again. And the good news is, you don't have to be a nutcase like me and buy new. You can get a mint specimin for about a grand and a user for eight. It's worth it.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

Leica R7
Contax S2
Olympus 3DLX
Nikon F3/T