Film: Nikon n90s vs F4

[Phil Flash]

Until full frame DSLRs hit at a reasonable price, I'm looking to modernize my film SLR. I have an FM, which I love, but I want a spot meter and a motor drive. AF will be nice, but since I've never had it on an SLR, I may not appreciate the difference in speeds between the F4 and N90s.

Here's the advantages as I seem them:

F4:
Analog controls
100% view
Tank-like build
Matrix with manual lenses

N90s
Smaller
lighter
faster AF
about 1/3 cheaper on the used market

Anybody with any experience with both cameras? Thanks.

 

[Mark E (Flask)]

Bippy,

You might want to visit http://www.nikonians.org for some suggestions on film based Nikons.

The F4s is discontinued and truly good ones are very expensive and very hard to find. The n90s is a pretty dated camera but a very capable one. The problem is that it is witin a few hundred dollars of the F100 which is a top Pro Nikon. The F100 would be cheaper than a good F4s and can be had brand new. You might want to consider the N80 which is less costly than the n90s but has the features you mentioned.

All of the above cameras are AF models. Only the AF Nikons have spot metering if I remember correctly.

Until full frame DSLRs hit at a reasonable price, I'm looking to
modernize my film SLR. I have an FM, which I love, but I want a
spot meter and a motor drive. AF will be nice, but since I've
never had it on an SLR, I may not appreciate the difference in
speeds between the F4 and N90s.

Here's the advantages as I seem them:

F4:
Analog controls
100% view
Tank-like build
Matrix with manual lenses

N90s
Smaller
lighter
faster AF
about 1/3 cheaper on the used market

Anybody with any experience with both cameras? Thanks.

 

[Philly Wood]

Hi Bippy,

I dont think anyone can provide you with more info. You pretty much nailed it down. Its apparent you did your research. I only own a N90s (total of about 6 rolls of film but they are a very intense 6 rolls. lol) and my neighbor owns an F4 that we have casually compared and tested. I cannot add one bit of info beyond what you already mentioned. The F4 is built like a tank and the 90s seems to focus faster.

As for the 80, from everything I have read, the 90"S" has much better focusing and metering capability. I shoot in dimly lit areas and am VERY pleased with the 90s. I only wish the D100 had the 90s metering and AF and NOT from the 80. (yeah, I know they do make one.....its called the D1x

You might want to visit http://www.nikonians.org for some
suggestions on film based Nikons.

The F4s is discontinued and truly good ones are very expensive
and very hard to find. The n90s is a pretty dated camera but a
very capable one. The problem is that it is witin a few hundred
dollars of the F100 which is a top Pro Nikon. The F100 would be
cheaper than a good F4s and can be had brand new. You might want
to consider the N80 which is less costly than the n90s but has the
features you mentioned.

All of the above cameras are AF models. Only the AF Nikons have
spot metering if I remember correctly.

Until full frame DSLRs hit at a reasonable price, I'm looking to
modernize my film SLR. I have an FM, which I love, but I want a
spot meter and a motor drive. AF will be nice, but since I've
never had it on an SLR, I may not appreciate the difference in
speeds between the F4 and N90s.

Here's the advantages as I seem them:

F4:
Analog controls
100% view
Tank-like build
Matrix with manual lenses

N90s
Smaller
lighter
faster AF
about 1/3 cheaper on the used market

--
-photoave http://phillywood.com An Amalgam of images

 

[Ilan Shanon]

F4:

Analog controls
100% view
Tank-like build
Matrix with manual lenses

N90s
Smaller
lighter
faster AF
about 1/3 cheaper on the used market

Anybody with any experience with both cameras? Thanks.

I originally had the N90s, then sold it for an F5 and then got an F4s as a backup. When I decided to get a Leica M6 system, I sold the F5 and kept the F4s, which I actually preferred because of the analogue controls. Also, it has greater compatibility with Nikon lenses, both old and new, than any other Nikon body. Besides faster AF (which isn't an issue for me), the N90s supports matrix flash ttl with the D lenses, which the F4s does not. The F4s is normal ttl flash metering. Frankly, I never saw any differences. Bottom line, besides features, I just love the feel of the F4s. I'll never sell it, eventhough Il probably won't use it much since going digital.

Ilan Shanon
Nikon F4s, D100, sb80dx, sb26, sb27
All Nikon Lenses: 50mm f1.8, 18-35, 28-105, 35-70 f2.8, 80-200mm f2.8

 

[Phil Flash]

Your points hghlight my dliemma very well. I've never owned an SLR with an LCD panel on top, and I really like analog dials.

This may be the factor that sways it in favor of the F4.

Trouble is, a good quality used F4 is only a few hundred shy of an F100.

 

[Mark E (Flask)]

Bippy, F100's are around $1000 USD. Most mint F4s go for a few hundred more than that. Really nice ones are pretty rare and command a high price.

Your points hghlight my dliemma very well. I've never owned an SLR
with an LCD panel on top, and I really like analog dials.

This may be the factor that sways it in favor of the F4.

Trouble is, a good quality used F4 is only a few hundred shy of an
F100.

 

[Jason VIllafranca]

Although I love the design of the F4s - I just sold it... Now I own a D1, N80 and FG with a D100 on its way... I chose to sell my F4 rather than the N80 because of the apparent move of Nikon towards G lenses... and the N80 actually offers better control over fstops and shutter speed through its more modern function dials...

But like what was previously mentioned... I would go for the F4 over the N90... but for practical reasons, I would go for the N80... but make sure that if you get an N80 then you stay away from those body and lens kits... you're better off just getting the body and maybe a good 50mm 1.8D...

remember - film is film... your old FM can probably take as good pictures as an F5... the diffence is not in the body but in the lens that's attached...

jason

Your points hghlight my dliemma very well. I've never owned an SLR
with an LCD panel on top, and I really like analog dials.

This may be the factor that sways it in favor of the F4.

Trouble is, a good quality used F4 is only a few hundred shy of an
F100.

 

[Phil Flash]

Thanks. I know film is film, and I love the results I get with my FM and the ol' 35mm f/2 MF.

I really just want a spot meter. The N80 unfortunately does not meter with MF lenses. But it's a good suggestion, since it is so feature packed and so reasonably priced.

The idea would be this stopgap film camera would be my last film camera, because let's face it -- in ten years, no one will be shooting film except as a novelty. I love the look of TriX grain, though. I'd like this new film camera to last until I check out, which is the appeal of the F4.

But

But like what was previously mentioned... I would go for the F4
over the N90... but for practical reasons, I would go for the
N80... but make sure that if you get an N80 then you stay away from
those body and lens kits... you're better off just getting the body
and maybe a good 50mm 1.8D...

remember - film is film... your old FM can probably take as good
pictures as an F5... the diffence is not in the body but in the
lens that's attached...

jason

Your points hghlight my dliemma very well. I've never owned an SLR
with an LCD panel on top, and I really like analog dials.

This may be the factor that sways it in favor of the F4.

Trouble is, a good quality used F4 is only a few hundred shy of an
F100.

 

[Micheal Hall]

I've used both, but I BOUGHT the N90s (before my D1x).

I'd go with that one. It should last you a number of years (depending on your use - my N8008s has lasted me 12 years and it still shoots great ... of course I don't use it or my N90s any more as anything other than backups, and that will stop when I get my next D1x or h shortly).

Other advantages to the N90s include:

Illuminated top-deck LCD (very useful for dark circumstances)

Viewfinder eye-piece shutter (not sure if the F4 has one of those) to block stray light during long exposures that could otherwise affect the meter.

BETTER matrix metering and flash metering with D-TTL capabilities (assuming D lenses and the SB-25 or more recent flash)

I haven't read the other responses in this thread, so please forgive me if I am repeating what others have said ...

Regards,
Micheal

Until full frame DSLRs hit at a reasonable price, I'm looking to
modernize my film SLR. I have an FM, which I love, but I want a
spot meter and a motor drive. AF will be nice, but since I've
never had it on an SLR, I may not appreciate the difference in
speeds between the F4 and N90s.

Here's the advantages as I seem them:

F4:
Analog controls
100% view
Tank-like build
Matrix with manual lenses

N90s
Smaller
lighter
faster AF
about 1/3 cheaper on the used market

Anybody with any experience with both cameras? Thanks.

--
---
Micheal

 

[Mark E (Flask)]

Bippy, all of the AF cameras mentioned have spot meters (N80, N90, F4, F100, F5.)

Check out the nikonians.org site which has a dedicated n80 forum and see what other folks have to say.

I really just want a spot meter. The N80 unfortunately does not
meter with MF lenses. But it's a good suggestion, since it is so
feature packed and so reasonably priced.

The idea would be this stopgap film camera would be my last film
camera, because let's face it -- in ten years, no one will be
shooting film except as a novelty. I love the look of TriX grain,
though. I'd like this new film camera to last until I check out,
which is the appeal of the F4.

But

But like what was previously mentioned... I would go for the F4
over the N90... but for practical reasons, I would go for the
N80... but make sure that if you get an N80 then you stay away from
those body and lens kits... you're better off just getting the body
and maybe a good 50mm 1.8D...

remember - film is film... your old FM can probably take as good
pictures as an F5... the diffence is not in the body but in the
lens that's attached...

jason

Your points hghlight my dliemma very well. I've never owned an SLR
with an LCD panel on top, and I really like analog dials.

This may be the factor that sways it in favor of the F4.

Trouble is, a good quality used F4 is only a few hundred shy of an
F100.

--