Oh for a digital F100

[wd8cdh]

> Hi Larry and Ron,

I actually have a Nikon slide copier attachment - a PS5 or 6, I think it is called - although have not used it for many years. Would using this with my 60mm Nikon micro (1:1 ratio) lens, and appropriate positioning of the lens, allow a full-frame image to be recorded on a D70 reduced size focal plane/image sensor?

Hi Ian,

Yes, set the magnification to about 0.7:1.

I went to the modified slide projector for the automatic feed.

Ron

 

[wd8cdh]

> > Hi Ron, > > Just as you > mentioned, such versatility, even without a vertical release, is well > worth it IMHO.

Hi Ian,

Being aware that there are no shutter release contacts in the bottom of the D70, I can easilly accept no vert. release.

> I was particularly intrigued by your set-up for copying slides to your > D70! What a great idea. Can I ask for a few more details regarding > your system? Did you simply project the photos, and then have your > camera on a tripod and blaze away? Did you perhaps have a rear > projection display, and shoot directly from the projector itself? I'd > love to hear more about how you achieved your aim. > > Thanks again for your post and thoughts, > > Kind regards, > > Ian

I removed the lens from the projector and made a bracket that held the D70 with AF Micro-Nikkor shoved at the right distance into the front of the projector. I set the magnification to about .7 and let the autofocus take care of any movement of the slide.

Ron

 

[ian_craigie]

> Hi Ron,

I can see that for batch processing large numbers of slides quickly, this would be a reasonable alternative to costly film scanner batch loaders. I have an Epson 4870, but that is only 8 slides at a time. With your set up, obviously you are only limited by the number of slides in your magazines.

Thanks again for your information,

Regards,

Ian

 

[yogi]

It's been a while since I've posted in this forumn but - I read Ian's original post and it hits home for my situation. Just a little background. I too use an F100 sometime with MB-15, and and FM2, along with an even older FTn for mostly night shots and for mirror lock-up. I have a buch of AI, AIS, AF-D and AF-S G lenses. But what I long for is a digital that handles like the F100 and costs about the price of a D70. And yet gives me the option of using my lenses (down to AIS) just like the F100 does. On occasion I use a Contax 645 for landscape, and a Contax G2 system for around town shooting.
As for all-in-one digitals,
I've used/owned CP 950, 995, 5000, 5400, Canon G3 and the Sony DSC828 as well as other borrowed for short periods of time - And they work well for their purposed but so far I have not gotten over their horrendous low light performance, nor their slow AF and shutter lag. With a bit of post processing the images may be OK for 8x10's or on the screen but not much more - they are typically not large print friendly. I currently rarely use the digitals and have only kept the 995 for light metering duties and some macro work. I've gone back mostly to film.

The F100 - has fast AF - and supports most of my lenses (down to AIS) uses 4AA batteries (Ihave extra MS-23 holder for quick load and lock battery replacement) and gets me about 40 rolls of film per set of batteries.
I've recently acquired a 5000ED film scanner, and will be getting full time access to an Imacon 343 scanner that creates images well beyond that of 'most' digital SLR capabilities.

But after having said all that the advantages of digital are hard to beat. And I have seen my images improve drastically with the use of digital and not having to worry about film processing and making bad shots - I can also experiment more. I'm torn between compromising on image quality vs. the convenience of digital. If only an 'F100' like digital was available, I could live with a little image quality loss, retain all lens usage, and retain the speedy AF, fast frame to frame and almost non-existent shutter lag. Is this too much to ask?

 

[yogi]

One note on using the D70 with your PB5/6 bellows and PS5/6 slide holder - IT WON'T WORK - unfortunately this is not possible unless you use a D2h or D2x that supports use with AIS non chipped lenses that do not have electronic contacts on the lens - The reason being they (the bellows) do not have the electronic contacts necessary to work with a D70. And the D70 does not work at all, (no manual function) without chipped lenses attached. Been there with my PB4 PS4 combo. Using a T mount adapter and a Canon digital SLR works though. One more reason for a digital F100.

BTW - I've rented the D2h on a few occasions for some wedding photography in the last year and it isn't really that heavy - although a bit bulky.

 

[lnbolch]

> Posted by Almon C. N. Dao > I've used/owned CP 950, 995, 5000, 5400, Canon G3 and the Sony DSC828 > as well as other borrowed for short periods of time - And they work > well for their purposed but so far I have not gotten over their > horrendous low light performance, nor their slow AF and shutter lag.

How very interesting - I have owned a CP990 and currently own a CP5k and a CP8400. While each generation becomes quicker and more responsive, I have been delighted with both low light performance and LACK of shutter lag.

No longer "workin' for the Man" in photojournalism and commercial photography, I am indulging my lifelong passion for "decisive moment" and night-time photography. My Nikon F3 and is arsenal of lenses has sat idle since I purchased the CP990 nearly five years ago.

In case you think I am merely blowing, view the photography at

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The very first set of images on the page was shot with a CP990!! No way an unresponsive camera could hit peaks of action as decisively as this. I used a Leica M3 as my "street" camera prior to this, and it too has been idle all this time. Further down the page there are many ex&les of precise timing and superb low light response.

(For ex&les of the Leica in decisive moment work, see

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)

I recently added the CP8400, and in response to a lot of requests, I did a page of the shots taken during the first two or three weeks with it - again a lot of low-light and "street". The lead picture was shot in a venue almost exclusively lit with nothing but neon.

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If you have had poor performance under these circumstances, I would question whether the camera is at fault, since obviously it has not been in the case of the portfolios posted above. There are many more ex&les should these fail to convince you.

larry!

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ICQ 76620504

 

[wd8cdh]

It sounds like a lot of us want a digital N6006 or N8008 or similar.

Even without having a f-stop coupling ring, the D70 could meter with manual lenses in the stop down mode with just a firmware update. Nikon actually went out of their way to prevent metering with AIS lenses at all. They should have just put instructions in the manual for stop down metering and let it go at that.

A microprism spot or a split image rangefinder spot could be added to the viewing screen to allow more precise manual focusing.

Mirror lockup would not be possable without a major mechanical redesign but I think a pre-delay for alowing mirror vibration to d&en out before exposing the imager could be implimented with the D70's electronic shutter, again only with a firmware update.

Ron

 

[innocent]

Is mirror lock-up a very important issue? I've never found this feature useful in my F5 even though I shoot micro 1:1 with my 105mm F/2.8 lens and occasionally shoot long exposures. Am I not taken all the advantages offered by my F5?

Regarding metering issues with the D70, for such occasion where I have to use the manual over-ride, the Gossen Starlite comes in handy. I was yesterday experiencing multiple black frames with the D70 in a multi-flash set-up using the SB800 as the fill and Bowens as the main and accent light. All I was getting was black frame even though all the flashes fired. So, turned off the sb800, synced it with the main flash, metered with Gossen and I was home, no more worries. Any similar experience?

 

[ian_craigie]

Hi Almon and Larry,



Thanks again for your contributions. I am coming to the time when I will need to decide what I should do re my imminent trip to Africa. The desire for a "Digital F100" was born of my hope to take digital photographs while travelling in game reserves - sometimes a great distance from sources of AC power and supplies of film. I have been very appreciative of everyone's comments and suggestions regarding their own personal preferences and experiences.



As I see it, from my own understanding and the result of the on-line discussion so far, I have three practical options, and some of the pros and cons are listed below:



1. Continue using my F100 & FM2 kit, with my 20mm, 28-85mm, and 80-400 VR lenses.



· I already have the kit

· I am familiar with its use

· Rugged and reliable

· Wide range of focal lengths - capable of handling most shooting opportunities

· Power-source used successfully before - solar powered AA recharger

· AA batteries easily found in case of failure

· Use of 20mm lens will be truly “wideâ€

· Dust issues less a problem, because of the ability to clean the camera/lens system in the field, and the fact that film frame will move along, so fewer frames potentially affected.

· I am very pleased with the results - saturated slides are wonderful to look at when projected.

· Slides may be scanned to give a digital image, so you have the best of both worlds.

· Relative lack of expense (I would have to consider the cost of slides relative to digital media)

· System back-up and MLU with light and reliable FM2

· Bright viewfinder



2. Buy a D70 to take instead of F100



(This is due to the difficulties of having to carry and support two systems that do not overlap in their requirements. This is actually one of the main reasons for my problems with the current direction of the Nikon system. I simply CANNOT take an F100, and all I need to power it with rechargable AAs, recharger, and shutter release, along with a D70 and its batteries, recharger, and so on. In the past, a manual system was compatible with an AF-system, such as my combination of F100 and FM2. Now, there is a divide between the previous and present systems, and while the former easy transition allowed me to have the best of both, I now must CHOOSE. This means that the choice is not just between analog and digital, but between Nikon and the others - the "system" no longer provides a convenient link with the past, and the features that saw me originally choose Nikon are no longer incorporated into this particular system. I realise that any analog/digital system would need to double up on film and digital media, but no brand can avoid this).



· Highly-praised digital camera for the price

· Introduction to new area of photography for me (and a new toy for me to play with!)

· Through the image sensor size, a "cropping" of view to appear to give my 80-400 increased reach. Although not actually image magnification, I imagine having the apparent additional focal length a bit of a bonus when taking wildlife shots.

· Excellent performance in terms of shots/battery power.

· Familiarity with my current SLRs, in terms of handling and positioning of controls.

· No need to buy more lenses/components to continue with large focal length range

· Speed of shot recording and buffering - useful with wildlife shots

· Relative speed of focussing little changed compared to F100

· Faster processing and manipulation once I am back home (no need to scan)

· Ease of sharing images with friends and family (eg via website, email, CD ROM) without need to scan

· Fewer storage problems once I'm home

· Can easily back up images



3. Buy a Nikon CoolPix 8800 35-350mm VR lensed camera



· Convenient, light, easily transported system for focal length range

· Relatively comparable to digital SLR's, if taking into account lens provision

· Reasonable cost in comparison to SLR systems (especially if you had to also purchase new lenses)

· VR lens technology

· Sealed lens system, so dust less of a problem

· Wide angle and tele components available

· Digital image advantages as for D70



Personally, I certainly found MLU useful when using the FM2 and F4, especially when taking long tele shots. I guess the only flaw I could find with the F100 is its lack of MLU – I am certain few would have bought the F5 if the F100 had this feature, too!

Anyway, this is the choice as I see it. I have considered the Fuji S3 Pro, and from what I have read, it sounds a very good camera. Image quality is said to be great, and (joy!) it takes AA’s. However, it is large and bulky in comparison to either the D70 or CP8800, and some have expressed concerns re responsiveness and buffering of images – not necessarily a big problem for the more considered shot, but for animal photography I would be a little more concerned. I guess, the fact that I could buy 3 D70’s or 4 CP8800’s for the same price also makes me a little wary. At least with the latter two, if Nikon do bring out the “D200â€, I will feel I could justify getting the newer model – maybe…



If only there was a digital F100 (with MLU!), I wouldn’t have all these choices to make. Now, that would be good…



Thanks for everyones' comments,



Best wishes,

Ian

 

[dirk]

... what about a new F6? It has all what you want. Also a lot smaller and lighter than the F5. Very similar to the F100. Handling is superbe. And with MLU!

And: This investment would not fall that much in value over the next 2 years

You could wait with an F6 very easily until a digital F100 comes out...

 

[lnbolch]

The time to buy a new camera is NOT just before a trip of a lifetime.

This is specially true of your first full blown digital camera. A camera such as a D70 or a CP8800 does have a substantial learning curve even for a very experienced photogapher, and needs to be learned at leisure. Digital is great, but not until you are fluent with it. A shooter can get comfortable with any camera, but one wants to be comfortable before the "meter is running". Again, if you feel comfortable with slides, that is the way to go.

I find that I get better results overall shooting negatives for scanning, and were it me in your boots, that is the way I would go. With monitor screen display and digital projectors plummeting in price, I doubt I will ever project an actual slide again. If I had to, I would still shoot negs and have slides made off them. But go with your comfort zone - always.

larry!

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[ian_craigie]

Thanks Dick,

Yes indeed, the F6 looks a brilliant camera, especially in its smaller configuration, without the larger battery pack. However, for film I am more than content with my trusty F100/FM2 combination - I am pretty pleased with the results I have obtained to date.

I would love an F6, but it was really the "digital experience" that I was interested in trying out. Besides, a little pricey for me at this point - it would be great not have to take such mundane factors into account! Perhaps if I earned my living from photography I would find the purchase easier to justify...

A nice thought, though. Thanks again.

Ian

PS Have you an F6 yourself? You seem to be talking from experience - if so, I'm jealous. ;- )

 

[ian_craigie]

Thanks Larry,

I have had a small voice telling me the same thing, ever since I started considering the options. I think the learning curve would be so steep that it would be far better to have more experience of the ins and outs of using a digital system well before travel. That's the voice of reason talking, I guess, but there's also one saying it would be very interesting to give the "new" a go, too.

Interesting to hear your comments on negs. I haven't really shot negatives for a while - I really do love seeing the images up on a large screen, but as you say, digital imaging (be it via camera or scanner) on a large screen is increasingly viable and affordable. Besides, if you want, you can go the whole hog and get a digital projector...

Part of the decision was the issue of saying that for the sake of the cost of the slide film and processing, it would be affordable to get a D70 or CP8800 or the like - and then I wouldn't have to carry the film there and back!! However, it's true that this is probably not the best time to start learning about a new way of thinking and doing.

Sound advice, as ever.

Regards,

Ian

 

[lnbolch]

In days of terrorism, traveling with film is not an easy matter. Best to fly into a large city and buy the film there and have it processed before leaving.

Hand inspection is supposedly universal, but one depressed shooter returning to the US, asked for hand inspection in Germany, and watched while the attendants sadistically put his film through the X-Ray machine repeatedly, laughing their heads off. Upon processing, he found it was all hopelessly fogged, and he had an editor to face and explain why there would be no photo feature.

They knew that if he protested, he could be arrested - at least temporarily - long enough to miss his flight - and he probably would never come back to sue them. They have all the power now and the traveler is at their mercy. Inspectors can bake flash-RAM cards with X-Rays and do no harm.

I did a shoot in the USA desert southwest, and brought along a battery charger for my AA cells - perhaps the most common brand in North America. The inspector had never heard of a battery charger and wiped it for explosive residue, and well as my shoes and cameras. Therein lies the problem - wages are low and not the swiftest people get the jobs. For the first time in their lives, they have nearly unlimited power. Travel just is not much fun anymore.

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I have made some presentations to large groups, and even with consumer-level digital projectors, the slides-shows looked most impressive. With the rich variety of presentation software, one can add music tracks, tag individual slides with sound effects and so on. I mixed scans and original digital shots in one, and it was seamless. This was a few years back at a new media conference, and people were quite vocal about it not being obvious which was which. One said that the only give-away was the vintage of the cars or hair and clothing style.

From now on, I plan to travel with whatever digital camera I am using at the time - currently the Nikon CP8400 - and at least one medium format camera. My Plaubel Makina 67 is very compact, shoots a 6x7 image and has a superb 80mm f-2.8 Nikon lens. It is decent for street, but great for epic landscapes and the like. I probably will never shoot much 35mm again, since there is little or no advantage for me over the CP8400. I will use up my refrigerated supply with my WideLuxe 140° panoramic.

larry!

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[wd8cdh]

Hi Ian,

Do you really use MLU?

I think that what I would do if I had to go to Africa today, I would take my N8008 (The F100 is one of the few Nikons that I have never owned) and my D70. I would also take my solar charger for AAs and for the D70 Lithium Ion batteries. I made my own interface to the D70 charger. I would take 2 or 3 D70 batteries, at least 3 sets of Ni-MH batteries for the 8008 and at least 40 throw away AAs.

From my experience with shooting wildlife, I suspect that my widest lens would be on the film camera and never be taken off while most of the shooting would be done with the D70.

Ron

 

[wd8cdh]

By the way, Ian, I have never had a problem mixing film and digital with the same bag of lenses. The digital is like using a 1.4x teleconverter without loosing an F-stop or the image quality degradation and I just don't put my one DX lens on a film body.

It's practically second nature for me to put (for ex&le) a 135mm on a digital camera while 200mm is on the film camera for the same field of view. My 135 is one stop faster than my 200 so I get the same depth of field isolation with either lens. My 300mm is one stop faster than my 300 so the same thing happens with those lenses too.

Ron

 

[gjames52]

Ian:

$1500 for MLU>

I have used the F100’s self-time with a Zeiss 85mm Spotting Scope (f12 1000 mm eq.) and I was happy with the results, although they were daylight shots. Just when and how many times would you need MLU in Africa? All I know is the F100 has been used all over the world under adverse conditions and has done the job.

I would not want to take a new and untested camera, without and known backup with me on an expensive trip.

Regards:

Gilbert

 

[ian_craigie]

Hi Ron,

Yes, I have used the MLU feature on both the FM2 and the F4. In days gone past I did actually try some shots with MLU used and not used, and definitely did see a benefit with a loupe. I am sorry, but if I could remember where I had stored this shots, I would share them! However, I have read of many who feel that the mirror d&ing in the F100 is absolutely fine, and on certain tripod rigs any significant vibration is largely eliminated. I guess I am not that much of a purist, or I would definitely go and get an F6 (would need to sell the car first) For my more recent efforts, I have been more than content to use the F100. While I guess it is in the "wish list", AA batteries and an aperture ring on the lens would be my priorities.

I used MLU mainly for landscape shots with a tele zoom (in the past), as I tend to keep my eye on the wildlife while shooting - I prefer this to blazing away with the motor drive, and hoping I will get the right shot. This may not be the best way to ensure the capture of a great shot, but I generally have been conservative in film terms (for individual shots, if not overall while away). I realise there is just as strong a case for using MLU on animal shots, but since I have really only had the opportunity for any tele animal shots since I bought my 80-400 VR lens, I have chosen my F100 to use the VR function.

Your N8008 is, I believe, the equivalent of my fantastic F-801. As I mentioned a while ago, I sold this to a good friend, and he passed it on to his brother, who is serving with the British Army in Iraq. It has been all over the world several times, and the outside looks bruised and battered, but it STILL functions well. As many have stated, it is the person and not the camera that takes the photos, but the ruggedness of even this so-called "consumer" Nikon is simply incredible. Certainly a good choice.

Although I have used a solar charger with the AA batteries for the F100, this is a particular kit for such batteries with an incorporated solar panel. I will admit to not being too able on the electronics front, but am interested to learn that you can make a set-up to charge the D70 batteries with solar power. I take it you connected your panels to the D70 battery charger directly. A few have posted here that the D70 batteries last for any number of photos I could possibly shoot, and so I guess this may not be such a big feature after all. However, it is hard to break the habit, and I can't see why Pentax and Fuji can happily power their cameras with AAs and Nikon's digital range require special batteries and chargers.

You obviously have experience using your D70 for wildlife, and I expect from what you have posted that you found this more than adequate. It would be interesting to think that, even if it's better to learn about the ins and outs of digital before heading away, the 80-400 lens could stay on the D70, and so remove the dust-on-the-sensor problem mentioned earlier, while maybe the 20 could stay on the Fm2 - and I leave the F100 and its kit behind to save on weight and bulk. I could still take film shots with the FM2 (I would have to rely on my eyes, instead of an AF-sensor to get things right!) if the digital system was proving too steep a learning curve.

I gather that the D70 and the CP8800 can simultaneously shoot NEF and JPEG files - is that right? If so, I imagine I could take a few shots while practising, and yet still have the image information stored as a RAW file to allow better post-shooting digital image manipulation - from my reading of the situation, anyway. However, I guess I agree with Larry that this is not the ideal time to be experimenting...

Regards,

Ian

 

[Russphoto]

Pardon my seeming nitpicking but ... Ian: You said, "Yes, I have used the MLU feature on both the FM2..."

I'm not sure how you could use MLU on an FM2 as they don't possess this feature. I own an FM2 for about 20 yrs and it has no such capability. I've looked at the websites and there never has been this feature on FM2 (or FM2N).

 

[ian_craigie]

Hi Russell,

Yes, I guess strictly speaking, you are correct. However, if you use the self-timer on the FM2, the mirror is swung up out of the way prior to the release of the shutter. Therefore there is sufficient time for any vibrations from the mirror movement to have settled down. You aren't able to lock-up the mirror as you might with one of the Nikon "F"'s, but for all intents and purposes, this system has the same effect, and is useful for static images.

I believe on some Canon and Olympus models, this is known as "mirror pre-fire", rather than "mirror lock-up", and perhaps I should have used this term instead.

Thanks for the comment,

Regards,

Ian