Having recently purchased a Nikon F and then an F2, more about that another time, I honestly was not looking to purchase any more cameras 🙂 But I suppose it was inevitable that a Nikon F4 would follow. But surely why not the more highly regarded F3?
One main reason for acquiring the F4 was lens compatibility both forward and backward. I now have a camera that I can take out with my Digital Nikon D500 and share any lens I own with them both. While I may have been able to physically mount all my lenses on my other Nikon film cameras, they would often lose some functionality. For example on some cameras/lens combinations I would not be able to use the cameras meter; or with G lenses not be able to alter aperture. However on my F4s, AIs lenses are right at home with both cameras, as are my AF, E or G lenses. Awesome! Strangely this would not be possible with either the Nikon F3 or F5!
In addition to this I also enjoy Matrix Metering with all those lenses except my 500mm Nikkor Reflex lens. Why is that such a big deal? Let the F4s manual explain: “ In matrix metering, the meter automatically provides the main subject with correct exposure in virtually any lighting situation,…The matrix meter sensor determines scene brightness by dividing the scene into five areas, analysing each area for brightness and scene contrast.”
Looking through my first two films I have put through the camera I can indeed testify to the accuracy of that statement. The camera just gets the exposure right!
Buyer beware! This is a heavy and substantial camera. I have the Nikon F4 with the MB-21 battery pack which makes it the Nikon F4s. The MB-21 takes 6AA batteries, and the total weight of the camera is 1.3Kg or about 3lbs, without a lens. This is not a problem for me.
One of the reasons I like my digital D500 is that a lot of the changes to the cameras settings are performed via buttons or dials, however it has its fair share of menus to contend with. In the case of the Nikon F4s, all changes are made via buttons or dials. Nice.
It’s not possible to cover everything about the camera …so I won’t . I will cover them in subsequent posts.
But until then enjoy the scenes made with this ….superlative camera
arhphotographic 
The F4 is an amazing body, the df being the modern equivalent.
If you’ve not tried it, the MB20 with 4 lithium AA’s makes quite a reduction in its weight.
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Despite it’s weight the MB-21 actually contributes to its feeling well balanced when a lens is attached. Also I found the extra shutter release allowing portrait ‘mode’ much more comfortable
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