Pros: Superb tool for the professional and serious amateur photographer, a solid performer under any conditions
Cons: It is a heavy lump of metal, particularly when matched to heavy glass
The Bottom Line: If Nikon ever bring out an F6, the F5 will remain one of the best camera bodies ever made. An F6 would probably be computerized overkill!
I've owned an F series camera since 1975, the first being an F2, the second the F5 which I bought over 3 years ago. F Series cameras are built to last and they do indeed last. I seriously doubted that I needed to upgrade the 30+ year old F2 until I started to look intop the F5's capabilities. Now I have relegated the F2 to my personal photography museum!
The F5 works extremely well under almost all conditions except under water (without some sort of case, that is). I do not worry about it getting wet in heavy rain and have waded out to sea with it on a number of occasions. It has performed well in the desert of west Texas as well as sub-zero temperatures in the UK. The key, of course, is to keep it clean and dry while subjecting it to damp and hostile conditions and I do not recommend changing lenses out in a thunderstorm.
Poor ease of use may be a fair criticism if you don't use the camera a lot, but that's the point, the F5 should be used a lot! The basic controls are easy to learn and it is only when advanced, occasional use features are invoked that I reach for the manual.
The feel of the camera body is important to good composition and, when hand-held, stable images. The F5 scores extremely well in this department, which is just as well, given its weight. The finger grip is remarkably tactile and seems to stick to your fingertips, allowing a "casual" approach to carrying the camera, so far without impunity.
With a good set of lenses (I like primes but have the 24-120mm zoom for travel and general purpose photography) the F5 provides excellent images. Nothing more than one would expect.
I use lithium batteries and generally get good use out of them, often twenty to thirty rolls of 36 exposure film even when using a 300mm telephoto with a lot of focusing. I have considered the rechargeable option but the cost of lithiums is easier on the pocket.
I cannot recommend this camera to a weekend snapshooting amateur, but to anyone who is serious about their photography, this camera or its lesser sibling the F100 is a serious contender for purchase by a professional or high throughput amateur.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1400+trade This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
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