Pros: Responsive, control placement, features, metering
Cons: Autofocus loses subject at times, metering not good in extreme light conditions
The Bottom Line: Great camera if you are serious in getting into photography. Make it a habit to use a tripod as much as you can to get the sharpest photo.
jiyangchen's Full Review: Nikon F100 35mm Film Camera
I purchased the Nikon F100 after I improved greatly in photography. My first SLR camera was a Minolta XTsi with two lenses. They were slow to focus and sometimes I had trouble getting the shots that I wanted. The viewfinder was dark, and the camera operation wasn't as smooth as I had like.
After much thought and consideration (this isn't exactly a cheap investment), I decided to switch to Nikon because I had heard good things about the system. The F100 is the second tier Nikon autofocus SLR at that time next to the F5. F5, I felt, was way overpriced and had features most amateurs do not need (8 fps motor drive), although the color 3d matrix metering could be quite useful in difficult light conditions. It was bulky and heavy, although it was one of the best looking cameras I've ever seen. Did I mention the price? I even though about the N90s, but it was a old autofocus camera that didn't have some of the newer features that I thought was worth the extra money.
I bought the Nikon F100 along with the 50mm f/1.8, 24mm f/2.8 (I highly recommend this wide angle lense), Tokina 28-70 f/2.6-2.8 (also highly recommend), and the Nikon SB-28 flash. After hundreds of rolls of film and one month in Asia, I have to say that it exceeded my highest expectations as a camera. It was very durable, responsive, and helped my photography tremendously. I felt that I could take the shots that I normally could not with my old camera. Focusing was accurate and fast, although the tracking would lose the subject at times. Shooting it at an airshow on Continuous autofocus--as long as you have one of the 5 autofocus brackets on the subject, it would continue tracking the subject if it roams around. The shutter is very quite and responsive. It fits well in my hand, and the controls are well placed. They are easy to adjust, and can be done w/out looking at the LCD. All the information is displayed inside the viewfinder, so you can get those once in a lifetime shots.
Be sure to get a good camera bag to protect your investment. Take out the battery if you are not using it for extended periods of time.
Again, I highly recommend the Tokina 28-70mm f/2.8 and 24mm f/2.8. These are two lenses I use the most in my travels.
The camera doesn't include a strap, but I recommend the wide neoprene(sp?) Tamrac ones that helps distribute the weight during long hours of walking/hiking.
I have not idea why the rating for "picture quality" is doing here in a review about cameras. The lense is what creates image quality.
The F100 gets a 4 star in durability because it has a lot more plastic than the F5. but very durable for my needs.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1200 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
The F100 a 35mm SLR body geared to the professional and is situated beyond the N90 and behind the F5 as the #2 top camera in the Nikon line With its s...More at Amazon Marketplace
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