Nikon F100 Video 1: Interface Features, History, Market, Buttons, Functions, and Overview

[@jayabramson6702]

I have both the F100 and F5. The F100 is very much an F5-Lite. Only a few features different. Like another commenter said, the F5 can be used for weight training. Love ‘em both, and looking forward to videos 2 and 3.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! Two and three will be out this week.

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I've just ordered the Nikon F100 and a Minolta a7 yesterday. Your videos are very informative. Thanks!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and great choices!

[@murraykriner9425]

Like you, it took several times to find one in decent shape, though bought thru E-bay, you couldn't tell it had a busted door latch, so when it arrived I found there were some repairs. Sadly the latch section isn't detachable so the entire door now needs replacement. Enjoyed the first of your three videos so far, and hope to sit down with the fixed camera body and view the remaining video content. Always a joy seeing your work my friend.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! I'm just starting to use this for photos. I'm looking forward to making an actual review with sample images some time (probably next year at this point.) This is a great camera.

[@aui101]

Yes, the F100 is one of my favorites. I‘m using it in combination with my D Nikons with all the beautiful older and newer glas. Thank you. Great video

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@tomc8273]

Hi David, I don't own this camera but have a F90, which I love the "swept" design of the body. I find this easier to hold for a longer time. The F5 I have I use for weight lifting training and love that frames per second speed. Your videos are awesome, THANKS!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you, Tom! Yeah, the F5 is not my ideal hiking companion, either. It's what keeps me from loving the F4, as another example of hefty cameras, more than the F3.

[@Poppaneedsanap]

These are great vids!! Loving these. F100 is my fave Nikon Film cam

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! Good choice on favorite film camera!

[@Poppaneedsanap]

@@DavidHancock Yeah, I've got 3! Snagged two extra bodies for $20 from a pal.

[@glenjo0]

Works great with all of the most recent Nikon lenses except for E (electric aperture) or AF-P. Works great with VR and most G series lenses.

[@DavidHancock]

Oh nice! I didn't know that about the G lenses.

[@umac76]

Not only is it not weatherproof, there are no dust seals, so "all sorts of dust wanders into the rear" according to Ken Rockwell. I have a beautiful example but have only put a few rolls through it, none of which I've had developed. I haven't noticed a dust problem yet. I'm still careful to use my dust blower on it every time I open the back.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@DixonLu]

The 4xAA battery holder part is MS-12. My F100 seems to work with more modern (within the last 5 years) NiMH batteries. Since moisture seeps in everywhere when there is a big hole in the middle of the camera, and none of the D series or earlier lenses have rubber gaskets, they did not design the F100 with splash/moisture resistance. That said, the F100 were built tough. Got an F100 at Goodwill with a warped curtain (someone stuck a finger in while loading film), and it still have accurate exposure.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and yeah, these are super rugged cameras. They kept a lot of the good F5 ruggedness when they made these.

[@jillianr8309]

this was very helpful, thanks!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@petermethner3696]

Another great video Dave, Thanks

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you, Peter!

[@jiml989]

I have both the F5 and F100. Really enjoy the F100 more. There is no battery cover per se. If you want to use it without the battery grip, you need to buy the battery insert which is $19 at B&H. I prefer the look and feel without the battery grip so having the option of the insert is nice. Now on to Part 2.

[@DavidHancock]

That makes sense. I wondered if the carrier was the cover. Thank you!

[@jiml989]

@@DavidHancock One other point is that if you do decide on the battery insert, you should also try and find the cover for the battery grip contacts or accept that they will need to be taped over. I ended up finding the cover at a repair shop.

[@danfloresmusic]

Nice! I really enjoy your videos. I hope one day you get the chance to review the Nikon F6. Best regards from Mexico

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! Me, too. I want to do complete manuals and reviews on all of the six Nikon F bodies. It's a long-term project that's still in progress.

[@parratt-world]

There is no battery door for the camera's internal camera compartment. The base of the battery holder becomes the cover and has a locking latch.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@thomasmoje5926]

Cool camera but I guess I'm hopelessly old fashioned..call it ignorance, technical ineptitude, or what you will: give me a simple durable SLR with provision for adjustable shutter speeds, ASA/ISO setting, good onboard light metering, good glass, and I'm a happy camper. Always liked Nikon cameras and optics but never got into the later film models simply because I'm happy with what I have and models like the F100 simply have too many buttons and gizmos for my taste. Not to take anything away; cameras like the F100 are an amazing technical achievement. Your videos are great I enjoy all of them.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! I am totally in the same boat as you, in general. When I think of my favorite cameras to use, for film, only one is newer than the early 80s. It's nice to have a faster shutter speed and good autofocus, but the simple fact is that if any of that was absolutely mandatory it would have been invented in the 1800s.

[@erikdewilde7404]

Great video thanks!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@mjak993]

Neekon, not Nykon. Also, it came with the 28-105 AF-D as a kit - and for film, that lens was spectacular for the time. (Not so great with high-MP digital cameras anymore, but still awesome for film and, say, a D3 or something in that range.)

[@DavidHancock]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3rTiKSkZ9ecqaM Thank you and I grew up pronouncing it the way that Nikon did here on their ads.

[@carogalpizar4027]

Thanks this is awesome!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@ep6728]

Hey David. I have an issue with mine and was wondering if you can help me out. My auto focus point is stuck on the right side of the frame. I’ve had the camera about 2 years and has never done this. I’ve tried figuring out ways to move it but no luck. Have any ideas on what it might be? Something simple I hope. Thank you.

[@DavidHancock]

I think I cover that in either Video 2 or 3 (probably 2, check the description for the index and a link to that part of the video.) There is a way to adjust it and likely the button just got pushed. If you're adjusting it and the point isn't moving there may be something that's either failed or gotten stuck in one of the buttons. You can diagnose that if the button that moves the AF point responds to other commands, then the button isn't at fault. At that point I'd run it past the Nikon forums. I'm not sure if there's a way to lock the AF point so it can't move (there may be) and if it's as simple as undoing that or if it's a sign of something else.

[@ep6728]

@@DavidHancock thank you! So right under control pad there is a lock lever that I never noticed. Must have been accidentally pushed over. Problem fixed!

[@maxwellwellmax878]

Bought mine Brand new when my local store was having a sale, by sale i mean over $700 lol, I still have it though I hardly use it since I've gotten a couple of Medium Format bodies.

[@DavidHancock]

Brand new, that was a great price.

[@epistades1]

Great camera, I still have mine.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and these are definitely worth keeping and using.

[@CRJines]

For image quality, I'm not sure you can top the f 100. Its the camera I'm using on my current project.

[@DavidHancock]

It's a fantastic tool for sure.

[@Xiaoyi_Wang]

很像我的D810和F5，只是它的取景器不可替换，可视范围没有F5那样开阔。如果能给这些老相机安装一个数码后背我想这会非常有趣。（Much like my D810 and F5, except that its viewfinder is not replaceable, and the viewing area is not as wide as the F5. I think it would be very interesting to have a digital back on these old cameras.）

[@DavidHancock]

你試過富士 FinePix S2 Pro 嗎？這是一台由尼康 F80 製成的舊 APS-C 數碼單反相機。

[@Xiaoyi_Wang]

@@DavidHancock 见过，但没有使用过。

[@surreallife777]

I have an Nikon F100 and I was taking pictures today but when I try and take a photo it says error. It is on F22 and I tried two different lenses and the same thing happens. When I press on the depth of field control preview button, it does not work. Any idea what it is?

[@DavidHancock]

Hmm. My best guess is that the electronic contacts on the lens and camera need to be cleaned (cotton swab, isopropyl alcohol.)

[@surreallife777]

@@DavidHancock : I took a Q-tip, put some alcohol on it and cleaned out the connectors around the lens mount and also just to be sure, I cleaned the connectors on the lenses and no error message anymore.

[@DavidHancock]

@@surreallife777 nice!

[@hamadlari6029]

Thank you sir

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@andrewhowarth4578]

Nice video, David. I'm still an F guy, but this would be an excellent complement. Andy

[@DavidHancock]

I hear you on that. I have the F through F5 in house right now. The F is really amazing.

[@andrewhowarth4578]

@@DavidHancock Just something about those old pure mechanical units. I have complete Pentax, Nikon F, and Hasselblad systems. You are one of my very favorite and first watch KZbinrs. Andy

[@shotbytobey1812]

I’ve been considering selling all my film cameras for an f6 but idk if it’s worth it when I can buy an f100

[@DavidHancock]

I don't know either. I've been considering buying an F6. That will have to wait some time, but I can say that they're both nice cameras even though I've never even seen an F6, the F5 is really great so the F6 is likely better in many ways.

[@tituslim4996]

Have you done the nikon f5

[@DavidHancock]

Not yet. I have one on my shelf so that I can but it's having some strange issues that I need to either work out or decide I can't fix before I make the video manual with it. There are some indications that the electronics in it are failing and if I can't rely on it to perform properly I can't use it for a manual series.

[@sebvz89]

I miss my f100 but if I later buy an advanced slr camera, it would be the minolta a9

[@DavidHancock]

I would definitely take an A9 over the F100, but admittedly the A9 is my favorite film camera so I'm biased.

[@Being_Joe]

I have the N90S and a F100. The N90S is ok but once you have used a F100 it just feels like a toy. I do wish the F100 has 100% viewfinder coverage. I have used my 35mm f1.4G lense on this guy and the images look great. If you have G glass just go for the F100 or F5.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@keironstoneman6938]

Just bought an f5 for peanuts off ebay listed as not working. £60. About $70. I hope I can get it working!

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! My F5 is a bit touchy, too. The F4 and F5 bodies I've used that have had batteries explode in them seem to suffer from other glitches, too.

[@CRJines]

Film door always flops on me. I glue velcro to hold my doors closed.

[@DavidHancock]

Yeah, IIRC, that's an issue that's not too uncommon, unfortunately.

[@PhotographerVA]

.....except for the F6.....but yeah not exactly the same tier.

[@DavidHancock]

Not exactly.

[@m0untainm0ney]

“the next digital camera that came after this that was at the same tier was the D800…” Really? I think the D200 was a pretty big jump, especially since it was almost a duplicate of a F100 in terms of button arrangement, and configuration, plus the D200 was a way, WAY tougher camera. The same for most semi-pro Nikon DSLR’s that came after, from the 7000 series, and even the D700. Maybe you’re comparing them the way you would the previous electronic Nikon to the F100, but the gap between the DSLR’s can’t be compared the same way.

[@DavidHancock]

What I'll do to develop that statement specifically in these videos is go of the Nikon tiers and how the cameras were placed into categories by Nikon. That info is pretty well developed and accurate on Wikipedia, which is usually my source for that data point.

[@deneex8760]

Great viewfinder - no grid lines like in f80. Great camera - no built in flash. Great camera - no AF beam ( like in F80 ) Great built quality - especially about backdoor pins which are easily breaking. And almost no possible to repair. Great D lenses : no posaibility to use a mount lenshood. Just catch flaring and ghosting, the construction are easy breaking because of moving front element. Okay okay, but the overall look is very beautifull... okay.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@klofisch]

It is actually not an uncommon camera. I don't no why you think so.

[@DavidHancock]

Frame of reference. I know on eBay that there are around a hundred at any given time that can be had, but compared to a K1000 or AE-1, where there are thousands at any time, that's far fewer. Where I buy cameras, I see around ten F100 bodies a year, compared to around 15 K1000 and AE-1 bodies per day.And ultimately, uncommon doesn't mean hard to find, just less common.

[@mamiyapress]

Yes, the F100 is a great camera, I have 2, plus 2 F5's, the F90X and many, many more Nikons but stay well away from the Nikon F401's they are rubbish.

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! Yeah, the three-digit Nikons from the 90s, in my experience, have not held up superbly over time.

[@mamiyapress]

@@DavidHancock Especially the F401 series, I also have the F301, F501, F601, F601m and a couple of 801s,s which are also great cameras.