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In my opinion, the F4s (pictured left) ranks right up there with the F100 as being the best looking of all the cameras ever produced by Nikon. The F4s is an F4 coupled with the MB-21 battery pack. However, without the MB-21, the F4 is still a beautiful camera. The F4 was put into production in December 1988, being the fourth generation F-series top-of-the-line model. The F4s was the F4 coupled with the MB-21 high speed battery pack, as an USA market combination. Later, in 1991, what is known as the F4E appeared. The F4E is an F4 coupled with an MB-23 high speed battery pack. |
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Without batteries, an F4 weighs 38.4 ounces, an F4s weighs 45.1 ounces and the F4E comes in at 49.4 ounces. All other specifications on these three models are the same. The standard finder is the DP-20 multi-meter finder. The F4 is an SLR (single-lens-relfex) 35mm camera. It is both a manual and autofocus system, with electronic rangefinder in manual focus mode. The F4 has center-weighted, spot and matrix metering. It is the only Nikon camera which can use matrix metering with both autofocus and manual focus lenses. Exposure compensation ranges from +2 to -2 in 1/3 EV stops. Exposure control is with M (Manual), A (Aperture Priority), S (Shutter Priority), and Ph, P (programmed). Multiple exposure is available using a multiple exposure lever. Shutter speed ranges from 30 to 1/8000th seconds; and film speed range is ISO 25 to 5000 with DX-coded film, or ISO 6 to 6400 setting it manually. Flash synchronization is 1/60 to 1/250th second in Ph, P, or A mode. In M or S mode the shutter fires at speed set, unless a spped fater than 1/250 is selected, in which case the shutter is automatically set to 1/250. Shutter speeds down to 30 seconds are available with SB-24 and most newer speedlights. |
1 - Self-timer indicator LED |
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Continuous film advancement is as high as 4 fps (frames per second) on the basic F4, and up to 5.7 fps on the F4s and F4E models. The F4 takes four AA batteries, while the F4s and F4E take six AA batteries, which can be either alkaline or NiCd batteries. Dimensions (W x H x D): F4 - 6.7 x 4.7 x 3.0 inches (169mm x 118mm x 77mm). F4s - 6.7 x 5.5 x 3.0 inches (169mm x 139mm x 77mm). F4E - 6.7 x 6.2 x 3.0 inches (169mm x 157mm x 77mm). The F4 is the best manual focus camera Nikon ever made, working in all metering modes, plus gives the added advantage of using autofocus. The autofocus is slow by today's standards, but is quite adequate and accurate. |
