Even though the F5 was the best of its time, and still one of the best film cameras in the world, I had a personal, even silly, reason for wanting one. That reason being that it was numbered 5.

I'm the first born of my mother, who had five children. Each of her five children's first names are composed of five letters, I was born on the 5th day of the 5th month, and I ended up buying my F5 in the 5th year of this century. And, as luck would have it, I bought the camera on the 14th day of the month (1 plus 4 equals 5), and I received it on the 23rd of the month (2 plus 3 equals 5). So, the number 5 has always been my "lucky" and favorite number, and seemed to be at work as such in my getting the F5.

I never really expected to own an F5, or at least a brand new copy of one. At best, I thought I might one day, somehow, be able to afford a used F5, but even that was doubtful. Therefore, I was surprised when I managed to come up with the funds to purchase a new F5, even at a closeout price.

I bought my F5 on June 14, 2005 when a kit was offered for $1100 on Ebay from Cameta Camera. The kit contained a new F5, along with two cheap Sigma lens and a Nikon gadget bag. I wasn't interested in the lenses or bag, but after being beaten out on auctions for an F5 alone, I purchased the kit. The price was nearly as low as the F5 was going for alone, and I figured I could either use the lenses with other cameras, maybe sell them and the bag and get some of my money back, or save them for my four-year-old grandson, who seems to be a budding photographer.

My F5 arrived June 23, 2005. Even as a negative image (top of page), it's a beautiful camera. It was a magic moment when mine arrived. My knees were weak as I received the package and my hands were unsteady as I opened it. I took out the F5 box and slowly opened it, taking out the various papers and owner's manual, and then top protective cover from the F5. I just sat there for several seconds admiring its beauty. I almost felt like a teenage boy gazing upon his first nude female. And when I touched it for the first time, I gently carressed it lovingly.

When I picked it up, I was amazed at how light it felt, and how well it felt in my hands. I was expecting it to feel heavier than it did, and to feel a bit bulky. I've always raved about how well my F100 feels in my hands, but the F5 did so so much better. It was like it had been designed to fit me personally. So, I was, indeed, amazed.

Loading it with film and batteries, and running through some of it's basic functions after first getting it, I was very impressed. The only Custom settings I've changed from the factory installed default are: #7 to lock exposure when shutter button is lightly pressed, and #8 for film to advance to frame one when the back is closed. I'm writing this the day I received it, so need more time to learn and test it before writing more. But if one can fall in love with an inanimate object - I'm in love. :-)

The first problem I had with the F5 was where to store it. This simply meant that I had to do some figuring and rearranging of camera bags to accomodate it in a useful manor with most of my better lenses. My Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II photo backpack eventually got the nod. Therefore, it's now housed there with the following lenses: Nikkor 24mm f/2.8, Nikkor 35mm f/2, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, Nikkor 85mm f/1.8, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro, Nikkor 180mm f/2.8, Nikkor 300mm f/4, Tokina 28-80mm f/2.8, Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, and Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6 ED.

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