The Nikon F6

Nikon F6

By Anne Ahira

The Nikon F6 is the sixth in the F series of 35mm SLR cameras. The debate between digital and 35mm SLR cameras, still continues among professional photographers, though more are migrating to digital SLR.

A digital SLR camera may produce stunning results, be easily uploaded into editing equipment and has a wide range of lens and speed but the 35mm SLR is still used in many parts of the world and by many professional photographers and some feel the results in shutter speed and quality are superior to digital cameras no matter how flexible. The Nikon F6 may or may not be the last in the F series but it certainly stands out as the most refined.

The Nikon F Series Over Time

The Nikon F6 is the sixth incarnation of the top of the line Nikon F series camera and eagerly waited though many photographers had already begun to switch to Digital SLR cameras. It was released in 2004 and rather than a completely new camera, it was instead a series of improvements as each successive model of the Nikon F series has been.

The first Nikon F camera resembled the Nikon Rangefinder SP and required no batteries it was released in 1959, and through the years has evolved to the ergonomic Nikon F6 and its lightweight lithium batteries.

The Nikon F6 Improvements

Perhaps it is not enough to say that the Nikon F6 was an improvement, instead it was focused toward a different market. Digital SLR cameras were coming into wider use by professionals and the designers of the F6 examined the needs of those who still preferred to use a 35mm camera. What was changed was to benefit those who wanted to take time with each photo and make them the best possible.

What emerged was a camera that was easier to carry around, and fit the hand better, with low noise and an improved viewfinder. Bracketing is separated from exposure on the menu. 

More sensors were added for the autofocus.  Minor improvements but serious from the standpoint of the serious photographer.  Some features remained the same such as the mechanical film advance and others were simply made more intuitive.

The Nikon F6 In 2010

The Nikon F6 is still in use by many professional photographers today. Though many have gone to digital SLR, there remains a market and fans for this high quality camera.

The Nikon F6 is still compatible with lenses as far back as 1977; it is not compatible with those that are not AI converted.  The exposure meter was great on the F5 and remains perfect on the F6. Perhaps all those reasons and more give the Nikon F6 its appeal.

The Nikon F6 is an amazing 35 MM camera, can be found on Amazon new, and is still a top end camera capable of meeting the needs of the photographer who prefers the look, feel and color trueness of the 35 MM SLR camera.

Here's Nikon F6 Selections:

Nikon MH-63 Battery Charger...	Customer Review: Don't trust anything other than name brand for your camera! The others just won't work.... Read More	(4)
NIKON MC-30 Equivalent Wireless Remote for N90/s /...	Customer Review: I was a bit afraid of ordering this because it had no reviews up. But it looked like the best option I had for purchasing a wireless remote. It operates flawlessly and does everything that the description promises. I am very happy that the remote its... Read More	$59.99 (5)
MA-B (118 inch) High Quality Remote Shutter for Ni...	Customer Review: I ordered this remote shutter release for my Nikon D200. It does a great job, works well, has a nice long cord, and sure beats the price of a Nikon shutter release. I used a small "dab" of white paint to mark and match up the white mark on my camer... Read More	$69.99 (15)
MA-B (36 inch) High Quality Remote Shutter for Nik...	Customer Review: I bought this shutter release last year but never used it. Then I bought a 10 stop neutral density filter before taking two trips this summer and this product did exactly what it's supposed to do. I couldn't have been happier. That's why I gave it tw... Read More	$49.00 (47)
Nikon F6 CheatSheet...	Customer Review: Click Here for More Info