FM-10

The FM-10 is actually a Cosina-made all-manual body that sports a Nikon F mount. Yes, it has a plastic body, but it’s the lightest Nikon body currently being made. Yes, it's an older design, but it’s also field proven and reliable. Galen Rowell has been known to use one on some of his more adventurous runs and climbs (last time I hiked with him he had switched to the FE-10 version, and more recently he's written that he's now using an N65). Unfortunately, it's only sold as a kit with a cheap 35-70mm f/3.5-4.8 zoom lens, which you probably won't want. An aperture-preferred automatic version is available as the FE-10.

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FE-10

The FE-10 is virtually identical to the FM-10, except that the FE version incorporates an aperture-priority exposure mode. All the comments about the FM-10 (above) apply to this model, too.

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FM2n

The traditional choice of Nikon manual focus users who want a simple, mechanical, light camera, the FM2n has been around in one version or another 1977 (the FM). A little heavier than the FM-10, the FM2n has a bomb-proof metal body (mine sports a number of dings and dents from years of backcountry use), the ability to still shoot without batteries, plus fast flash sync and top shutter speeds (1/250 and 1/4000, respectively). A simple, workhorse of a camera that really only lacks a spot meter and better TTL flash support from making it perfect. Full Review.

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FM3a

The replacement for the venerable FM2n, the FM3a was announced at PMA in February 2001 with shipments expected to begin in Spring 2001. Preliminary specs on the camera look good. Two things stand out: better flash handling (including an automatic flash fill button!), and a dual mode shutter that works electronically in aperture-preferred mode and mechanically in manual mode (or when batteries are exhausted). If Nikon had included spot metering, I'd be trading in my FM2n.

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F4

If you're looking for the top of the line for manual focus lenses, find a used F4s in good shape and buy the MB-20 battery holder for it to trim down the size and weight. (You probably don't need the faster frame advance the MB-21 adds; and with MF lenses, you won't be draining the batteries because the AF motor won't be active.) Yes, the F3HP is lighter, but the F4 adds matrix metering, spot metering, better flash support, and higher flash sync and top shutter speeds. Plus, you've got the ability to pop on an AF lens if you want to, or use the viewfinder's focus indicators to help with manual focusing. The F4 is arguably the best camera Nikon has made, and while its autofocus system is no longer state-of-the-art, it's still workable. With used bodies in excellent condition selling for under US$1000, the F4 is a bargain.

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Bottom line: The top-of-the-line for manual focus aficionados. If Nikon had stuck its latest AF system into this body, it'd still be in production.

F60/N60

On first examination, the F60/N60 looks like a vastly improved F50/N50. Simpler, more logical controls are the primary difference. Unfortunately, I can't recommend the F60/N60 to serious photographers due to the way some of its features work. The "exposure lock" button, for example, is a misnomer. Instead, it takes the camera out of matrix metering into center weighted metering, and then locks the exposure. This isn't the only switcheroo this camera pulls on the user without visual feedback. If you're planning to use this camera as a point-and-shoot that accepts different lenses, perhaps you’ll be happy with it. But if you're planning on getting serious about photography and want to learn to control what the camera is doing, look elsewhere.

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Bottom line: Avoid it, unless you want the camera to make all the decisions for you. The much better F80/N80 isn't that much more money, and is a real step up.

F65/N65

While Nikon has simplified the interface and added useful features, such as depth of field preview, the F65/N65 still retains a few of the flaws of the F60/N60, though it doesn't really add any signficant ones. The three biggest faults are these: (1) center-weighted metering only in manual mode (and no spot metering); (2) continuous motor drive only in Sports program mode; and (3) you can't meter with manual focus lenses (which would preclude many of Nikon's extenders and teleconverters, too). Nevertheless, the feature set is pretty good, and the F65/N65 makes a reasonable backup body for F100 users. I've grown to appreciate this lightweight camera the more I use it. My full review can be read here.

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Bottom line: The better F80/N80 isn't that much more money, and is a real step up. But at the price, the F65/N65 holds its own.

F75/N75

The N65, only all the drawbacks have been addressed. Doesn't add much in the way of features to the N65 (spot metering, some additional focus control), but it gets rid of the embedding of features within features and has probably the nicest AF options of any of the consumer bodies. My full review can be read here.

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Bottom line: The better F80/N80 isn't that much more money, and is a real step up. But at the price, the F65/N65 holds its own.

F70/N70

The F70/N70's gimmicky LCD interface has met with a lot of derision. However, unlike the F60/N60 or F65/N65, the F70/N70 gives its user plenty of feedback on what's been set and what the other options are. As such, it's a good learning camera. The F70/N70's specifications are mostly good (other than the 1/125 flash sync), and the camera is arguably a bargain at its current prices. The metering and autofocus systems are quite good for an amateur camera and the range of abilities of this camera are quite sophisticated. The built-in flash isn't very powerful and large lenses get in the way of its coverage, so don't count on not having to buy a Speedlight. Three things keep me from recommending it wholeheartedly to advanced amateurs or aspiring pros:

1. The lack of depth of field (DOF) preview is a serious omission.
2. That LCD interface really does demand that you take your eye from the viewfinder to make many setting changes, which is okay for learning, but frustrating when you need to work fast.
3. The F80/N80 that replaces it in the Nikon lineup is clearly a better camera and fixes nearly all the F70/N70's shortcomings.

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Bottom line: A decent choice, but make sure you really won't miss the lack of DOF preview.

F80/N80

Featurewise, the F80/N80 is nearly the equivalent of the F100. The bad news: 1/125 flash sync speed, 92% viewfinder, consumer-level build quality (e.g., polycarbonate body versus the F100's magnesium body), and it needs CR123A batteries, which aren't available everywhere. But you get a modest built-in flash and a much lighter camera body (the F100 is almost twice as heavy). You also get matrix, centerweighted, and spot metering with AF lenses, multi-spot AF that's fast and accurate, depth of field preview, exposure bracketing, custom functions, and even an on-demand, built-in grid system in the viewfinder. Operationally, if you're familiar with the F5 or F100, you'll immediately feel comfortable with the F80/N80, so it's a great second body for pros (though those CR123A batteries are a nuisance). If you don't subject your cameras to a lot of abuse and are looking for a good value, consider the F80/N80. My full review can be read here.

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Bottom line: An excellent new offering that should appeal to serious amateurs and professionals alike.

F90x/N90s

My workhorse camera for several years (now supplanted by an F100), the F90x/N90s is a no-nonsense, professional caliber tool. Other than perhaps the lack of mirror lockup, 100% viewfinder, and the fact that you must buy the optional databack to access the built-in bracketing capability, the F90x/N90s lacks nothing. The autofocus system was state-of-the-art when introduced, though it's since been eclipsed. Nonetheless, it still works well, especially with AF-S lenses. An excellent all-around camera that's a bargain at Nikon's new lower prices. But do yourself a favor and check out the F80/N80 and F100 before making a committment to an F90x/N90s. The former may save you a few bucks, the latter may just be the last film camera you'll buy. My full review can be read here.

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Bottom line: A field-proven, professional tool.

F100

The heir apparent to the F90x/N90s, the F100 clearly tops the F90x/N90s in every respect except perhaps metering, where it is only marginally better. The extra bucks you'll spend on an F100 over an F90x/N90s provides: much better weather sealing, built-in bracketing control, a logical, better control over minor camera settings (custom functions), faster autofocus that covers a wider area, a better viewfinder (96% coverage and slightly more info), slightly faster frame advance, and the best multiple exposure capability of any Nikon. The F100 is so good that you should consider it if you're considering an F5. For more, read my full review.

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Bottom line: Who needs an F5? Most photographers should save the extra money the F5 would cost them and buy another Nikkor lens.

F5

Top of the heap. It doesn't get any better than this with current Nikon bodies, as about the only thing you can fault the camera on is its inability to use matrix metering with MF lenses. The F5 extracts three penalties, though: (1) the price is about US$700 to US$800 more than the F100 without adding features of equal value; (2) it's the heaviest, bulkiest Nikon body you can buy; and (3) the F5 is a Conehead when it comes to batteries--it consumes mass quantities. Still, there isn't a better matrix meter on the planet, the autofocus system (shared with the F100) is fast and reliable, and the camera is just plain rugged. The F5 is my camera of choice unless I'm being weight conscious. A closer look at the F5 can be found here.

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Bottom line: This camera is a handful, but you can’t fault its picture-taking.