Nikon F100 Review: The Unsung Hero of 35mm Film SLRs

The Nikon F100, introduced in 1999, is often hailed as one of the finest 35mm film SLRs ever made, particularly for advanced amateurs and professionals who demand both performance and reliability. Positioned just below Nikon’s flagship F5, the F100 offers many of the features found in its big brother but in a more compact and affordable package. In this review, we’ll explore what makes the Nikon F100 a standout camera and why it continues to be a favorite among film photography enthusiasts.

Design and Build Quality

The Nikon F100 strikes an excellent balance between ruggedness and portability. Constructed with a high-strength aluminum alloy chassis and a polycarbonate shell, the camera is both durable and lightweight, weighing approximately 785 grams without a lens. This makes it solid enough to withstand the demands of professional use while remaining light enough for extended handheld shooting sessions.

Ergonomically, the F100 is a joy to handle. The deep, rubber-coated grip provides a secure and comfortable hold, which is essential for long days of shooting. The controls are intuitively laid out, making it easy to adjust settings on the fly. The top plate features a large, informative LCD display that shows essential shooting information such as shutter speed, aperture, frame count, and exposure compensation. The back of the camera is dominated by a large command dial and a four-way focus point selector, which makes navigating the camera’s functions straightforward and efficient.

The F100 also benefits from Nikon’s renowned build quality. The camera feels solid and reliable in hand, with all buttons and dials offering a satisfying level of resistance. The overall construction of the F100 gives it a professional feel that belies its price point, making it a true workhorse for serious photographers.

Viewfinder and Autofocus

The Nikon F100 features a bright and clear pentaprism viewfinder that offers 96% frame coverage and 0.76x magnification. The viewfinder is one of the best in its class, providing an excellent view for composing shots. The information display within the viewfinder is comprehensive, showing crucial data like focus confirmation, metering mode, and exposure settings, ensuring you never miss a detail while shooting.

Autofocus is where the F100 truly shines. It utilizes Nikon’s Multi-CAM1300 autofocus sensor, which offers 5 autofocus points and is both fast and accurate. The camera’s AF system works exceptionally well in various lighting conditions, locking onto subjects quickly and reliably. Whether you’re shooting fast-moving subjects or in low-light situations, the F100’s autofocus system delivers with impressive consistency.

For photographers who prefer manual focus, the F100 offers a precise and responsive manual focus experience, aided by the clear and detailed viewfinder.

Exposure and Metering

The Nikon F100 offers a comprehensive range of exposure modes, including Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual modes. This versatility allows photographers to adapt the camera to a wide variety of shooting scenarios, from quick snapshots to meticulously composed images.

The camera’s metering system is a standout feature, featuring Nikon’s 10-segment 3D Matrix Metering system. This advanced metering system evaluates the scene’s lighting and color information to deliver accurate exposures in almost any situation. In addition to matrix metering, the F100 also offers center-weighted and spot metering options, providing photographers with the flexibility to choose the best metering mode for their specific needs.

Performance and Usability

In terms of performance, the Nikon F100 is a powerhouse. The camera’s shutter speed ranges from 30 seconds to 1/8000th of a second, and it can shoot continuously at 4.5 frames per second. This makes it more than capable of handling fast-paced action, sports, or any situation where timing is crucial.

The F100 is also equipped with a built-in motor drive for automatic film advance and rewind, which adds to the camera’s efficiency in the field. The camera’s battery life is impressive as well, powered by four AA batteries, making it easy to find replacements anywhere in the world.

Conclusion

The Nikon F100 is an outstanding 35mm film SLR that combines advanced features, rugged build quality, and excellent performance into a package that is both accessible and highly capable. Whether you’re a professional photographer looking for a reliable backup camera or an enthusiast seeking to experience the golden age of film photography, the F100 delivers in every way. Its combination of a superb autofocus system, advanced metering, and robust design make it one of the best film cameras ever produced, and a true gem in the Nikon lineup. The Nikon F100 is a camera that continues to earn its place in the hands of those who appreciate the art and discipline of film photography.

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