Whatever the case many Nikon devotees consider the F5 as representing the pinnacle of film camera design so how does the new camera compare? Well, based on my first impressions, I would suggest it raises the bar even higher, and by a significant amount.
What does the future hold for the F6? Only time will tell!
Study the camera’s basic feature set, and it is difficult to determine which came off the drawing board first, the F6, or the D2H. Toward the end of 2003 another reliable contact suggested, in very definite terms, that Nikon had chosen to cancel the F6 project outright. According to a trusted source a fully working prototype was seen in Japan as long ago as the spring of 2002. In time I am sure its genesis will make a fascinating tale. So it is into this dynamic environment that Nikon have pitched the F6. Now, I am not predicting that film will disappear within a few years but I believe it will, increasingly, become a niche market supported by a dedicated bunch of exponents. The recent news that Ilford, one of the bastions of traditional chemical based black & white photography, have been forced to call in administrators is yet another indicator of how rapidly trends in photography have changed. Amongst the ranks of professional and semi-professional photographers sales of film SLR cameras has been in free fall as many continue to switch to digital models. Nikon have already announced that they will cease production of compact film camera models during 2004.
A quick glance at the statistics and current state of the camera market will soon confirm that film camera sales have been in steady decline during the past couple of years across all sectors. If nothing else Nikon’s decision to introduce the F6 is certainly a brave one, as it appears to be at odds with all rational thinking. Simon Stafford takes a first look at the new ‘flagship’ SLR film camera from NikonĪs the technology of digital imaging continues to forge ahead with new camera models introduced by the various manufacturers at what seems to be steadily decreasing intervals of time the announcement, today, from Nikon that they are to launch a new ‘flagship’ film camera SLR in their professional ‘F’ series will certainly raise a few eyebrows!
0 kommentar(er)
