Amateur Photographer - UK (2019-10-05)

50 5 October 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

F I L M S TA RS

Theendofanera?JohnWaderemembers

filmSLRsfromthedawnofthedigitalage

I

t’sbeenmanyyearsnowsince

photographersacceptedthatdigital

cameraswerethefuture.Butwhatif

youfancya tasteof thepast?Maybe

forthefunof it, ormerelyto scratchthat

retroitchthatwesometimesfeel.Whichfilm

camerasshouldyouconsider?Comingfrom

thedirectionof all-singingandall-dancing

digitalcameras,theplaceto lookis at film

camerasfromthe1990sandearly2000s,

justat thedawnof thedigitalrevolution,by

whichtimefilmsinglelensreflexes(SLRs)

hadreachedtheirpeak.Backthen,the

bigfivenameswereCanon,Minolta,Nikon,

OlympusandPentax.Ofthose,thebigtwo

contenderswereNikonandCanon.

UNLESS

STATED

OTHERW

SE

ALL

PCTURES

©
JOHN

WADE

Testbench FILM STARS

Nikon F100

Launched 1999

Guide price £150-200 (body only)

Originally aimed at the amateur market, the F100 is smaller and lighter

than its professional cousins. If you’re used to the layout of a modern

Nikon DSLR, you’ll feel right at home with this camera, where all the

important controls fall in similar places.

Custom settings for 22 functions are available, along with the usual

aperture and shutter priority, program and manual exposure modes.

They’re fed by ten-sensor 3D matrix metering when used with Nikkor AF

D lenses, as well as centre-weighted or selectable fi ve-zone spot

metering. The power wind shoots at 4.5 frames per second and autofocus

keeps up using a fi ve-area AF system with a choice of dynamic, close-up

priority and single area modes. The top shutter speed is 1/8,000sec.

Automatic exposure bracketing in one, half and one-third stop

increments is possible. Multi-exposure, depth-of-fi eld preview, DX fi lm

sensing and a self-timer with four settings complete the basic specifi cation.

Nineties heroes

Nikon F100 with

Nikkor 28-105mm

f/3.5-4.5 AF-D lens

Top view of the

Nikon F100

The simplicity

of controls on the

Nikon’s back