Nice Photos.

Ah, the FE2...  My favourite classic Nikon. Did you develop the film yourself and what did you use? Not vivid enough for Velvia I think.

Aren't you looking at it on a computer monitor?

Graham,

Perhaps you could honor us with some of your images.

I don't have a view on what particular films might look like when digitised, processed and displayed on various different computer monitors. I just find it ironic when people looking at a digitised image on a monitor say "Just look at this (digital representation of a) film-based image. You couldn't possibly get that look with digital imaging".

I'm not saying you said that. I'm just taking the p!$$. Apologies.

Full steam

Yep in the days of digital, it's hard to be completely objective.

Having said that, of course even prints are/were 'processed' and printed as to how the individual concerned wanted them. Nowadays they are digitised after processing/before printing on a machine anyway. At least on a print, once finished, that's the same print everyone saw. Although if then re-printed e.g. in a magazine or whatever it may be different again.

Nowadays, the quality of screen and lighting around you strongly  impacts on what a pic looks like. My pics look different on the monitor I started using with a new PC earlier this year, when compared to my laptop, which in turn is different to my 'work' laptop. A decent pic looks OK on all 3 but the really good ones have more of a wow factor on the monitor and OK ones look 'better' on that too. Having said that, I think most of us would try and keep the flavour of the film e.g. Velvia in processing, if and as appropriate, otherwise why bother?

I use film cameras every now and then because I like them and I enjoy using them. The quality of processing now though is often pretty poor IMO, even from the better, more highly regarded firms which give variable results in my experience. And it's bloody expensive! Couple this with higher expectations in comparison with expensive digital cameras and the relative ease of manipulation then yep, further processing is required.

The tigers pic was on bog standard Fujifilm 200 and there was a fair bit of PP by myself after processing by UK Film Lab, primarily to get rid of excessive grain seen on a computer screen and then bringing back detail and colours. 160 pro is barely any different. B&W is more consistent.

I have an F5. I do enjoy using it, mainly for the "pro quality" feel. I am simultaneously frustrated by, and  enjoy the challenge of, a single (usually very low) ISO per roll.

But the processing faff (and as you say highly variable quality) means I virtually never pull out the F5. It also seems pointless to shoot film, just to have it digitised. If I am only going to display digitally, or print from digtal files, software can replicate any film. If I was doing a total analogue process (i.e. had my own darkroom), then that's a different thing.

Just like using the cameras themselves

Anyway, back to small compact digitals...

I collected Nikons for a brief period and the F5 was an almight camera in its heyday but it was also quite big and heavy and only suitable for pro work. The FE2  coupled with a 50/1.4 was the perfect combo to carry around IMO. The only other camera I ever felt gave me that level of pleasurability was the  M6 but that's another story altogether.

It's funny, I swing between the FE2 and FM3a for my faves. The FE2 feels better, with a little more weight to it but the FM3a meters better IMO. I have a couple of F3's which are nice to use but never 'loved' them. Thing is, the EOS 3 wipes the floor with all of them and I can use my EF lenses, it's just not very 'manual'.

F4 was quite good fun in a masochistic kind of way, preferred the F100. Don't have the 4 now. Never tried a 5 or a 6

I am going to thin the herd out somewhat though, I've run out of room!

Got rid of the lot. I think I still have a photomic viewfinder from an F that's long gone and a handgrip for an F3hp(great shooter). Althoug the Fm3a was a very accomplished camera, it never really rocked my boat.

It was hard to let them go but glad I did. Just like classic cars, Im sure you know,  you have to take them for a spin every now  but l somehow lost motivation and they deserved better care. Someone out there is enjoying  them. Happy you're still having fun with yours

Jamie,

Don't you calibrate the monitors on your PC/laptop?

Steve

Nope

Quickie done this evening - not really any good, but I haven't seen this variation here before :

Deflector 

Waiting:

Cielo Blu

Hawker

Like the bridge one Kevin

Lovely pussy.

Thanks J.

Ahh the F5, for me, still the best camera ever made (considering the era it was made). I still remember the revolution it was when it came out. It changed the way cameras handled.

The F4 was awful.