I had a little trouble finding information about this camera as it is the Japanese version and has a few names. I initially thought it was the F55 or N55, the N is the USA version. But the U denotes it is the F65, which is good because the F55 has a known fault with the auto focus according to this site and it may or may not have been fixed. The F65 does not have the same issues. I am a bit sad as the F55 has a great website to link to, which I am going to do anyway as it was an enjoyable read. Anyway back to the F65. As you know I love Nikon and their over complicated navigational systems – not. I bought this one for the lens. You don’t often see Nikon lenses in junk bins and definitely not in this condition. So I thought if I buy this and then I stumble upon other nikons I can try them out with the same lens.
This version of a Nikon is an entry level SLR and was surprisingly easy to use. I was just about to leave Japan for the summer so rushed through a film and got it developed before I left. I thought it would give me something to do if I got jet lag. I didn’t get that, but did get a very bad back just before my flight and have been a little immobile, so I had time to work on this.
I brought many of the cameras I had decided to keep back to the UK, but I left this one there. I did this for a few reasons.
- I am not a fan of Nikon
- I can leave all my other cameras here and still have a working film SLR there that I can eventually sell or give away
- My bag was already way to heavy and I had a bad back, it didn’t make the cut.
- To make it harder to write this post
Of course you now know it works, this website has lots of technical details. What I can add it is that it was comfortable to hold, easy to use, cute to look at. It is far smaller and lighter than the usual SLRs I carry. The autofocus worked quickly. I can’t fault it. For the price and the easy availability of this camera ,I think it is a bargain.
Here are my rushed shots, taken on an expired film. If anyone has an issue with their inclusion, just let me know and I will delete you for my cyberspace.
That dog does not sit still, when I get back I am going to take a whole roll just of her and see how many actual shots I get. She loves the sound film cameras make when they advance and she usually attacks me while I am focusing.
Sell or Keep…keep for now as it is on my shelf in another continent and I have no access to it.
On another note I went on a photo walk around Leeds, UK today. I found it a lot more aggressive and intimidating, but I did find a vintage camera shop, West Yorkshire Cameras. It was a bit like panini sticker books – got it, got it, want it, need it. I was pleased that I had many of the cameras they had on sale. I was pleased the person on duty only made me feel slightly stupid when I got my Rollei shutter jammed, deservedly so. More about that on another post.
I would like to add that after this and using the Nikon FE I have changed my opinion and love Nikon. I even bought a Nikon D7000 as my main camera. I love it.
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