I would like to know more about nikon F55. It seems that it shares a lot of features with F65,and i cannot find any new and surprising functions? Thanks

-- legnum (legnum212@email.com), January 19, 2002

Answers

In the hope that it will be of general interest, and in the hope that nobody will mind the crossposting, I'll reprint here a comparison of the features of the F55/N55 and the F65/N65 that I originally posted to NikonAF as

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NikonAF/message/1039

Apologies for any mistakes I make in converting the original plain text to HTML, but I think this will answer your question, legnum.

F55/N55 and F65/N65: Comparison of Features

Here is (what I believe to be) a complete list of the differences between the F55/N55, as described in the online brochures at

http://www.nikon-image.com/eng/35mm/index_f55.htm

and the F65/N65 as described in the latest brochure from Nikon UK.

The F55/N55 seems to be based on the F65/N65, with features removed and altered to reduce weight (by 45 grammes or 1.6 oz) and price. The camera seems to me to be an entry-level SLR aimed a point-and-shoot user who wants the quality of SLR lenses, but has no present plans to take up photography as a hobby.

Feature in the F55/N55 but not in the F65/N65:

1. Pre-wind film loading. When a film is loaded, it is automatically wound out completely, then rewound into the cassette frame by frame as pictures are taken. The advantage of this is that, if the camera back is opened accidentally, only unexposed film is fogged and existing pictures are safe.

Features in the F65/N65 but not (or not fully) in the F55/N55:

1. Pentaprism viewfinder. The F55/N55 has a penta-Dach-mirror viewfinder instead of a pentaprism. Usually this makes for a lighter camera and a darker image.
2. Metal lens mount. From the pictures in the online brochure the lens mount on the F55/N55 seems to be plastic.
3. Support for AF-S and VR lenses. AF-S and VR lenses can be mounted on the F55/N55, but the AF-S lenses will not autofocus, and the VR is disabled.
4. Depth-of-field preview. This is not provided on the F55/ N55.
5. TTL metering with accessory Speedlights. The F55/N55 provides TTL metering with its built-in Speedlight (guide number of 12 in metres and 39 in feet with ISO 100 film). But with accessory Speedlights connected to the hot shoe, only non-TTL auto flash can be used. The hot shoe has only three contacts: the usual synch contact (in the centre) and ground contact (along the edge), plus one other contact (for the flash-ready light) instead of the usual three. (This means that the SB-23 is not suitable for the F55/N55.)
6. Rear-curtain synch. This is not provided on the F55/N55.
7. Five focus areas. The F55/N55 uses a different autofocus module (Multi-CAM 530) which has only three focus areas, which are in a horizontal row on landscape photographs.
8. Six-segment matrix metering and centre-weighted metering. The F55/N55 provides five-segment matrix metering and "Centre Partial Metering", which reads from a rectangle in the middle of the screen that encloses the three focus areas.
9. 2.5 frames-per-second motor wind. The motor wind on the F55/N55 runs at 1.5 frames per second.
10. Remote control. None is available for the F55/N55.
11. Optional battery pack using AA batteries. None is available for the F55/N55.

There are one or two features, such as auto-exposure bracketing, on the F55/N55, which I think are unlikely to be used by the people the camera is intended for. Perhaps they come included as part of an existing module used for the new camera.

Usefully, there is an exposure compensation feature. This can be used to circumvent the absence of an over-ride function for DX film speeds.

Later,

Dr Owl

-- John Owlett (owl@postmaster.co.uk), January 20, 2002.

Hi...I hv check Nikon F55 but I found Minolta Dynax 5 offer much more with the same amount of value. You guys should check it out.

-- henry koh (henry@maybansec.com.my), March 01, 2002.

DEAR NIKON USERS, LIKE MYSELF. I HAVE STUDIED 'ALL'THE NIKON CAMERAS,& FOUND FOR VALUE, F65(N65 USA) FAR SUPERIOR TO F55. (I HAVE ONE MYSELF) HOWEVER-ITHINK THE MINOLTA-5 BETTER STILL BODY OF F65 F80, IS POLYCARBONATE PERHAPS MINOLTA'S ARE SAME? PERHAPS MINOLTA IS TOO SMALL? HOWEVER SEEMS TOUGH TO ME?(poly) F65 IS QUIET & GOOD.(SPOT METERING IS LACKING-BUT CAN DO WITHOUT. ""=BEST FOR PRICE. F80 PRICE GAP TOO MUCH.

-- JOHN DEWHURST. WALSH (dewhurst76@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

check out NEW MINOLTA DYNAX 3 (1/2000)sec.

-- JOHN DEWHURST. WALSH (dewhurst76@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

Having come to Grips with the f55 only in a shop I found it to be very nice but a little small for my hands. As to the suggestion that it is not suitable for Hobby photographers (look at the EOS 3/5000 for that), I think that is elitist rubbish. Any camera with manual override is usable for any photography, and the automatic settings allow a real beginner to focus on composition, which is after all the single most important aspect of any photo. The list of features present on an F65 but not an F55 that are given above is quite long, but fairly irrelevant. Unless the situation has changed since I last checked, the only AFS and VR lenses available weigh a tonne and are very expensive, over 5 times the price of the camera with its new 28- 100. Also the 80-400 VR is very very soft and much worse than the cheaper 80-200 2.8 (no not the AFS version). The metering is very similar anyway, and any Nikon matrix system will get it right 999 times out of a 1000. The off camera flash not allowing TTL is a little annoying,but flash photography looks unnatural anyway (go buy a tripod or faster film). The lack of five metering points? I have one and never need anymore! The lack of a battery pack, just makes the camera light all the time, carry a pair of spare batteries and it is no problem, especially on a supposedly lightweight camera. I worked in a camera shop for a while and we never sold the battery pack for an F65, nobody needs it! Also who needs more than 1.5 frames per second motor drive apart from sports or nature photographers, I never use my F90 except in single shot mode, (with the price of film and decent developing). As for the lack of rear curtain flash sync, who actually ever gets a decent photo from that, I'm yet to see one. The only things really lacking are Depth of Field preview, DX coding override (though there is exposure compensation, by the way they probably put that on so you could take the camera skiing or to the sea), and a remote (which for tripod use can be overcome by using the self timer any way).I think that the F55 is a cracking little camera, for a very good (unimaginable even 5 years ago) price and its size benefit over the F65 makes it a very suitable camera for anybody who doesn't want to lug lots of big stuff around, in fact it makes me a little annoyed that I advised my sister to buy an F65 with tamron 28- 200 XR (what a great lens) just before it came out. Also, okay buy a Minolta Dynax 5, but what are you going to do when you outgrow the lens or the camera? Trade all of it in for an F80 with a decent Nikon lens, Minolta just aren't up to it anymore, the Dynax 7 stinks (the entry level Pentax stuff is worth looking at, but has some of the same trouble as the Minolta, nowhere to go (MZSis a rip off))!!

-- nick withers (Nickwithers60@hotmail.com), August 16, 2002.

Cool!

Love that come back. I'm new to the SLR world and just purchased an F55. I think it's fantastic!

It's bloody light and has all the options I need (+ more) and I think it would be a while till I grow out of it.

The only thing I would've liked to have is the remote shot, though timer does quite well.

-- Nick (nick@redtown.net), August 26, 2002.

I'm just about to buy my first S.L.R. I think I'll go for The Nikon F55 from what I've read it dose seem a good camera how are you getting on with yours tell me what you think.

-- henry smith (wsbg19989@blueyonder.co.uk), October 07, 2002.

From the above usefull comments I am going to buy an F55.... which is my first serious SLR after a basic fully manual YASHICA one, which took eight years for me to look beyod....

Cheers

-- Jeevaraj Mrithyunjayan (jeevaraj@hotmail.com), November 10, 2002.

I feel much better now. I just purchased an F55 today on the advice of the salesman. After reading the responses above, I know I made the right purchase. Eventually I'm going to buy a 70 - 300mm zoom lens and would like to know if there are any suggestions on what kind I could buy. Thank you

-- Chris Barte (aheadcaseproductions@hotmail.com), November 27, 2002.

To everyone!

Many thanks for all your wonderful advice!! I have been searching for a website like this re the F55 having been considering several other cameras we well but I keep coming back to the F55. It's compact, it's light and thanks to the comments of the Pro's above, it wounds like it has all the technical spec as well.

Before I finally spend my hard earnt pounds, is there anyone out there who would recommend spending extra and going for the F80? Is the picture quality really that much better that my shots will be worthy of going on the front cover of the Sunday Times Travel Magazine? Please advise.

Many thanks!

Brad

-- Brad Shackleton (bgs27@hotmail.com), January 16, 2003.

I purchased the F55 about a couple of months ago.. Now I know I'm a complete novice and have a long road ahead of me however I have to say that the F55 will keep me busy for quite awhile. I've just gotten my head around aperture and shutter speeds and am now experimenting with filters. As a beginner with no one really here to guide me along I can only really give my opinion, and I think its a great camera! Even though at the moment shots taken in Auto mode are turning out ten times better than my manual shots... :-) It's just a nifty camera that's light enough to be carried around almost everywhere, exactly what a beginner needs... something you'll feel comfortable practicing with... I went away for a weekend to Sydney, shots of the harbour bridge just turned out fabulous!

-- Di (Diana_spiteri@hotmail.com), February 02, 2003.