Anyone got any reccomendations ? I love my Nikon and I never want to get rid of it, but there's only one problem I always run into. The only problem I keep running in to is when I shoot on the streets. It's one of the biggest 35mm cameras, and one of the heaviest too. Together with the 70mm (diameter) 28-80 it's impossible not to get noticed. Getting robbed on the streets over here isn't anything special anymore, so there's no way to run around with a bag to carry two lenses, the camera and my manfroto tripod. All really heavy stuff (camera body is 1.2 kilo, lenses are 0.8 kilos, tripod is another kilo). So.........just imagine me running around places at night, looking like a backpacker who is going around the world ;) Unless the streets are very busy, people always notice me. In quiet places I even get noticed more because of the loud click of the double steel shutter curtain or when I forget to turn the loud autofocus off ;) Again, the F4 is one of the best 35mm cameras ever (probably one of the most durable cameras in history), but I keep missing out on some awesome shots all the time. Only early in the morning in the woods I don't get noticed :) So when I saw that some National Geographic photographers actually use Leica cameras, because of their quality lenses and ridiculous small size and weight, I've been seriously thinking of moving to Leica. But if someone has any other suggestions (NOT digital ;) I'm very curious to read about them....I would only consider leaving Nikon if the quality is at least equal. Bart

And when I'd sell it I'll have to sell my whole set of equipment.....180mm 2.8 (ED), 28-80 2.8, 16 2.8 fisheye, flash, mb 23 battery pack, focussing screens, filters (incl. brand new polarizers), etc. So as long as it's cheaper or at least equal in value :)

Are you sure this is something you want to do? I personally think your nuts, cause I believe the F4 is probably one of the best camera's Nikon has ever made.... If you're trying to be inconspicous, why not look at some rangefinders.....but seriously keep the beloved Nikon.....

And I thought the N6006 was the heaviest, loudest Nikon. To be honest, I would rather sell my car. No matter waht you do keep the Nikon. I don't know the F4 that well but I know that as hook on digital as I am I would rather wait for an 11mp Nikon that get anything else. I am so sold on Nikon that I will be with them forever. One thing you need to consider is that National Geographic may be using Leica's but if the bodies fail in anyway it is a tax write off. They can replace them with no more than a wave of the hand. An individual can't do that as easily. Keep the F4 and get a big dog. Magick Michael

well, my nikon n2000 is fuckin' nice, no complaints about it whatsoever. All the features I could want (I hate DOF preview anyways), and it's built of fricking steel. it is somewhat loud on shutter release, though, I have noticed its hard to notice this unless in an isolated and quiet area. nikon's kick leica booty anyways.

Hate DOF preview ? Does it work the same way as on the F4 ? Cause that's a cool way to see if you can get away with less aperture (to get more speed in dark conditions)...sometimes it's tricky to guess the DOF you require, so I love DOF preview. :) Well, it's not so much the Leica bodys, but the 1.2 and 1.4 lenses that are really good. But that's 2,000 buckazoids for a 2nd hand M6 body and almost as much for a 80mm 1.4 lens :( And they only got prime lenses, no zooms (which is good - means they don't go for cheap consumer stuff) But Michele, have you ever seen any results for a rangefinder camera ? They are indeed really cheap, even the good ones, so I wonder how their quality is. Just for b&w street shooting I mean. :) Thanks!

Wow...a friend of mine who use to be a pro photographer (studio work in CA) would probably slap you upside the head for even suggesting selling the F4. He is forever trying to pull me from, in his words, the Jedis (Canon) over to the Darkside (Nikon). I don't know what to tell you. I shoot night street with an older, somewhat big Canon EOS 630 with 28-200mm lens (72mm filter size) and I don't feel all that conspicuous nost of the time - may have to do with how I hold/hide my camera until I am ready to take the shot. Size and quality wise, does sound like Leica or Rollei land. Like a Leica M6 or one of the R-bodies (R8 or R6-2). Bodywise, probably about the same cost. One of the Contax G-2 (that the right designation?) series would come out a bit cheaper. Remember seeing one as a kit (body and 45mm f/2 lens for $1500). But dunno about quality. Uses Zeiss lenses (brain is saying T mount, but not sure on that). -=>Donald Hmmm....

Oh no, I really don't like Zeiss at all. None of their lenses matches the Nikkor primes :) Maybe I could just trade a few lenses for a range finder that's small and doesn't make much noise. I once was in a beautiful medieval church, here in town, and this cute little girl was just about to light a candle when this old lady who was sitting in front of here (just outside the picture) noticed me and turned around, giving me a very nasty look (like meaning to tell me "this is a church, not an attraction"). Also the only real thing that I don't like about the F4 is the loud shutter. One shot in a quiet place just gives you away completely. Very annoying. So like I said before, it's not that I want to sell the camera, but that I need something different for certain circumstances. (I hardly ever use my 180/2.8 cause it makes my camera looks huuuuuuuuge) :)

Not saying you should, but that's what I would do. No way I'd give up an F4 completely. Getting a small range finder to go with the F4 sounds like the best way to go to me. My $0.02. Good luck! :) -=>Donald

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! I have keept my Nikon F4!! This is just because of the reasons you yourself mentioned... instead I went and bought myself a Minolta Dimage 7Hi.. sure.. a digital, but alot smaller and easy to "hide" and with a lot of nice features... I don't think that I will get ridd of my F4 even next year when I plan to buy myself a FUJI S2 Pro or similar... Think again!! and again and again!!!

Hehe....If Rork ever goes digital I'll eat my Nikon! Our man Bart is a die hard film user..... :~) Isn't that right my dear?