Should I buy? Should I not buy?

sodium99 · 7th April 2005

Hello everyone!

Yep, this is my first post here, which needs all the help from you fellow nikonians out there... Well, this is the dilemma I'm in now...

I'm finally taking a step up into the world of slr from my Nikon L35 AD-2. Used to enjoy casual travel photography once in a while for quite some years before deciding to take the plunge into the endless, bottomless lens pit..

After all the research I've done, the choice is narrowed down to a F80 (was struggling between an eos33 and F80 but still, the dark side prevail...). As far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong pls), F80 is one of the best prosumer film slr by nikon but it has already been discontinued from what I heard... and there is no new replacement models for its class (i find F75 abit more of a consumer range)... My concerns are:

-Is it worth buying a discontinued model that is already 5 years old? cos I seems to be abit silly asking abt F80 when dslr like D70 is hot on everyone's mind at this moment...
-Also, will the spare parts for such old model camera be discontinued as well?

I do not have any frens who are using nikon slr currently, so I've got no reliable advices (you wouldn't want to trust a cannon user's opinion on nikon i guess...

hee..). I'm not considering 2nd hands film slr as its difficult to check for problems unlike dslr. I really want to just cover my eyes & ears and buy it but somehow something is holding me back.... Should I, should I not....?

Save me, my fellow nikonians.

espn · 7th April 2005

BUY!!!

espn · 7th April 2005

Back to topic. I'm not too sure F80 is discontinued as I still see shops stocking up on them and on Nikon's website, the F80 is still priced there.

From a personal point of view the F80 suits me just fine for film photography and I've shot a lot of rolls with it, excellent camera

you won't go wrong with it.

super.armadillo · 7th April 2005

Originally Posted by espn

BUY!!!

For someone who's tagline is BUY! BUY! BUY!, I would be surprised if you say otherwise..:P

King Tiger · 7th April 2005

Originally Posted by sodium99

Should I, should I not....?

Yo sodium99, parts should be available at some good camera shop around Peninsula area. If you like it, go for it.

Most importantly, follow your heart.

icarus · 7th April 2005

F80S - $900 quoted from CP
Its still available

mpenza · 7th April 2005

not sure how EOS 5 stacks up to the F80 but it might be an alternative to consider.

sodium99 · 8th April 2005

Originally Posted by icarus

F80S - $900 quoted from CP
Its still available

Thanks for the quote, icarus! I'll probably go for the basic ver. which cost onli ard $650... On quotes, i noticed CP seems to be ...... cos they quote much higher than any of the other shops I enquired on the F80 and some lens... Is it the norm or do I look like some easy 'cai tao'..?

Oh super.armadillo, your 'super buy' is just the kind of advice I need..

sodium99 · 8th April 2005

Originally Posted by mpenza

not sure how EOS 5 stacks up to the F80 but it might be an alternative to consider.

I'm not too familiar with cannon actually... My guess is eos5 is equilvant to F6? Did I got it? My budget cruelly constrain me to anything but a pro slr...

zhuozehai · 8th April 2005

Sodium99, i just got my F80 at MScolor at $628 after GST today. they still have a silver version one there. just email them for a quote

if you want a black F80 you have to tell them first. You can PM me if you have any queries. Please note that i dun work there

just that i had problems finding the right price before buying my F80 there and feel that i should share the info.

SkyLooker · 8th April 2005

You can consider used F80 tt comes with warranty. Or F100 too ...

espn · 8th April 2005

Originally Posted by sodium99

I'm not too familiar with cannon actually... My guess is eos5 is equilvant to F6? Did I got it? My budget cruelly constrain me to anything but a pro slr...

F6 is pro body, IIRC, Canon's pro grade SLRs are the 1V, 1N.

sodium99 · 8th April 2005

PMed you on your F80, zhuozehai... Congrates on your new purchase!

sodium99 · 8th April 2005

Btw, can someone pm me the email adds for mscolor and the others like AP, CP or recommended stores for equotes? Wondering if the equotes gonna be different from what I got on the spot... Still worried if I look like an easy 'cai tao'...

Thanks in advance!

espn · 8th April 2005

Originally Posted by sodium99

Btw, can someone pm me the email adds for mscolor and the others like AP, CP or recommended stores for equotes? Wondering if the equotes gonna be different from what I got on the spot... Still worried if I look like an easy 'cai tao'...

Thanks in advance!

http://megaweb.clubsnap.org/articles/shops.html

jamestan · 9th April 2005

Originally Posted by sodium99

-Is it worth buying a discontinued model that is already 5 years old? cos I seems to be abit silly asking abt F80 when dslr like D70 is hot on everyone's mind at this moment...
-Also, will the spare parts for such old model camera be discontinued as well?

I think it rather safe to go for 2nd hand units. There seems to be quite a number floating in BS recently. If you need help to check whether its OK, why not ask the Nikon guru??

Look for espn.....

sodium99 · 9th April 2005

Thanks for all the great advices esp from the nikon guru espn, james etc.
Think I've decide to go for a new body cos its set to stay with me for a long time and worth the investment... I could do with used lens and accessories since they are 'come and go' stuffs...

mpenza · 9th April 2005

Originally Posted by sodium99

I'm not too familiar with cannon actually... My guess is eos5 is equilvant to F6? Did I got it? My budget cruelly constrain me to anything but a pro slr...

It's more like F80, F90 or F100

a 2nd hand EOS5 is going for ~$300. It features 5fps burst rate and 1/200s x-sync speed.

wingless84 · 9th April 2005

you can try looking for 2nd hand F90X. I've seen a number of wedding photographers use them.
i bought my F90 (not X) off another CSer at $350 (with mb-26).

ricohflex · 9th April 2005

hi
sodium99

Nothing wrong with 2nd hand.
I love 2nd hand.
Tell me who dares to say in this forum that he NEVER buys 2nd hand.

Spare parts not a problem, even if there are none.
So what?
How often do you think your camera will break down and require a spare part that is no more available.
Maybe less than 5% chance.

I still dare to buy Nikon FM2 and FE2, provided the price is cheap. In fact if it is in good condition and very cheap, I will grab it.
I do not really care if Nikon does not have spare parts for these 2 cameras.

Some of these cameras are so well built and we use them so rarely (cause maybe we got many cameras), the real chance is we will die of old age before the camera breaks down without any spare parts for repair.

7th April 2005	#1
sodium99 New Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 35	Should I buy? Should I not buy? Hello everyone! Yep, this is my first post here, which needs all the help from you fellow nikonians out there... Well, this is the dilemma I'm in now... I'm finally taking a step up into the world of slr from my Nikon L35 AD-2. Used to enjoy casual travel photography once in a while for quite some years before deciding to take the plunge into the endless, bottomless lens pit.. After all the research I've done, the choice is narrowed down to a F80 (was struggling between an eos33 and F80 but still, the dark side prevail...). As far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong pls), F80 is one of the best prosumer film slr by nikon but it has already been discontinued from what I heard... and there is no new replacement models for its class (i find F75 abit more of a consumer range)... My concerns are: -Is it worth buying a discontinued model that is already 5 years old? cos I seems to be abit silly asking abt F80 when dslr like D70 is hot on everyone's mind at this moment... -Also, will the spare parts for such old model camera be discontinued as well? I do not have any frens who are using nikon slr currently, so I've got no reliable advices (you wouldn't want to trust a cannon user's opinion on nikon i guess... hee..). I'm not considering 2nd hands film slr as its difficult to check for problems unlike dslr. I really want to just cover my eyes & ears and buy it but somehow something is holding me back.... Should I, should I not....? Save me, my fellow nikonians.

7th April 2005	#6
icarus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 3,234	F80S - $900 quoted from CP Its still available __________________ Ricoh GR Digital, Minolta Hi-matic 7SII

9th April 2005	#20
ricohflex Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: sing Posts: 1,540	2nd hand and no spare parts hi sodium99 Nothing wrong with 2nd hand. I love 2nd hand. Tell me who dares to say in this forum that he NEVER buys 2nd hand. Spare parts not a problem, even if there are none. So what? How often do you think your camera will break down and require a spare part that is no more available. Maybe less than 5% chance. I still dare to buy Nikon FM2 and FE2, provided the price is cheap. In fact if it is in good condition and very cheap, I will grab it. I do not really care if Nikon does not have spare parts for these 2 cameras. Some of these cameras are so well built and we use them so rarely (cause maybe we got many cameras), the real chance is we will die of old age before the camera breaks down without any spare parts for repair. Last edited by ricohflex; 9th April 2005 at 08:20 PM.

7th April 2005	#2
espn Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Planet Nikon Posts: 22,045	BUY!!!

7th April 2005	#7
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	not sure how EOS 5 stacks up to the F80 but it might be an alternative to consider.

8th April 2005	#10
zhuozehai Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 56	Sodium99, i just got my F80 at MScolor at $628 after GST today. they still have a silver version one there. just email them for a quote if you want a black F80 you have to tell them first. You can PM me if you have any queries. Please note that i dun work there just that i had problems finding the right price before buying my F80 there and feel that i should share the info.

8th April 2005	#11
SkyLooker Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 61	You can consider used F80 tt comes with warranty. Or F100 too ...

9th April 2005	#19
wingless84 Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Joo Chiat, Singapore Posts: 215	you can try looking for 2nd hand F90X. I've seen a number of wedding photographers use them. i bought my F90 (not X) off another CSer at $350 (with mb-26).