cameras - warning: just for camera freaks !

Back in 1991, I was a hardcore nikon shooter.
Starting with the FM2

which was great to use.

It took a real pro to use, you had manual focus, of course, and if batteries ran out, you could asses the lighting conditions (cloudy, sunny, overcast etc.) and adjust the settings (f8 on 1/125 sec for midday). 

mechanics was great, highly reliable even with hard field use. I shot a few years in desert conditions and it never failed. 

next I saved for the nikon f801 and after that the great f90 

I remember purchasing a used model for an equivalent of about 3500.- US$ !!! used !!

 I still have it somewhere. 

but I remember always dreaming about the flagship model of the time, the great Nikon F4. 

A heavy, professional camera with replaceable everything. Viewfinder, grip and more. 

Fast autofocus, massive.

A college of mine had one. held it in my hand once. a dream 

super-high shutter speed of 1/8,000 sec. achieved with the development of shutter blades made from an ultra-lightweight compound material (carbon fiber compound) which is lighter and more durable than titanium.Our first use of Focus Tracking with Lock-On, to provide optimum focusing by determining any displacement of the focus point of a moving subject based on the distance measurement data obtained while the shutter release button is half-pressed, and then moving the lens additionally to compensate for the displacement of the focus point.High-speed winding at 5.7 frames per sec., when used with the high-power battery pack MB-21 (1.5V LR6 alkaline battery x 6).

today you can get this jewel for as little as 150$ in Ebay. 

back then it was like a hasselbladt, beyond anything you can buy.

interestingly enough, today's flagship has again the digit 4. 

namely the D4s. 

a spectacular machine, no doubt, but somehow it's not the same.

since then, I switched to Canon cameras and glasses and I am quit content with the 5d MKII. 

Get's the job done and very well .

I do meet here and there photo- artist who cling to the Nikon F2. It has something elusive that no digital wonder can replace. some spirit in the machine.