A Twenty-Year Long-Term Review of the Nikon F5

The Nikon F5, introduced in 1996 under the bold tagline Imported from the Future, wasn't just a another film camera, it was a declaration. A flagship so ahead of its time, with its blistering speed, and bulletproof construction, the F5 didn't just raise the bar, it was the bar. While the Canon EOS-1v and Minolta Maxxum 9 pushed innovation in their own right, the F5 stood firm at the top of the mountain for a full decade, earning its place as the last true professional film SLR born in an analog-first world. It was the tool of choice for many photojournalists, fashion photographers, and fine art photographers alike — unyielding, unapologetic, and unmistakably Nikon.

Nikon F5 Sample Photos
taken with AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G SE

Weddings in Los Angeles on Fujifilm X-tra 400

Nikon F5 vs Nikon F100

When the Nikon F100 launched in 1999, it was touted as the F5's little brother — designed with quality-of-life improvements and significant weight loss. After owning one for several years however, I gotta to say: no, the F100 is not the F5's little brother. While they share some design DNA, the F100 feels more like the F5's cousin. A completely different camera in both how it feels in the hands and in practical use. The F100 just doesn't instill the same level of confidence the moment you pick it up the way the F5 does. In fact, I'd even go as far as to say the F100 shares more in common with the N80 than it does with the F5, with the F100 being more of an F6 prototype if anything.

That said, five ten years ago before the insufferable shills got a hold of the F100 and artificially inflating its price overnight, I would have recommended the F100 over the F5 for both practical and financial reasons, assuming you were going to use it casually. Because not only was the F100 reasonably priced even in mint condition, but was priced far below the cost of an F5. Add in illuminated autofocus brackets and the aforementioned weight savings, and it was a no-brainer. However, the F100 is now showing its age, with problems that have surfaced over time making it Nikon's worst-engineered modern film camera.

Now, even if the F100 was still reasonably priced, which it no longer is thanks to the shills, I wouldn't recommend it today because of four critical issues. The first is the notorious sticky back and sticky rubber grip, a relatively easy fix. The other three however, not so easily overlooked. Early models suffered from automatic mid-roll rewind — an intermittent issue that Nikon eventually fixed in later production runs, with a service option offered at the time. Still, not everyone had it done. Along with that came the plastic rewind fork that breaks under heavy use, another early design flaw that Nikon later replaced with a more durable metal rewind fork. And finally, the plastic film door latch, which has been breaking on enough F100s for people to start making videos about it now. Some have "fixed" the issue by replacing the original film back with a data back. Easy fix, yes. Cost-effective, no.

Long story long, save yourself the headache and skip the F100. Instead, go for the F5, N80, F4, or N90. But if you're heart is set on an F100, go for a serial number past a 2002 production run.

Nikon F100 Serial Numbers

2000100 January 1999
2076500 January 2000
2165450 January 2001
2253450 January 2002
2309500 January 2004
2275050 January 2005

The One and Only Drawback of the Nikon F5

While many argue that by today's standards the F5 is packed with drawbacks, they fail to realize its features were the standard in 1996. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I too, spent years thinking this camera was full of bugs over the last 20-something years of ownership. For one, I always considered the lack of illuminated focus points a major drawback. Until! I got my hands on an F6. Instantly realizing the absence of illumination on the F5's focusing points wasn't a flaw at all, but a feature that made the viewfinder experience cleaner, faster, and without distractions.

With the main drawback many dox this camera with is being the obvious chunkiness and weight of it. But honestly, after two decades of photographing weddings with this thing, I can confidently say that the only real drawback of the F5 is the rubber grip. Even minty copies suffer from peeling, particularly around the sub-command dial. Nikon nailed just about everything else, except the choice of grip material.

Is the Nikon F5 Worth Purchasing in 2025?

If you don't mind the weight of a brick outhouse with 8 AA batteries strapped to it, go for it. But if you're going to use the F5 for YouTube shill content, or for casual family pictures, the F5 might be overkill. But in a fast paced wedding or controlled studio environment, the F5 is the tool of choice for its intuitive, minimalist design. Physical dials and buttons laid out with intent and purpose. It works the second you turn it on. If anything, it's what makes the F5 less intimidating than modern mirrorless cameras.

As such, F5s are reasonably priced in all conditions, with minty ones from eBay Japan going for $500–$700. But don't bother with the 50th Anniversary one if you plan on using it professionally — stick to standard-issue F5s. Either way, you'll be buying a camera that will easily outlast your photography career. However, due to current U.S. import policy, it might not be financially practical to purchase one from Japan anymore. Stick to local shops like Grays of Westminster if you're in the UK, Samy's Camera on Fairfax if you're in L.A., etc., and since the F5 hasn't been destroyed by Shill-Tubers yet, you can find one at a good price at local camera shows.

The Legacy of the Nikon F5: The King of 35mm Film SLR

At the peak of the film era, the Nikon F5 more than earned its place at the top of the food chain. Built for working-class photographers, it continues to work today as flawlessly as it did the day it left the factory. And it's incredible to think that my success as a 35mm film wedding photographer is, in full part, due to the reliability of the F5. Even now, it remains my workhorse — photographing everything from quiet courthouse elopements in Beverly Hills to multi-day destination weddings.

My F5 has been going strong since picking it up from the Beverly Center Ritz Camera in 2006. So that's what? At least 20-something years of reliable service. The only issue has been the rubber grip on the sub-command dial peeling off. Meaning there's no reason for me to replace it anytime soon. Though out of impulse while writing this review, I picked up a like-new F5 from Japan, and thanks to some eBay credit I had lying around, I only paid $120 for a practically new F5. Too good of a deal to pass up. So between the two, I have at least 20 more years with the F5.

And while wedding photographers today, the few who still use 35mm film professionally, ignore the F5 for the overhyped, overpriced Leica M6, Contax 645, and Contax T3, there's a quiet confidence in using a film camera that doesn't need to be romanticized to be respected. Because the F5 is nothing more than a well-made tool that becomes part of your routine, even part of your style. And for the uncommonly rare of us who still use film under real pressure, the F5 isn't just a film camera. It's a quiet legend. And I'm proud to say it's still mine, still standing strong as a reminder that not everything needs a firmware upgrade.