C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The F5 (1996) is the most professional of all film Nikons by spec. **1,005-pixel RGB matrix meter** that recognizes color (the foundation of every modern Nikon meter), **Multi-CAM 1300 AF** with 5 cross-type points, 8 frames per second with 8 AA batteries integrated into the grip (no removable grip — the F5 is one piece). Shutter rated 150,000 cycles. Magnesium body with full weather sealing. Interchangeable finders and focusing screens (much smaller selection than F3/F4).
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The newsroom flagship of the late 90s. First 1,005-pixel RGB matrix meter, integrated battery grip, 8 fps.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Years | 1996–2004 |
| Shutter | 30s – 1/8000s + Bulb, electronic vertical |
| Flash sync | 1/250s |
| Meter | TTL 1005-pixel RGB matrix |
| AF | Multi-CAM 1300, 5-point |
| Frame rate | 8 fps |
| Weight | 1,210 g |
| Battery | 8× AA (integrated grip) |
Released July 1996. Production ran 8 years until 2004 when the F6 took over. The F5 was the dominant pro Nikon during the transition era from film to digital — many newsrooms ran F5s in pairs while waiting for digital DSLRs to mature. Olympic press pools 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens. NASA used F5 on Space Shuttle missions late in the program. A "F5 50th Anniversary" edition was released 1998.
The F5's matrix meter changed all subsequent Nikon meters. Pixel-level color information let the camera detect skin tones, sky regions, and high-contrast edges, then bias exposure accordingly. Every modern Nikon DSLR meter traces back to this 1,005-pixel sensor. The fast AF made it a sports/action standard alongside the Canon EOS-1N and EOS-1V.
For 2026 buyers, the F5 is dramatically cheaper than the F6 and gives you 90% of the same camera in a heavier body. It's the most-recommended "modern fast film SLR" after the F6 and is often used by photographers who want a film backup to a digital pro body.
F-mount, full compatibility with AI through AF-S. Cannot mount pre-AI lenses (no flip-up tab — that capability ended on the F4). AF-G lenses work but require body-side aperture control. MF-26 / MF-27 / MF-28 data backs. Speedlight SB-28 / SB-800 with full TTL. Limited interchangeable finders (DA-30 high-eyepoint, DP-30 standard, DH-30 sport).
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →C41
Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Nikon F5
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