Nikon F100

I use to own a Nikon F100. It was my first film camera. I decided to sell that camera because I was using my Nikon D100 more than film. I sold it to a friend of mine who is a great photographer. He didn't want the vertical grip so I kept it. It wasn't long after I sold the F100 that I realized I made a mistake. At the time there was no full frame Nikon camera. Well actually there was, it was the Nikon F100 that I just sold! If I knew what I know today I would have never sold that camera. Years went by and I always wanted to buy another F100. I felt like I made the wrong decision and the vertical grip in my closet was always a reminder.

Before I finish my F100 story I need to tell you about the Nikon F5. I bought a Nikon F5 last year from a guy that runs a local camera store. I have no control when it comes to buying things especially cameras. All of my latest cameras where bought on a whim. None of the purchases were thought out. Whenever I'm in a camera store I always look at the old cameras. I saw a couple of F100's and asked how much they wanted for them. I think one of the F100's was going for $150. Normally I would have bought the camera but it was pretty beat. Then the manager said he had a F5 for $400 bucks! I immediately asked him what was wrong with it. To my surprise he said, "Nothing, I just want to get rid of it." I could believe it. A Nikon F5 brand new back in the day was $2,000. So of course I was suspicious. I made plans to meet him at his house to inspect the camera and to see how bad of condition it was in. The best way I can explain the exchange is like this. When he handed me the F5 I basically handed him the $400. It was a 9+ out of a 10.

Ok with that story told, back to the F100. So now that I had the F5, which is more of a pro-camera and twice as expensive as a Nikon F100, I still had a desire to own a F100, again. I knew it was only a matter of time before I convinced myself that I really needed to buy that camera. After 5 years, the time came. I was at a Starbucks last week and had some time to kill. I went to eBay and searched for Nikon F100's just to see if there were any near new ones for sale. I found one that looked pretty clean for $200. Again, didn't believe it so I had to email the seller to get some specifics. He told me he was the second owner and he didn't use it much. He was selling it because he needed the cash for his new studio. A few email exchanges later I figured what the hell and I purchased the F100. Time frame from first search on eBay to the online purchase was about 3 hours. I received the F100 this past Friday and just like the F5, its a 9+. Incredible that I've been able to purchase these 2 cameras at such a low price. Anyways the moral of the story is I am crazy about cameras. I think I'm more of a camera collector than a photographer. Whatever, it makes me happy.

_Vince