Glen, An extra $90 would have gotten you into the F100 from KEH ($265 in BGN condition) ;-)
Note the F100 uses AA's even without the grip (Unlike th N80, the AA's and slightly better handling are the sole reasons to get an MB-16. The F100's MB-15 grip increases FPS to 5 from 4.5 and offers a rear control dial, shutter release and AF-On button, it takes 6 AA's or a dedicated rechargable pack vs the 4 AA's that the body's AA carrier takes). -Adam Glen Tortorella wrote: > Thank you for the detailed commentary, Adam. > > Wow, the N80 "feels like flimsy plastic" compared to the F100. Since > I have gotten the N80, I have been thinking that it makes my ZX-M > feel like flimsy plastic--a scant 320 grams vs. 515 for the N80. I > am sure that the F100 is quite a nice body, and, if I had the funds, > I might try one. Considering the deal I got on the N80 ($175 for > body and MB-16 pack...which seems unimaginable to me in view of the > N80's functionality, etc.), though, it makes it seem almost senseless > to think about the F100...but I am the type that would think about > it, anyway :-) > > Glen > > On Sep 28, 2007, at 3:03 PM, Adam Maas wrote: > >> It's quite noticably larger, especially with the vertical grip >> (It's actually a bit larger than an F5 with the grip attached). The >> F100 is notably heavier, much more solid feeling (it makes the N80 >> feel like flimsy plastic). >> >> The F100's dimensions are: 155 x 113 x 66mm and it weighs 785g. The >> F80/N80's dimensions are:141.5 x 98.5 x 71mm and it weighs 515g. >> That's a fairly significant difference. Note the F80 is plastic >> over metal frame, while the F100 is a full metal body with >> rubberized grips. >> >> The viewfinder is also significant, with the F80 having 92% >> coverage at .71-.75x magnification (depending on diopter settings) >> with an early-generation LCD overlay (which dims the finder, >> especially when the camera is off). The F100's finder has 96% >> coverage at .76x without the LCD overlay (Note Nikon has seriously >> improved the LCD overlays, with the newest generation costing >> almost no brightness when the camera is turned on, the F80 was the >> first camera to use this technology and it did not have the same >> performance). >> >> You'd really need to use the F100 to appreciate it. It's not a >> small camera, but it is simply one of the best handling AF cameras >> ever. And it delivers incredible performance in a small package (To >> get similar performance from most other cameras would require a >> large battery grip) >> >> -Adam >> >> >> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>> I was not aware of the fact that the F100 body is larger than the N80 >>> body. I am glad, then, that I opted for the N80. How much larger is >>> the F100, as I have not completely ruled out that body (in terms of a >>> possible future purchase)? Does it feel significantly larger? >>> >>> Glen >>> >>> On Sep 28, 2007, at 1:27 PM, Adam Maas wrote: >>> >>>> Glen, >>>> >>>> I dislike the N80 finder, however I've been spoiled by the >>>> excellent finders in Nikon's higher-end bodies (as well as the LX >>>> and MX). The N80 finder will compare well to the very similar >>>> finders in Pentax's consumer bodies. I also find the body to be too >>>> small, but I'm used to the larger F100, F2, F3 and my Mamiya 645 >>>> kit. >>>> >>>> And yes, Digitals tend to be a bit thicker, they need the extra >>>> thickness for the LCD, main circuit board and sensor. >>>> >>>> -Adam >>>> >>>> >>>> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>>>> Adam: I do not know if you were able to read a post I wrote a >>>>> couple >>>>> of days ago regarding my N80 body purchase, but, anyway, I received >>>>> the body and am quite impressed. I thought the smallish viewfinder >>>>> magnification (supposedly .75x) might be a hinderance, but I find >>>>> that, so far, the viewfinder is not all that bad. In fact, it >>>>> seems >>>>> as if may be even a tad better than my ZX-M's finder, which is >>>>> supposedly 0.77x. >>>>> >>>>> The N80 is loaded with functionality, and I find that, with the >>>>> MB-16 >>>>> pack attached, it has good balance and a comfortable feel in my >>>>> hand. I had the D40 and K100D in my hand yesterday, and I thought >>>>> both bodies were a bit thick for my hand. The K100D's body is a >>>>> bit >>>>> thinner, and thus it felt a little better, but the N80 is just >>>>> about >>>>> perfect for my somewhat small hand. Perhaps this is how all >>>>> digital >>>>> bodies tend to be (a bit thick)? When comparing the feel of the >>>>> ZX-M >>>>> and N80 to the digital bodies I have mentioned, it is similar to >>>>> holding a baseball as opposed to a softball. >>>>> >>>>> Glen >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above >>>> and follow the directions. >>> >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above >> and follow the directions. > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.

