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 Nikon F-401 Black (sold as the N4004 in North America) is the black-finished variant of Nikon's entry-level autofocus 35mm SLR, introduced in 1987. It shares all specifications with the grey/champagne body color option: an in-body screw-drive AF motor, Nikon's matrix metering, four exposure modes (program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and manual), and an electronic vertical-metal shutter running to 1/2000s. The polycarbonate chassis is the same across color variants. The black finish was a common option offered alongside lighter body colors at retail and was preferred by some buyers for its more traditional camera appearance. Both variants are identical in operation and current value.
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.
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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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Before you buy used
About this camera
Nikon's 1987 entry-level AF SLR in black - F-mount autofocus and matrix metering for the mass market.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F |
| Years | 1987 - ~1994 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/2000s + B, electronic vertical metal focal-plane |
| Flash sync | 1/100s |
| Meter | Multi-pattern matrix metering |
| Modes | Program, Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, Manual |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~92% coverage |
| Battery | 4x AA (no mechanical fallback) |
| Weight | ~480 g |
| Autofocus | In-body screw-drive motor, single and continuous AF |
| Finish | Matte black polycarbonate |
The F-401 followed the F-301 (1985, N2000 in the US), which provided motorized film advance but no autofocus. By 1987 Canon's EOS 650 had made a strong commercial argument for fully electronic autofocus SLR systems, and Nikon updated its entire consumer lineup accordingly. The F-401/N4004 brought matrix metering - previously seen in the FA and F-501 - alongside screw-drive AF to the lowest price point in the Nikon consumer range. The black variant was part of the standard retail lineup from launch. The F-401s (N4004s) was a minor update that arrived shortly after, offering modest AF speed improvements. Both the original F-401 and the F-401s share the same fundamental design.
The F-401 Black carries the same functional significance as the rest of the F-401 family: it was a gateway camera for buyers who wanted Nikon's F-mount AF ecosystem at a mass-market price. The black body color was a meaningful choice for photographers who associated the look with the professional Nikon tradition - the black FM2, black F3, black F2 - even on a consumer polycarbonate body. In practical terms the finish has no technical consequence. For today's film shooters the F-401 (in any color) represents the lowest-cost entry to the AF Nikkor screw-drive lens system on film, with every lens purchased remaining compatible across the entire Nikon F-mount range from manual-focus Nikkormat bodies through to the F6.
Nikon F mount. Screw-drive AF Nikkor lenses are required for autofocus operation; AI-S and AI lenses work in manual focus with full matrix metering. The camera cannot drive AF-S (internal motor) lenses - those will autofocus, but only the screwdrive motor inside the body is used. Standard kit pairing: AF 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 or AF 50mm f/1.8. Built-in pop-up flash covers basic fill. Hot shoe accepts the full SB-series Speedlight range, though TTL flash protocols are limited compared to the F-501 and later bodies.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
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