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.
View profile →slr-35mm
The Nikon F-401x (sold as the **N5005** or **N4004S** in North America) is the second-generation F-401 series body, introduced in 1989 as an incremental refinement of the original F-401 (1987). It occupies the mid-tier of Nikon's AF lineup between the entry-level F-401 and the prosumer F-601/F-801 bodies. The F-401x adds shutter-priority AE to the original F-401's program and aperture-priority modes, giving a full PASM exposure suite in a compact, lightweight polycarbonate body. Autofocus is single-point TTL phase-detect via a motor in the camera body, so it drives only AF Nikkor lenses with screwdrive coupling (not AF-S). Like all F-series bodies of this era, it accepts the full AI/AI-S Nikkor range in manual focus with stopped-down metering assistance.
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.
View profile →C41
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
Nikon's mid-tier AF refresh for 1989 - four exposure modes and AF in a compact polycarbonate body.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AF Nikkor screwdrive; AI/AI-S manual) |
| Years | 1989-1994 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/2000s, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/125s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted SPD |
| AF | Single-point phase-detect, body-motor screwdrive |
| Modes | P, A, S, M |
| Battery | 4x AA |
| Weight | ~460 g (body only) |
| Finder coverage | 90% |
The F-401 debuted in 1987, positioned below the F-501 as a more affordable AF entry point with program and aperture-priority modes. The F-401x followed in 1989, adding shutter-priority to the exposure suite and refining the AF module. Nikon simultaneously positioned the F-601 (1990) above it with matrix metering and more sophisticated AF. The F-401x remained in production until approximately 1994. It was part of Nikon's strategy of maintaining a tiered AF lineup - F-401 series (consumer), F-601 (mid-enthusiast), F-801 (prosumer) - to address the threat from Canon's EOS system (1987) and Minolta's Maxxum line. All three tiers shared the same F-mount AF compatibility and could use the same AF Nikkor lenses.
For 2026 film photographers, the F-401x represents the cheapest realistic entry point into the Nikon AF F-mount ecosystem after the original F-401. Used prices run $30-100. The full PASM suite means it is more flexible than the F-401's P/A-only design, and it handles the standard 50mm f/1.8 AF and the 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 AF zoom competently. The limitations are the single AF point, body-motor screwdrive AF (no AF-S compatibility), and the all-electronic shutter with no mechanical fallback. The polycarbonate body is light but not weather-sealed and brittle at stress points after 35 years. The F-401x is recommended for beginners who want to learn F-mount AF without significant financial exposure.
Nikon F mount. AF Nikkor lenses with screwdrive coupling autofocus correctly. AF-S, AF-I, and AF-P lenses mount but will not autofocus (the body lacks the in-lens motor drive electrical contact required). AI and AI-S Nikkors mount and meter correctly in manual focus with center-weighted TTL. Pre-AI lenses require stop-down metering or are incompatible with metering depending on lens generation. Standard zoom kit lens was the AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 or 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5. Compatible speedlights: SB-24, SB-25, SB-26 with TTL flash.
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 F-401x
Image coming soon