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-801s (N8008s in North America) is a semi-professional autofocus SLR introduced in 1991 as an upgrade to the original F-801 (N8008, 1988). The defining advance over its predecessor was a doubling of the top shutter speed from 1/4000s to 1/8000s, paired with a 1/250s flash sync speed that matched the flagship F4. With 3D matrix metering, full PASM exposure control, DX coding, and a built-in screw-drive AF motor, the F-801s targeted advanced amateurs and working photographers who wanted professional-tier shutter performance without paying F4 prices. The body is polycarbonate over a metal chassis, striking a balance between durability and light weight.
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
Semi-pro Nikon AF SLR with 1/8000s top shutter and 1/250s flash sync - the F4's affordable sibling.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI / AI-S / AF) |
| Years | 1991-1996 |
| Shutter | 30s - 1/8000s, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/250s |
| Built-in flash | No (separate unit required) |
| Meter | TTL matrix / center-weighted / spot |
| Modes | Program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual |
| Autofocus | Single-servo and continuous AF (screw-drive) |
| Battery | 4x AA |
| Weight | ~620 g (body only) |
The original F-801 launched in 1988 as Nikon's first semi-pro AF SLR with matrix metering, positioned below the F4. It was sold in North America as the N8008. By 1991 competition - particularly from Canon's EOS system - was pressing Nikon to push shutter-speed ceilings, and the F-801s addressed this directly by raising the top speed to 1/8000s and improving the flash sync to 1/250s. The "s" suffix signified the upgrade; the F-801 and F-801s were sold in parallel briefly before the original was phased out. The F-801s remained in Nikon's lineup until around 1996, when the N90s (F90X) took over the semi-pro segment. In North America the N8008 / N8008s were marketed heavily to enthusiasts and photojournalism students during the early 1990s.
The 1/8000s shutter speed mattered most to sports and wildlife photographers: stopping fast action in bright light without neutral-density filtration, or combining large-aperture lenses at wide open in daylight (1/8000s at f/1.4 in full sun). The 1/250s flash sync - rare outside flagship bodies at the time - enabled fill-flash in brighter conditions. Together these specs made the F-801s a working professional's backup body or a serious amateur's primary kit in the early-to-mid 1990s. Today it remains a capable and undervalued film body; at current used prices it delivers near-F4 shutter performance for a fraction of the cost.
Nikon F mount. AI-S lenses meter correctly in all modes. AF Nikkors (screwdrive) autofocus natively; AF-S lenses mount but do not autofocus (no in-lens motor support on this body). D-type AF Nikkors enable 3D matrix metering. Recommended glass: AF Nikkor 28mm f/2.8D, 50mm f/1.4 AF, 80-200mm f/2.8D AF (push-pull or two-ring versions), 300mm f/4 AF. Accessories: MF-21 multi-control back (date, interval), SB-25 or SB-28 Speedlight for 1/250s sync; no dedicated motor drive (winder built-in via AA pack, ~3 fps continuous available).
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.
View profile →Nikon F-801s
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