How does the Nikon F5 compare to the modern D3

I use a Nikon F5 film camera. It is said to be perhaps the best 35mm camera ever made. There are the obvious folk who beg to differ, but even Nikon admitted, when they released their last film body – the Nikon F6 in 2004 – that the F6 was basically an F5 but with some features taken off to make it lighter and smaller etc. When it comes to overall performance, if you can handle the weight, the F5 is, in my view, the best camera ever, especially for action or quick-fire photography.

In recent months I began to wonder how it compares to its modern day digital equivalents like the Nikon D3. Is the D3 so much better than the F5? In terms of light metering and overall features, does the D3 have so much more than my trusty F5? Well, I’ve never used a D3 so I did some Googling to see what others think. Ken Rockwell says some interesting things on his website about all things photography based – some of what he says has to be taken with a pinch of salt I think, but he knows his eggs so his articles make a good read.

Here is a recent write up (May 2010) that he has produced, having recently bought an F5 himself. He compares it to his D3, which he has used since 2007. It makes for an interesting read, and, in all honesty, simply compounds my long thought belief that there really is little to be gained by forking out £3K for a D3 – the F5 does it all already (as it is said that all modern DSLRs originate from the F5), and with the right choice of film and a competent photographer, it’s probably better.

Nikon F5