I split cameras into types: those best used in
manual modes for exposure and focus, and those
which can be reliably used in automatic modes.
I consider the F4 (if one can tolerate its
weight/size) to belong in the former group,
with the F5 and F100 in the latter group.
These last two are the only bodies among Nikon's
offerings that I trust to use in full auto
mode for shooting slides (though the others
are fine for color negatives for auto-exposures
[including the F3...], but not auto-focus...).
You appear to be differentiating between
battery-dependent and non-battery-dependent
cameras, a very different thing...

On Tue, 30 Jul 2002 15:24:49 -0600, "M. Talley" wrote:

>First let me say I respect your knowledge and your help on this forum is
>always appreciated. I was wondering why you would consider the F4 a
>"manual" camera. I have never used an F4 (only F Series camera I haven't
>used) but I would never consider an F3 a "manual" camera. To me, that last
>"manual" F Series camera was the F2xx. Except for metering, you have full
>use of the camera. Except for a very limiting manual release when all power
>is loss, you are essentially dead in the water. Is something different
>about the F4. Like the F3, I have always thought that if you lost juice,
>you were pretty well dead in the water with the F4 as well.......
>
>Mel

>> The F4 is an excellent manual body, with a
>> vibrationless shutter
>
>> David Ruether