Written by Sara Johansen
I’ve been shooting film exclusively now for over seven years and without a doubt my favorite camera, especially when it comes to 35mm, is my Nikon F100.
It is a workhorse of a camera, and I want to share some of the reasons why this camera is always packed in my travel bag and also always loaded and ready to roll when I’m at home.
Find the Nikon F100 at KEH Camera or on eBay.
1. The Cost of the Nikon F100
To get a nice Nikon F100 body you’re not going to break the bank.
This is such a selling point for me, because even while I already have my Nikon F100, I don’t fret taking it out in the elements, because I know if I need to replace it, it’s only going to run me around $150-200. This gives me so much freedom when I go out shooting!
I’ve taken mine out on boats, in below zero weather, in the pool (not underwater of course, but on the surface) and more, and I can get some really amazing images because I don’t have the fear of breaking my camera.
The Nikon F100 is easy to find and not so high priced that replacing it is easy peasy if needed.
2. Lens Compatibility
It’s super easy to find lenses of different variations for the Nikon F100, since it’s not a very old Nikon model. In fact, all of the lenses I had for my Nikon DSLR I started photography with are compatible with the F100.
The lens compatibility made for a really accessible way to switch from digital shooting to film. The fact that I only needed to buy the body and could use lenses I already had was a really big selling point.
And it also means that acquiring new lenses for it is reasonable. In a world of film photography, where so many cameras are hundreds to thousands of dollars, I love that I have financially responsible options with quality images at my fingertips.
3. Lightweight and Easy to Travel With
This is not a pretentious, huge, or heavy camera. While it is definitely bigger than a point and shoot, it is still fairly small and lightweight for a 35mm SLR, especially if you roll with a nifty 50 lens like I do most of the time.
It’s not super bulky and can easily fit in my bags and purses as long as I’m not going with a micro-purse trend. It helps to be more inconspicuous when traveling as well, as it’s not so flashy that it catches the attention of others while on the road.
4. Unlimited Multiple Exposures
Not only can you take multiple exposures with the Nikon F100, but you can take UNLIMITED multiple exposures.
I love having the ability to take a double exposure, which alone makes this a great camera to have on me at all times, but the fact that I can take three, four or even 20-30 exposures on one frame is so much fun.
Now, you might be wondering, what in actual tarnation would you need 20-30 exposures for? And I would say, you don’t actually “need” it, but dang is it fun to come up with some really interesting images and show movement in a photo.
Lots of cameras that can do multiple exposures are only able to do up to 9, so the ability to take it further is really fantastic for me.
5. It Takes AA Batteries
While a camera taking AA batteries might be a negative for some, it’s a positive for me. No matter where I am, finding replacement batteries is so simple, you can even get them at a gas station.
You can argue a manual camera needing no battery is the way to go, but I do appreciate my internal light meter in a pinch, as well as many of the other features like the self timer.
I usually carry a backup set in my travel bag, but if I forget, I don’t fret. AA batteries are everywhere, and if you’re visiting a friend, they might even have a backup set for you. It’s the ease and simplicity of this camera for me!
I truly love the Nikon F100, and if you’re looking for a great 35mm camera to have in your arsenal, I cannot recommend it enough.
I’ve taken SO many of my favorite images with my F100. It’s definitely one I will always make sure I have in my collection!
Thank you so much, Sara! Sara is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and you can check out her other articles here, such as How I Travel With Film as a Maximalist, Experimental Film Photographer and 6 Tips For Starting Your Own Film Photography Personal Project.
You can also find more of Sara’s work on her website, Instagram, and print store.
Leave your questions about the Nikon F100 below in the comments, and you can pick one up for yourself at KEH Camera or on eBay.
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Blog Comments
Scott Bassett
January 17, 2025 at 7:24 am
One of the most important things you mentioned is lens compatibility. I used a Ricoh 35mm SLR as a teen. Then life marched on and I lost touch with photography, at least as a serious hobby. Now decades later I am entering retirement and rediscovering film photography.
Having a Canon DSLR, it made sense to me to look for a Canon 35mm SLR of recent enough vintage (and low price) that could use the same EF mount lenses.
So, I ended up with a cheap and low-end Rebel 2000. It has all the automatic features I would want went shooting at family events plus manual operation when I can slow down.
DSLR (and even mirrorless) shooters should consider looking for a film SLR that can use (directly or with an adapter) the lenses they already have. It is a great budget way to get back into film.
Joan
January 19, 2025 at 9:05 pm
Thanks for this fun review, Sara! I love my F100 and I have an N80 which is a favorite on mine also. But I only have one 50 mm and one 85mm to share between them. So I followed the KEH link you gave us and got m’self a nice little 50mm for a pittance.