F401s ( N4004s )

Got the F401s ( also called the N4004 in the states, N series = american, F Series = elsewhere, but the model numbers don’t correlate to each other ), and after cleaning it up a bit, even although it was in good nick when it arrived, I still cleaned out the mirror both, focus screen and surface of the shutter curtains, it proved itself…

I tapped the shutter, despite having no film in it, and it tried to advance to frame 1, a good sign, could see the mirror moving, etc, so stuck a lens on it, the kit lens from my D60, a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR AF-S. Although the F401s is an AF camera, and the lens is an AF lens, it’s “AF-S”, so it focuses via command from the body, as opposed to focusing via the pin on the body, so AF + AF-S = MF, not to worry.

The viewfinder is clear and sharp, has a flash symbol to indicate that it’s needed, or the scene will underexpose, and three icons, + – and o, indicating the exposure for the scene from the metering, what I didn’t expect though, is the focus indicator, to fire up to indicate clear focus on the AF-S lens in MF.

So, regardless of having a relatively new lens ( it’s a VR lens, so still new-ish ), and a 1980’s body, it can still meter, determine TTL flash levels, and determine focus, i’m impressed that these two ‘distant’ family members work so well together, i’m trying to get hold of some old E-Series lenses to test the opposite, see how well the metering, focus and rangefinder work on the D60 with an old lens…

On another note, got a roll of ilford HP5 Plus400 film in it just now, can’t wait to see the results, got some kodak max 200 and ultra 400 to go next…