INTRODUCTION
The F55 (Known as N55 in US) was recently introduced in the first quarter of 2002. It will be classified as the most basic AF SLR camera in the Nikon extensive SLR camera lineup.
It is selling as low as SGD470, which also includes a lens, Nikon AF 28-80mm f3.3-5.6G.
Due to its low cost, it is very popular among new photography enthusiastic and beginners.
BUILD
The Nikon F55 has a very plastic body, which is not too much of my liking. Due to its plastic body, it is definitely the lightest SLR camera around now, weighing at just 350 grams.
The grip of the Nikon F55 is good. Shooting at both vertical and horizontal position prove to be easy and steady. No matter you have a big hand or a small hand, holding the camera will never be easier.
FOCUSING
The F55 offers both Auto focus and Manual focus to the user. It can be switched from one another easily at the turn of a tiny switch in front of the camera.
In the Manual Focus mode, focusing is done by turning the focusing ring on the lens till the image on the viewfinder look sharp.
In the Auto focus mode, it offers Auto Servo AF, Single Servo AF and Continuous AF.
B type clear matte screen V with focus bracket is fixed as standard.
EXPOSURE
The F55 offers 3types of metering systems, namely,
1) 3D 5 Segments Matrix
2) 5 Segments Matrix
3) Centre Weighted
It has an Exposure Metering Range of EV 1 to 20 at ISO 100, which mean it can meter in low light situation.
It offers 4 Advance mode, as in
1) Program
2) Shutter Priority
3) Aperture Priority
4) Manual
As well as Auto Vari Programs modes like Portrait, Landscape… etc.
LENS
With the common Nikon F mount, the Nikon F55 readily accepts the whole range of Nikon AF lenses.
The F55 also third party lenses maker like the popular low cost Sigma, Tokina, Tamron... etc. To achieve high picture quality and most important sharpness, none of this cheap lenses maker is comparable to the original Nikkor lenses. I always believe that that extra cost spent on the optics is worthy.
QUALITY TEST
The Nikon F55 is a very easy SLR camera to use. In fact, it is designed to be easy for beginner and I must say it has done its job in this area incredibly well. I do not even need to go through the well-written manual at all to use the camera. Okay, it could be due to my experience with cameras, but even so, I believe it is still a very easy SLR camera to start with.
For beginners, a read through of the manual will immediately get the chap started with his new asset. Layout on the camera is very well defined and symbols used throughout the camera are easy to understand and remember.
Handling the camera is easy due to the good grip design adopted even for the other earlier Nikon designs. Shooting with the camera in both horizontal and vertical position is comfortable and easy. My only complain about the body is the material used for it. It is very plastic, and a look at it will reveal its material. Although that is the main reason for creating such a light camera, it does not feel like it will last any hard handling.
The F55 offer a shutter speed of 1/2000s to 30s, plus Bulb. Although this is not a very wide range, especially in the fast zone, it still possesses the speed normally used. Any speed faster than 1/2000s is seldom used or never used by most photographers is normal lighting condition. Personally, I am using a Nikon F4 which provides a astonishing speed of 1/8000s, but frankly, I don’t even used 1/2000s at all, let alone the 1/4000s and 1/8000s.
A reasonable only 1.5 fps is provided for continuous shooting with fresh battery. This speed is rather not acceptable in my opinions for any fast action photography. Used it once, and 3 photos in 2 seconds came out to be clear and sharp. Frankly, this is never surprising, as Nikon have done 8 fps with the NIKON F5.
The F55 offers both manual focusing and auto focusing. Manual focusing is the same for all the Nikons as well as other cameras, nothing new. The Single Servo AF is fast and accurate, I have no question about it. But for the Continuous-Servo AF, it is reasonably acceptable. With the AF function getting nearly over 2 decades old now, it is getting better and better with each model.
The 3D Five-Segment Matrix Metering provided by the Nikon F55 is very useful and accurate. Of course it is not comparable to the higher end 3D Ten Segments Matrix Metering provided by the Nikon F80 or F100, but pictures taken with this mode still proved to be accurate and well exposed.
The build in flash, with an ISO guide number of 39 (at ISO 100ft), is too weak for any good uses. As with all other camera, I would strongly recommend the use of an external unit to get better flash effects. There are a number of low cost flash units like the Nikon SB-22s or even the new Nikon SB-50, as well as any third party flash from Sigma, Sunpak… etc., which will provide better flashes options compared to the build it units. I used the F55 once with its built-in TTL flash, pictures turn out to be harsh and terrible. Changing the flash with the new Nikon SB-50 (borrowed from a friend), the effects is definitely much better.
As in its entire latest model, the F55 offers the capability of Multiple Exposure photography. I have done triple exposed picture with the F55. With a compensation of 2 stops under for each exposure, the pictures turn out great. But do take note, compensation need to be done for multiple exposure photography, and it need experience to tell how much is needed for each exposure. I do not take too much of multiple exposure pictures, and I am still learning this tricky skill.
SUMMARY
If you are looking for a ‘Idiot’ camera that offer lots and lots of automation programs, the Nikon F55 is surely the one you should look at.
With its provision of Point and Shoot functions as well an as normal creative mode, it is versatile enough to adopt for beginners as well as more serious photographers. Its light weight is a advantage for travelling.
