> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://photos.miltongeorges.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Nikon F5 - Belmar, NJ - July '23 - URL: https://photos.miltongeorges.com/belmar-nj-july-23/ - Published: 2023-10-06T18:42:58.000Z - Updated: 2023-10-07T04:17:07.000Z - Description: I went in to B&H for few rolls of film, and walked out with a professional SLR from the late 90s - Author: Milton Georges - Tags: Nature, Blog, Film [B&H](http://bhphotovideo.com/?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com) got me again... they just have me figured out, apparently. I went in for a few rolls of film this past Summer, and walked out with a[ professional SLR from the late 90s](https://imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/chronicle/history-f5/?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com#:~:text=Nikon%20F5%20was%20placed%20on,tax%20excluded%29%20for%20the%20body.). ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/71080522961__B3019B10-99E2-47BA-9386-B0B4E7A7FC48.jpeg) The Nikon F5, in all it's chonky glory In my defense, the camera launched in 1996 at $3200, which price adjusted to 2023 is [\~$6300](https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1996?amount=3200&ref=photos.miltongeorges.com), and I was able to buy it for $125\. The temptation to own a proper, professional level, pinnacle-of-camera technology (circa 1996), was too much to ignore. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7353-1.jpg) Belmar, NJ beach jetty, with fishermen looking to snag some Stripers The F5 reigned supreme for 8 years, before finally being replaced in 2004 by its successor and arguably the most advanced film camera ever produced, the [Nikon F6](https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product-archive/film-cameras/f6.html?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com). As such, the F5 is renown for its reliability and ruggedness. I had the perfect opportunity to take this legendary beast out for a salty shoot out on the sea. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7347.jpg) A semi-seaworthy dinghy / retired lifeguard boat out on the bay My wife had organized a trip for her girlscout troop to meet during the summer on a whale watching trip. I had my doubts that we would spot any whales off the Jersey Shore... after all, I had lived here all my life, worked on the beach patrol for \~8 years, and had only ever seen skates, stingrays, or dolphins in the ocean. I had spotted large brown sharks *once*, and that was the extent my exotic sea creature observations. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7358.jpg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7357.jpg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7356.jpg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7359.jpg) The Belmar Princess, with some Whale Tails Much to my surprise, as you can see above, there were whale tails to be found. There were more than a few sightings, whale breaches, surface water bubbling with bait fish... I didn't realize that all of this was going on not even a few kilometers off the shore! ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7351.jpg) Vintage style picture in modern times ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7350.jpg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7352.jpg) ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7360.jpg) The camera was a blast to shoot with... incredibly snappy to pick up focus, and very confident in its shutter. It has a very satisfying \*click\* and rapid film advance... a little too rapid, tbh. At 8fps, you can blow through an entire 36 shot roll in just about 4 seconds. But it was very cool to see all of my modern DSLR lenses working perfectly well on a camera that was conceived and manufactured before any digital Nikon camera had ever been produced. Now *that* is some fine backwards compatibility. ![](https://photos.miltongeorges.com/content/images/2023/10/2023-07-fujifilm200-mermaids-and-whales-7361.jpg) It's only appropriate, of course, that I end with a sunset shot, heading back into the harbor. I'll be thinking about the next shoot to bring my "new" Nikon F5 on. Which, tbh, shouldn't be long... I've since sold my [Fuji X100V](https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/products/cameras/x100v/?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com) for more than I originally bought it for over a year ago. Somehow, it became TikTok famous in the last year due to its vintage aesthetic and built in film simulations. So, for the time in a while, I 'm mostly going to be relying on my film cameras until the [Nikon Zf](https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/mirrorless-cameras/z-f.html?ref=photos.miltongeorges.com) that I pre-ordered ships. Not a problem with me - Film, as a I've said here before, just has a magic quality to it ✨ 🎞️