Just 3 years after the introduction of the Nikon F3 Nikon Corporation started to research the possibility of producing a professional single lens reflex camera with built-in motor drive, auto focus system, various exposure programs, high shutter speeds plus high flash synchronization, all packed in a multi-functional and extremely solid body. The famous Italian designer Giugario, who designed e.g. the Nikon F3, EM and others, was consulted and ask to design that camera. By the end of 1988 the Nikon F4 was complete and introduced. Like its three predecessors it is a camera body that can be ´dressed´ with various viewfinders, backs and power packs. To many photographers this Nikon F4 is the most versatile motorized AF-camera Nikon ever build. All Nikkor lenses, ever built for Nikon SLR´s, can be mounted: from the very first 1959 Nikkor up to the latest AF-Nikkor! The lens mount has a aperture indexing tab that can be lifted, so all older lenses can/will fit.
The camera has a high-speed AM200 AF-module (manual focus, single-servo and continuous AF - including AF-tracking), five exposure-mode programs (Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, Manual and Program setting). The shutter runs from 4 - 1/8000 sec. and a top flash sync speed of 1/250 sec. It also has TTL flash metering, spot, five-segment matrix or 60 percent center-weighted metering. The viewfinder gives a lot of information about the settings and real situation. Depending on the battery pack in use the motor drive (built-in the standard camera body) can make up to nearly 6 fps. Serial numbers of the body started at 2000001.
Nikon F4 (body + DP-20 + MB20)
The basic camera, called Nikon F4, has a handgrip with battery compartment MB-20 (four normal AA-batteries). When using the MB-21 battery pack (6 AA-batteries) the camera is called the Nikon F4s. Fitted with the MB-23 (6 AA-batteries or MN-20 batteries) the camera is called a Nikon F4E. The MB-22 is identical to the MB-21 but needs to be connected to Nikon MA-4 net adapter for use in studios.
Nikon F4s (body + DP-20 + MB-21)
The standard viewfinder for all models is the DP-20. It has a built-in viewfinder cover, diopter adjustment, metering selector and ISO hot shoe. This viewfinder can be replaced by a DW-20 waist-level finder, DW-21 waist-level finder with magnifying lens and the DA-20 Sportsfinder (for those wearing a helmet or glasses). The standard back can be replaced by the basic databack MF-22, the multi-control MF-23 (with sharpness-priority shutter trigger and intervalometer) and the MF-24 for 250-exposure bulk film.
Nikon F4E (body + DP-20 + MB-23)
Although accepted with some critics, the camera became a great success. Production stopped in 1996 after more than 500,000 cameras. During its ´life´ some minor changes on the camera body took place, like a better paint on the knobs and buttons. It is has been proved to be a very reliable camera and may still be used as a back-up camera. As stated all Nikkor lenses Nikon ever built may fit and it uses normal AA-batteries, available all over the world. The fact that is uses batteries may be the only negative point. The camera has no mechanical shutter release (like the Nikon F3 has).
if you find a second hand F4 check it carefully. Prefer to find a camera with serial number 25xxxxx or higher. These are the last models with all modifications Nikon has released. Parts, backs and battery packs are easy to find on secondhand markets.