Nikon F4e ~ my story

I have been dreaming of a Nikon F4 camera for quite some times...my friend in Singapore has offered me many times his F4s at good price, I almost bought it...but something always happen in the last minute.

I dare not to dumb so much money into a 14 years old technology...

One day, I saw an advertisement in my usual visit Singapore website (I live in Malaysia, but I often buy Nikon from Singapore), advertising a Nikon F4e in mint condition, late serial number and a collector's item to let go. Knowing that it will definitely cost a bomb, I just write to the seller to ask for his best price...without giving much hope that I can afford it.

First reply from the seller...Sing dollar $1700. Wow...definitely can't afford it. This is the standard price for a mint F4/s/e camera...and is not what I will regret letting go. Wrote to him again seeking for lower price.

2nd reply from the seller...now only I realized I have met this seller before. I have sold him a Nikon SB-26 speedlight before...and he reminded me that. Great! Because of this friendship...he offered me S$1500. Wow...straight away S$200 cut! That's a good price for a Nikon F4e in box, with MF-23 data back, original back, MB-20 battery pack, plus some other small accessory.

Some more discount? I tried...but S$1500 is the lowest he can give...so...after some long...deep consideration...I confirm with him my purchase.

I stay in Malaysia (Johor) which is a bridge next to Singapore. However, because Mother's Day was approaching, thus Jon (the seller) and I were not free to arrange for a meet up. So...we postponed the deal after Mother's Day.

Traveling to Singapore is a very tired trip for me...however...with the F4e lying in front...I have to crawled over to it...

After waiting for more than 4 hours in Singapore...finally we met (I reached Singapore earlier, and I have to wait till Jon after work). There are a whole package of stuff in the bag Jon brought...he said: "Everything in this bag is yours...except the lens which is for you to test the cam". Hahaha...I don't care about the accessory...what I am interested most is the condition of the main F4e body.

The meeting place ~ Kranji MRT Station

Upon getting the F4e out from the box...immediately I felt that it is not as mint as I was expecting. There are sign of strap lug (bright mark) around the strap corners, and there are some scratches on the rubber bottom (F4 body) and excessive glue coming out from the edges of the rubber button of MB-23. There are also a 1mm round dot scratch near the shutter release button. Not to mention the dirt/oil in the eyepiece. Aai...I was quite sad and disappointed, and felt lazy to check other things out. This is not a perfect like new camera that I was expecting, definitely not a collector piece. So...lesson learnt: "different people have different standard in grading". Nevertheless...I went on checking the MF23...without much excitement...

Err...the MF23 looks used too. There is a plastic translucent protector on the LCD screen, and it shows some scratches there! Some scratches and dot on the plastic and I was worried that the scratches might have gone into the LCD panel itself. There are also some dust inside the flip up compartment...with little strength left...I went back testing the F4e...

What's on my mind at that moment...if I didn't buy now...I would be a happy man having S$1500 or RM3200 cash in pocket! Hmm...how should I turn the deal off? Hmm...if I buy...then I have no confident being able get back what I paid if I sell it off in future (in case I don't like it). I have no confident in even selling off the MF-23...so...what should I do? Keep planning...thinking...(while playing with the F4e)...hmm...if I bought the set, I should be able to sell the MF23 at S$200 (for that condition)...meaning that the F4e will cost me S$1300...this is not a really good deal...compare to the deal of the other friend of mine (Sam's F4s at S$1200)...so...I decided to negotiate the price again with the seller. I don't want to pay more than what Sam offered me for his F4s (without MF-23, but his one is MF-22). So, I offered Jon S$1400.

I feel sorry and not so good in bargaining with Jon (he is a very nice guy)...but if I paid S$1500, then I will feel bad and sorry to myself. He offered S$1450...but still I feel reluctant to pay that much...as I was quite disappointed with the condition of it...then finally he agreed to the S$1400 price. Done...deal! He is happy (I hope so...) and I am happy...

Packed all the stuff in my Lowepro Rover AW backpack (this bag can really put in lots of stuff...), and I headed back to Johor (took another 3~4 hours traveling by bus to reach home). These are what I got:

1. F4e body in box with manual (serial number on body and box ~ F4e box ~ match), warranty card (blank), Nikon papers. 97% NEW

3. MB-20 in pouch (a nice leather/rubber pouch Jon gave me): This MB20 is the older version without the curved rubber grip. 95% NEW

4. Nikon screw driver for F4 camera ~ adjusting viewfinder compensation (original item that comes with F4). 100% NEW

When reaching home...I took a shower...and spent the rest of my that night cleaning the my new toy. The condition of MY (yes...I can call it MINE now) F4e set is better than I thought. MF-23 is mint- (98% new ~ no scratch on LCD after I carefully removed the plastic protector). F4 body is 97% new. MB-23 is 97% new, the excessive glue has been removed, and cleaned. Very little paint lost at one or two spot. MB20 is ok, some light scratches on the rubber, but I don't mind...since it can be replaced easily. No hard dirt on the viewfinder glass...and the oil/dust can/has been cleaned (some bright rub mark around the viewfinder, can't remove). After all the cleaning process, I attached the DK-2 eyecup to my lovely F4e camera (took me some time to figure it out how to attach it to the viewfinder...it is good to have the original manual instruction of the DK-2), and now I have an almost new Nikon Legendary F4e camera in my hand! Another great bargain I got over the net...Thanks, Jon!