Nikon F-801

Nikon · Nikon F mount · 24×36mm on 35mm film · 1988

Also known as: Nikon N8008 · Nikon N8008S · ニコンF-801

Variants & identification

Variant	Mount	Years	Serial ranges	Production
F-801	Nikon F	1988–1991	—	No figure published
F-801s	Nikon F	1991–1995	—	No figure published

No production figure has been published for the F-801 or the F-801s, and no serial blocks. The database that carries Nikon serial blocks for the digital bodies records film cameras as a section still to be added, and Nikon's own archive page for each version lists features without numbers.
Wikipedia counts 900 parts, two microcomputers and eight ICs in the camera, and reports that both versions hold a reputation for reliability that most mid-level autofocus SLRs of the period do not.
Photography in Malaysia calls the 1/8000 the fastest SLR shutter in the world at the camera's announcement, and attributes the F-801's commercial success to its backward compatibility with manual-focus Nikkors rather than to its autofocus.
Manual AI and AI-S Nikkors mount and meter, but only in aperture priority and manual and only centre-weighted. Autofocus is not available with AF-I or AF-S lenses, whose motors the body cannot command. Film speed comes from the DX code or by hand from ISO 6 to 6400.
Nikon's product-archive pages for both versions are no longer served from imaging.nikon.com and were read through the Internet Archive.
The high-eyepoint finder is not merely described as high-eyepoint: Tony Warren, reviewing the camera at 35mmc, reports that it uses the same optical design as the F3HP finder, so the whole field stays visible behind spectacles or eye protection.
Exposure compensation runs to ±5 EV, a figure Casual Photophile gives in its review and which none of Nikon's surviving archive text states.
Autofocus works from a single central patch, a restriction Tony Warren records at 35mmc and which Nikon's surviving archive text does not mention.
Two ways of putting the F-801 and F-601 side by side, both defensible. This entry's account is one of descent: the F-801 of 1988 set out the autofocus and metering arrangement, and the F-601 of 1990 was built on it. Tony Warren's is one of ranking, and it runs the other way — he warns that the model numbers mislead, because the F-601 came later, took the F-801's features and improved on them, so that "going from an F601 to an F801 may seem like a step up but is in fact a step backwards". The two claims are not in conflict; a successor can inherit a framework and still be the better camera, and that is exactly what Warren is describing. Nothing here is treated as a contested fact, but the descent story should not be read as a ranking, and the F-801's higher number does not make it the later or the better body.

How to tell them apart (expand)

1/8000 top speed and 1/250 flash sync, on a body numbered in the consumer range
Nikon Advanced AM200 autofocus module, named on Nikon's own page for the camera
Fixed high-eyepoint pentaprism with a full LCD readout along the bottom
No ISO cable-release socket: a two-pin remote terminal on the front of the body
Metal body, 695g without lens

F-801:

Two metering patterns only: five-segment matrix and centre-weighted 75/25
No spot metering — the single clearest way to tell it from the F-801s
A two-pin remote terminal on the front instead of a cable-release socket

F-801s:

s suffix on the front engraving; spot metering added to the mode selection

F-801s: 1991, and discontinued in early 1995. Nikon's own page calls it an upgraded F-801 with spot metering and an advanced focus-tracking function, and camera-wiki and Wikipedia both describe the autofocus as improved. What was changed inside the focusing system is nowhere specified — no source examined names a different module, and the AM200 is the only module Nikon names for the line.

Specifications

Format: 24×36mm on 35mm film
Finder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism, high-eyepoint, with LCD readout for focus, mode, shutter speed, aperture, compensation and flash-ready · no rangefinder image
Shutter: electromagnetically controlled vertical-travel focal plane, metal · 30s – 1/8000 and B · flash sync X, 1/60 to 1/250 · self-timer
Film advance: integral motor; single frame, or continuous at 3.3 and 2.0 frames a second in camera-wiki's figures
Back: hinged; the Multi-Control Back MF-21 replaces it
Meter: TTL five-segment matrix and centre-weighted 75/25 at full aperture, EV 0–21 at ISO 100 with an f/1.4 lens; the F-801s adds spot
Motor drive: Not compatible — Integral, with automatic loading and rewind. There is no add-on drive and no battery grip in the sources examined; four AA cells sit in the body.
Weight: 695 g
Country: Japan
Accessories: Multi-Control Back MF-21 (freeze-focus, data imprinting, automatic exposure bracketing) · Terminal Release MR-3, which converts the two-pin terminal to an ISO cable release

Where sources disagree

Film advance

3.3 frames a second in continuous high and 2.0 in continuous low (camera-wiki)
a built-in 3.2 fps motor drive (Photography in Malaysia)

Better supported: camera-wiki's, which gives both the high and low rates rather than a single rounded number

Nikon's own product-archive page for the F-801 is a four-line list of key features with no specification table, so the maker's figure cannot be brought in to settle it. Reviewers split the same way: Tony Warren at 35mmc, writing with the camera in hand, calls continuous shooting "a rather sedate, selectable 2 or 3.3 frames per second", which is camera-wiki's pair exactly; Casual Photophile repeats 3.2.

What reviewers say

James Tocchio (Casual Photophile) (blog) — Sums it up as the best at nothing and very good at everything: metering he calls virtually flawless in every pattern, autofocus that rarely hunts, ±5 EV compensation and a 1/8000 shutter — set against a body of about 700g, near a Nikon D810's weight, an autofocus motor loud enough to notice, a slightly bulbous grip, four AA cells to feed and styling he calls pretty boring.
Tony Warren (35mmc) (blog) — Finds it solid and comfortable, singles out a finder using the same optical design as the F3HP, and says the then-new push-button electronic controls are quick and effective once learned — but calls continuous shooting "a rather sedate, selectable 2 or 3.3 frames per second", notes the autofocus is restricted to a central patch and the smooth back drew criticism Nikon answered with rubber on the F90, and warns that the numbering misleads: moving from an F601 to an F801 "is in fact a step backwards".
Aaron Gold (Kosmo Foto) (blog) — Calls it the perfect photographer's assistant and one of the best buys on the market at $10–50 used, with autofocus quick enough, AA cells instead of a proprietary battery, and matrix metering that usually gets it right — while noting that when the matrix is wrong it errs towards overexposure, that the autofocus screen makes manual focusing tricky, that spot metering arrived only on the N8008S, and that the camera's reliability produces so many technically perfect frames he prefers a mechanical body for creative work.
Jim Grey (Down the Road) (blog) — Judges the F-801s a solid, competent performer bought for peanuts, but reports his own example hunting at infinity, failing to lock, and focusing just behind the subject at closer range, and says the autofocus is dog slow by modern standards — he keeps it, and still prefers the later N90s.

History

The F-801 arrived in June 1988 wearing a number Nikon reserved for amateurs and carrying a shutter no professional camera then made could match. Thirty seconds to 1/8000, synchronising flash at 1/250, in a metal body of 695g that cost a fraction of what the F4 would cost when it appeared three months later. Photography in Malaysia calls that 1/8000 the fastest SLR shutter in the world at the time of announcement, and the claim is the reason the F-801 is discussed as a semi-professional camera rather than a consumer one.

The autofocus is the part that has aged. Nikon’s own summary of the camera names the module — the Advanced AM200 — and pairs it with matrix metering and matrix-balanced fill flash as the three things worth saying about the design. Against a modern body it is slow; against the F-501 of two years earlier it was a clear advance, and it was the module Nikon carried down into the F-601 in 1990 rather than replacing.

What the camera is actually praised for is the back catalogue. Manual-focus AI and AI-S Nikkors mount, meter and work in aperture priority and manual, centre-weighted; the depth-of-field lever is where a manual photographer expects it; the multiple-exposure facility runs to nine frames on one; the self-timer fires twice, a few seconds apart, on the theory that the second frame catches people after they have stopped arranging themselves. Photography in Malaysia attributes the model’s commercial success to that compatibility rather than to anything new in it, which is an unusual verdict on an autofocus camera.

It is also complicated in a way its era was starting to be. Wikipedia counts 900 parts, two microcomputers and eight integrated circuits, and reports that both versions nevertheless earned a reliability record most mid-level autofocus SLRs of the period did not. There is no cable-release socket — a two-pin terminal on the front takes remote work, and an MR-3 adapter converts it back to the thread everyone already owned.

The F-801s replaced it in 1991 and ran until early 1995. The published difference is spot metering plus what Nikon calls an advanced focus-tracking function, and what camera-wiki and Wikipedia both call improved autofocus. None of them names a new module, and the AM200 is the only module Nikon ever names for the line, so the substance of the change stays undescribed.

Neither version has a published production figure or a serial block. Nikon’s archive page for each is a handful of bullet points; the public database that carries Nikon serial blocks still records film cameras as a section to come. The camera that carried a professional shutter under a consumer number for nearly seven years is, numerically, as undocumented as the F-501 before it — and the one specification with two published values, the frame rate, disagrees at 3.2 against 3.3 with no maker’s figure to settle it.

Expand Collapse

This history is AI-written, from the sources listed at the foot of the page. Where the record is silent it says so rather than filling the gap — but no human wrote these sentences.

Photographs

Nikon F-801s with the AF Nikkor 35–70mm — George Rex from London, England, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Live listings

Asking price, USD: a median of $70 across 26 fixed-price listings on 2026-09-11 (middle half $45–$130). Tracked since 2026-09-06, 2 days: unchanged from $70.

By day

Date	Median	Middle half	Listings
2026-09-11	$70	$45–$130	26
2026-09-06	$70	$45–$130	27

Asking prices from the listings scanned, not sales; junk-flagged rows and auction lots excluded; other currencies are not converted.

Nikon F-801 von Michael Huber, Laterna Magica Jahr 1988 — €6.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF Spiegelreflexkamera Set schwarz mit Objektiv, Tasche, Anleitung — €16.28 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF Kamera! — €34.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 F-801s Spiegelreflexkamera Gehäuse / 35mm SLR camera bodys — €35.00 · eBay
Nikon F-801 AF analoge Spiegelreflexkamera SLR Gehäuse #2025779-115 — €44.50 · eBay · likely F-801
NIKON F-801 Gehäuse - SNr: 2041677 — €49.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF Spiegelreflexkamera ovp — €59.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 (N8008) 35mm SLR - Bon Etat — €60.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 Body - 35mm SLR Film Camera - *film tested* — €69.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF Autofocus SLR-Kamera Gehäuse black body Spiegelreflex — €69.90 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 - Analoge Spiegelreflexkamera (AF) (35-70 mm) - guter Zustand — €70.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 Spiegelreflexkamera SLR AF 35mm Kamera Body Gehäuse — €75.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 SLR mit Data Back MF-21 35mm SLR analog Body (Nikon AF) — €79.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 SLR mit Data Back Nikon MF-20 35mm SLR analog Body (Nikon AF) — €79.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm Spiegelreflexkamera SLR analog AF-L Body Gehäuse (Nikon AF) — €89.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF Spiegelreflex-Analogkamera schwarz mit AF NIKKOR 28-80mm — €90.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF, inklusive Zubehör — €90.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm AF-L + Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 Kit Set Analog SLR 35mm Kamera — €94.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF SLR Gehäuse 35mm Analog Anleitung OVP Neuwertig — €99.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35-70mm F3.3-4.5AF Nikkor — €99.99 · eBay · likely F-801

Show 56 more listings

Nikon F-801 35mm AF-L + Nikon 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Kit Set Analog SLR 35mm Kamera — €99.99 · eBay · likely F-801
appareil photo nikon f-801 avec objectif nikon 24 mm 1.3.3-45 bon état — €100.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm AF-L + Nikon 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Kit Set Analog SLR 35mm Kamera — €109.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 mit AF Nikkor 28-85 mm 1:3.5-4.5 — €119.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 mit AF Nikkor 35-70 f/3.3-4.5 Objektiv TOP — €139.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F- 801 S Spiegelreflexkamera mit AF Nikkor 35-70mm 1:2.8 #3100952-85 — €159.50 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 camera body AF for parts — €39.00 · eBay · likely F-801 junk / for parts
Nikon F-801 N8008 N8008s Film Camera Back Film Door — $9.95 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 Cutaway puzzle Promotional Item — $16.00 · Cardinal Camera (Used) · likely F-801
⭐Exc+5⭐ Nikon MF-20 MF 20 Data Rear Panel Data Back for Nikon F-801 Data Back JP — $19.95 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 SLR Film Camera Excellent No. 2346694 — $32.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 F-801 35mm F Mount SLR Film Camera Body Only - Untested Parts/Repair — $39.99 · eBay · likely F-801
[ Near MINT ] Nikon F-801 F801 35mm Film Camera SLR AF Black Body From JAPAN — $44.99 · eBay · likely F-801
NIKON N8008/F-801 AF 35MM FILM CAMERA WITH INSTRUCTION MANUAL — $45.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 SLR Film Camera Body + Lens 28-90mm Sigma — $59.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 AF SLR 35mm Film Camera Body — $59.99 · Cardinal Camera (Used) · likely F-801
Nikon N8008s AF SLR 35mm Film Camera Body — $59.99 · Cardinal Camera (Used) · likely F-801S
[N Mint] Nikon F-801 Body SLR 35mm Film Camera TESTED from Japan — $68.90 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF 35mm SLR Film Camera FREE SHIPPING — $68.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 AF SLR 35mm Film Camera Body — $69.99 · Cardinal Camera (Used) · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 N8008 35mm AF SLR Film Camera Body Nikon F Mount Tested From Japan — $72.57 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm SLR Film Camera w/ AF Nikkor 35-70mm f3.3-4.5 Lens Tested — $72.58 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 AF SLR Film Camera Body with 35-80mm AF lens — $80.00 · Cardinal Camera (Used) · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 Body B#2378695 — $99.99 · Retro Photo Reading · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF 35mm SLR Camera with 35-80mm, 70-150mm, 28mm Lenses 2x Converter — $119.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm AF-L Analog SLR + Nikon 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Kit Set — $127.54 · eBay · likely F-801
[ MINT Grid Screen ] Nikon F-801 Film Camera AF 35-70mm f3.3-4.5 Lens From JAPAN — $129.99 · eBay · likely F-801
[Near MINT] Nikon F-801 F 801 N8008 w/ AF Nikkor 28-80mm F/3.5-5.6 D From JAPAN — $129.99 · eBay · likely F-801
[Near MINT] Nikon F-801 AF NIKKOR 28-85mm 3.5-4.5 From JAPAN — $129.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 Black 35mm Analog SLR Camera Kit 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Lens — $153.05 · eBay · likely F-801
*Almost Mint in Box* Nikon F-801 ( US Name : N8008 ) AF Film Camera Body From JP — $190.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm SLR Film Camera, AF MICRO NIKKOR 60mm F2.8D *EXCELLENT* #2854 — $222.29 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 camera with Nikon 28-85mm AF lens Ex++ — $299.00 · Classic Connection · likely F-801
Nikon N8008 F-801 35mm film SLR camera body only NOT working for parts NO MS-7 — $14.85 · eBay · likely F-801 junk / for parts
Nikon F-801 Book by Michael Huber — £7.05 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon Original CF-39D for Nikon F-801/N8008 — £21.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 SLR Camera with Nikkor 28-85mm Lens for Spares or Repair — £30.16 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm SLR Camera Body — £31.90 · eBay · likely F-801
Classic Retro Nikon F-801 35mm Film Auto Focus SLR Camera Body + Batteries — £35.95 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 Black SLR Film Camera Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Macro 55mm — £37.10 · eBay · likely F-801
working Nikon F-801 35mm film SLR Camera & 75-300mm Sigma zoom AF APO lens case — £39.99 · eBay · likely F-801
*NIKON F-801 (Body Only) | 35MM FILM SLR CAMERA | NIKON UK DEALER* — £45.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon N8008S/F801S 35mm SLR Film Camera Body only — £47.50 · eBay · likely F-801S
Nikon F-801 35mm SLR Film Camera body GREAT CONDITION F801 fully tested 100% ok — £50.01 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 Autofocus SLR 35mm Camera + AF Nikkor 28-80mm Lens 35mm Tested Works — £54.95 · eBay · likely F-801
Working Nikon F-801 with AF Nikkor 28-85mm Macro Lens. Semi-Pro 35mm SLR. — £59.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF 35mm SLR Film Camera Body with Nikon SB23 Speedlight — £78.69 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 AF SLR Camera 35mm-70mm AF Lens — £89.99 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm AF-L SLR Camera Kit Black + Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6 Lens — £98.53 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm AF-L Analog SLR + Nikon 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 Kit Set — £103.51 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 s Film Camera Body with AF Nikkor 50mm Lens USED IN GOOD CONDITION — £104.18 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm Film SLR Camera with AF Nikkor 35-105mm Lens & Nikon SB24 Flash — £110.00 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 SLR Film Camera with MF-21 Back, Lens & Carry Case — £125.50 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 35mm SLR Film Camera, AF MICRO NIKKOR 60mm F2.8D *EXCELLENT* #2854 — £148.01 · eBay · likely F-801
Nikon F-801 camera body AF for parts — £44.05 · eBay · likely F-801 junk / for parts
Nikon F-801 — DKK 900.00 · One Of Many Cameras · likely F-801

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Listings updated 2026-09-11. Links go to the shop or marketplace that carries the item.