My reply is between lines of your message.
1. -5n has penta prism, -6 has penta mirror. For instance recently I
mounted M 35/2.8 and observed heavy vignetting in the viewfinder of -6
with somewhat less vignetting in case of -5n - my co-worker has one,
so I could try.
What do you mean by that? Could you see the lens from the viewfinder? Or do you mean that you see less from the viewfinder than what you actually shoot on the film? Or sth else?
No, but the corners of the image in the viewfinder were considerably darker than they should have been. Though when one looks at real world image, not the uniformly lit and colored wall in their office this effect is hardly noticeable on any of the cameras.
2. -5n has 0.8 magnification while -6 has only 0.7.
I noticed that the -6 is even smaller than the -50 (0.77).
Would the magnifier make any difference? Or is it unsuitable for general photography?
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/focusing/magnifier-FB.jpg
I think it will be cumbersome to use. Also I have to wear glasses all the time, so magnifier could be a trouble for me. Though I never used one so I can only speculate.
There are few things that 5n can do and 6 cannot:
1. 5n has KAF2 mount, so that it can read MTF data from the lens and set up exposure to gain the best from the lens. 6 has KAF mount and it seems that it cannot do that. That's of course provided the lens submits the MTF data to the body. I suppose most if not all 3rd party lenses cannot do that.
2. 5n seems to have more advanced DX film code reader. So supposedly it should be able to take into account film latitude while calculating the exposure. That's of course is film cartridge has necessary data. 6 cannot do that.
3. There is an undocumented feature of 5n - you can actually set up flash output compensation on camera. On 6 it is tricky and I fear is not possible for all the lenses. FWIW, I seemed to be able to do it for old (non-A) lenses. Though once I think I succeeded with SMC FA 50/1.7 too. It could be I am wrong on this one.
So you see, all these features are subtle in a sense. Using 6 you won't notice absence of any of them. At least not until you decide you must to change flash output. But these little things I suppose make 5n more like Ford Sierra and less like Nissan Almera, both being fine cameras/cars of their own right.
Ultimately, you would be able to shoot with either of the two and most probably you'd enjoy whatever camera you choose. But still, I think one deserves to make an educated decision...
Man, I got wordy again... <grin>
Boris
