The Nikon F4 is a pretty advanced camera. Auto exposure, autofocus, matrix metering, etc. But what if it was even more advanced?

That must’ve been what Nikon engineers asked themselves when they designed this data back. The MF-23 Multi Control Back is jammed with clever tricks to enhance the functionality of the F4.

NASA certainly seemed to think it was worth it, as shown in the main image of this post — but is it worth owning one in 2024?

Features

This data back can do quite a few things, so this isn’t an exhaustive list. A lot of features pros would’ve loved in the 90s would be lost on modern film photographers, so I’ll just pick a few highlights.

Data Printing

I’ll start with what is probably the most interesting feature for modern photographers. You can print data in between frames! A welcome upgrade from the distracting date stamp in the bottom corner of images (though you can still select that as an option if you’re feeling nostalgic).

What’s more, there’s lots of options for what it can print. You can choose between a fixed number, a number that increments with each shot, the date, the time, or — notably — exposure data.

This is the MF-23’s killer feature. If you’re using a CPU lens (i.e. one with contacts that communicate with the camera body) you can choose to print shutter speed and f/stop number between frames. It’s great for keeping track of how a shot was exposed and seeing what works and what doesn’t. It’s also great in combination with the bracketing feature.

Bracketing

This is a very unique feature for a film camera. In continuous shooting mode with bracketing turned on, the camera automatically takes multiple images at different exposure settings. It will take as many pictures as you want, under and over by as many stops as you choose. The default is 0.3 stops above and below, with three pictures per shutter button press.

You can change these settings, but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet. More on that later.

Focus Priority

The F4’s autofocus is probably its weakest point, but this feature seems like it would be useful for fast paced situations with moving subjects.

With focus priority turned on, you focus the lens to a certain distance, and push the shutter button. When a subject moves into the focal plane, the shutter fires automatically.

This is still limited by the F4’s autofocus sensor, but in my testing seems quite useful.

And a Host of Others

-Interval Timer (for timelapse photography)
-Long exposure (nice to have as you can’t use a cable release with this camera)
-Exposure delay (a more advanced self-timer)
-Film stop (stop at a set frame number)
-Film alarm (the same, but with an alarm instead of a hard stop)
-Daily alarm (Just an alarm clock)

Drawbacks

As awesome as the MF-23 is, and as many neat things as it does, I’m not going to say my experience using it has been all smooth sailing.

Configuration

I mentioned earlier I couldn’t figure out how to change the exposure bracketing settings. Here’s the relevant page from the manual:

What? I’ve seen confusing manuals before but they usually don’t look like algebra homework.

In fairness, the manual is generally quite good. My main gripe is that you need it for everything. Modern tech is usually pretty self explanatory, but setting up this data back feels like programming missile coordinates into a computer terminal from the 1960s.

You’ll pretty much have to memorize what the buttons all do, cause if you forget there is no way you’re figuring it out in the field.

Batteries

The F4 may take standard AAs, but the MF-23 isn’t quite so easy to please. It only eats the finest SR44 Silver Oxide coin cell batteries, which are pretty expensive if you can even find them in a brick and mortar store.

They seem to be cheaper online though, so it’s not so much a huge concern as it is a minor annoyance.

Bulk

I’ve seen people complain about the heft of this data back. To be sure, it’s not a small back, adding a good half inch or more to the width of the camera.

However, the F4 is already so large that it’s not really a significant percentage increase in bulk. It doesn’t make the camera harder to carry or shoot in my experience, and the back adds very little extra weight.

Cost

I won’t beat around the bush; I think the MF-23 is overpriced. It’s a cool toy that has some fun gimmicks, and even a couple features that could be really useful for specific situations.

But it’s probably not something you’ll want to use every day, which makes the ~$90 USD these tend to go for seem kind of silly.

The Verdict

I won’t tell you not to buy one of these backs. I think they’re pretty cool. They look neat, and they do a lot of cool stuff. There are some downsides, but I think the positives outweigh them. I do however, find the money they sell for to be kind of ridiculous.

The best way to get one is probably to find an example with cosmetic damage (which is what I did), or perhaps someone selling a camera with a back included.

If you find a deal on one, they’re a lot of fun. But the F4 is already a lot of fun by itself!