Summary: Film Version of the D200/D300
Comment: If you've been considering collecting a classic, now may be the best time to pick up the Nikon F100. While most reviewers talk about the D200/D300 being the digital equivalent, I'd like to suggest from a "retro" point of view that the F100 is the film equivalent to the digital!
If you are familiar with the D200/D300 controls, then the F100 will be very easy. When the F100 was new, it retailed for well over $1000, and was the envy of almost every amateur photographer who could not afford to buy an F5. Now that Nikon is only manufacturing the F6 (and still quite pricey), a used F100 can be had for 1/4 to a 1/3 of the original price. What you get is what most people call a slightly stripped down F5 with better controls and a lot less weight. Without going into all the specifications, you get a lot of camera for the money, and having one with a mid-range zoom is a great backup for any digital.
One of the best features is that you can use 4-AA batteries, which can be found anywhere. Film is still readily available and some of the same equipment can be used between digital and film. One major exception is the use of DX lenses. If you use a DX lens on the F100, you will get vignetting as the DX lenses are designed specifically for the digital sensor which is 2/3 the size of a 35mm negative. Only within the last year have full-frame digital SLR's hit the market in which the use of non-DX lenses can be interchanged between digital and film. At this point, most casual shooters will not invest the $4900-$8000 for a full-frame digital SLR just for the convenience of interchanging the lenses! In most cases, however, non-DX lenses can be used on digitals, but depending on the type and age, certain features will not work (such as metering, or even the motor-driven autofocus), so make sure you know exactly what will and will not work before you buy. Tamron has recently added motorized lenses to their lineup to accomodate the Nikon D40, D40x, and D60. Any lens other than an AF-S or AF-I will not autofocus on these models. Other lens manufacturers are starting to add motorized lenses as well.
The F100 is built extremely well (magnesium alloy frame), with some exterior plastic. A few early models had problems with the rewind fork breaking. But aside from other minor things, overall, the F100 will hold its own as a Nikon classic. I don't understand why so many people are willing to give them up so readily since you get only a fraction of the value paid back.
Consider the F100 a highly recommended backup camera for any occasion. I believe I share the same opinion as many others saying this is perhaps the best Nikon 35mm AF film camera ever made. I suppose I would say the same if I could afford the F6 (which is about the same price as a D300)!