>I am more concerned with being able to handle the equipment instinctively than with the finer points of operation.< I use the F4s as my primary camera, and use a 8008s as a backup, or second body to shoot print film or faster ASA slide film. I've had the 8008s about five years, and got the F4 about year and a half ago. I'm very comfortable when using either camera. It took a couple of weeks of regular shooting with the F4 to get the hang of things. About the only way you will be "able to handle the equipment instinctively", is by using it regularly. Get whatever camera you want and use it regularly, and you should have no problem. Another option is to buy another F4s and use it as a second/backup body. That would be the perfect solution to the problem! Maybe this is why Nikon made the F100 similar to the F5.... So the learning curve would be a little shorter for folks that wanted a second outstanding AF body to go with their F5.
