Nikon's entry autofocus SLR — the F-401, electronic, program/aperture/shutter/manual, Nikon F, 1987.
The Nikon F-401, introduced in 1987, was an entry-level autofocus 35mm SLR aimed at beginners moving up from compact cameras. It was sold as the N4004 in the United States. It sat at the base of Nikon's autofocus range in the late 1980s and used the Nikon F bayonet mount, part of the long-lived Nikon lens system.
This is an electronically controlled 35mm SLR on the Nikon F mount, with a vertical-travel focal-plane shutter that is electronically timed, offering speeds broadly to 1/2000 second plus B. Metering is TTL; exposure modes include programmed, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual, presented through a simplified control layout. It provides phase-detection autofocus with AF Nikkor lenses, integral film advance and a built-in flash. As an electronic body it depends on batteries to operate.
The F-401 suits beginners and casual users who want easy autofocus, automatic exposure and a built-in flash in a Nikon body. Its controls are simplified compared with enthusiast models, favouring point-and-shoot ease over quick manual access. It works with AF Nikkor lenses for autofocus and gives an affordable entry into the Nikon system.
On the used market, being fully electronic, it needs good batteries, so test AF, the flash, meter and exposure. Check the shutter, inspect the prism for haze, and look for perished light-seal and mirror-damper foam, common on this era. Try loading and rewind. It uses standard cells rather than mercury batteries. AF Nikkor lenses autofocus; note that manual-focus AI and AI-S lenses have limited metering support on this entry body.