100 years of Nikon

bdial · Apr 14, 2017

Here is an interesting write-up of Nikon prototypes on display in Tokyo, celebrating Nikon's 100th anniversary;

https://richardhaw.com/2017/04/13/report-nikon-100th-anniversary-part-1/

Sirius Glass · Apr 15, 2017

I only go back fourteen years with Nikon [2003]. I would like to own a Nikon SP, but I have my N75 and F100 to keep me busy.

Eric Rose · Apr 15, 2017

I became a Nikonian in 73. It's what the newspaper issued and I've stuck with Nikon ever since.

Chan Tran · Apr 15, 2017

I started using Nikon since 1977. They were the best manufacturer of the 35mm SLR. Today far from that.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 15, 2017

My first Nikon was a new black F3/T in 1988. My very first experience was not pleasant.

Reading through the instruction manual carefully, page by page, I put the batteries in, turned the camera on, and started pointing it around the room. I soon broke into a sweat, literally, as I noticed the shutter speed in the LCD wasn't changing according to the light.

Eventually, after firing a few blank frames, it started to work.

Only later in the manual did they mention the shutter speed is fixed until frame 1. I will always consider this an idiotic misfeature, despite whatever reasons given. Haha - it bit me again on the FE2!

However, that didn't prevent me from liking Nikon, since I now have so many of their cameras, from the S2, F through F4s, FM3a, and D700.

The only other thing I hate on some models is having the shutter locked when the wind lever is tucked in.

P.S. In my early days I never saved the boxes: not for my new Pentax SP500 or my new Canon AE-1P. So, as I tore up my new F3/T box to throw it away, I paused for a moment and thought "that was a nice box, I should've saved it". Oh, well. Today my "box collection" is a bit much.

tessar · Apr 15, 2017

Interesting blog. Back in the '70s I was given a battered brassed Nikon F by a photographer at the newspaper where I was a reporter. It worked perfectly for years and years -- dependable is the word. As far as 35mm SLRs go I've used only Nikons ever since.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 17, 2017

Eric Rose said:
I became a Nikonian in 73. It's what the newspaper issued and I've stuck with Nikon ever since.

same here. I'm still using and prefer the 1970s Nikkor lenses;had them all converted to AI.

locutus · Apr 17, 2017

The most cool thing at that exhibit to me is that 6x7 Nikon SLR.....wow!

ransel · Apr 17, 2017

My first experience with Nikon was in 1978 during my USAF Photography training - we used the F. I hated it. I felt that the prism finder was large and clunky, the camera back had to be removed to change film, rather than being hinged on one side for opening...like a normal camera
Then around '79 or '80 the photo lab took delivery of 4 or 5 the F2 kits - I fell in love. What I disliked about the F had been changed in the F2. In '83 I traded my left arm for a used F2. I still have the camera and still use it often - still works as well now as it did then.
I have added a couple more old Nikon's to my collection - a couple FM's and a couple years ago I got a S2 in mint condition.

mooseontheloose · Apr 17, 2017

Thanks for the link. I had never heard of the Nikon Museum, the next time I go to Tokyo I'll have to go take a look.

When I decided to get serious about photography (in 2000), I bought my first SLR here in Japan - a Nikon FE. It is still my main camera for 35mm (along with the 2 other FEs I have since bought), although I also have an F100 to supplement it. As I need to supplement or replace lenses, I also seem to find myself going back in time and getting older ones as well.

John_Nikon_F · Apr 18, 2017

Started 30 years ago. My Pentax H3v was dying, so I noticed that Tall's Camera in Bellevue, WA had a Nikkormat FTn and a 50/2 Nikkor-H for about $175. Instead, my father gave me his well-loved Nikomat FTn with 50/2 Nikkor-H for doing chores around the house. Between December 1990 and July 1991, I added two more bodies and two more lenses. A Nikkormat FT2 with 50/2 Nikkor-HC, a 55/2.8 Micro-Nikkor AIS in February 1991, and, finally a Nikon FM2n that July. Sold the 'mats in 1997 and picked up a beater FM off the 'bay, back when it was known as eBay Beta. That body died, so it got replaced with another. Lesson with that one - never use superglue to reattach leatherette, especially on the rewind side of the body. Lens release button became jammed. Picked up a nicer condition Nikomat FTn for my father in '98. Then, in '04, we added another FTn. I replaced the FM2n and the FM with my first F3P. Probably should've kept the FM2n, since I've had seller's remorse with that one ever since then. 2005 was when I started going crazy with bodies.

Anyway, the article was created by Rick Ho (username RicoBaby over at Nikonians). If I ever make it to .jp, I will go visit the museum.

-J

richardHaw · Apr 18, 2017

bdial said:
Here is an interesting write-up of Nikon prototypes on display in Tokyo, celebrating Nikon's 100th anniversary;

https://richardhaw.com/2017/04/13/report-nikon-100th-anniversary-part-1/

Thank you very much for sharing my blog post!

Hello, everybody. John showed me this thread so I made a new account. I hope to be a productive part of the group by helping people with repair articles and whatnot. Ric.

MattKing · Apr 18, 2017

Welcome to APUG, Ric.

benjiboy · Apr 18, 2017

I had a F and an F2 and several Nikon lenses until about thirty years ago a burgler broke into our house while my wife and I were at work and relieved me of them, after that I switched to Canon and have never gone back.

100 years of Nikon

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