Anyone here collect & use Nikon F's?

[Mark Crabtree]

I guess then I wasn't professional enough. I did it all the time. But then I can be a dunderhead a lot.

I don't mean to imply you are a dunderhead at all and did say "the vast majority of pros", which I believe is accurate and clear. A lot of people like the Nikkormat and for many good reason, but the only one I personally encountered in professional use was a high school yearbook shooter who did the freebies for a studio that got the portrait contract. I believe their commercial shooters used mostly F's and I bought my first one from that studio in lovely condition. That after using a Nikkormat that was probably supplied to my school by that same studio. My first job had an F2 and it was a also a very nice camera.

People prefer different things and that is the way it should be.

 

[MontanaJay]

When I started my newspaper career in the 1970s and everyone was using the Nikon F, most with the straight prism, many used a Nikkormat as a secondary body because it had a good light meter for situations where it was difficult to eyeball the exposure.

 

[Vilk]

...but I'm sure the Nikon F is not a transposing instrument

you mean you've seen the score? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=497hoS_kvjM

 

[flavio81]

The camera overall has that "early Japanese junk" fit and finish compared to the beautifully engineered F2.

The things one reads in forums... oh my.

BTW the Nikon F is so far the only 60s used camera i've bought that didn't require a CLA to work perfectly.

 

[mopar_guy]

Anyone here collect and use old Nikon F's?

Yes.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Collect? Nah. Accumulate, yes. Use? Yes!

The F2 shutter sounds louder. Due to the mirror box. Just like when you compare an early FM2 to an FM2n. The FM2n has a definite *thwack* to the shutter action, whereas the earlier body almost sounds like an FM with a slight ringing sound to it.

My F is quieter than my F2AS bodies. I like using my F2AS bodies, but, I really like using a simple F with eyelevel finder and a Sekonic hand meter. Been suffering from withdrawal symptoms, which should be taken care of in a day or two, after I pick up my F from having it overhauled.

-J

 

[flavio81]

I love my Nikon F. I have read some complaints about the photometer above but I don't use in-camera meters, so no problem for me. Often, i use no meter!

When you compare the Nikon F3 with the Nikon F, the build quality of the F is so much higher than the F3 looks like made by Cosina...

The F is what i would expect from a camera -- a honest, precision made, rugged camera with a fantastic shutter sound, that motivates you to go out to take pictures. The same feeling i can't get from my Nikon FE, which theorically has more features than the F.

The only thing that i could trade the Nikon F for, would be a mint Canon F-1. Or perhaps, perhaps, a Leicaflex SL or a Minolta XK.

 

[flavio81]

A Minolta XK??? A Leicaflex SL I can swallow. Maybe it's just me. I wouldn't trade a bottle of dirt for a Minolta. I think you're best off with the F.

The Minolta XK was their pro-SLR, designed to compete with the Canon F1 and Nikon F2. Worth more than a bottle of dirt.
Perhaps you are not aware that most of the Leica R bodies were actually based on contemporary Minolta designs...

Minolta was a great, great camera maker. The SRT-101 was perhaps the best built non-pro SLR of the sixties. The XE camera was excellent and the basis of the Leica R3.

For me the ideal japanese camera would be built by Minolta and use Canon FD lenses... Since that doesn't exist, i'm happy with a Nikon camera that takes Nikkor lenses.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

^With how cheap Canon FD gear has become, pick up a nice F-1 with a few FD lenses, plus the Nikon F to Canon FD adapter, then use it alongside your F. Get the F-1n, since it has the more ergonomic advance lever, but is still mechanical.

-J

 

[JimCee]

I love my Nikon F. I have read some complaints about the photometer above but I don't use in-camera meters, so no problem for me. Often, i use no meter!

When you compare the Nikon F3 with the Nikon F, the build quality of the F is so much higher than the F3 looks like made by Cosina...

I've owned an original Nikon F with the plain pentaprism that was purchased new in 1965. I later purchased a new Nikon F3HP in 1983. I really think your remark about the difference in quality between the two cameras is simply not based on any hard-nosed facts. Both cameras were well made, and the later Nikon F3HP benefited from Nikon's 30 year experience of building 35mm professional cameras. It was/and is a very high quality professional camera that has stood the test of time.

If you prefer the Nikon F that is a personal preference and you certainly are entitled to your own preference. There's no need to discount the Nikon F3 as an inferior quality camera.

Jim

 

[frank]

Have to agree with JimCee. If you think an F3 feels like a Cosina/Nikon FE10, there's something wrong with your hands.

 

[flavio81]

I've owned an original Nikon F with the plain pentaprism that was purchased new in 1965. I later purchased a new Nikon F3HP in 1983. I really think your remark about the difference in quality between the two cameras is simply not based on any hard-nosed facts.

I own both cameras, Jim. The Nikon F and the F3.

For example the shutter speed dial has engraved numbers on the F. On the F3 it is a flimsy metal disk with silkscreen numbers on top. The rubber thingy around the shutter speed dial gets loose with age. The F has some parts that are machined, not cast nor stamped!! For example the rewind lever/dial. It is a beautiful thing on the F, it shines with rainbows like a Compact Disc. The advance lever feel on the F is very firm compared to the F3 which has more play (at least on mine and on another F3 i tested). The button for the AE lock usually falls down on the F3.

Don't get me wrong, the F3 is a quality camera, but a careful eye will reveal the differences in manufacturing methods. The F was built the old way, with a lot of machined parts. It was an expensive camera on its day, i would bet it was more expensive than the F3 in its day.

I did not say that the F3 quality was comparable to the FM10, which would be plain nonsense (of course!!). I only said that once you compare the F with the F3, it is like comparing a F3 with an FM10...

 

[JimCee]

I own both cameras, Jim. The Nikon F and the F3.

For example the shutter speed dial has engraved numbers on the F. On the F3 it is a flimsy metal disk with silkscreen numbers on top. The rubber thingy around the shutter speed dial gets loose with age. The F has some parts that are machined, not cast nor stamped!! For example the rewind lever/dial. It is a beautiful thing on the F, it shines with rainbows like a Compact Disc. The advance lever feel on the F is very firm compared to the F3 which has more play (at least on mine and on another F3 i tested). The button for the AE lock usually falls down on the F3.

I've never had any problems with the AE lock button on my Nikon F3HP, and I haven't seen one where the button fell down. Manufacturing processes evolve over time for all cameras. I remember reading a "Lab Research Report" in an old issue of Popular Photography magazine for the Leica M4. The technician, who disassembled the camera down to its component parts, commented that the internal parts were not machined to the same polished standard of the older Leica M3. The Leica M4 also had a hinged plastic tip on its film advance lever plus little plastic pads on both the self timer lever and the frame preview lever.

I suppose some Leica purists were vexed about these changes to the older M-series cameras. The Leica M4 was still a very capable and high quality camera combining some features of both the M3 and M2 cameras, and is sometimes touted as the best of the purely mechanical Leica M series before the advent of those with internal metering systems (e.g. Leica M5, Leica M6, etc.).

Jim

 

[chip j]

I got rid of all 5 of my Fs, most of them bought new: they all developed shutter-curtain bounce to one degree or another. Now I have a Nikkormat FTN.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

^Something that's pretty easy to correct. Had an F3P that did that. Local repair shop charged me $38 to rebalance the shutter, which got rid of the problem. A simple fix on the F, F2, and F3 bodies.

-J

 

[mopar_guy]

Collect? Nah. Accumulate, yes. Use? Yes!

The F2 shutter sounds louder. Due to the mirror box. Just like when you compare an early FM2 to an FM2n. The FM2n has a definite *thwack* to the shutter action, whereas the earlier body almost sounds like an FM with a slight ringing sound to it.

My F is quieter than my F2AS bodies. I like using my F2AS bodies, but, I really like using a simple F with eyelevel finder and a Sekonic hand meter. Been suffering from withdrawal symptoms, which should be taken care of in a day or two, after I pick up my F from having it overhauled.

-J

John, Who worked on your F?

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Dave, Scott Crisman at Northwest Camera Repair in Everett.

-J

 

[mopar_guy]

Thanks.

 

[GaryFlorida]

I think I would shelve a mint F example as well. I was at one time looking at perhaps getting an F2 and while searching around I noticed the prices on the "F's" over at KEH; I was surprised. Maybe Ebay is cheaper on them (haven't looked) but why take chances and not be able to return a 40 year old camera. I wound up with a Nikkormat FT3 and love it. What a camera. Whatever you get a cla runs about a $130 on any of the bodies making them even more expensive.

Do you still like your FT3? What do you think of the Nikkormat FS (no meter)?

 

[TheTrailTog]

...What do you think of the Nikkormat FS (no meter)?

The FS is a nice camera, but selling at a premium now as it is rarer and more collectible. You can easily get a chrome plain prism F for the same price or less. IMO I would opt for an F or F2 instead.

 

[GaryFlorida]

The wonderful thing about the F is its simplicity and ruggedness.

After I bought my first Nikon, an F3/T, I became interested in their earlier cameras. Naturally, my mind was filled with visions of the FTN, which was so ubiquitous in news photos from the 1960's. After reading a book about the F and F2, I concluded that the F2 was much better; Nikon having fixed the flaws of their introductory F. After my F2's and F3/T's, I then became interested in the F4 (which I think is Nikon's best camera ever). Still, I couldn't help thinking about the F and that website in Switzerland (http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon-f.html) only increased my interest.

So, last year I finally bought a standard-prism F. It is absolutely wonderful. I love the feel, the sound, the simplicity. I could use this as my only camera.

Like a Ferrari, and much less expensive, everyone should own a Nikon F at least once.

what do you like better the F or F2?

 

[Theo Sulphate]

what do you like better the F or F2?

Given an F and F2, both with standard (non-metering) prisms, I suspect I'd choose the F2 because of the improved loading, improved mirror lock-up, and the cool self-timer plus delayed-release functions.

In my particular case, my F has the standard prism and all my F2's have metering heads; for various reasons I think this makes the operation of the F2 feel clunky. My F is far more enjoyable.

 

[GaryFlorida]

I have the FT3 black. I like it a lot. It usually wears the 135 AI 3.5. The meter works fine except it only goes to EV 6 and is supposed to go to EV 3. Maybe some resistance in the circuit somewhere.

The other issue is my index finger trips the shutter and my middle finger ends up bumping the self timer, so when I shoot the timer has to unwind a second or two. I just have to make sure I dont bump it. It should be on the other side. Also, the advance lever turns on the meter which inadvertently gets bumped back into the closed position.. On the F2 the mirror lockup shows noticeably less vibration than on the FT3. I mean it 'feels' much less on the F2. Overall I like the unclunky uncluttered FT3.

 

[flavio81]

what do you like better the F or F2?

What a question! My conclusion is that you need to own both. I have the F2AS and the F with the plain prism. Both give a slightly different shooting experience.
The F is better built than the F2, at least externally; and that's a pleasure in itself.
In any case both are more enjoyable than the F3 which I feel wasn't the best effort by Nikon. They should have done something like the Canon F-1N, instead.

Given an F and F2, both with standard (non-metering) prisms, I suspect I'd choose the F2 because of the improved loading, improved mirror lock-up, and the cool self-timer plus delayed-release functions.

In my particular case, my F has the standard prism and all my F2's have metering heads; for various reasons I think this makes the operation of the F2 feel clunky. My F is far more enjoyable.

But you can put the plain prism of the F in the F2 !!

What I like on the F2 is the improved feel of the shutter button release, which is the best feel of ALL my 35mm cameras. It really makes you feel the exact tripping point of the shutter. I think that is the main improvement, for me. And also the film advance, being far quicker on the F2.

As for the loading and MLU, i don't know what to say. I like the removable back of the F. And I don't need MLU for my kind of photography.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

But you can put the plain prism of the F in the F2 !!

Yes - and of course the F2 has its own plain prism, the DE-1, which I may get some day.