Browsing Nikon F's on EBAY?

Theo Sulphate

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It is admirable that we've had 25 posts to this thread so far and people have been considerate and disciplined enough not to steer the OP's choice towards a different camera (don't you hate it when that happens?).

I should probably mention the Nikkormats are nearly as rugged as the F and far less expensive. Rarely do you find a mint one, so no worries there.

Nikkormats:

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/history.htm
 

jimjm

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Watch out - it's a slippery slope once you start collecting Nikon F bodies! Plus, they're so darn reliable. I've got 4 bodies and haven't had to have any serviced yet. Nikkormats are also great as well.

This is the best site I've found for all things related to F bodies, accessories and lenses.
 

Jim Jones

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I second the suggestion for the Nikkormat. I'm hard on cameras, and have found the Nikkormat to be as reliable as the Nikon F. Both have their differences and their peculiarities. It's also nice to be able to use their ancient, but good, lenses on the newest Nikon D****** cameras, too.
 
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KN4SMF

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Thanks. I'll pass on the Nikkormat. I was just looking for a cheapie Nikon f working junker.
 

chriscrawfordphoto

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BradS said:
How is it that there are (still) so many great camera shops in Indiana?
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Indianapolis is a big city, so it has enough people to support a store. Plus, Roberts moved aggressively into online sales. I think Jack's and Genes both stay open because there are a lot of students who buy from them. Jack's is in Muncie, home of Ball State University; and Gene's is in South Bend, home of Notre Dame.
 

darkosaric

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Theo Sulphate said:
towards a different camera
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Yes, for example one can get fine Leica LTM with Elmar 5cm/f3.5 for the price of good Nikon F body. I know, because I have both of them, and as different as they seem, they are similar, both are mechanical beauties .
 

blockend

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darkosaric said:
Yes, for example one can get fine Leica LTM with Elmar 5cm/f3.5 for the price of good Nikon F body. I know, because I have both of them, and as different as they seem, they are similar, both are mechanical beauties .
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A Barnack in the same condition as an F with clean, unscratched Elmar would be more expensive, surely? There are no shortage of old LTM bodies and Nikon Fs which require immediate repair, with lenses to match, but good working examples with guarantees attract high prices.
 

BradS

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a review of recent eBay sales supplies considerable evidence supporting this claim. A good, working Banack with any lens that says Leitz on it will fetch two or three times what a good working Nikon F body does.
The Nikons a relatively plentiful...the Leicas, less so.
 

darkosaric

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Some stuff are much more expensive here in Europe, one of them is for example nikkor 180mm f2.8, you can't find anything cheaper than 300 euros (340$), and on US ebay and Japan you can find it for less ~200$. The same is for original nikon F with original prism, for some reason they are much more expensive here. On another side you can find almost always on Meister Camera (original Leica dealer) working Barnacks with Elmar for 200-300 euros.
 

John Koehrer

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Until you made that post. Now the others are popping up.
 
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KN4SMF

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Well I guess I can forget that idea. In fact I may have to get rid of the F I got. This past weekend I went out and bought me a brand spanking new heart attack. And wasn't even in the market for one. I'm sure that's a nice fat 15-20,000 wad of dough.
 
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MattKing

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Sorry to hear about your health concerns.
Even for us up here, where there is no direct out of pocket expense if we have that happen to us, the potential change in earning ability and ancillary costs like prescription medicines can make an important financial difference.
 
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KN4SMF

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BTW, they say having a heart attack is like having an elephant sitting on your chest. It wasn't. so if you suspect something, don't wait for the elephant to sit on your chest. In fact, it really wasn't nearly as bad as I always expected and heard. But luckily I wasn't alone and my friends suspected what was going on. Had it been me alone, I'd have just laid there "till it passes". i thought it was just strained muscles from trying to cut down a tree with a dull-as-hell chainsaw. And I'd be laying in the undertaker's parlor right now.
 

Sirius Glass

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Get well and have a speedy recovery.
 
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KN4SMF

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$77. 1961 model, working. So...did I score, or what?
 

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Alan Gales

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KN4SMF said:
$77. 1961 model, working. So...did I score, or what?
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Congratulations on finding one at a great price!

I used to think that the F model was big and clunky and the shutter release was in the wrong spot. Then I picked one up and played with it. I really liked it!
 

cooltouch

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Yes, a very clean looking F. I own a very early F with the non-TTL Photomic finder, and as Alan mentions, the shutter release is in an awkward location. But I never warmed to it the way I did to the F2. So my F sits in the cabinet, looking properly old school with that big finder.
 

Fin

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KN4SMF said:
$77. 1961 model, working. So...did I score, or what?
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Looks nice! Bit of rubber cement around the leatherette on the finder and you should be good to go!
cooltouch said:
as Alan mentions, the shutter release is in an awkward location. But I never warmed to it the way I did to the F2. So my F sits in the cabinet, looking properly old school with that big finder.
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While I love my F2's with fully working DP-2s, I do miss using my Fs. I never found the shutter button an issue, it was more so the ropey Ftn meters and the fact that my primary F, an utterly kicked around and battered example, needs a full CLA to sort the sticking shutter.

I still believe that the F shutter sounds better than the F2 though...
 
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KN4SMF

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My F came today and it's in just beautiful shape. Better shape than I actually wanted, but that's ok. Works perfectly, nice and smooth. The advance lever standoff takes more pressure and has a more definite snap to push it into the testing position, but that's alright. I'll just set it stand off all the time. I was afraid it would come with the standard split image A screen, but it was actually a B screen with nothing but a big plain ground glass circle. Works great. The only normal lens I have to put on it is my 55 3.5 micro. Very easy to focus, and light. The whole thing is the right size and weight, and there's no exposure needle to distract and drive me nuts worrying about perfect exposure. I'm going to like this.
 
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