Does anyone still use their Nikon F2 regularly?

Xmas · May 10, 2014

last time I used my two F2s was Sunday fortnight ago.

a DP-1 and DE-1

I needed to refoam one first

The DE-1 prism has a chipped apex and one of the shutters has fabric paint blocking pin holes.

the DP-1's needle sticks

Both have damaged top plates.

they have not been babied

I had a F for a while but mirror vibration was a problem cause I don't hold cameras tight.

Chan Tran · May 10, 2014

If one has a Nikon F2 and it works and one is shooting film then I really see no reason not to use the F2. About the only problem with the F2 is that you have to put film in it which can be a problem depending on where you are.

BradleyK · May 10, 2014

Had my recently Soverized 1979 F2AS out for a spin this afternoon. A measure of my confidence in both the esteemed Mr Wong and the camera: I ran a roll of E100VS though the body to break in my "new" F2. lol

Jerevan · May 11, 2014

Yep, I still use it. Almost always with Ilford HP5+. Sent it off to Sover 8 years ago - still ticking along.

RalphLambrecht · May 11, 2014

Paul Goutiere said:
I remember buying my first Nikon F2, used, in 1985. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
Occasionally I take it out as a second body to My F3 or F4, but for the most part it sits on a shelf.

It's not that I use a lot of 35mm these days preferring my medium format cameras and their great negatives, but I wonder if
perhaps I should use the F2 a bit more.

Does anyone use their F2 on exclusively or on a regular basis?

View attachment 55057

as soon as Nikon comes out with their digital film back, we'll all use our 35mm film cameras again;can't wait;just hope the rumors are trueand it has half way decentspecs.

fstop · May 11, 2014

Its available right now, its called the Df.

Vilk · May 12, 2014

fstop said:
Its available right now, its called the Df.

Shirley, ye be jesting, aye?

fstop · May 12, 2014

Don't call me Shirly.

John_Nikon_F · May 13, 2014

Got my backup F2AS loaded up in a box, along with an F2AS owned by Ralph Javins, and a body that Sover Wong himself bought, then had sent to my place, waiting to be shipped to him. My main body was serviced by him earlier this year. Better than new, as per usual.

-J

Richard S. (rich815) · May 13, 2014

John_Nikon_F said:
Got my backup F2AS loaded up in a box, along with an F2AS owned by Ralph Javins, and a body that Sover Wong himself bought, then had sent to my place, waiting to be shipped to him. My main body was serviced by him earlier this year. Better than new, as per usual.

-J

Who? Going where? Waiting wha'?

snapguy · May 13, 2014

Just F

To me there is only one Nikon F, the original with no numbers after it. I dropped mine and need to have it repaired. That was in 1974. I regularly use Nikkormats and recently obtained great vintage lenses by Nikkor -- 50mm f1.4, 20mm f 2.8 and 80-200 f2.8. I keep a film camera in my car trunk at all times and its an N2000. The batteries last for years. I need to find somebody to fix a really old F with the heavy motor drive. But first I have to check out my "brand new" Rolleiflex, circa 1956. It is in beautiful shape.

John_Nikon_F · May 14, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Who? Going where? Waiting wha'?

Who = Sover Wong. Where = The UK. Waiting = waiting for the trip to the post office.

John_Nikon_F · May 14, 2014

snapguy said:
To me there is only one Nikon F, the original with no numbers after it. I dropped mine and need to have it repaired. That was in 1974. I regularly use Nikkormats and recently obtained great vintage lenses by Nikkor -- 50mm f1.4, 20mm f 2.8 and 80-200 f2.8. I keep a film camera in my car trunk at all times and its an N2000. The batteries last for years. I need to find somebody to fix a really old F with the heavy motor drive. But first I have to check out my "brand new" Rolleiflex, circa 1956. It is in beautiful shape.

Sover Wong works on F bodies as well. A lot of things on the F did not change when Nikon went to the improved F2... (I love my F, but, the F2AS is quite a bit nicer, I'm afraid).

http://soverf2repair.webs.com - send him an email and get the camera ready to go to him. Expect to have an F that works better than it did when you bought it, if you bought it new.

-J

greenbank · May 14, 2014

Ah, who could own an F2 and not use it?

Mine arrived a couple of weeks ago (with the 105mm f/2.5). Now the sun's coming out at last, and I plan to run a test roll through it. Whee! My main cameras are Olympus OM-1n x 2, but it's sheer delight to be able to own and use such a magnificent classic as the F2. Mine will certainly get "regular occasional" outings.

ToddB · May 14, 2014

Looks awesome..

I would love to score one of these camera's. With all the talk and thumbs up on the durability and other aspects, I'm really getting the itch.

ToddB

Xmas · May 14, 2014

ToddB said:
I would love to score one of these camera's. With all the talk and thumbs up on the durability and other aspects, I'm really getting the itch.

ToddB

40 Hail Marie's

...

BradleyK · May 14, 2014

ToddB said:
I would love to score one of these camera's. With all the talk and thumbs up on the durability and other aspects, I'm really getting the itch.

ToddB

Jump! You won't regret it. The F2 is arguably one of/if not Nikon's best. Solid, dependable, adaptable and durable: pick one up, have it "Soverized," and you will have a camera that will last you a lifetime (I love them so much that I have 12...lol).

Vilk · May 14, 2014

BradleyK said:
Jump! You won't regret it. The F2 is arguably one of/if not Nikon's best. Solid, dependable, adaptable and durable: pick one up, have it "Soverized," and you will have a camera that will last you a lifetime (I love them so much that I have 12...lol).

sigh... and i was always embarrassed to admit to my four :confused:

Richard S. (rich815) · May 14, 2014

Vilk said:
sigh... and i was always embarrassed to admit to my four :confused:

Heck, I was thinking my two were too much! Then again can't seem to get myself to sell one because I cannot decide on which one!

Vilk · May 14, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Heck, I was thinking my two were too much! Then again can't seem to get myself to sell one because I cannot decide on which one!

oi, i sure know the pain. was strapped for cash last rent day, took some pictures of one F2, put a craigslist ad together, looked at the pictures, deleted the ad, went to the health section and put up an ad for a kidney instead... miraculosly, i managed with the rent somehow, kept the kidney... fingers crossed

Christiaan Phleger · May 15, 2014

Hard to believe but my Sover-ized F2A has been with me for 10 years now after Sover worked on it. Meter is still a bit jumpy but still smooth tough and accurate as the day i got it back from him. Worth every penny.

Richard S. (rich815) · May 15, 2014

RidingWaves said:
Hard to believe but my Sover-ized F2A has been with me for 10 years now after Sover worked on it. Meter is still a bit jumpy but still smooth tough and accurate as the day i got it back from him. Worth every penny.

Interesting you mention this. I have two F2's with DP-1 finders. Cameras work great - one chrome one black. Meters are accurate but a little jumpy and sometimes need some initial prodding to get started. I was thinking to send to Sover to get an overhaul and to hopefully fix the meter jumpiness but if they are working fine and with you reporting the meters still being jumpy even after being "Soverized" I'm hesitant and wondering if it's even needed...thoughts anyone?

Ricardo Miranda · May 15, 2014

Richard:

Only DP-1s from 1975 with serial numbers 60xxxx and above have factory installed wire cladded ring resistors, similar to the ones in the DP-11s. The earlier carbon ring resistors wear out much quicker than the wirewound ones. At their end-of-life, the DP-1 meters tend to be jumpy or stuck at each end. The carbon ring resistors can be cleaned, and brought back to life again, but they will eventually wear out and become jumpy again. The wire cladded ring resistors, however, can last a life time. Some DP-1s had their carbon ring resistors replaced with the wire cladded ring resistors, and they will last a life time too.

From Solver Wong website.

Christiaan Phleger · May 15, 2014

Mine was/is heavily used camera from (I think) former sports pro, it was worked on and slightly modified over the years and the jumpiness is consistently between 1/125 and 1/750 which would be consistent with heavy sports use. I've learned to just meter at 1/60 or 1/2000 and count back if I need between those shutter speeds.

coa_lund · May 15, 2014

I got minne used in 1980, until Rhen hade only a medium-format camera. The F2 has recently got a CLA and new mirror samling. Originally I hade a 35mm f/2 and a 85mm f/1.8 (used). A few Yeats ago I replced the lenses by Möre recent mulicoted lenses.
Carl

Skickat från min Nexus 4 via Tapatalk

Does anyone still use their Nikon F2 regularly?

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