Does anyone still use their Nikon F2 regularly?

[TheTrailTog]

Yep, in my bag right now I have an F2 plain prism loaded with Tri-X and an F2 Photomic loaded with FP4+.

 

[flavio81]

I still have six F2s in my arsenal (four F2ASs, an F2A and a plain F2). .

Last week i sold my F2AS and then i "couldn't fight it anymore" and bought this week a F2A model.

Does anyone like the F2A model better than the F2AS model? I had the "AS" (led readout, selenium cell) but i find the analog needle more comfortable in the viewfinder (less distracting), plus I feel rather assured that the battery will last longer (than in the LED model).

 

[ColColt]

The F2AS has silicon photo diode cells from all I've read-not selenium but, I agree about the F2A.

 

[cuthbert]

Last week i sold my F2AS and then i "couldn't fight it anymore" and bought this week a F2A model.

Does anyone like the F2A model better than the F2AS model? I had the "AS" (led readout, selenium cell) but i find the analog needle more comfortable in the viewfinder (less distracting), plus I feel rather assured that the battery will last longer (than in the LED model).

If I have to use the camera in strong light I see the lightmeter better with the A, this is my current setup for my A:

The pic is taken with my LX, M85mm f2 and Agfa Precisa.

 

[flavio81]

Nice lens cuthbert

The F2AS does not have a "selenium" meter; that was my mistake.

 

[ColColt]

I had a difficult time the other day when I put my first roll of film through the F2AS seeing the meter also. It's much better with a needle.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

No problems with the DP-12 here. I'm the opposite. Even though I started out on a Nikomat FTn, my main driver was an FM2n for about 13 years. So, the DP-12 meter readout is what I'm familiar with and what I prefer.

-J

 

[raylinds]

I have an F2AS and an F2A that I use regularly. I keep one loaded with Ilford P5+ and the other with Velvia 50.

 

[blockend]

Does anyone like the F2A model better than the F2AS model?

The F2AS is the only F2 I owned, and I didn't like it at all, it just felt wrong compared to my old F. It's a good solid camera but we never had the basis of a long-lasting relationship, and I quickly sold it on.

 

[ransel]

I have a roll of APX 25 in my F2 right now. Bought the camera used in 1982 (I think it is a 1977 model). Finally had to break down and buy an ocular for it a couple months ago, to help with the focusing. It's one of those cameras I'll never part with...though I think I prefer shooting with my FM.

 

[ColColt]

Different strokes I suppose. I have the F and F2 series and love them both with the F2 getting a little more love. First time I handled and shot the F2 Photomic it was instant love at first click...nothing's changed. I prefer the needle over the LED dots while others like it better.

 

[onre]

I'm thinking of buying an F2. In my job I constantly evaluate old photographic equipment for condition and possible resale. F2's are probably the most durable things I see. Usually the light seals are gone, which is expected at this age, but very rarely there are any further problems. Even 1/2000 tends to be at least close.

It might actually make a nice travel camera. One 35 mm, one 50 mm and one 135 mm would be all that's needed. Oh, and a larger camera bag.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

For F2's, I've chosen the non-A heads for the same reason I chose the Nikkormat FT2: the ability to meter fully open with pre-AI lenses. The F2A, F2AS, and FT3 require stop-down meeting with pre-AI lenses. Having to do the aperture ring twist isn't an inconvenience, it's a tradition.


The only lens-related advantage I see of the F2A, F2AS, FT3 is the ability to use the very latest lenses that don't have the prong.

 

[ColColt]

I don't know that the F2 has light seals, per se but rather, dust seals. The one problem for having light leaks will come from a bad shutter. Case in point is the F2A I have that had to be sent to Sover. The curtains were apart as shown and not suppose to look that way. My first roll of film though it yielded half of the frames light struck in the same spot and this was the reason.

You can see the curtain on the right is somewhat bunched up.

_DEF5144a by David Fincher, on Flickr

 

[onre]

The mirror seals are for light, I think. They're also usually gone. My "quick test" involves pushing down the mirror seal with a q-tip - if it does not return instantly or sticks even a little bit, I change all mirror and rear cover seals.

 

[BradleyK]

Of course I still use my F2s (note earlier post). A Soverized F2AS, loaded with E100VS, along with an F5 body (E100G) and 28 F2, 50 F1.2, 85 F1.4 and 180 F2.8 ED (AIS) lenses sit at the ready in one of my Domke F2 bags. As well, a meter-less (Soverized) F2 is currently loaded with Tri-X, as is an additional F2AS/MD2-MB1 .

 

[cooltouch]

I own two F2s -- one with the DE-1 eye level finder and one with the old Photomic head. They still get used, although not as much as I'd like. I love 'em all the same, though. My favorite Nikons.

 

[Xmas]

The mirror seals are for light, I think. They're also usually gone. My "quick test" involves pushing down the mirror seal with a q-tip - if it does not return instantly or sticks even a little bit, I change all mirror and rear cover seals.

Suggest David is correct the door and body have triple baffles and don't need foam the mirror box needs foam to stop light leaks rather than as a buffer.
People fit foam to door interface for dust sealing.
I remove it.
The early Canons like the VI and P don't need foam.
The F2s are not abnormal.

 

[onre]

Well, that is one solution. I usually just presume that the engineers knew what they were doing. Also, the idea of keeping dust outside the camera sounds like a good one.

 

[CMoore]

I have had my house torn apart the last few months for Paint/Floor/Shower work...so I have not been using much film. I need to somehow dig up the money to build a darkroom.
If not for THAT.....I am kind of stuck in Canon Land at the moment using my A-1 and AT-1 for most all B&W film.
I have the (hope i am getting the nomenclature right) DP-1 and DP-2, which I guess makes it an F2S. Any of you guys have much experience with the "S".?
Anybody prefer their F2S over the others for some reason.?
I have not handled mine enough to really know what to think yet.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

The F2AS is the only F2 I owned, and I didn't like it at all, it just felt wrong compared to my old F. It's a good solid camera but we never had the basis of a long-lasting relationship, and I quickly sold it on.

Funny how we each have our preferences based on almost nothing more than just "feel". First time I took out and used my F2 mounted with an old version 105/2.5 for shooting a Tony Hawk skateboarding show I could not believe how wonderful the balance, heft, and overall feel was for me. Even the shutter's click and the advance felt great. If anything it felt and resembled for me more of a fine rangefinder Leica than a typical SLR. Being mostly used to more modern Nikon bodies (like N80, FM/FE2 and F3) and Contax SLR bodies I guess it's no real surprise being the F2 is often felt to be the peak of balance between hand-made and metal components vs newer versions after that and thus might feel more like a finely-made German RF than a more modern SLR. I don't use it all the time but often it calls to me and I take it out for the day and love it...

 

[cooltouch]

I have the (hope i am getting the nomenclature right) DP-1 and DP-2, which I guess makes it an F2S. Any of you guys have much experience with the "S".?

Anybody prefer their F2S over the others for some reason.?
I have not handled mine enough to really know what to think yet.

I have the F2S, and yes, the "S" has the DP-2. This camera was Nikon's first foray into the use of LEDs in a pro-level F-series camera. They work fine, although they are somewhat large and not as discrete as the mere circle, + and - found in the F2SB (DP-11) and F2AS (DP-12) finders. The DP-2 is also quite a bit larger than the later finders with that odd hump on top. What makes the "S", "SB" and "AS" finders most useful is their ability to meter down to 10 seconds. Which I do find useful on occasion. Yes, I wouldn't mind owning one of the later models, but because of rarity (SB) and desirability (AS), they tend to sell at large premiums compared to the "S". So I'm happy with mine for now. Strange hump and all.

 

[CMoore]

Yeah...an "AS" meter (if you can find one) is as much as a F2AS body.
At this point in time and money, I think the "S" is as far as I will ever move up the Nikon F2 Alphabet.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... I think the "S" is as far as I will ever move up the Nikon F2 Alphabet.

By choice that's as far as I've gone, though the F2SB would be where I stop. The A and AS don't appeal to me, as I mentioned above.

As for bodies, I've stopped at the F4 - the last pro Nikon with all controls being discrete and external.

The last new Nikon I bought was the FM3a.