Holy Trinity of Manual Focus Nikon SLRs...

[George Mann]

They are all larger and heavier than they need to be.

Which is exactly why my ultra reliable 3rd generation Nikon FM is my goto mechanical camera despite owning an F2.

 

[brian steinberger]

I've never understood the "I need a camera that works without batteries, so I'm not stuck with a dead camera if the battery fails" thing. You carry spare film don't you?

For me (and I’m sure others) the no battery thing is more about not having electronics that can fail and leave you with a dead camera. These cameras are all getting older. I prefer to use an electronic camera to shoot in aperture priority mode, but have both because why not?! FM2 and FE.

 

[abruzzi]

Which is exactly why my ultra reliable 3rd generation Nikon FM is my goto mechanical camera despite owning an F2.

The F2 is refreshingly light after schlepping a Rollei 6006 around all day, but my favorite light camera is the Pentax MX.

For the F2, somehow I’ve ended up with four of them. 2 with the original finder, one black, the other chrome, and two with the last finder for pre-AI lenses, again one black one chrome. Those are F2SB models and are essentially the same metering as the F2AS but for pre-AI lenses.

I’ve never had an F, but if I got one I’d want the unmetered finder. I have an F3 and F4, but never really use them. My collection of AI lenses is far more limited than my pre-AI.

 

[flavio81]

I've never used a F4 nor held one. I would like to own one some day.

I think the F4 is awesome, but, truth to be told, a 6x4.5 SLR is barely bigger and heavier and will give you far higher image quality...

 

[flavio81]

Those are F2SB models and are essentially the same metering as the F2AS but for pre-AI lenses.

I’ve never had an F, but if I got one I’d want the unmetered finder. I have an F3 and F4, but never really use them. My collection of AI lenses is far more limited than my pre-AI.

All great choices. I sold nearly all my Nikons (i've had F, F3, FE, FM, FM2, EL, EL2, Nikkormat FT2, FTN, EM, FG) and kept my F2AS and FM, although the latter will be replaced by a FE one day.

Indeed the F is easier to use with the unmetered finder. I always thought it had the best shutter noise of all Nikon cameras except for the mechanical Nikkormats, which really have a satisfying sound.

I also prefer pre-AI lenses, that's where the Nikon soul dwells.

 

[images39]

The FM3A has become quite expensive.

You can say that again. It seems that FM3a prices have been steadily rising since it was released. It appears that the market supports this. Sure wish I had gotten one earlier on.

Dale

 

[Cholentpot]

I think the F4 is awesome, but, truth to be told, a 6x4.5 SLR is barely bigger and heavier and will give you far higher image quality...

I've found my 645 camera to be on part with 6x6 and higher to be honest. Also the original FE is overlooked. I suspect Nikon over engineered their first electro mechanical camera. It's one of my most used SLRs.

 

[abruzzi]

Indeed the F is easier to use with the unmetered finder. I always thought it had the best shutter noise of all Nikon cameras except for the mechanical Nikkormats, which really have a satisfying sound.

I also prefer pre-AI lenses, that's where the Nikon soul dwells.

Actually my first camera was a Nikkormat FTn that I bought used in the late 80's when I started college. It had the Nikkor H 50/2, and I shot with that for ~15 years until I thought digital was taking over. Then it went in a drawer and forgotten for another 15 years. When I pilled it out, it still worked perfectly. So I have a soft spot for the early Nikkormats. I have a number of them to go along with the F2.

(actually a lot of credit for the Nikkormat reliability probably goes to the Copal square shutter, which seems to be pretty bulletproof.)

 

[ic-racer]

Yes, FM3a has become a collectors item, so I specifically avoid paying for one of those. Plus, its service procedures are less-well documented on the internet and in print.

 

[George Mann]

I also prefer pre-AI lenses, that's where the Nikon soul dwells.

Yes. My 50mm f2 Ai also has this soul which it shares with the H.C. Auto version.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Concerning MF Nikon I prefer my FM2n. It and the F5 are all I'll ever need.

 

[Chan Tran]

Concerning MF Nikon I prefer my FM2n. It and the F5 are all I'll ever need.

I broke my beloved F3HP so the F5 and FM2n are all I have now.

 

[Paul Howell]

Which is exactly why my ultra reliable 3rd generation Nikon FM is my goto mechanical camera despite owning an F2.

The FM was carried by more than a few PJs, Steve McCurry use a FM to take Afgan Girl with Green Eyes.

 

[Cholentpot]

The FM was carried by more than a few PJs, Steve McCurry use a FM to take Afgan Girl with Green Eyes.

and the 105 2.5 greatestlensofalltime

 

[Bruce Butterfield]

I've found my 645 camera to be on part with 6x6 and higher to be honest. Also the original FE is overlooked. I suspect Nikon over engineered their first electro mechanical camera. It's one of my most used SLRs.

Absolutely agree about the FE, I think its relative simplicity vs FE2, FM2 and others in that class as well as the near perfect viewfinder make this my default aperture priority SLR.

 

[Cholentpot]

Absolutely agree about the FE, I think its relative simplicity vs FE2, FM2 and others in that class as well as the near perfect viewfinder make this my default aperture priority SLR.

Also has the flipup tab. Only my F3 has that tab too.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I know some folks think the older FE workhorse was better than the newer FE2, but I wasn't one of them. I needed a 35mm backup camera to my F2 for shooting mainly candid shots at wedding receptions while my Hasselblads did the regular wedding shots. I bought the FE2 for two main reasons. One was the internal braking system for the mirror and the fast flash sync speed of 1/250 of a second. Oh, and dedicated flash metering helps for weddings also. Now, if I were just shooting family stuff, people, nature and landscapes I could have got by with just about any Nikon camera, but for weddings the Nikon FE2 was a Godsend.

 

[Cholentpot]

I know some folks think the older FE workhorse was better than the newer FE2, but I wasn't one of them. I needed a 35mm backup camera to my F2 for shooting mainly candid shots at wedding receptions while my Hasselblads did the regular wedding shots. I bought the FE2 for two main reasons. One was the internal braking system for the mirror and the fast flash sync speed of 1/250 of a second. Oh, and dedicated flash metering helps for weddings also. Now, if I were just shooting family stuff, people, nature and landscapes I could have got by with just about any Nikon camera, but for weddings the Nikon FE2 was a Godsend.

Yeah but I got the FE for free so I'm going to be biased and say it's better.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Got it! If it's free it's definitely better. The money you saved buys film to feed it.

 

[David R Williams]

I'm a bit of an F2 fan, so although I also have a lovely F3-HP, my preferred top 3 would be:

1. F2 eye level (no meter, no viewfinder clutter, smaller, lighter, and silky smooth to use (Sover Wong'd)
2. F2A - if I want/need a meter, I strongly prefer a needle over LED's (also SW'd)
3. F2AS - custom spot-meter pattern installed by Sover, so it's great under tough lighting conditions, and LED's are quite useful under low lighting conditions

...and all of which work beautifully with all Ai Nikkor and Zeiss ZF.2 lenses.

 

[Craig]

1. F2AS - custom spot-meter pattern installed by Sover, so it's great under tough lighting conditions, and LED's are quite useful under low lighting conditions

Kind of sounds like what an F6's meter can do.

 

[David R Williams]

Kind of sounds like what an F6's meter can do.

Absolutely, but with an entirely different shooting experience.

(Can I include an F6 as an alternative third choice manual focus SLR if I don't have any AF lenses for it?)

 

[chuckroast]

Nikon F "Apollo," Nikon F2AS and Nikon F3:

View attachment 410417

Nearly exactly the same as my Nikon choices except my F2 has an original DP1 finder. Also, my F and F2 are not as shiny and pristine as yours.

I just got my Apollo FtN back from ICT in California where it was CLAed and calibrated. Works like a champ now.

The F3 should have been the height of mechanical F designs except for that stupid LCD illuminator button. ICT has a mod that replaces the button with something more substantial but my F3 is so clean I hate to modify it.

 

[skahde]

Or get an FM3a that works with or without batteries.

Is used a FM2 for many years and, guess what, I always carried a spare battery for the meter because I hate to rely on educated guesswork aka sunny 16.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Is used a FM2 for many years and, guess what, I always carried a spare battery ...

I don't see much difference between having a few rolls of film in the gadget bag and having a replacement battery in the bag. They are both consumables. 'Course if I am walking in the woods with just a camera then having batteries with me is a bit of a PITA.

Then there is just replacing the batteries every year - I have a continuing New Year's resolution to try it sometime. Luckily I haven't had a leaker (yet).