I bought another F2.

[Chan Tran]

Cannot find the bloody things. Well, the only ones I've encountered seem to have been hit with a shovel.

Wow Theo!
I bought my first camera which was a black F2AS back in 1977. In around 1980, the local store had a matching black DE-1 that nobody wanted. It was the time when automation was hot. I paid $42 for the thing. When my F2AS got stolen from me in 1984 I gave it to a friend of mine who owned 2 F2's. I am now looking for an F2AS to replace my stolen one and realize that if I kept the DE-1 it would go well toward the price of an F2AS.

 

[Vilk]

somebody ban these threads! now that i sold all but two of mine, i am about to start buying again... and i haven't shot a frame of film for three years... yup, they're like fountain pens... and yup, it's plain or die!

greeting all fellow F2 junkies!

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Wow Theo!
I bought my first camera which was a black F2AS back in 1977. In around 1980, the local store had a matching black DE-1 that nobody wanted. It was the time when automation was hot. I paid $42 for the thing. ...

There seems to be a high demand for plain prisms, both for the F and the F2 - I think it's because the ring resistor of the metering heads has become a problem. People maybe think that unless the metering head actually works, they'd rather have the sleeker plain prism.

 

[macfred]

Well, when I head out to shoot I like to carry two bodies, one with HP5 for indoors and the other body with a slow or medium speed for outdoors. However, with the issues I've had in the past I tend to lean towards having an extra body or two as back ups that I can use whenever one of the bodies I generally use needs service. I do rotate them out and about too so that the lube inside doesn't gum up. The sad fact of life is that these F2's and F3's are no longer made so at some point the quantity of reliable bodies are going top become minuscule. That's why even though I swore off the F2 when I saw this amazingly clean and new looking body (and the price was right imo) I snapped it up.

Nobody has to apologize profusely for having three or more (F2) cameras - collecting cameras isn't a criminal offense yet ...

 

[marcmarc]

There seems to be a high demand for plain prisms, both for the F and the F2 - I think it's because the ring resistor of the metering heads has become a problem. People maybe think that unless the metering head actually works, they'd rather have the sleeker plain prism.


View attachment 203935 View attachment 203936

Yes, the DE-1 prism was going for a pricey sum 10 years ago when I bought mine but I recall it wasn't as bad as some others I've seen. I think I bought it at the same camera show I bought this recent F2 and at least one other body. I'm sure DE-1 prices have gone from pricey to insanely expensive these days.

 

[Ste_S]

There seems to be a high demand for plain prisms, both for the F and the F2 - I think it's because the ring resistor of the metering heads has become a problem. People maybe think that unless the metering head actually works, they'd rather have the sleeker plain prism.


View attachment 203935 View attachment 203936

I've always fancied picking up a F or F2 at some point. What's the deal with Photomic heads ? Are they all starting to fail from age around now ? I notice the F/F2's that are for sale are much cheaper when they come with Photomic heads

 

[marcmarc]

I've always fancied picking up a F or F2 at some point. What's the deal with Photomic heads ? Are they all starting to fail from age around now ? I notice the F/F2's that are for sale are much cheaper when they come with Photomic heads

As far as I can tell, many of the metered interchangeable heads for the F2 no longer work. Maybe depending on the individual issue some might be able to be repaired, but they can still function as a simple view finder. As mentioned above however, they are kind of bulky so the smaller, sleeker plain DE-1 prism is the choice.

 

[ronnies]

I only have one F2 recently rescued from a local charity shop. It didn't come with an eye level finder at all but a DW-2. Looks like it may have always had the DW-2 as the battery compartment looks unused.

I'm on the lookout for a prism of some sort.

Ronnie

 

[Vincent Peri]

I have four F2A's now, and I'm interested in another, but it comes with 3 lenses I already have. If I buy it, I'll have to sell the lenses... is it worth the effort?

 

[Ap507b]

You know you have it bad for F2's when you buy them broken to get them fixed, then go round looking for better condition covers to make it look better Have 3 working F2's, a Photomic, an A & an AS & another AS that is waiting for the DP-12 to be fixed & a service on the body It's a black one & the one I am looking for better covers for Am spending way more on it than. It will be worth but so what. It's an F2.

As for finders & reliability. As I understand it the late DP-1's & all DP-11's had an improved wire resistor that lasts longer. They are all suspect to the CDS cells degrading with age by now though Sover Wong can replace these cells. I need to book my two finders in for him to replace them, although both seem to be working fine at the moment.

As for buying F2's. I haven't stopped. Want an S next.

 

[Ste_S]

Want an S next.

You and me both. Consigning myself to collecting Nikkormats, it's less stressful on my bank balance

 

[Chan Tran]

As far as I can tell, many of the metered interchangeable heads for the F2 no longer work. Maybe depending on the individual issue some might be able to be repaired, but they can still function as a simple view finder. As mentioned above however, they are kind of bulky so the smaller, sleeker plain DE-1 prism is the choice.

I found the plain prism doesn't look as good on the F2 as on the F. It was the reason why I didn't use my DE-1 that often.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I've always fancied picking up a F or F2 at some point. What's the deal with Photomic heads ? Are they all starting to fail from age around now ? I notice the F/F2's that are for sale are much cheaper when they come with Photomic heads

The aperture coupling prong on non-AI lenses connects to the lever on the heads for the F2 Photomic, F2S, and F2SB. Through this mechanism, whenever the aperture ring is moved there is a corresponding movement on the ring resistor in the head (it acts as a simple potentiometer in the metering circuit). Over time, the surface of this ring resistor wears out.

Sover Wong repairs them (or replaces them); Stephen Gandy of Cameraquest does this as well.

 

[GarageBoy]

DE1 or SB/AS prisms for me. Sucks that Marty ruined your camera - what did he do?

 

[barzune]

Nikon F2,...Brough Superior,... TR3a...
Wonderful, beautiful examples of mechanical engineering.
Maybe even a simple Timex watch...

Like a "Trophy Wife", having is not the same as enjoying all the moving parts.

 

[narsuitus]

Three is the maximum number of working Nikon F2 cameras I have ever owned.

However, if I ever found one in excellent condition for a ridiculously low price. I would buy it.


Nikon F2 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Theo Sulphate]

The F2 on the left is defective (PC cap is missing). Give it to me.

 

[Vincent Peri]

The F2 on the left is defective (PC cap is missing). Give it to me.

Hmm... fat chance of that
happening...

 

[marcmarc]

This last weekend I decided to test out my "new" F2 as well as test out my other two bodies. I shot a roll in each noting the shutter speed on every shot from 1/2000 down to 1/30 the slowest I could get to. So far my first roll in one of the older bodies reviled that only the 1/30 and 1/60 speeds are working. All the other frames on the roll were completely blank. Stay tuned for further details.

 

[Chan Tran]

I was looking to buy an F2 but I decided not to. Instead I bought a Microsof Surface Pro. The F2 would probably last for the rest of my life but would see very little use if any and the Surface while would last only for a few years would get used everyday.

 

[macfred]

I was looking to buy an F2 but I decided not to. Instead I bought a Microsof Surface Pro ...

Personal care product? Can't argue with that!

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...only the 1/30 and 1/60 speeds are working...I

Easiest way to check out a shutter is open the back and trip it at all speeds. For a good capping test, remove the lens, point the camera at a long horizontal fluorescent tube, and check whether you can see the light from the tube across the entire film gate at each shutter speed. Also, for sticky aperture test, set lens to smallest opening, set shutter to fastest, then trip shutter to ensure you can see light through that small aperture opening.

 

[marcmarc]

Quick update. I tested out all three bodies and the newest one I purchased a couple weeks ago looks good. The 2000 speed looks about a stop under and a couple other speeds vary slightly but not enough to be an issue. Of my older two bodies one the shutter only works on the 60 and 30 speeds, all other speeds it looks like the shutter didn't work at all, these areas of the film are completely blank. The other body looks great, consistent exposures across the dial. So I have two reliable bodies and one door stop. I can't wait to get out and start shooting these again.

 

[flavio81]

Ok F2 pornaholics,

Which is the true classic? F or F2? debate.

I'll start by saying that the F has a far more refined shutter sound and the shutter seems to be gentler (mirror nothwithstanding).

 

[Vincent Peri]

I have 4 F2A's. I admit I've never used a Nikon F, but they are so ugly.

Hmm... They're ugly all right...
like ugly on an ape... uh, let
me rephrase that...