Mechanical jewel, which one? Nikon F2, F, FM2 etc or No Nikon?

Ralph Javins · Jan 17, 2012

Good morning;

How strange. In the original title of this thread, the Original Poster did ask about a "Mechanical Jewel," however, there are all of these recommendations for cameras where not only the lightmeter, but also the shutter is electronically controlled and requires a battery.

narsuitus · Jan 17, 2012

stark_674 said:
I want to shoot with a rellay mechanical jewel, can you give me any other suggestion?
My budget is 300 max, Every suggestion is welcome.

This is an old thread but I will respond to it anyway.

If I wanted a mechanical jewel, I would buy a Leica MP. However, the budgetary constraint excludes this suggestion.

Some of the mechanical cameras I have used and loved over the years are listed below in no particular order.

Leica M1 35mm (no rangefinder and no built-in light meter)
Nikon F 35mm SLR with a standard meterless prism
Nikon F2 35mm SLR with a standard meterless prism or meterless action finder
Nikon F2T 35mm SLR with a standard meterless prism
Argus C3 35mm rangefinder
Minolta Hi-Matic 9 35mm rangefinder (has a built-in light meter)
Canon QL17 GIII 35mm rangefinder (has a built-in light meter)
Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR (has a built-in light meter)
Fujica ST705 35mm SLR (has a built-in light meter)
Mamiya C3 6x6cm medium format
Mamiya C22 6x6cm medium format
Mamiya C220 6x6cm medium format
Fuji 6x7cm medium format rangefinder
Fuji 6x9cm medium format rangefinder
Graflex 4x5 inch view

If I had to pick only one that met the budgetary constraint, I would pick the Nikon F2.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11336821@N00/6307637714/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11336821@N00/5188997398/

stark_674 · Jan 17, 2012

Thank you so much for your post. That's what I want to read in this thread... Finally I bought a Nikon F2A... My choice was between F2A and F2AS and I decide for F2A cause the meter is with a arrow and not with Led... Just for the sensation to use as less electronic is possible... I read lot of posts saying this is a robust camera, and when I shoot with that I understand what this mean... Usually I use a Contax RTSII and I think that now I have two different example of what cameras were in the past. Thanks to all again....

Paul Jenkin · Jan 20, 2012

Nikkormat FTn...?

I had one - built like a tank. Okay it didn't have the pro accessory capabilities of the Nikon range - i.e. it won't take a motor drive, etc but very much the equal in everything that maters. Loved mine....

E. von Hoegh · Jan 20, 2012

Paul Jenkin said:
Nikkormat FTn...?

I had one - built like a tank. Okay it didn't have the pro accessory capabilities of the Nikon range - i.e. it won't take a motor drive, etc but very much the equal in everything that maters. Loved mine....

I use an FtN all the time, it's my point & shoot. I like it better than the F in some ways, the mirror lockup and the self timer that raises the mirror as soon as the shutter release is pressed particularly. I use hearing aid cells, the meter is accurate.

Paul Goutiere · Jan 20, 2012

-Get a nice F2, perhaps a F2A.

-Send it to Sover Wong. Have the body and finder overhauled. (Yes $$$$$)

-Live the dream!

Pumalite · Jan 20, 2012

My Nikkormats. I used them quite often

haziz · Jan 22, 2012

erikg said:
Olympus OM-1n? I don't think "jewel" when pick up an F2, but they are very solid. Sounds like a good choice, plenty to be had. Find a good one and enjoy.

+1 on the Olympus OM1. I have a Leica M3 and an M6 ttl but often find myself grabbing a beat up Olympus OM1 instead.

John_Nikon_F · Jan 26, 2012

Pumalite said:
My Nikkormats. I used them quite often

Time to break out the cotton swabs and denatured alcohol. Nice thick layer of dust ya got going on there.

Not a bad looking set of 'mats, tho.

-J

mohawk51 · Feb 1, 2013

F2

gws68 said:
I have the F3 (two of them) and an F5, and I love the F3 if only for the feeling of the frame advance lever. It's so silky smooth. But I am looking at a F2 Titan with the DP-12 prism in new condition. For my money, the F2 could probably go anywhere and work well -- from -30 below zero to outer space. It's built that well. The F3 is great, but more electronics and perhaps a little more fragile long term. The F2 is a tank that could literally work forever.

The F2 without a doubt....

E. von Hoegh · Feb 1, 2013

stark_674 said:
Hi all,

I want to buy another camera.... Again the Last one.....
I want to buy a strong reliable camera to take shoot with for many and many time.
My choice is going to Nikon F2A (with DP-11) and not F2AS (with DP-12) cause the first uses needle and not leds.
I want to shoot with a rellay mechanical jewel, can you give me any other suggestion?
My budget is 300 max, Every suggestion is welcome.
Thanks in advance

Denny

Compass. http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Compass Made by Jaeger-LeCoultre, who were watchmakers.

Nikons, as great as they are, are no jewels. Nor are Leicas.

elekm · Feb 1, 2013

The F2 is solid, extremely versatile and very reliable. Its modular approach is a winner on all counts. And it doesn't require a battery for anything except the meter.

sangetsu · Feb 3, 2013

I have used pretty much everything Nikon has ever made, but these two are what I have kept.

ic-racer · Feb 3, 2013

Mechanical Jewel? Kind of like a pipe wrench is a mechanical jewel? I always considered those classic Nikons to be heavy-duty tools

fstop · Feb 3, 2013

E. von Hoegh said:
Compass. http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Compass Made by Jaeger-LeCoultre, who were watchmakers.

Nikons, as great as they are, are no jewels. Nor are Leicas.

Yeah but the R5 is a gem.

fstop · Feb 3, 2013

ic-racer said:
Mechanical Jewel? Kind of like a pipe wrench is a mechanical jewel? I always considered those classic Nikons to be heavy-duty tools

Yeah when I go to hang a picture on the wall I pull out my trusty F to pound a nail into it.

kivis · Feb 3, 2013

rthomas said:
My favorite mechanical 35mm camera, hands down, is the original Nikon F with the eye-level (non-metered) prism and a hand-held meter. There is nothing in the viewfinder except your image, and you see 100% of the view the lens sees. The F2 and FM2 have some improvements over the F, which may matter depending on your needs. They are also great cameras, but there's something classic and timeless about the F. Finding one with an eyelevel prism in good shape might be hard within the budget you stated but I am sure there are user bodies out there.

Oh yes.

EASmithV · Feb 3, 2013

The F is pretty fantastic.

mohawk51 · Jun 11, 2013

rthomas said:
My favorite mechanical 35mm camera, hands down, is the original Nikon F with the eye-level (non-metered) prism and a hand-held meter. There is nothing in the viewfinder except your image, and you see 100% of the view the lens sees. The F2 and FM2 have some improvements over the F, which may matter depending on your needs. They are also great cameras, but there's something classic and timeless about the F. Finding one with an eyelevel prism in good shape might be hard within the budget you stated but I am sure there are user bodies out there.

I'm with rthomas. There's nothing like looking through the viewfinder of a meterless prism and all you see is what the lens sees and no other distractions. Kinda makes the viewfinder look "clean"

Craig Swensson · Jun 12, 2013

minolta SR7 + 50 1.4..too late you got the Nikon...

John_Nikon_F · Jun 12, 2013

^Just remember to keep the camera in the case, otherwise, your batteries might go flat. That is, if we're talking about the original SR-7, the battery eater.

-J

John_Nikon_F · Jun 12, 2013

Oh, and, re: the original post, F2A with a DP-11. AI coupling, nearly bulletproof camera which can be configured to whatever you need...

-J

Ralph Javins · Jun 12, 2013

Good morning;

It's true. Old threads never die.

I was surprised to see Craig Swensson's recommendation for the Minolta SR-7 with the ROKKOR 50mm/f:1.4 lens. I would have suggested the original big lens for the SR-7; the AUTO ROKKOR-PF 58mm f:1.4. The MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm f:1.4 will also work well. And, yes, I do agree that the original SR-7 should be kept in its case, as is suggested (without explanation) in the owner's manual. When kept in the dark, the built-in light meter battery lasts a very long time. But if you get any of the models with the Light Meter ON-OFF or ON-OFF-BC rotary switch on the bottom (the SR-7a, SR-7b, the SR-7v, or the SR-7s), that is not a problem. Unless you forget to turn it back off.

But he did say that he had purchased a Nikon F2A, as many had suggested. In any case, with a CLA, any of them will continue on for many years. And it does look like we will also have 35mm film to feed them.

clayne · Jun 12, 2013

F's are classic no-nonsense/no-distraction. F2s are pretty much the same, but nicer advance feel and modern flip-back. F3 gets you aperture priority. I love 'em all.

My regular user (6422xxx serial, mfg. 1960), F + Nikkor-N Auto 35/1.4:

Wife, same camera/lens, Neopan 1600, XTOL 1+1:

Richard S. (rich815) · Jun 13, 2013

clayne said:
F's are classic no-nonsense/no-distraction. F2s are pretty much the same, but nicer advance feel and modern flip-back. F3 gets you aperture priority. I love 'em all.

My regular user (6422xxx serial, mfg. 1960), F + Nikkor-N Auto 35/1.4:

Wife, same camera/lens, Neopan 1600, XTOL 1+1:

Both very pretty.

Mechanical jewel, which one? Nikon F2, F, FM2 etc or No Nikon?

Ralph Javins

narsuitus

Attachments

stark_674

Paul Jenkin

E. von Hoegh

Paul Goutiere

Pumalite

haziz

John_Nikon_F

mohawk51

E. von Hoegh

elekm

sangetsu

ic-racer

fstop

fstop

kivis

EASmithV

mohawk51

Craig Swensson

John_Nikon_F

John_Nikon_F

Ralph Javins

clayne

Attachments

Richard S. (rich815)

Mechanical jewel, which one? Nikon F2, F, FM2 etc or No Nikon?

Attachments

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency