My Nikon F2 cameras go "Clack" on mirror down -- do yours?

Trask · Sep 20, 2015

I have two Nikon F2 cameras, and just re-foamed them which significantly reduced the mirror noise when the mirror rises -- a mild whumpff. But for both cameras, when the mirror returns to its at-rest position "down", it makes a noticeable "clack" that is sharp and readily noticed. I've looked into the mirror box and see nothing that I could damp to decrease the noise (and indeed the instructions for re-foaming the camera say nothing about dampening the mirror on the down-stroke). The F2 cameras sound sharper, higher in tonality than a Nikon F.

Am I alone in having F2 cameras that sound like this? It's really rather annoying, and unexpected in such a quality camera.

Jerevan · Sep 20, 2015

It is loud, that's how it is, nothing to do about it. Unless you put it in a blimp.

I have on occasion woken the dead, frightened babies and annoyed large crowds (not at the same time though) just by trying to make a simple photograph.

If you don't like the noise, get a Rolleiflex.

Xmas · Sep 20, 2015

They are not that quiet even with mirror lockup either.

Les Sarile · Sep 20, 2015

Trask said:
Am I alone in having F2 cameras that sound like this? It's really rather annoying, and unexpected in such a quality camera.

But it is a sound of quality . . .

gone · Sep 20, 2015

I've never owned an F2, but I like the sound of the Nikkormat shutters. The EL models have a loud shutter though. Loud shutters and weight are the reasons why I modified an FG to shoot non AI lenses, The shutter on these cameras is nearly inaudible compared to the big SLRs.

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2015

Les Sarile said:
But it is a sound of quality . . .

Yes, but it does not have the resonance and sound quality of a Hasselblad KA-Thunk!

snikulin · Sep 20, 2015

Hopefully not off topic: slow mo video of a modern Canon's shutter is quite educational and show even todays mechanics have large recoil action:

StephenT · Sep 21, 2015

Perfectly normal. Enjoy it!

Trask · Sep 21, 2015

OK, thanks folks -- clearly my F2s are fine and I've just got to adapt. I appreciate everyone giving me the benefit of their experience.

flavio81 · Sep 21, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
In the Nikon line, the FTN, FT2, FT3 Nikkormats are the smoothest operating and most rugged, and the most generally fast and useful..

I disagree. The vertical shutter of the Nikkormats has greater vibration than the one in the Nikon F and F2. You can feel it.

As for the F2, i find it has very, very good mirror damping.

To the OP: The Nikon F2 is always noisier than the Nikon F. The F is very quiet!

AgX · Sep 21, 2015

Trask, your question makes one think the damping of the upper mirror arrest has produced a nasty sound at the lower arrest.

Something even with a lot of imagination does not make sense to me. The lower arrest is (typically) needed for adjusting the mirror angle and thus is of the solid kind. I guees that sound of today was just somehow masked by the sound coming from "upstairs".

It could be that not the arrest is the cause for that sound but one fault in the mirror-lowering mechanics.
You should try to compare with a same-model, same-state sample.

cuthbert · Sep 21, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
In the Nikon line, the FTN, FT2, FT3 Nikkormats are the smoothest operating and most rugged, and the most generally fast and useful.

The "recoil" of the vertical shutter of the FT3 is more or less the same of a Praktica MTL, the first FM is slightly better though.

Xmas · Sep 21, 2015

AgX said:
Trask, your question makes one think the damping of the upper mirror arrest has produced a nasty sound at the lower arrest.

Something even with a lot of imagination does not make sense to me. The lower arrest is (typically) needed for adjusting the mirror angle and thus is of the solid kind. I guees that sound of today was just somehow masked by the sound coming from "upstairs".

It could be that not the arrest is the cause for that sound but one fault in the mirror-lowering mechanics.
You should try to compare with a same-model, same-state sample.

When I try my F2s with the mirror locked up they don't sound a lot quieter.
A canon VI or P is similarly loud...

The shutter blind brakes can be noisy?

macrorie · Sep 22, 2015

I generally think of the F2 shutter sound as a "bark", compared with the F3 or Nikkormats.

DREW WILEY · Sep 22, 2015

There's an easy cure for that. Get a Pentax 6x7. You'll never complain about a Nikon mirror clack again!

Sirius Glass · Sep 22, 2015

All of those mirror sounds provides a comfortable and satisfying sound of capturing the photograph. I am partial to the Hasselblad KA-Thunk! and the Zip-Clunk of a Speed Graphic or Graflex focal plane shutter.

Trask · Sep 26, 2015

AgX said:
It could be that not the arrest is the cause for that sound but one fault in the mirror-lowering mechanics.
You should try to compare with a same-model, same-state sample.

I've got two similar F2 cameras, and they both sound the same. I guess that's just the way they are!

My Nikon F2 cameras go "Clack" on mirror down -- do yours?

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