Nikon F Dilemma

waynecrider · Aug 2, 2022

I starting to believe my recent KEH deal is not a F2 as advertised.
First off, the back is removable, and in trying to find out what model it might be I keep seeing information which seems to be a SP rangefinder body with a Photomic head installed which gave us the “F”.
Now the other strange thing is that after looking at the “F” variations, including the above, none of them have a switch with a dual setting, at the bottom of the mirror box. Anyone have an idea about this? I do not see this switch in any other body picture.
So does anyone any information about what I may actually have?

Mark Crabtree · Aug 2, 2022

Looks like an F. You may know that is the mirror lock switch. If it is different than the normal, there were some sold with modified mirror locks that didn't require wasting a frame.

4season · Aug 2, 2022

waynecrider said:
I starting to believe my recent KEH deal is not a F2 as advertised.
First off, the back is removable, and in trying to find out what model it might be I keep seeing information which seems to be a SP rangefinder body with a Photomic head installed which gave us the “F”.
Now the other strange thing is that after looking at the “F” variations, including the above, none of them have a switch with a dual setting, at the bottom of the mirror box. Anyone have an idea about this? I do not see this switch in any other body picture.
So does anyone any information about what I may actually have?

That's a Nikon F, and the "switch" is a mirror lockup, but the mirror doesn't actually go up / stay up until you take a photo.

jimjm · Aug 2, 2022

You've got a Nikon F body. The round knob/lever near the bottom of the lens mount is for mirror lockup. All F bodies have this. Turn the lever so it aligns with the upper dot then wind the film and fire the shutter. The mirror will stay in the up position so you can then wind and take subsequent shots without any mirror vibration. This is done for time exposures and astro photography. A number of companies and repairpersons made modifications to this feature so that you would not have to waste the first shot to lock up the mirror.
If you wanted an F2, KEH should take this back and send you what you paid for.

benjiboy · Aug 2, 2022

4season said:
That's a Nikon F, and the "switch" is a mirror lockup, but the mirror doesn't actually go up / stay up until you take a photo.

An F 2 has a hinged back and doesn't have an "F" on the front of the prism, if you paid for an F 2 Wayne send it back.

Paul Howell · Aug 2, 2022

Also top shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second. Most F were not factory mod for motor drive, the F2 was motor drive enabled from the factory.

waynecrider · Aug 2, 2022

Thanks guys. Appreciate the info.

waynecrider · Aug 2, 2022

Paul Howell said:
Also top shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second. Most F were not factory mod for motor drive, the F2 was motor drive enabled from the factory.

So this a 1/2000 shutter?

Paul Howell · Aug 2, 2022

Did OP post an image of the shutter speed dial? My post is just the fact that one of the upgrades from F to F2 was increase, or is it a decrease, of a shutter speed of 1/1000th to i a second to 1/2000.

waynecrider · Aug 2, 2022

The Photomic head only goes to 1000th, and not even that cause it doesn’t work.
The battery cover won’t come off so maybe I’ll get lucky when I get it off.

GregY · Aug 2, 2022

That's an F....

reddesert · Aug 2, 2022

An F2 says "F2" in front of the serial number and has some other notable differences. For example the shutter release is towards the front of the body on the F2, and more towards the rear on the F. This was an "as-is" purchase right? I would still expect them to get the F vs F2 correct.

It is an internet myth that the F is an SLR in a Nikon SP rangefinder body casting. They sort of look alike, but the F is larger/wider, pieces like the tripod hole are in different places, etc.

GregY · Aug 2, 2022

F2 always have the same "Apollo" parts as late F.... plastic tipped film advance. Black plastic self timer lever. No F on the prism. Yours is a 1971 or earlier F.

mshchem · Aug 2, 2022

waynecrider said:
So this a 1/2000 shutter?

You definitely have an F body. The F has a max speed of 1/1000. The F photomic finders housed a mercury cell, today you can use a zinc air cell in an adapter, or an alkaline cell (meter won't be exactly correct)

If the finder is actually a F2 photomic then you have a mixed situation (the F2 finder will show a top speed of 1/2000)

mshchem · Aug 2, 2022

F FTN BOXY BUT SEXY

F2 Photomic easier, still sexy uses silver or alkaline cells, housed in the body

reddesert · Aug 3, 2022

waynecrider said:
The Photomic head only goes to 1000th, and not even that cause it doesn’t work.
The battery cover won’t come off so maybe I’ll get lucky when I get it off.

The F and F2 prisms are mechanically attached to the body's shutter speed dial, so they should still be able to set the shutter speed to the right value even when the batteries are dead.

If you post a larger picture showing the whole body and finder, people can tell you exactly which version you have. Each of the F and F2 has several generations of finders.

waynecrider · Aug 3, 2022

mshchem said:
You definitely have an F body. The F has a max speed of 1/1000. The F photomic finders housed a mercury cell, today you can use a zinc air cell in an adapter, or an alkaline cell (meter won't be exactly correct)

If the finder is actually a F2 photomic then you have a mixed situation (the F2 finder will show a top speed of 1/2000)

It shows 1000th.

flavio81 · Aug 3, 2022

waynecrider said:
I starting to believe my recent KEH deal is not a F2 as advertised.
First off, the back is removable, and in trying to find out what model it might be I keep seeing information which seems to be a SP rangefinder body with a Photomic head installed which gave us the “F”.
Now the other strange thing is that after looking at the “F” variations, including the above, none of them have a switch with a dual setting, at the bottom of the mirror box. Anyone have an idea about this? I do not see this switch in any other body picture.
So does anyone any information about what I may actually have?

This is clearly a Nikon F.

Do you mean you bought what was advertised as a F2 from KEH and got a Nikon F?

Amazing that KEH could make such a mistake.

Huss · Aug 3, 2022

flavio81 said:
This is clearly a Nikon F.

Do you mean you bought what was advertised as a F2 from KEH and got a Nikon F?

Amazing that KEH could make such a mistake.

Companies make mistakes. Samys camera sold me a Pentax KX film camera. At least that was what the ad said. They sent me a beat up KX digital camera!

Paul Howell · Aug 3, 2022

If it has a F2 head then who ever listed it saw the 1/2000 and did not explore any further.

Les Sarile · Aug 3, 2022

waynecrider said:
It shows 1000th.

So is it a keeper?

flavio81 · Aug 3, 2022

Les Sarile said:
So is it a keeper?

He got the 1000th Nikon F ever produced!!!

Camera Collector Scorecard:

LesDMess 1 - 0 waynecrider

250swb · Aug 3, 2022

I'm struggling, it seems unlikely but not impossible for KEH to sell an F as an F2, and equally bewildering that the OP can buy an F when he wants an F2. Is this a case where 'shit baffles brains' and somebody hasn't looked twice before pressing 'Buy'?

Huss · Aug 3, 2022

250swb said:
I'm struggling, it seems unlikely but not impossible for KEH to sell an F as an F2, and equally bewildering that the OP can buy an F when he wants an F2. Is this a case where 'shit baffles brains' and somebody hasn't looked twice before pressing 'Buy'?

I'm giving the OP the benefit of the doubt, because as I mentioned I had a store ship me a digital Pentax KX when in their ad - that I used to press "Buy" - they described a film Pentax KX. And had a stock photo of a film Pentax KX.

logan2z · Aug 3, 2022

Huss said:
Companies make mistakes. Samys camera sold me a Pentax KX film camera. At least that was what the ad said. They sent me a beat up KX digital camera!

True, I just received a Diane Arbus book listed as 'New' on Amazon that arrived unsealed and looking like someone had dragged it behind their car for a few blocks. Third party seller, but fulfilled and shipped by Amazon.

Nikon F Dilemma

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