Nikon F early and later

mweintraub · May 12, 2015

So, I have accumulated two chrome Nikon Fs with standard prisms. One is an early 64x serial and the other is 72x. The 72x one has a back that's black, which is strange because the rest if chrome.

Well, my question is, if you had these two, which would you keep if you had to sell one? Not sure I even want to do this, but was just thinking about it. They are such wonderful machines.

frank · May 12, 2015

Backs are easy to switch between cameras.

bdial · May 12, 2015

Due to the point made by frank, the 64x might be the more valuable, as it's more likely to be all original.
Not sure how much that really matters on a "user" camera though.

Somewhere out there is a circa 71 chrome model with a black "Nikon" nameplate that got there because I switched it with an otherwise dead black F i had access to at the time. It got stolen a while later.

mweintraub · May 12, 2015

Yeah, I figured the back was swapped at some point.

jimjm · May 12, 2015

If cosmetic and functional condition was equal, I'd keep the 64x model as the older bodies tend to be less common. I have a 64x body from approx 1961, just because I wanted a Nikon F that was older than me.

Nikon made minor changes to the F series throughout production - Richard de Stoutz's site at http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon-f.html has some great information, if you haven't seen it.

Unless it was an Apollo F from the last 2 years of production... the plastic-tipped wind lever would be a big plus for me.

kivis · May 12, 2015

holding on to my 64xxxx

250swb · May 13, 2015

mweintraub said:
Well, my question is, if you had these two, which would you keep if you had to sell one? .

Nikon F's are so cheap that unless you are destitute keep both, one for B&W and one for colour.

Steve

darkosaric · May 13, 2015

Keep both, they are beautiful cameras. I had 2 F's - sold one and I regret it.

Steve Smith · May 13, 2015

I have two (one black and one chrome) and I'm keeping both of them!

Steve.

Lamar · May 13, 2015

Agreed, keep 'em both if you can. I have three of them, one chrome standard prism and one Photomic FTn each, black and chrome. Love the looks I get from folks when I'm shooting with the Photomic finders. There was a couple at an airshow a few weeks ago with his and hers matching D4's with 70-200 f/2.8s. ($$$$) They kept taking looks at my F while I was shooting. Probably trying to figure out why in the world I would be using that old thing at an airshow.....

darkosaric · May 13, 2015

Recently friend of mine visited me - I have lots of cameras, including Leicas, but he immediately looked at nikon F with the Photomic finder and 50/f2 nikkor-H and took a picture of it and post it on his facebook .

narsuitus · May 13, 2015

mweintraub said:
Well, my question is, if you had these two, which would you keep if you had to sell one?

Back in 1971, I had to sell one of my two Nikon F bodies. I sold the one that put the most cash in my pocket.

I used the cash to buy a Nikon F2. I am still shooting with that F2.

Why do you want to sell one of the two you own?

https://flic.kr/p/8YbHeq

mweintraub · May 13, 2015

You guys are no help!

Yeah, I have no plans on selling either, might even give one to my cousin who wanted an F with a standard prism anyway.... but that's only if he'll use it!

heyDucky · May 13, 2015

My F2 was stolen and I've missed it a lot since then. I say keep both of them -- having one for black and white and one for color is the optimal situation, as someone else stated. Or give one to me to replace my long-gone F2

mweintraub · May 13, 2015

jimjm said:
If cosmetic and functional condition was equal, I'd keep the 64x model as the older bodies tend to be less common. I have a 64x body from approx 1961, just because I wanted a Nikon F that was older than me.

Nikon made minor changes to the F series throughout production - Richard de Stoutz's site at http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon-f.html has some great information, if you haven't seen it.

Unless it was an Apollo F from the last 2 years of production... the plastic-tipped wind lever would be a big plus for me.

I've seen that site, but I've seen a similar set of pages that goes into very deep detail about differences between each part but I can't find that site anymore! Any ideas where it is?

heyDucky said:
My F2 was stolen and I've missed it a lot since then. I say keep both of them -- having one for black and white and one for color is the optimal situation, as someone else stated. Or give one to me to replace my long-gone F2

Such a great off, but I think I'll pass.

chip j · May 13, 2015

I've had 5 Fs, 4 of the them new, and they all developed shutter-curtain-bounce(dark line @ right edge of frame). You couldn't pay me to take one.

Theo Sulphate · May 13, 2015

mweintraub said:
I've seen that site, but I've seen a similar set of pages that goes into very deep detail about differences between each part but I can't find that site anymore! Any ideas where it is?

There's an indirect way to get to the typology of each part. This is how I do it from that site:

1. Select "Bodies"
2. Select "All my Nikon F bodies"
3. Gasp in amazement
4. Pick any body
5. The list of part variations is on the right, e.g. "self timer lever, type 3"
6. Select any one of those parts to see the complete typology.

mweintraub · May 13, 2015

This is what I have.

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Theo Sulphate · May 13, 2015

The simplicity and ruggedness of those cameras is so appealing. I like the Nippon Kogaku logo on the 64.

resummerfield · May 14, 2015

I would keep both, but if I had to sell one, it would be the newest one. The plain-prism Nikon F is so beautiful...

narsuitus · May 14, 2015

Based on the image you posted, I too would keep the '64 body with the Nippon Kogaku logo.

mweintraub · May 14, 2015

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'd probably keep the old one. But thankfully, I don't need to sell either one.

MattKing · May 14, 2015

Does anyone else see the title to this thread and ask: "What is a Nikon Fearly"?

mweintraub · May 14, 2015

MattKing said:
Does anyone else see the title to this thread and ask: "What is a Nikon Fearly"?

Ha

I just bought a realllly later Nikon today.

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darkosaric · May 15, 2015

F6 is a beast! But my question is: if you go on Arctic and in Sahara, and you can take only one camera --> which one goes with you: F or F6 ?

Nikon F early and later

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