Nikon F vs F2: fit & finish

Madeleine Ostoja · Jul 1, 2022

I'm thinking of picking up a Nikon F or F2, but I'm having trouble deciding between the two.

The feature improvements of the F2 aren't that important to me — my main 35mm camera is a Leica iif so the "difficult" loading of the F is totally fine, I can't remember wishing I had 1/2000s available, and the better shutter button position is nice but I imagine you'd get used to either one. I'd get both with the plain unmetered prism.

So for me it would come down to subjective feeling between the two. I've held an F2 Titan for all of 20 seconds. I can't decide whether I like the sharp edges of the original F or not. I've heard people say it's feels a bit smaller in the hands than the F2, and I kind of like the idea that it's built on the bones of Nikon's best rangefinder. I also keep hearing the F2 is more refined, which appeals but I don't really know what that actually translates to. I'm used to my barnack Leica and Rolleiflex, and so far I've never used an SLR that gave the same feeling of engineering quality.

Anybody that can compare both, is there one that just feels better to shoot, features aside? Or are there any other SLRs that feel as good or better to use? I was considering the Contax line as well for that C/Y Zeiss glass.

awty · Jul 1, 2022

Get them all!
The F buttons and dials positions is most similar to a iif.
The F2 is a little more refined, but not a huge difference. F3 is a greater step up, the F4, F5 and F6 are far better at taking pictures.
But it's all about the looks and there isn't a sexier SLR than a black F with a eye level view finder.

Nitroplait · Jul 1, 2022

I have both an F and a couple of F2's (none with plain prism, though) and prefer the F for feel and historical significance.
I like black paint better than chrome - it looks cool and feels warmer to the touch.

laser · Jul 1, 2022

Go with the Classic F.

Les Sarile · Jul 1, 2022

I have seen the argument that the F feels more robust because of the F2's hinged back not being as sturdy as the F. That one can tell the difference when squeezing the body. Personally, I can't feel that difference between mine and the hinged back is much easier to access the film. Also, the plastic tip on the F2 shutter advance is a little more comfortable.

F_F2 Plain Prism B by Les DMess, on Flickr

Without lens, the plain prism F2 weighs 724g which is more than the F at 694g.

benjiboy · Jul 1, 2022

Madeleine Ostoja said:
I'm thinking of picking up a Nikon F or F2, but I'm having trouble deciding between the two.

The feature improvements of the F2 aren't that important to me — my main 35mm camera is a Leica iif so the "difficult" loading of the F is totally fine, I can't remember wishing I had 1/2000s available, and the better shutter button position is nice but I imagine you'd get used to either one. I'd get both with the plain unmetered prism.

So for me it would come down to subjective feeling between the two. I've held an F2 Titan for all of 20 seconds. I can't decide whether I like the sharp edges of the original F or not. I've heard people say it's feels a bit smaller in the hands than the F2, and I kind of like the idea that it's built on the bones of Nikon's best rangefinder. I also keep hearing the F2 is more refined, which appeals but I don't really know what that actually translates to. I'm used to my barnack Leica and Rolleiflex, and so far I've never used an SLR that gave the same feeling of engineering quality.

Anybody that can compare both, is there one that just feels better to shoot, features aside? Or are there any other SLRs that feel as good or better to use? I was considering the Contax line as well for that C/Y Zeiss glass.

The fit and finish are excellent on both these models, but if ease of loading is important to you the main claim to fame of the F 2 is it has a hinged back, not a removable back like the F which takes practice and is bit of a juggling act to change films on the move in the field with.

bdial · Jul 1, 2022

F's in their last couple of years of production have the plastic tip wind lever. It is nicer than the all metal lever of the older ones. Eons ago, Nikon reps showed a technique for dealing with the back for reloading. You grip the lens with one hand holding the camera/lens with the back facing up. Remove the back and slip it under your fingers holding the lens. Load with your free hand, then put things back together. Easier to do than describe, I've used the same technique with a Leica.

IMO, the biggest problem with the loose back comes at reloading time if the camera is on a tripod or you're using a flash bracket in the tripod socket.

Ergonomically, I think the F model line high point might be with the F3, but now you're into battery-dependent territory.

GregY · Jul 1, 2022

I used them all up to the F5. I love the original F, black paint with the non-meter prism. But the F2 Titan is a work of art, and they've never been cheaper. If I were buying an SLR, that's where my money would go.

__Brian · Jul 1, 2022

The F is a bit quieter, mostly a result of the 1/60th Sync speed over 1/80th.

I've used both extensively, but tend to favor the F2.
The last F2 was made just over 40 years ago, the last F just under 50 years ago. Having a recently CLA'd camera will make a big difference.

Titanium Bodies: Downside, drop the camera and the Titanium passes the energy on to the inner mechanism. Drop a Brass body, the brass gets dents but absorbs more energy. I git that from a Mechanical engineer that worked for me.

My two (very) early F2's have all-metal wind levers, the tip was originally metal- switched to plastic early on.

For an F2: SN starting at 74 and later is better, internal changes were made mostly to operate with motor drives. Early F2 bodies suffered from "Backlash".

abruzzi · Jul 1, 2022

does the F have the continuously variable shutter speeds like the F2 (on 1/80 and faster)? I've actually found it useful on the F2 that I can select speeds in between the marked speeds.

Eric Rose · Jul 1, 2022

I used both of them extensively professionally. The F2 is a jewel of a camera. IMHO the F2 is the way to go. I love the original F but only from a nostalgic point of view. I still have both the F and F2. The F2 is the one that gets used.

GregY · Jul 1, 2022

__Brian said:
The F is a bit quieter, mostly a result of the 1/60th Sync speed over 1/80th.

I've used both extensively, but tend to favor the F2.
The last F2 was made just over 40 years ago, the last F just under 50 years ago. Having a recently CLA'd camera will make a big difference.

Titanium Bodies: Downside, drop the camera and the Titanium passes the energy on to the inner mechanism. Drop a Brass body, the brass gets dents but absorbs more energy. I git that from a Mechanical engineer that worked for me.

Easy answer..... don't drop it. When a Titan goes for less than a Contax T3 P&S....that's a sign from above...

__Brian · Jul 1, 2022

It's easy to not drop a camera if it never gets any use.

If the camera gets a lot of use, it can happen.

I bought a Nikon F2T when they were new for use in a Vacuum Chamber for taking pictures of explosions. Figured the Titanium would be better.

On Ebay- the F2T is going for about $1000 more than a regular F2 with DE-1.

I keep this Nikon F2 in a CH-1 case. The cases are metal, covered with leather. I don't use this one much- the F2Sb is my user. Tactile difference with the F2T? More like a mental difference knowing the F2T is rare, and made of titanium.

Nikon F bodies just last forever.
This pair is unusual, Questar modified "Mirror-Up" release. Given to me.

Paul Howell · Jul 1, 2022

When working for the wire I had the F, F2, and last the F3P. Of the three I liked the feel of the F2 the best. I usually shot with a motor drive, the F2 was well balanced. Many photojournalists kept their F2s as they did not trust the electronic shutter in the F3. The F2 is still being serviced, I understand that Sover Wong has a long wait list.

Nitroplait · Jul 1, 2022

If looking for a F2 Titan, be aware that there are fakes out there (regular F2's refinished like Titans). Know what to look for if you desire to go that direction.

Any camera tech worth a damn, who worked in the film era, will know how to work on both F and F2 - you couldn't be in business if you didn't know those models.
Sover Wong is unique as he has specialised in the F2 model, and has sourced/produced some of the parts that often fails.
But please note that he resides in the UK and is not only expensive but has has a waiting list measured in years.

NortheastPhotographic · Jul 1, 2022

I heart my F2. It's a near perfect camera in the way that the M4 is a near perfect camera.

GregY · Jul 1, 2022

IMO F (&F2) & M4s were definitely a high water mark of elegant camera design

NortheastPhotographic · Jul 1, 2022

GregY said:
IMO F (&F2) & M4s were definitely a high water mark of elegant camera designView attachment 309429

Add in the 2.8F, Hasselblad 500 system...yeah. Mechanical perfection! My preference is for F2, M4, 2.8F. I currently have an F2, SP, 2.8E. I'd like to get another M4 but not at these prices.

GregY · Jul 1, 2022

"It's easy to not drop a camera if it never gets any use.

If the camera gets a lot of use, it can happen." Brian

Well lightning strikes happen too....but not something that keeps me up nights.
I use my cameras, and I do admit a nostalgic envy for the Titan. If i were using SLRs now i'd certainly make a Titan my daily user, however i don't use 35mm much these days and don't have the collector gene in my DNA. On the occasions I've been in Japan, you don't even see that many F2 Titans in the Tokyo camera shops. It's an elegant camera.

jimjm · Jul 1, 2022

I've been shooting with both cameras for years and love them both, but if I could keep only one it would probably be the F2.
In the hands they feel similar, but the F2 feels more "solid" as it's a bit heavier than the F. Nikon engineered the F2 from the ground-up so it's bones are completely different from the F. The battery compartment is built into the F2 body, so there are more internal electronic components. I've read the F2 has about 1500 individual parts and tolerances were probably much tighter than with the F.
Design-wise, I think the F is more distinctive but the improvements in the F2 are nice to have:
- Film memo holder on the F2 back, although the F does have a film speed/type dial on the bottom
- Rewind lever pops up on the F2, which makes rewinding easier for me
- Shorter advance lever throw on the F2
- F2 can lock up the mirror without wasting a frame
- Using the self-timer, the F2 can make timed exposures up to 10 seconds. I've actually used this feature a lot.

Huss · Jul 1, 2022

I had two Fs, and two F2s. Sold both the Fs because the F2s are perfect. Everything about them feels better. Nicer in hand. Better shutter button placement. Nicer film winding. Better film loading. Better vf plus it most prob will be brighter and cleaner because the older F may start to desilver.

One of my F2 has the plain prism, the other has the AS prism. One is black, one is chrome.

Ultimately try to handle both, and get the one you like more.

JerseyDoug · Jul 1, 2022

My daily shooters are Barnack Leicas. When I pick up one of my F's for a special task having the shutter release in roughly the same location is a plus in holding the camera steady.

And an advantage of the F for those of us who bulk load is that the F compatible Nikon film cassettes are readily available and often reasonably priced. The AM-1 cassettes for the F2 are hard to find and hyper expensive. They are not interchangeable.

__Brian · Jul 1, 2022

I'm surprised that the AM-1 is more expensive than the older cassette. I ended up with several of each used to be dirt cheap.
The Spools from the Nikon Cassettes work in a Contax Rangefinder for the take-up spool.

Other people are showing SLR's and Rangefinders...

My favorite Nikon F, the "Photomic Bullseye". Incident metering, built in. Bought ~1977. CLA'd by Mora camera with Motor plate added.

Paul Howell · Jul 1, 2022

I've never seen the bullseye with a incident dome, I take it the dome can be removed for reflective metering?

Pieter12 · Jul 1, 2022

I had the F and now have an F2 (and F4). The F2 seems a bit more robust and handles better than the F. When I went shopping for an F2, there were surprisingly few with the plain prism, and those went for a premium as does the prism alone.

Nikon F vs F2: fit & finish

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency