Nikon F2 - Early years Versus Later Years re Quality

ArbInv · Jan 19, 2016

Hi All

In terms of the body (ie excluding the finder) were there any major build quality differences between those F2s made in the early 70s versus late 70s. I have seen some late models recently in great condition but I wonder if the earlier models were made to a slightly higher quality. It also seems like some parts were changes over the years .

Thanks

Arb

Theo Sulphate · Jan 19, 2016

Regarding quality differences, I do not know. However, you may enjoy looking at this site:

http://www.destoutz.ch/typ_nikon_f2.html

ArbInv · Jan 19, 2016

Thats great. Thanks!!

BMbikerider · Jan 20, 2016

There will be changes in models of almost any kind of item, be it cars cameras or washing machines, when it is produced over a number of years. That is not saying the quality will change for the worse. The F2 in all it's marques is probably the most reliable camera ever made by Nikon. Changes in font for the name, type of rewind knob or eyelet to hold the camera strap are probably down to supply of parts from outside the Nikon Empire. Absolutley nothing to do with quality or other reliability factors.

The only thing I can think of that can be suspect is the carbon track or whatever else they use in the metering heads and even they can be replaced by an independant engineer in England who makes new ones.

Have a look at this website - it's very interesting.

http://www.soverf2repair.webs.com/

ColColt · Jan 21, 2016

Sover Wong could probably best answer that question.

AgX · Jan 21, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
Regarding quality differences, I do not know. However, you may enjoy looking at this site:

http://www.destoutz.ch/typ_nikon_f2.html

That page reminds of that game "What is different in that picture?".

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 21, 2016

Merely an anecdotal observation (meaning, draw no generalized conclusions), but I own an early 70s Nikon F2 w/DP1 finder. Thirty-five years later I took it in for its first CLA. The tech later apologized for charging a minimum fee. He stated that the camera was still in perfect condition. The shutter speeds all within factory tolerance. The mechanical linkages all working as designed. Nothing was amiss.

So he cleaned it up a bit, including the ring resistor in the DP1, and off we went for presumably another 30 years. That is, if film lasts that long.

It should also be noted that the camera has a matching MD2/MB1 motor drive unit from the mid-70s, and had been used as much with the motor drive as without it. Mostly for collegiate (basketball) and professional (baseball) sports. (Although not a journalist, I once had a connection for press passes from a local newspaper.)

I still have and use that camera today. Most recently last summer in a non-sports application requiring that same motor drive, which itself continues to work perfectly without ever having been serviced at all.

Good stuff, Nikon.

Ken

flavio81 · Jan 21, 2016

I've owned two F2, one was F2AS the other F2A and the latter made a much nicer, gentler "click" sound while the former made a more "ping" sound when firing the shutter, a bit louder and more annoying. I never dissasembled them, just sold the F2AS and kept the F2A because the F2AS was too overrated...

Theo Sulphate · Jan 21, 2016

AgX said:
That page reminds of that game "What is different in that picture?".

Ho Ho - that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg! See what he's done with the F:

http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon_f_typology.html

ColColt · Jan 21, 2016

I've owned two F2, one was F2AS the other F2A and the latter made a much nicer, gentler "click" sound while the former made a more "ping" sound when firing the shutter, a bit louder and more annoying.

I have both and have to agree.

Sirius Glass · Jan 21, 2016

Ken Nadvornick said:
Merely an anecdotal observation (meaning, draw no generalized conclusions), but I own an early 70s Nikon F2 w/DP1 finder. Thirty-five years later I took it in for its first CLA. The tech later apologized for charging a minimum fee. He stated that the camera was still in perfect condition. The shutter speeds all within factory tolerance. The mechanical linkages all working as designed. Nothing was amiss.

So he cleaned it up a bit, including the ring resistor in the DP1, and off we went for presumably another 30 years. That is, if film lasts that long.

So you are saying that if we want to avoid CLAs we not only need to shoot film and shoot film often. Everyone in APUG-land you are hereby commanded to use your cameras more often! This will be done as it is written.

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 21, 2016

Few things have lasted as long or as well as my early Nikon F2 equipment.

My Coleman white gas lanterns come to mind. As does my Brunton pocket transit (professional compass). Manufacturing was performed by a completely different philosophy back in those days.

Ken

ArbInv · Jan 22, 2016

Great discussion here. I spent Winter break with a BMW engineer who designed the 5 series. We talked about the various incarnations of the marque and its funny how the same discussions seem to apply when it comes to Nikon F2s. They even make a similar clunk when you 'close the the door'.

mweintraub · Jan 22, 2016

BMbikerider said:
There will be changes in models of almost any kind of item, be it cars cameras or washing machines, when it is produced over a number of years. That is not saying the quality will change for the worse. The F2 in all it's marques is probably the most reliable camera ever made by Nikon. Changes in font for the name, type of rewind knob or eyelet to hold the camera strap are probably down to supply of parts from outside the Nikon Empire. Absolutley nothing to do with quality or other reliability factors.

The only thing I can think of that can be suspect is the carbon track or whatever else they use in the metering heads and even they can be replaced by an independant engineer in England who makes new ones.

Have a look at this website - it's very interesting.

http://www.soverf2repair.webs.com/

Agreed, I did find when comparing the F on http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon_f_typology.html that some of the suttle changes were improvements. For example the finder release, it's a friken pain on the original design, but a much better design since they introduced an indention.
http://www.destoutz.ch/typ_finder-releases.html

flavio81 · Jan 22, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
Ho Ho - that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg! See what he's done with the F:

http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon_f_typology.html

His site is great, i've always returned there often. I thought he was named "Destoutz" until i learned he was RICHARD De Stoutz. It's a testament of the greatness of his Nikon site that me, a die-hard Canon fan, love it.

BradleyK · Jan 22, 2016

ArbInv said:
Hi All

In terms of the body (ie excluding the finder) were there any major build quality differences between those F2s made in the early 70s versus late 70s. I have seen some late models recently in great condition but I wonder if the earlier models were made to a slightly higher quality. It also seems like some parts were changes over the years .

Thanks

Arb

My F2 arsenal includes bodies, prisms and metering heads that date from 1972 until 1979 (my chrome F2A came from the second last production run). Excluding the few minor cosmetic changes over the decade - as noted elsewhere in this post - I am hard pressed, after using the camera for over three-and-a-half decades to discern any differences among them; build quality was first rate from beginning to end. Despite years of hard use, CLAs have been the only maintenance required (two more are up when the CDN$ starts showing some life). And that said, I am still shooting E100G/VS with a 1978 F2AS that has yet to have its first servicing...

narsuitus · Jan 23, 2016

ArbInv said:
In terms of the body (ie excluding the finder) were there any major build quality differences between those F2s made in the early 70s versus late 70s.

I have only owned six Nikon F2 bodies. One was produced in 1975. One was produced in 1974. Two were produced in 1972 (of the two produced in 1972, I actually purchased one in 1972 and still own it and use it to this day). I also owned two Nikon F2 titanium bodies but have no idea when they were produced. Of the six, four were purchased new and two were purchased used. Of the six, I still own and use three.

I was never aware of any differences in build quality between my bodies built in the mid to early 1970s and those built later. However, I will follow this thread with great interest.

Nikon F2 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

fstop · Jan 23, 2016

Ironic the comments, there are some serial numbers that bring more money than others. Hands down the best F2 is the AS.The best F2s are the last year of production, those serial numbers bring more money than earlier ones.

Theo Sulphate · Jan 23, 2016

fstop said:
Ironic the comments, there are some serial numbers that bring more money than others. Hands down the best F2 is the AS.The best F2s are the last year of production, those serial numbers bring more money than earlier ones.

Having many non-AI lenses, I prefer the F2, F2S, or F2SB which have the mechanical non-AI heads (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3). That's because with a non-AI head I can meter wide open, but the AI heads (DP-11, DP-12) of the F2A and F2SB require me to use stop-down metering.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "get some AI lenses, punk".

Well, being that I'm a Nikon fan and have at least six AI lenses (or is that only five?), those lenses go on my other Nikons. When I put a lens on a camera, I tend to leave it there.

Jerevan · Jan 23, 2016

The F2 is my favourite camera - I have a chrome '71 F2 and a '77 black F2A. In my two examples, it comes down to individual condition. The 77 has been used very much, it feels "worn in" like an old jacket. I bought it 10 years ago and I can honestly say it has really been my companion.

The 71 is a bit "crunchy" when closing the back, I am not sure it is up to specification there, but in general both of them are really well made and will hold up to much use. They feel slightly different since the leatherette has a finer structure on the early one.

Now all I need is a black DE-1 and perhaps a Titanium version ...

ArbInv · Jan 23, 2016

The late serial numbers .... thats interesting. I have a F2 7954xxx That's pretty late and looks like second to final month.

BradleyK · Jan 23, 2016

ArbInv said:
The late serial numbers .... thats interesting. I have a F2 7954xxx That's pretty late and looks like second to final month.

According to Sover Wong's site, my beloved chrome F2A was built between July and December 1979 (7951xxx). As I've mentioned in other posts, subsequent to the recovery of the Canadian dollar, this camera, and a second F2AS (772xxx) built between February and April of 1977, are on their way to Sover for a CLA (the latter camera is still in current use in its per-CLA condition).

GarageBoy · Jan 26, 2016

There were some internal changes after the 74 block, IIRC (my dad did repairs in NYC in the 90s) - but that only mattered with motor drives

ArbInv · Jan 26, 2016

I hope to deliver mine to Sover by hand the next time I am in London thereby avoiding the shipping costs. Likely wont be until the summer but given the F2 i just had join the club has been snapping since 79 with likely nothing more than a dust off every now and again I hope that is not an issue....

ColColt · Jan 26, 2016

I think Sover's moving so you might want to check his address.

Nikon F2 - Early years Versus Later Years re Quality

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