Nikon F2 Photomic or Canon F-1n?

[Hassasin]

From memory, two senseless/unexplainable restrictions on the F1:
- "B" cannot be used with Motordrive
- 2000 cannot be use with self timer

Especially the first one is annoying.

Edit: or was is 2000 cannot be used with mirror up?

How do you use B with motor drive for any purpose?

 

[cerber0s]

How do you use B with motor drive for any purpose?

If you want to take several long exposures with very little time between them. For the purpose of… of… no, I got nothing

 

[Sirius Glass]

From memory, two senseless/unexplainable restrictions on the F1:
- "B" cannot be used with Motordrive
- 2000 cannot be use with self timer

Especially the first one is annoying.

Edit: or was is 2000 cannot be used with mirror up?

Why would anyone want or need to use B on a motor drive. Plus there is no need for a mirror lock up at 1/2000 second.

 

[CCLA]

Perhaps you have to remove the motor drive to use the B setting? I will have to check that tonight. (what might make this annoying is that you cannot cremose the motor drive with the film in the camera in a place with light).

 

[Hassasin]

If I'm not mistaken 9away from home, so cannot test it) the mentioned 2000 restriction with MD is not correct. Also, A and B cannot be used in AE mode, in manual no problem. This would apply to the New F1. Have never used F1 and F1n with any power drive so never cared to look it up.

 

[MattKing]

Why would anyone want or need to use B on a motor drive.

If one was essentially using the motor drive as a powered advance, for a project requiring many long exposures.
A specialty need indeed.

 

[swchris]

If one was essentially using the motor drive as a powered advance, for a project requiring many long exposures.
A specialty need indeed.

Or even for one or a few long exposures in between, and the motor is connected. Even if you could use the body trigger, I don't think the motor drive advances in thsi case automatically.

As I said, it's annoying, and the F2 doesn't have this problem.

 

[swchris]

Plus there is no need for a mirror lock up at 1/2000 second.

Why not? Less noise (I admit, normally not a problem, but it shows the inconsistencies of this camera.)

 

[Hassasin]

Why not? Less noise (I admit, normally not a problem, but it shows the inconsistencies of this camera.)

Inconsistencies? There was hardly another 35mm camera that had it just right in all departments, from form to function to options to reliability to overall quality as a whole.

 

[swchris]

Let's agree to disagree

 

[Radost]

Nikon F3

 

[Hassasin]

And, arguably, the best of F1, New F1 did not even have MLU. Likely this alone set some potential buyers adrift.

 

[cerber0s]

I’ve sold both my Nikon F2’s, I much prefer the Canon F1, I think I’ve mentioned it before. One thing that the Nikon F2 has over the Canon F1 is the extended ISO range for the meter. If I recall correctly, the F2 goes between 6 and 6400, the F1 goes between 25 and 3200. Today I wanted 6400, but couldn’t get it.

I also have some film that can be exposed from ISO 3 to ISO 80 depending on developer. For the lower ranges the Canon F1 is inconvenient, if you want to use the on board meter.

Still, I love the Canon F1!

 

[eli griggs]

If one was essentially using the motor drive as a powered advance, for a project requiring many long exposures.
A specialty need indeed.

Thinking back, I do not recall Canon ever offering a programmable, repeat multi-timer that could space out "B" exposures, using a motor winder or drive to advance the film.

Did they, or anyone make such a unit, for either F-1n or F-1N or any production professional SLR, rangefinder, or even Robot camera?

 

[cullah]

I eliminated the Minolta XK because I thought the integrated motor drive was overkill for casual photos. And I didn’t know anyone took photos with Alpas. I thought they just collected them.

i used alpas on and off a period of 10 years. they had best rewind i have ever used. the shutters were problematic. i had 4 alpas and and each one had problems with the shutter. part of their appeal to me was the way they fit in my hand.

 

[srtviper15]

I sold all of my 35mm gear years ago and went completely digital. Now I want to get back into film and am looking for a vintage 35mm slr. I have no existing equipment, and will be starting from scratch, so compatibility with an existing system is not an issue.

The two cameras I’m considering are the Nikon F2 with a photomic metering head and the Canon F-1 or F-1n (note: not the Canon New F-1).

Availability of esoteric lenses isn’t an issue as this camera will be used mostly casually with a 50mm or 35mm lens.

Any reason to choose one of these over the other?

I have the Canon F-1 original and I’m slowly building up my arsenal of FD lenses, then I plan on getting the New F-1! So I recommend the New F-1 for sure.