Nikon F2 "play"?

chip j · Jun 17, 2017

I've had 3 F2s, 2 crummy ones which i got rid of and now i got a nice one. The back on all of them didn't seal tight on the left side, there was a little "play" there. Is this RIGHT for this high-end camera? Thanks

jimjm · Jun 17, 2017

Chip -

My 3 bodies all have a tiny bit of play at the latch as well. Maybe 1mm or less. Never had any problem with light leaks. Compared to other cameras, the back is well-designed with additional baffles and little/no foam seals required. The latch itself also seems pretty robust.

Leigh B · Jun 17, 2017

When designing mechanical equipment to operate over a wide range of temperatures, it's advisable to add a bit of extra clearance so the parts don't bind or fail to mate under temperature extremes.

That's just good engineering practice.

- Leigh

Alan Gales · Jun 17, 2017

Leigh B said:
When designing mechanical equipment to operate over a wide range of temperatures, it's advisable to add a bit of extra clearance so the parts don't bind or fail to mate under temperature extremes.

That's just good engineering practice.

- Leigh

Good ole expansion and contraction.

chip j · Jun 17, 2017

Well, the F & F3 backs are tight.

Alan Gales · Jun 17, 2017

chip j said:
Well, the F & F3 backs are tight.

There is always a little play. Not enough to notice. As things get older there is more play. Just make sure the seals are good.

Leigh B · Jun 17, 2017

chip j said:
Well, the F & F3 backs are tight.

An F2 is not an F.
An F2 is not an F3.

Designs differ for many different reasons.

- Leigh

Les Sarile · Jun 18, 2017

chip j said:
Well, the F & F3 backs are tight.

The F was a very different design of course and this was a concern with the many F users When considering the F2.

jimjm · Jun 18, 2017

The back on the F2 appears to be a type of double-wall construction, which I don't believe I've seen on another 35mm camera. The latching system has the pins on the door and latches on the body, which is the reverse of the F3 and many other bodies. The latches on the F2 appear to be thicker metal and are protected from impacts/damage. I think Nikon pretty much used all their mechanical engineering knowledge with the F2, and there's not much to improve upon.

I've got one F2 body with dozens of dings and dents and a fair amount of brassing, and it's 100% functional. The outer panels are dented and creased in ways that don't look like normal use, but it's never been any problem.

macfred · Jun 18, 2017

i have two F2 (743xxx and 770xxx) - both have a little 'play' on the left - no problems with light leaks so far.

chip j · Jun 18, 2017

I'm not worried about light leaks; it just seems so "junky". Along with the "PING" sound when the mirror returns I must say I'm VERY disappointed w/ my clean, new-to-me F2.

monkowa · Jun 18, 2017

chip j said:
I'm not worried about light leaks; it just seems so "junky". Along with the "PING" sound when the mirror returns I must say I'm VERY disappointed w/ my clean, new-to-me F2.

Maybe you should send me all of your "defective" F2's considering how much you complain about them. It seems like you don't really want them.

chip j · Jun 18, 2017

I'll send you my clean one--$150 pp.

macfred · Jun 18, 2017

chip j said:
I'll send you my clean one--$150 pp.

Are you kiddin' ?? $150 for a F2 with 'play' in the back - no way !

tessar · Jun 18, 2017

A decent offer.

Michael Guzzi · Jun 18, 2017

macfred said:
Are you kiddin' ?? $150 for a F2 with 'play' in the back - no way !

What about the PIIINNNG!!!
Offer him $80

monkowa · Jun 19, 2017

He should pay all of us for the singular privilege of listening to him complain about pretty much everything.

chip j · Jun 19, 2017

I pray for all of you, that you may see the light.

fstop · Jun 19, 2017

chip j said:
I pray for all of you, that you may see the light.

I always see the light, I never leave my lens cap on.

Dump the F-2 and get a F-3

E. von Hoegh · Jun 19, 2017

chip j said:
I'm not worried about light leaks; it just seems so "junky". Along with the "PING" sound when the mirror returns I must say I'm VERY disappointed w/ my clean, new-to-me F2.

Perhaps you could use it as a downrigger weight to get your lure down to trolling depth.

Oh wait... never mind.

chip j · Jun 19, 2017

fstop said:
I always see the light, I never leave my lens cap on.

Dump the F-2 and get a F-3

Got a F3, which I love (except for the meter readouts in the finder).

flavio81 · Jun 20, 2017

chip j said:
I've had 3 F2s, 2 crummy ones which i got rid of and now i got a nice one. The back on all of them didn't seal tight on the left side, there was a little "play" there. Is this RIGHT for this high-end camera? Thanks

If you want a camera where the back seals perfectly you need to get a Canon F-1.

But besides that, are you sure the foam that goes on the hinge side of the back isn't crummy?

flavio81 · Jun 20, 2017

chip j said:
I'm not worried about light leaks; it just seems so "junky". Along with the "PING" sound when the mirror returns I must say I'm VERY disappointed w/ my clean, new-to-me F2.

The F2 is an excellent camera, what's the problem with a little "ping" sound?

chip j · Jun 20, 2017

No other Nikon body I have or have had, and there were many, had such a cheap sound.

cooltouch · Jun 20, 2017

I've owned several F2s, and currently own two, and I've never had one that sounded cheap in any way. They were the height of Nikon's mechanical prowess. My oldest F2 is 46 years old and still going strong.

Regarding the looseness on the left side, it might have to do with the way the back is opened. Unique to the F2 is the key-style lock on the base plate that is used to open the back. Well, the F has them too, but in the F's case, the entire back and base plate comes off.

Nikon F2 "play"?

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