Nikon F2 "play"?

[chip j]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Well, the F & F3 backs are tight.

 

[Alan Gales]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[chip j]

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]

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]

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

 

[macfred]

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

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

 

[tessar]

A decent offer.

 

[Michael Guzzi]

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

What about the PIIINNNG!!!
Offer him $80

 

[monkowa]

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

 

[chip j]

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

 

[fstop]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[cooltouch]

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.