Nikon F2 - Pre-AI or AI lenses? Also CLA question.

[George Mann]

Have you considered a Nikkormat FT3?

As long as the complicated meter assembly is serviced every 10 years or so, it is a good one.

I personally prefer the FT2.

 

[Paul Howell]

One does not need to buy the motor drive or winder and a set of lenses all at once. Besides there would be no GAS in ones life.

That's true, but thinking about the system and total cost may play a role in which camera OP decides on.

 

[4season]

I recommend that you include the cost of the entire system you think you will need. Body with CLA, motor drive or winder if needed, and set of lens.

My own wants are pretty simple, mostly a good normal lens and a 105 mm tele: How expensive could a 58 Noct-Nikkor and 105 mm UV-Nikkor possibly be?

 

[Pieter12]

I saw these three at Used Photo Pro (Roberts Camera): https://usedphotopro.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?category_ids=722&q=Nikon+F2

 

[_T_]

I just wanted to chime in with my experience. I bought a beautiful condition second hand fm2n back in 2013. I thought that with the fully mechanical design I would never run into any problems that a good tech couldn’t solve. Not so.

It performed admirably for a good 100 rolls or so before the shutter jumped track and dented itself quite severely. Took it to my local repair shop and they said they would have to replace the entire shutter as a unit. Cost more to get the parts and pay for the repair than it would to get a new camera so I let them have it for parts.

The experience disabused me of the idea that fully mechanical cameras are in any way future proof.

Now I have an FE that I found at a thrift shop for a song. The thing has taken easily 3 times the number of photos as my fm2n since I’ve had it and it’s still going strong.

If it ever fails I might have to replace it but that’s just the way it goes with these old cameras. It’s not something you can avoid with careful shopping.

 

[George Mann]

On the lenses, this is a personal choice. The best normal wide angles are the 28mm f/2.8 AiS, and the 35mm f/2.8 Ai.

The nifty 50 Nikkors are all good. But the best overall is the 50mm f/2 Ai.

When it comes to telephoto's, there are many choices. I prefer the 105mm f/2.5 AiS (built in hood).

Many of the non-Ai's are good, but you get more barrel and pincushion, as well as other types of distortion/shortcommings, and they have less sophisticated coatings.

I recommend using the appropriate hoods with all of your lenses!

 

[George Mann]

Now I have an FE that I found at a thrift shop for a song. The thing has taken easily 3 times the number of photos as my fm2n since I’ve had it and it’s still going strong.

Just so you know, the whole series of electronic Nikons from the FE to the FG2 have a fragile meter resistor under the ASA/compensation dial.

Take extra care not to damage it (drops, hard bumps).

 

[GregY]

My own wants are pretty simple, mostly a good normal lens and a 105 mm tele: How expensive could a 58 Noct-Nikkor and 105 mm UV-Nikkor possibly be?

....Read & weep.
Just had to check it's not April 1......
Easy $3k for the Noct, $6K for the 105mm.

 

[KinoGrafx]

I saw these three at Used Photo Pro (Roberts Camera): https://usedphotopro.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?category_ids=722&q=Nikon+F2

Wow the 3rd one on that link (SKU
UNK-02-3200-4 7716941) is an F2sb (the best F2!), very hard to find and a killer price.

 

[Pieter12]

Wow the 3rd one on that link (SKU
UNK-02-3200-4 7716941) is an F2sb (the best F2!), very hard to find and a killer price.

I know. GAS kicked in big time. I almost went for it, until I remembered I already have an F2 and an F4 and I really prefer medium format. Those tiny viewfinders and negatives just don't do it for me.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I know. GAS kicked in big time. I almost went for it, until I remembered I already have an F2 and an F4 and I really prefer medium format. Those tiny viewfinders and negatives just don't do it for me.

My serious work is with MF. 35mm is for light traveling when I do not plan on spending time photographing and am more interested in eating, sightseeing and buying things I never needed OR when I need a 150mm to 1200mm zoom AF lens for wildlife.

 

[Paul Howell]

When a working JP I carried a 28, 50 1.4. 105 2.5 and 200 F4, today I still have a 28mm 50 1.8, 105 2.8 and 180 2.8, I'm thinking about adding a zoom, but my main set up is Minolta AF, unless a great deal falls into my lap will stick with the primes. There is so much good glass for Nikon including 3rd party.

 

[George Mann]

Wow the 3rd one on that link (SKU
UNK-02-3200-4 7716941) is an F2sb (the best F2!), very hard to find and a killer price.

I have been looking for this finder in good usable condition for what seems like forever, so I had to purchase it.

I only received one bad camera from Roberts so far, and I will be testing this one to the hilt!

I also have a late F2 Photomic that has been recently serviced (working good), so I may stick the DP-3 head on this body.

 

[beemermark]

Definitely go for AI, that will vastly increase your lens options. AI will let you use all of Nikons old AI lenses, as well as the modern ones that are still being manufactured.

The AI vs non AI makes no difference in quality. The AI (Automatic Indexing) is just the coupler for the apperture ring and has nothing to do with the optics of the lens. Nikon still use the very same coupler today on their AF lenses.

The DP1 meter is for non-AI lenses but will meter with both AI and non-AI lenses since they all have the rabbit ears. The DP11 meter will only meter with AI lenses (though non-AI lenses will mount). Way back when I had an F2SB, never cared for the LED's. So no problem using newer AI enses on your F2 with DP1 meter. Reading some of the comments I wonder if they even own an F2. Read Sover's site about meter heads -https://www.soverf2repair.webs.com/

 

[cerber0s]

The DP1 meter is for non-AI lenses but will meter with both AI and non-AI lenses since they all have the rabbit ears. The DP11 meter will only meter with AI lenses (though non-AI lenses will mount). Way back when I had an F2SB, never cared for the LED's. So no problem using newer AI enses on your F2 with DP1 meter. Reading some of the comments I wonder if they even own an F2. Read Sover's site about meter heads -https://www.soverf2repair.webs.com/

That is true, but the DP-11 and 12 will let you use the entire range of their AF lenses too. Many of the early ones are pretty cheap today. Anyway, DP-1 finders don’t cost too much, so there’s no reason not to have both options.

 

[toadhall]

An addition: Non AI lenses are usually cheaper, because they can’t be used on modern digital Nikons. There are conversion kits that you can buy for a lot of them though, so many of the non AI can be converted to AI.

The conversion kits really aren't available anymore. I've looked because I like the metal knurled focusing rings of the, typically, non-ai lenses, but want to use ai because of the cameras I have.