nikon F2AS

Daniel_OB · Nov 27, 2006

Several times I saw on e-bay Nikon F2as NEW. And pictures shows it is like just came out of the factory. I would like to get one F2 (still thinking) but somehow confuse me why it is around twice expensive as F3, and is it really possible that someone got F2 a long ago and never took it out of the box. Even if it is a case how come that lover of F2 now put it on e-bay? Just would not like that someone fool me.
For anyone here got F2 in new condition?

André E.C. · Nov 27, 2006

Maybe because the F2 became a collector`s piece?

Cheers

André

Dave Swinnard · Nov 27, 2006

The F2 was the last of the purely mechanical Nikon F line. With starting with the F3 you got a shutter reliant on a battery (though it does stay deadly accurate, time-wise - mine is still essentially spot-one after many years of professional PJ use, but not too pretty), an aperture priority auto exposure capability and the meter built into the body rather than the prism. (amongst other things...)

In this world of (almost disposable) cameras that are paper weights without a battery, the F2 stands as a fine example of the (dare I say) golden age of mechanical, professional SLRs. Good examples will be priced accordingly...

I will be keeping mine, don't use it everyday, but it's there when I need it.

PhotoJim · Nov 29, 2006

The F2 is also older than the F3, so the odds of one being in new condition are a lot smaller. That doesn't help.

The F2AS is one of the most desirable Nikons. If you can live with an F2A (which is functionally very similar, save for non-AI metering), you can save a lot of money.

Personally, unless you shoot in severe cold, I think the F3HP is a better user camera. I love my F3HP. My FM2n does well enough in place of an F2AS.

GoGo · Nov 30, 2006

F2

Daniel,

Some people who were just getting into photography in the seventies and used Nikons were infected by the F2 cameras in all their various variants and cannot be cured so they just have to use an F2 when shooting 35mm film and really cannot shoot 35 format without one.

In the rare instance that one of these people looses a camera (usually misplaced due to mental incapacity) or worse has a camera malfunction they are forced to look for a replacement! And since the cameras are no longer made and quite old well the whole supply and demand thing happens and the prices go way up.

If you too are one of the infected people well then you have my simpathy!

PS, Let me know if you ever need batteries for F2 motor drive?

eric · Nov 30, 2006

GoGo said:
!

PS, Let me know if you ever need batteries for F2 motor drive?

Now I remember why I sold my MD2/MB1! Darn thing needs 10 AA's. And this was before those recycled batteries they sell these days.

I'd rather carry my Hassy these days if I want to hurt my shoulder.

JLP · Nov 30, 2006

Perhaps that F2as picture was an official Nikon photo and not a photo of the actual camera? I would ask for a photo that would show some evidence of actual time such as a newspaper or the like together with the camera.
Speaking about F2, i have an F2 and an F3 and they are not going anywhere but, the shutter is a little slow on the F2 does anyone know who can adjust these and/or what it would cost?

Thanks..
jan

Richard Mendales · Mar 30, 2007

The F2AS is a very special camera. Not only is it the last F-series Nikon that is hand-built and which will work at all shutter speeds with dead or no batteries, but it has a meter that will go further into available darkness than any other built into a Nikon--down to 8 seconds at F1.4. The meter also uses silicon blue cells for measurement, which makes it fast and without the CdS memory problems of meters built into earlier Nikons. Also, it uses diodes to show how close the settings on the camera are to the meter's measurement, which makes it easier to use in low-light conditions than the match-needle F2A. Along with the F2A, and unlike earlier F2s, it will meter with AI and AIS (including AF) lenses at full aperture. It is a beautiful camera to use, and, since it is the last hand-made F-series Nikon (it was made only from 1977 to 1980), it is the rarest, which would give it value even if it were not the superb picture-taking instrument that it is.
Best, Richard

Karl K · Mar 30, 2007

The F2AS is one of the most desirable Nikons. If you can live with an F2A (which is functionally very similar, save for non-AI metering), you can save a lot of money.

This is not correct. Both the Nikon F2A and the Nikon F2AS use AI-Nikkors for wide-open metering. Both have auto-aperture indexing. Both require stop-down metering with non-AI lenses. The difference is that the F2AS has the silicon-diode metering system, which is far more sensitive in low light, and uses LED's in the finder. The F2A uses the older and less responsive CdS cells with a match-needle in the finder. The problem with the F2AS is that you can be only 1/2 stop off from the correct exposure and the finder lights up only one of the over or under red lights. You can't tell if you are six f/stops off or only 1/2 stop off. That problem was corrected in the Nikon's next meter version, which is much more difficult to find, the Nikon F2Sb, which has a series of LED's (I think there were five) to indicate how far from correct exposure you are. The F2Sb is also slightly smaller than the F2S. BTW, both the F2S and the F2Sb are difficult to use in bright sunshine because the LED's are hard to see. On the other hand, they are a pleasure to use in very low light.

Richard Mendales · Mar 30, 2007

F2 repair

JLP said:
Perhaps that F2as picture was an official Nikon photo and not a photo of the actual camera? I would ask for a photo that would show some evidence of actual time such as a newspaper or the like together with the camera.
Speaking about F2, i have an F2 and an F3 and they are not going anywhere but, the shutter is a little slow on the F2 does anyone know who can adjust these and/or what it would cost?

Thanks..
jan

Sover Wong, who works in the UK, does incredibly good work on F2s--the only camera he will work on. He will not only adjust your shutter but refoam your camera and perform any other repairs needed to restore it to like-new operation. His website will give you a good idea of his services and charges.
Hope this helps, Richard

Sparky · Mar 30, 2007

I had a really really beat-up F2AS when I lived in NYC about 10 years ago that I ended up selling for about $600 - so it wouldn't surprise me SO much..! I took the money and bought a mint F3/T, which I DID sort of prefer because it seemed a bit less 'fiddly'

copake_ham · Mar 30, 2007

As others have noted, if it's in pristine condition then it is a "collector's item".

It is likely headed to a fate of being shrink-wrapped in plastic and stored in a climate-controlled vault located in a well-to-do section of Tokyo!

This was the case with the "mint" Nikon RFs and I guess the frenzy has now started with the SLRs.

Actually not a good sign since it means the collector's are betting on the end of the film era and want a "mint" specimen as a "museum piece".

Jerevan · Mar 31, 2007

Richard Mendales said:
Sover Wong, who works in the UK, does incredibly good work on F2s--the only camera he will work on.

Second that - he does a very good job. He can also repair metered prisms, replace gears and batteries in the F2 motordrives and do various modifications. Here is his site, in case someone needs it: http://www.geocities.com/sover_wong/Nikon_F2_Repair_Service.html

scripscan · Jul 23, 2013

Would you believe that I found a Nikon F2 AS brand new in a local camera store. Price? $600.00 What a steal for such beauty.....

Chan Tran · Jul 23, 2013

scripscan said:
Would you believe that I found a Nikon F2 AS brand new in a local camera store. Price? $600.00 What a steal for such beauty.....

Cool I paid $550 for mine brand new in 1977. But then the money was worth a lot more now.

Vilk · Jul 23, 2013

Karl K said:
...can't tell if you are six f/stops off or only 1/2 stop off. That problem was corrected in the Nikon's next meter version, which is much more difficult to find, the Nikon F2Sb, which has a series of LED's (I think there were five) to indicate how far from correct exposure you are.

where did that come from?

:munch:

Chan Tran · Jul 23, 2013

Karl K said:
The F2AS is one of the most desirable Nikons. If you can live with an F2A (which is functionally very similar, save for non-AI metering), you can save a lot of money.

This is not correct. Both the Nikon F2A and the Nikon F2AS use AI-Nikkors for wide-open metering. Both have auto-aperture indexing. Both require stop-down metering with non-AI lenses. The difference is that the F2AS has the silicon-diode metering system, which is far more sensitive in low light, and uses LED's in the finder. The F2A uses the older and less responsive CdS cells with a match-needle in the finder. The problem with the F2AS is that you can be only 1/2 stop off from the correct exposure and the finder lights up only one of the over or under red lights. You can't tell if you are six f/stops off or only 1/2 stop off. That problem was corrected in the Nikon's next meter version, which is much more difficult to find, the Nikon F2Sb, which has a series of LED's (I think there were five) to indicate how far from correct exposure you are. The F2Sb is also slightly smaller than the F2S. BTW, both the F2S and the F2Sb are difficult to use in bright sunshine because the LED's are hard to see. On the other hand, they are a pleasure to use in very low light.

The F2SB was a year older than the F2AS and is identical to the F2AS as far as the LED readout is concerned. The F2SB was for pre-AI lenses so it has the coupling as well as the aperture scale built in to the viewfinder rather using ADR as in the F2AS. The F2S which was earlier version that has only 2 LED.

John_Nikon_F · Jul 24, 2013

The F2S meter readout is an LED version of the F3 meter readout. Shutter speeds, however are analog, as they are on any other DP series F2 finder. The SB and the AS versions have the FM2 style meter readout. "+0-"

The user condition F2AS bodies are fairly cheap. Sold my backup F2AS for $215 shipped. BGN grade with some minor brassing, a couple small dings, etc.

-J

Etr420 · Jul 24, 2013

A third endorsement for Sover Wong - did my F2 last year - good as new.

Peter Simpson · Jul 24, 2013

Sover Wong is "the F2 man"!

Did my F2, very nicely, too. Heartily recommended.

f/16 · Jul 28, 2013

Another vote for Sover. He serviced my chrome F2AS last month.

John_Nikon_F · Jul 28, 2013

And, he will be doing my F2AS...

BTW: Bill, nice to see you here.

-J (Kilted_F3_nut on Nikonians)

nsouto · Jul 28, 2013

Both my F2AS bodies have been "Sover-ized".
Both now have a shutter within 1/4stop precise at all speeds and are a joy to use with all functionality and metering working 100%+.
Expensive, but absolutely worth every cent of it!

Lamar · Jul 29, 2013

Yep. Sover did a great job on my F2SB DP3 finder. Highly recommended. He uses better than original replacement parts he spec'ed out as well. I can say that I have purchased 4 used F2's, all in EX (equivalent) or better condition; 1 Photomic and 1 SB from KEH,1 AS from B&H, and 1Photomic from Adorama. All of them had meter issues that were not mentioned in the description. The meters would all turn on but exhibited erratic and inaccurate readings.I kept the SB and a Photomic and sent the SB finder to Sover. I would plan on sending at least the finder to Sover as you budget for your F2.

TheToadMen · Jul 29, 2013

Peter Simpson said:
Sover Wong is "the F2 man"!

Did my F2, very nicely, too. Heartily recommended.

Does he have a website? The link mentioned above doesn't excist anymore.

nikon F2AS

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency