Nikon suggestions

mrred · Apr 28, 2012

I have 2 F601, F100 and a F6. Most of my "manual" life has been spent in the OM world (no regrets). However I have 2 pre AI lenses I would like to throw on a body, once in a while.

What would you suggest? I looked on flea bay the other day and dropped my mouth what people were trying to get for a FM3. I don't really know the manual line, which doesn't help.

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 28, 2012

F3 has the flip out of the way stem that allows per-AI or post-AI lenses.

More great info here:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens1.htm

darkosaric · Apr 28, 2012

You can modify F6 to accept pre Ai lenses.

AFenvy · Apr 28, 2012

The F3 is by far the best bargain of the manual focus Nikon professional cameras. They can be had for about $100 and are more often than not fully functional. As great as the F and F2 are, they are collectible and the prices are higher, also, they almost always require a CLA to function as they should.

CGW · Apr 28, 2012

Look for an FE for your NAI glass. A very popular amateur camera from the late 70s/early 80s and often available in surprisingly good shape for very little $. I love F3s but think they're getting hard to find in nice shape with out "issues." Too many I see now seem to have very little life left in them. Their legendary durability has obvious limits I'm happy to let someone else discover.

The FM/FE variants were some of the nicest handling manual focus film bodies Nikon made--right size, weight, features, and price.

mrred · Apr 28, 2012

darkosaric said:
You can modify F6 to accept pre Ai lenses.

I'm not interested in doing that. I want a manual camera to be a manual camera...

mrred · Apr 28, 2012

rich815 said:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens1.htm

The link does not seem to work.

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 28, 2012

Just worked for me...

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 28, 2012

The link does have issues sometimes with my older IE browser at work but works fine from my Mac at home and my iPhone.

BradleyK · Apr 28, 2012

CGW said:
Look for an FE for your NAI glass. A very popular amateur camera from the late 70s/early 80s and often available in surprisingly good shape for very little $. I love F3s but think they're getting hard to find in nice shape with out "issues." Too many I see now seem to have very little life left in them. Their legendary durability has obvious limits I'm happy to let someone else discover.

The FM/FE variants were some of the nicest handling manual focus film bodies Nikon made--right size, weight, features, and price.

+1. While my first choice would be an F3/F3HP (I like the 100% viewfinder), CGW is quite correct to note the increasing scarcity of quality used F3 bodies. Certainly no surprise given 30-odd years of (often hard) professional use. LCD bleed or partial fadeout seem to be the most common maladies with these cameras. That said, if you can check out the body thoroughly before purchase (sort of precludes an ebay or other on-line purchase) then, by all means take a look at an F3. If not, then as CGW suggests, I, too, would opt for one of the FM/FM2/FE/FE2 bodies.

mrred · Apr 29, 2012

I found a FM in reasonably good shape on that auction site.

Thanks for the input.

John Koehrer · Apr 29, 2012

FWIW, the /2's don't have the flip up meter coupling.

Johnkpap · Apr 29, 2012

One easy answer

Nikkormat FT2 or a F2

Johnkpap

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 29, 2012

Did you ever get that link I posted to work? Great info even after you've chosen and amazing Nikon info site overall.

mrred · Apr 29, 2012

The link completes now, but it just sends me binary junk. I think their web site is set to compress the stream and my browser(s) can't read it........

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 29, 2012

mrred said:
The link completes now, but it just sends me binary junk. I think their web site is set to compress the stream and my browser(s) can't read it........

That's what happens to me at work because we use a version of IE from 3 versions back (some security issue thing). Works with every other browser for me from home (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) and on my iPhone and iPad. Maybe try Firefox? (I'm assuming you're using IE). The site is well worth the effort. You will be blown away on the info for Nikon SLRs, particularly older stuff.

mrred · Apr 29, 2012

have Firefox (latest), IE8,9. All do the same thing.

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 29, 2012

mrred said:
have Firefox (latest), IE8,9. All do the same thing.

Wow. Sorry to hear it. Just worked for me.

See if this works:

http://web.archive.org/web/20100918...b/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens1.htm

lxdude · Apr 30, 2012

Works fine for me.
XP SP3, latest Firefox.

John Austin · Apr 30, 2012

You could try a good old banger F, usually these go for $20 upwards at Perth photoswapmeetings - For this price it does not matter if you find it crude

I got a rough one for $20 and left the body behind as all I wanted was the good condition pretty little non-metering prism head - I now wish I had kept the crappy body and re-covered the peeling leather with deep red or green pigskin and replaced the mirror bouncy rubber seal at the top - Next time!

I think the original F was the epitome of Nikon SLR design and I love all three of mine, especially the black one with the big sports finder with the huge exit pupil, but that was more than $20, the prism alone was over $60

Nikon suggestions

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency