Show me some meterless Nikon F Love

flavio81 · May 2, 2016

CMoore said:
Thanks For The Info.
So just 2x checking.....the F-1 and F-1n both have the timer lever on the front of the body, and any F-1 that does not have that lever is a New F-1.?
Thanks

Easiest way is to watch for the chromed DOF preview button on the Canon New F-1. It is at the side of the lens mount.
Another easy way is by the pentaprism. The "AE prism" is instantly recognizable, and the plain prism has a Canon logo that has a different logo, more bold.

The F-1n (1976) can be recognized from the F-1 (1971) by the advance lever. The newer camera has a bigger, ergonomic grip. Also, the newer camera has a film box holder on the camera back.

flavio81 · May 2, 2016

John_Nikon_F said:
Since we've drifted a bit toward non-Nikon bodies...

Then there's this...

Looks nicer than either the F-1 or one of the SR-1/2 Minoltas. Especially when the accessory shoe is removed.

I don't think it looks nicer but it certainly feels better in the hands. It's a very ergonomic camera!

Photo Engineer · May 2, 2016

I bought a low serial # Nikon F in Tokyo in 1959 along with the telezoom lens and the 28mm wide angle. This model is listed in a separate category in the "Blue Book" of cameras. It has a ridge along the back side of the prism mount that prevents mounting of the Photomic prism. Later models did not have this.

I got the 28mm because it had less barrel distortion and because you could shoot it with the prism down. The shorter focal length lens required using the mirror lock up.

Many of the 35mm pictures (color) in my gallery were shot with this using a hand held meter. I was also shooting B&W at the time using an SG.

PE

flavio81 · May 2, 2016

Photo Engineer said:
I got the 28mm because it had less barrel distortion and because you could shoot it with the prism down.

Hi PE,

You mention it had "less barrel distortion", you mean compared to an equivalent Nikon rangefinder lens, or compared to the 21mm (2.1cm) f/4 Nikkor-O "Pancake" wideangle that requires mirror lock up?

I like my pre-AI 28/3.5, it has a lot of character. But it is hard to focus.

Regards,
Flavio

Photo Engineer · May 2, 2016

Well, as FL goes down barrel distortion goes up. My tastes ran to the 28mm and that is just me. You may prefer something else.

I have had no problems with the 28. Imagine focusing with the mirror up!

PE

MontanaJay · May 5, 2016

Me and my F about 45 years ago...

darkosaric · May 11, 2016

MontanaJay said:
Me and my F about 45 years ago...View attachment 156330

Nice style: nice hat, watch and of course the camera . Timeless look!

MontanaJay · May 11, 2016

I used a soft shutter extension so I could shoot by pressing down through the brim of my hat.
I stopped using them when it caught on something and ripped the release out of my Nikkormat.

John_Nikon_F · May 11, 2016

^They're probably better used with metered F and F2 bodies than Nikkormats, FM's, FE's, or F eyelevel bodies.

-J

flavio81 · May 23, 2016

MontanaJay said:
I used a soft shutter extension so I could shoot by pressing down through the brim of my hat.
I stopped using them when it caught on something and ripped the release out of my Nikkormat.

Wow, i thought nothing could kill a Nikkormat!!

cooltouch · May 23, 2016

Okay, ever since this thread started, I've been telling myself I need to take some shots of my old F with the eye-level finder. Well, I finally got around to it this evening. So here are a couple.

When I first bought this camera I was after an early F with the non-TTL metered finder -- and I wanted one that worked. Well, patience paid off and I finally found a very clean one with a somewhat early serial number (6486xxx, which dates the body to sometime between 1962 and 1963) with the first version of the non-TTL finder -- the one that uses a semaphore to turn the meter on and off. The second version uses an on-off switch. I've owned both over the years, and I think I prefer this one with the semaphore -- mostly just for its added quaintness. The meter is reasonably accurate, too. Here are a couple of shots of the F with what I think is a cool sorta "steam punk" looking finder, complete with its angle-of-acceptance restrictor -- that black tube hanging off the side of the finder. The first shot is with the semaphore raised and second with it down. Finally, I'm including a photo I took that I metered with that old finder. I shot through a 50mm f/1.4 lens. Don't recall the lens's settings, prolly f/5.6-f/8 or so. Film was Tri-X that I developed in full-strength D-76.

CMoore · May 24, 2016

...a stunning photo, beautiful young woman.
The lighting looks like it is in a studio...with the girl in front of a drop scene.
well done

John_Nikon_F · May 24, 2016

flavio81 said:
Wow, i thought nothing could kill a Nikkormat!!

Surely you jest... They're tough, but, yes, killable. This one died thanks to my grabbing the strap I'd removed from the camera when I put it in the case, instead of the strap attached to the case after picking it up and taking it out of the car. Case dropped four feet to an aggregate driveway, then rolled a couple feet to come to rest against the right front tire of the car.

Prior to being destroyed - camera is the black FTn in the middle on top of the monitor:

Post destruction and after being parted out somewhat:

-J

cooltouch · May 24, 2016

CMoore said:
...a stunning photo, beautiful young woman.
The lighting looks like it is in a studio...with the girl in front of a drop scene.
well done

Why thank you. I think it came out well. As for the photo, it wasn't really anything special, just a lucky grab shot. It was an overcast day so the shadows were nice and soft. But that old camera's meter nailed the exposure.

My daughter had taken her pet chicken out in the back yard, which piqued the dog's curiosity. I think he had visions of drumsticks dancing in his head.

CMoore · May 24, 2016

That explains the soft light then.
Yep...that would look good in a resume.

Kawaiithulhu · Jun 3, 2016

I've got one of these sitting around, really needs a CLA for the slower shutter speeds though And an affordable prism finder at some point.

GarageBoy · Jun 4, 2016

Funny thing is that there are so few non meter prisms sold new - everyone wanted the new hotness (photomic)

Show me some meterless Nikon F Love

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