Vintage Nikon that needs a CLA.

[Nikon 2]

That's fine for a vertical running shutter but a F2 shutter runs horizontally (checked before I wrote this)

You’re right, the F2 uses a horizontal run shutter…!

 

[Chan Tran]

What kind of shutter? Cloth horizontal shutters need constant attention, whereas vertical metal shutters can just run until they need to be replaced.

Same as a vacuum tube TV from 1972, it needs constant tweaking for a good picture. Whereas a 2022 vintage OLED TV can just be replaced when it stops working.

The F2 has horizontal shutter curtain not vertical blades but its curtain is titanium not cloth.

 

[Nikon 2]

The F2 has horizontal shutter curtain not vertical blades but its curtain is titanium not cloth.

Correct…!

 

[guangong]

I use my F and F2 with plain prisms, so meter problems are of no concern. My friend once worked at Leitz USA when located near Chinatown. Now a retired engineer. His assessment is that Leicas used inferior lubricants and shutters lacked ball bearings (except for wartime cameras marked “K”), which explains need for periodic adjustment, whereas Nikons used superior lubricants and ball bearings, thus requiring less care.
Except for having Nikons examined after house fire (no work required), I can’t remember when cameras had a CLA.

 

[BrianShaw]

Thanks for bringing up lubricant “quality“. Very interesting topic as lubricant technology has changed vastly, with immense improvements, over the years. Lubricant quality often needs to be considered jointly with the applicable era. That’s why following the lubrication schedule of old camera service manuals verbatim can be challenging. Many of the old/ traditional lubes no longer exist or have been improved or sometimes there is just a much better modern lubricant to use.

 

[btaylor]

Thanks for bringing up lubricant “quality“. Very interesting topic as lubricant technology has changed vastly, with immense improvements, over the years. Lubricant quality often needs to be considered jointly with the applicable era. That’s why following the lubrication schedule of old camera service manuals verbatim can be challenging. Many of the old/ traditional lubes no longer exist or have been improved or sometimes there is just a much better modern lubricant to use.

So true! I’ve been in the automotive service trade since the ‘70s and the improvement in lubricants over that period of time to me is astonishing. Just on the subject of motor oils back in the day a “modern” multi viscosity 20-50w oil was the bee’s knees for a high performance European engine. Now a 400hp twin turbo V8 is calling for 0-12w with a tripling of service life.

 

[Nikon 2]

So true! I’ve been in the automotive service trade since the ‘70s and the improvement in lubricants over that period of time to me is astonishing. Just on the subject of motor oils back in the day a “modern” multi viscosity 20-50w oil was the bee’s knees for a high performance European engine. Now a 400hp twin turbo V8 is calling for 0-12w with a tripling of service life.

It might be the reason to get a CLA just for the L…!

 

[Nikon 2]

These modern lubricants last forever.
Probably longer than an F2…!

 

[Huss]

I hope you get your broken F2 fixed soon. They are excellent cameras when they work.

 

[Nikon 2]

I hope you get your broken F2 fixed soon. They are excellent cameras when they work.

Hope you get your broken cameras fixed also…!

 

[Huss]

Hope you get your broken cameras fixed also…!

All my cameras work great. Including both my F2s.

thoughts and prayers that your F2 makes it through the surgery and comes back in decent shape.
We are pulling for you!

 

[Nikon 2]

All my cameras work great. Including both my F2s.

thoughts and prayers that your F2 makes it through the surgery and comes back in decent shape.
We are pulling for you!

It may need a CLA or may not need a CLA.
It works very well and I might have Dean Clean, lube, and adjust it next week...!

 

[Nikon 2]

All my cameras work great. Including both my F2s.

thoughts and prayers that your F2 makes it through the surgery and comes back in decent shape.
We are pulling for you!

Hope I’m sending it the right person…!

 

[Nikon 2]

I hope you get your broken F2 fixed soon. They are excellent cameras when they work.

You probably should get a CLA for you’re cameras also…!

 

[Don_ih]

Leicas used inferior lubricants and shutters lacked ball bearings

All Leica cameras after the IIIC (and some IIIC) have ball bearing shutters.

 

[Nikon 2]

All my cameras work great. Including both my F2s.

thoughts and prayers that your F2 makes it through the surgery and comes back in decent shape.
We are pulling for you!

When was the last time you had the CLA done on your F2’s?
And who would you recommend for a CLA on your F2’s…?

 

[Moose22]

All Leica cameras after the IIIC (and some IIIC) have ball bearing shutters.

Yeah, I have a 54 M4 an a 55 IIIf and both have ball bearing. The IIf red dials have the upgraded shutters, both are excellent, super quiet, and very close on exposure timing.

@Nikon 2 I know huss had at least one Sover Wong'd. Mine was done by sover wong, too. Sorry I don't have better recommendations, though mine works very well with pretty tight timing at all speeds 3 years after the CLA. Good luck getting yours this nice, you'll love it if it is.

 

[Nikon 2]

Yeah, I have a 54 M4 an a 55 IIIf and both have ball bearing. The IIf red dials have the upgraded shutters, both are excellent, super quiet, and very close on exposure timing.

@Nikon 2 I know huss had at least one Sover Wong'd. Mine was done by sover wong, too. Sorry I don't have better recommendations, though mine works very well with pretty tight timing at all speeds 3 years after the CLA. Good luck getting yours this nice, you'll love it if it is.

Looking forward to sending my F2 out for a CLA...!

 

[Huss]

Use Dean. I’ve been to his shop a bunch of times and he knows his ish.

Both my F2s have been serviced by Sover Wong. But I wouldn’t use him again because I don’t want to wait forever, and I don’t want to pay what he now charges. I don’t have any complaints re. his work, it’d just when I used him he did not charge that much, nor was the wait that long!

 

[Huss]

P.s just send it out and be done w it. The longer you wait, the longer you will be waiting.

 

[Don_ih]

Or just buy any working camera. Really, it doesn't matter what camera it is - they're all the same.

 

[Craig]

Or just buy any working camera. Really, it doesn't matter what camera it is - they're all the same.

They are not all the same! Some cameras are black and some are chrome

 

[Huss]

They are not all the same! Some cameras are black and some are chrome

My Konicas say otherwise!

 

[Don_ih]

They are not all the same! Some cameras are black and some are chrome

Oh, how could I have neglected that! Black is obviously the best!

 

[Nikon 2]

Use Dean. I’ve been to his shop a bunch of times and he knows his ish.

Both my F2s have been serviced by Sover Wong. But I wouldn’t use him again because I don’t want to wait forever, and I don’t want to pay what he now charges. I don’t have any complaints re. his work, it’d just when I used him he did not charge that much, nor was the wait that long!

Sover told me I`d have to wait until 2024 to send in the F2...!