What's your latest new old camera ? (Part 2)

[cooltouch]

But likely you do not have these orange-jelly sweets that somehow belong to that sample...

Orange jelly ones, no. But I have all sorts of exotic candies that I can put in the background, if that is what it takes. But doing so won't dress up my F-1's condition, which is fairly clean, but nothing like Theo's. I have an old F-1 with motor that's almost that clean, though. Which I still prefer over the new one.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Over the years I've seen F3's and F-1's with so much use that the metal had been worn smooth yet the camera worked perfectly.

 

[obviouslygene]

Just bought an early batch M3 DS with older shutter speeds and no frame selector as well as a 50/2 Summicron DR.

 

[Europan]

A brown Bell & Howell Filmo 70-DL

 

[TheTrailTog]

After quite some time of wanting one, but not wanting to spend the premium, I finally picked up a Nikon F2SB.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Enjoy

 

[Theo Sulphate]

After quite some time of wanting one, but not wanting to spend the premium, I finally picked up a Nikon F2SB.

Excellent choice; the best of the F2's. It can meter wide open with both pre-AI and AI lenses.

Probably Nikon's best pro-level camera and best mechanical camera.

 

[vlasta]

Like mint Minolta XE-1

 

[TheTrailTog]

Excellent choice; the best of the F2's. It can meter wide open with both pre-AI and AI lenses.

Probably Nikon's best pro-level camera and best mechanical camera.

I really love the Photomic needle metering, but it's near impossible to see in low light, which is why I wanted the F2SB. The LEDs are definitely nice. Need to order some foam for it and give it a good cleaning, but everything appears to be working fine and I got it for a song

 

[PGraham3]

TOPCON 35-L (1957)

A not-so-common, but optically sound double-stroke rangefinder.

Example Photo with expired Kodak Royal Gold 100.

 

[sabredog]

Picked up an exceptionally good condition FED-50, FED's version of the excellent Olympus Trip 35. Took about three weeks to wing its way over from the Ukraine.

Just needs new light seals and it is ready for an excursion.

 

[cooltouch]

Excellent choice; the best of the F2's. It can meter wide open with both pre-AI and AI lenses.

By this, you're referring to AI lenses with the "rabbit ears," yes? Cuz the F2SB was the last F2 with the old meter coupling style. Lots of AIs lenses with the prongs also.

The F2SB wasn't made for very long, thus it is something of a rare bird -- and collectible as a result.

I really like the F2S, SB, and AS for one special reason. With it's low-light metering ability and its self-timer, it's possible to set up the F2S/SB/AS such that it can take metered, 10-second exposures. Something of a rarity with cameras that have a mechanical shutter.

 

[AgX]

Picked up an exceptionally good condition FED-50, FED's version of the excellent Olympus Trip 35.

I did not knew that FED used deteriorating light seal material too.

It got a nice distance scale. Many competitors used few symbols or only few figures.

That decorative hot-shoe cover would make more sense if the hot-shoe was made black too ( the two contacting sides could then be ground blank.)
(The all-black Minox 35 used a black cover for its recessed hot-shoe to make it look more neat. In one vesion the hot-shoe itself was darkened too.)

 

[Theo Sulphate]

By this, you're referring to AI lenses with the "rabbit ears," yes? Cuz the F2SB was the last F2 with the old meter coupling style. Lots of AIs lenses with the prongs also.
...

Yes. Of the five F2's I have, none of them are an F2A or F2AS because those versions require stop-down metering of pre-AI lenses. Likewise, I chose the Nikkormat FT2 because it was the last to allow full aperture metering with the pre-AI lenses. About 1/3 of my Nikon lenses are pre-AI.

 

[TheTrailTog]

...I really like the F2S, SB, and AS for one special reason. With it's low-light metering ability and its self-timer, it's possible to set up the F2S/SB/AS such that it can take metered, 10-second exposures. Something of a rarity with cameras that have a mechanical shutter.

Really, they'll meter out to 10s? If it does, bonus! How do you meter that long with them? Personally I would probably use my Gossen for metering in that low of light, but it would be nice to know how to do it in camera, just in case.

 

[TheTrailTog]

Yes. Of the five F2's I have, none of them are an F2A or F2AS because those versions require stop-down metering of pre-AI lenses. Likewise, I chose the Nikkormat FT2 because it was the last to allow full aperture metering with the pre-AI lenses. About 1/3 of my Nikon lenses are pre-AI.

Same reason I wanted the F2SB, all of my lenses are Non-Ai. I also have an FT2 and an EL to round out my 35mm gear.

 

[macfred]

...but it would be nice to know how to do it in camera, just in case.

Extreme Low-Light Metering (scroll down a little) : http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/prisms/dp3/index1.htm

 

[TheTrailTog]

Extreme Low-Light Metering (scroll down a little) : http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/prisms/dp3/index1.htm

Awesome! Thank you!!!

 

[cooltouch]

Yep, pretty cool, eh?

Another capability that's kinda unique to the F2 is its continuously variable shutter speeds. You can set the shutter speed dial to a setting in between those marked on the dial, and the shutter will fire at that in-between setting. I don't know of any other mechanical camera that does this.

I only have a couple of lenses that are unmodified pre-AI, so my mix of Nikon bodies shows it. I have three that accept pre-AI lenses and the rest all have the later coupling style, including my FT3 and EL2, the latter which I treasure.

 

[TheTrailTog]

Yep, pretty cool, eh?

Another capability that's kinda unique to the F2 is its continuously variable shutter speeds. You can set the shutter speed dial to a setting in between those marked on the dial, and the shutter will fire at that in-between setting. I don't know of any other mechanical camera that does this.

Familiar with that from my F2 Photomic. Another cool feature which I like is the ability to set shutter times out to 10s rather than having to rely on B like most other mechanical cameras.

 

[macfred]

Yep, pretty cool, eh?

Another capability that's kinda unique to the F2 is its continuously variable shutter speeds. You can set the shutter speed dial to a setting in between those marked on the dial, and the shutter will fire at that in-between setting.
...

Yes, that's a great feature - but only the range of shutter speeds from 1/2000 sec. down to 1/80 sec. is actually operated steplessly (though that's more than anyone could ask for ...).

 

[sabredog]

I did not knew that FED used deteriorating light seal material too.

It got a nice distance scale. Many competitors used few symbols or only few figures.

That decorative hot-shoe cover would make more sense if the hot-shoe was made black too ( the two contacting sides could then be ground blank.)
(The all-black Minox 35 used a black cover for its recessed hot-shoe to make it look more neat. In one vesion the hot-shoe itself was darkened too.)

Well the light seals certainly have deteriorated. Not to the extent of some cameras I have but enough to warrant replacement.

 

[AgX]

What did we Apuggers do wrong that we are punished with that black goo...

 

[mshchem]

I've had good luck replacing foam in cameras, and I'm fumble fingered. My latest impulse purchase is a really nice Bronica SQAi, and yesterday a darkroom bonanza of like new Cesco-lite and Paterson big 'ol trays. I think I could fill 120 linear feet of sink with trays. Someone literally drove up with a pickup load of darkroom stuff and gave it to my local photo shop. I got the stuff for a great price and saved them from the dump.

 

[mshchem]

TOPCON 35-L (1957)

A not-so-common, but optically sound double-stroke rangefinder.
View attachment 189771
Example Photo with expired Kodak Royal Gold 100.
View attachment 189772

Always liked the looks of the Super D. That's a nice looking camera