Where have all the Nikons gone?

ph · Mar 8, 2019

Irony filters are VERY rare even second-hand. I believe even Westlicht has not ever offered a functional, un-mouldy, un-scratched one. Not 49mm for Takumars, nor 52mms for Nikons.

Rumour has it that some are still hand made with space age computer designed CRC equipment, to a secret nano-precision recipe with VR-ED-SSC-T*-and about ten more letters like FRS, KCB, etc. in a collective of German and Japanese professors hosted by Meyer Gørlitz in an unidentified far away country. If acting fast, you can still transfer a (non refundable) sum in order to be on the waiting list.

I must admit to not using film that much any longer. A newly aquired Werra III with its Flektogon and Cardinar last autumn was the most recent overwhelming temptation. '

I gave away (to my son) a Nikon F2 with a huge auto-aperture device, so I have nothing to add to the main subject.

I can, howewer follow up on the weighty commentaries ad modern v\s unfashionable cameras.

Imagine having to wait for a day or a week in order to see the results. having to use envelopes and stamps in order to share pictures AND if you handled some of the chemicals yourself, there were no health&safety officials watching. This of course was at the time when a laboratory chemicals supplier would sell you what you asked for, assuming that if you knew the nomenclature, you could handle it.

p.

BradS · Jun 23, 2019

Found one....ca. 1976 with a DP-3 finder. Spent a bit more than I wanted to but it is recently serviced and is ready to use.

excited...anxious...waiting...

Theo Sulphate · Jun 23, 2019

Congratulations. Looks excellent.

Huss · Jun 23, 2019

BradS said:
Found one....ca. 1976 with a DP-3 finder. Spent a bit more than I wanted to but it is recently serviced and is ready to use.

excited...anxious...waiting...

Nice. The SB is now the most desirable version, no? Modern meter of the AS, but with non AI capture.

I highly recommend getting one of these grips. Transforms the handling of the camera.

https://www.cameradactyl.com/buttergrip/nikonf2

$21 and any colour you want

RalphLambrecht · Jun 24, 2019

ph said:
Irony filters are VERY rare even second-hand. I believe even Westlicht has not ever offered a functional, un-mouldy, un-scratched one. Not 49mm for Takumars, nor 52mms for Nikons.

Rumour has it that some are still hand made with space age computer designed CRC equipment, to a secret nano-precision recipe with VR-ED-SSC-T*-and about ten more letters like FRS, KCB, etc. in a collective of German and Japanese professors hosted by Meyer Gørlitz in an unidentified far away country. If acting fast, you can still transfer a (non refundable) sum in order to be on the waiting list.

I must admit to not using film that much any longer. A newly aquired Werra III with its Flektogon and Cardinar last autumn was the most recent overwhelming temptation. '

I gave away (to my son) a Nikon F2 with a huge auto-aperture device, so I have nothing to add to the main subject.

I can, howewer follow up on the weighty commentaries ad modern v\s unfashionable cameras.

Imagine having to wait for a day or a week in order to see the results. having to use envelopes and stamps in order to share pictures AND if you handled some of the chemicals yourself, there were no health&safety officials watching. This of course was at the time when a laboratory chemicals supplier would sell you what you asked for, assuming that if you knew the nomenclature, you could handle it.

p.

I kept all the ones I've ever owned except for an prestine FM.

cooltouch · Jun 24, 2019

Huss, thanks for that link. Finally found a grip that I think I'll like for my Pentax 67.

awty · Jun 24, 2019

BradS said:
Found one....ca. 1976 with a DP-3 finder. Spent a bit more than I wanted to but it is recently serviced and is ready to use.

excited...anxious...waiting...

Cool, I have the same model with dp3 in sexy silver, dont forget to twist. Which screen does it have? I switched from a K to the one with grids, I like straight horizons.

BMbikerider · Jun 24, 2019

I came into this at a late stage but why do you think F2's for sale on E Bay are junk? - Well simply because that is exactly what they are and a decent dealer will not touch them. As for not finding a good one elsewhere, that is almost certainly because those who have a good one, know fine well what they have is worth keeping so that is exactly what they do. They are getting older and none are being replaced, so it is a fact of life they are getting rare.

BradS · Jun 24, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Congratulations. Looks excellent.

Thanks Theo et al. Its in the mail - should be here Thursday.

Huss said:
Nice. The SB is now the most desirable version, no? Modern meter of the AS, but with non AI capture.
I highly recommend getting one of these grips. Transforms the handling of the camera.

I decided on the DP-3 over the DP-1 because it uses the silicon photo diode(s) instead of CdS photocells and over the DP-12 because it will meter with every Nikon lens I own (I have both non-AI and AI).
Hmmm, I think you said it more plainly.
Thanks for the link to the cool grips.

awty said:
Cool, I have the same model with dp3 in sexy silver, dont forget to twist. Which screen does it have? I switched from a K to the one with grids, I like straight horizons.

"Don't forget to twist" ??? You mean, do the Nikon shuffle?
I think the ad said it has an 'A' screen. I too prefre the one with the grid...type E, I think?

Karl K · Jun 24, 2019

I attended the PMA (Photographic Manufacturers' Association) Show in the late 1970's.
Marty Forscher, the owner of Professional Camera Repair and the finest Nikon repairman in NYC, was speaking about the then current state of 35mm camera technology.
After the presentation, I spoke directly with Marty and he told me "the Nikon F2 is the best 35mm camera ever made. Stronger, more durable and better designed than anything made by Leica, Canon, Zeiss, etc."
Unfortunately, Marty is no longer with us.
I wonder how he would have compared the F2 to the F4, F5, or F6.

Huss · Jun 24, 2019

Karl K said:
I attended the PMA (Photographic Manufacturers' Association) Show in the late 1970's.
Marty Forscher, the owner of Professional Camera Repair and the finest Nikon repairman in NYC, was speaking about the then current state of 35mm camera technology.
After the presentation, I spoke directly with Marty and he told me "the Nikon F2 is the best 35mm camera ever made. Stronger, more durable and better designed than anything made by Leica, Canon, Zeiss, etc."
Unfortunately, Marty is no longer with us.
I wonder how he would have compared the F2 to the F4, F5, or F6.

My F2As needed Sover's resistor ring repair (the standard one eventually wears out), while my perfect like new F6 needed its digital rangefinder AF repaired by Nikon because it suddenly started to mis-focus.
So I'd say the F2 is more durable.

Karl K · Jun 24, 2019

Huss said:
My F2As needed Sover's resistor ring repair (the standard one eventually wears out), while my perfect like new F6 needed its digital rangefinder AF repaired by Nikon because it suddenly started to mis-focus.
So I'd say the F2 is more durable.

Marty Forscher was referring to the F2 body without a meter.
Obviously, the meter is the weakest link.

awty · Jun 24, 2019

BradS said:
"Don't forget to twist" ??? You mean, do the Nikon shuffle?
I think the ad said it has an 'A' screen. I too prefre the one with the grid...type E, I think?

Yes must remember to shuffle when changing lens and make sure the prong picks up the ears. The Type E is more user friendly I think, especially for longer lens.

BMbikerider · Jun 25, 2019

Karl K said:
I attended the PMA (Photographic Manufacturers' Association) Show in the late 1970's.
Marty Forscher, the owner of Professional Camera Repair and the finest Nikon repairman in NYC, was speaking about the then current state of 35mm camera technology.
After the presentation, I spoke directly with Marty and he told me "the Nikon F2 is the best 35mm camera ever made. Stronger, more durable and better designed than anything made by Leica, Canon, Zeiss, etc."
Unfortunately, Marty is no longer with us.
I wonder how he would have compared the F2 to the F4, F5, or F6.

I have owned several F2a's in the past but for whatever reason I went with technology and bought a F4 then a second F4. They are still my favourite Nikon camera. However as a retirement present to myself I splashed out and bought an F6. The F4 models have a life limited by the electronics and a number are being offered for sale with the LCD screen 'bleeding' and they cannot be repaired - no spares. The F5 was a monstrosity and it should have come with a free body building course, it was so heavy. That leaves the F6. As it is still in production albeit in limited numbers spares are available and will be for as long as Nikon continue make the camera (Plus a while longer) When they are gone if I am still around then I may go back for another F2. They are as tough as old boots and can be repaired even the electronics in the meter

However you have never mentioned the F3 in any shape or form. A lovely camera but possibly good ones are even rarer than the F2 When did you last see a good one for sale?. The HP version was my favourite but that was only because of the viewfinder but any F3's were very capable instruments.

Karl K · Jun 26, 2019

BMbikerider said:
I have owned several F2a's in the past but for whatever reason I went with technology and bought a F4 then a second F4. They are still my favourite Nikon camera. However as a retirement present to myself I splashed out and bought an F6. The F4 models have a life limited by the electronics and a number are being offered for sale with the LCD screen 'bleeding' and they cannot be repaired - no spares. The F5 was a monstrosity and it should have come with a free body building course, it was so heavy. That leaves the F6. As it is still in production albeit in limited numbers spares are available and will be for as long as Nikon continue make the camera (Plus a while longer) When they are gone if I am still around then I may go back for another F2. They are as tough as old boots and can be repaired even the electronics in the meter

However you have never mentioned the F3 in any shape or form. A lovely camera but possibly good ones are even rarer than the F2 When did you last see a good one for sale?. The HP version was my favourite but that was only because of the viewfinder but any F3's were very capable instruments.

Good luck with your retirement and your F6.
I agree, the F3 certainly was and is a capable instrument, but not built to the same standard as was the F and the F2.
The fact that battery power is required for the F3 to fully function, takes it off my list of "stranded on an island with only one camera"
.

Huss · Jun 26, 2019

Karl K said:
The fact that battery power is required for the F3 to fully function, takes it off my list of "stranded on an island with only one camera"
.

Are you only using one roll of film stranded on that island? Just asking for someone who wonders why people have no problem packing extra film but have an issue with packing two tiny Lr44 batteries.

Karl K · Jun 27, 2019

Good point.
I guess I'm old fashioned...my Nikon F2, Leica M3 and Hasselblad SWC need no batteries.
Even my watch, the Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic, runs without batteries.
Now, if I could just get my iPhone to run without its battery, I'd be very happy.

Ste_S · Jun 28, 2019

Huss said:
Are you only using one roll of film stranded on that island? Just asking for someone who wonders why people have no problem packing extra film but have an issue with packing two tiny Lr44 batteries.

It's often easier to find batteries than film also... I know I can pick up AA's for my F4 anywhere, but film for it ? Not so much.

Where have all the Nikons gone?

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