My Nikon F won the contest

kshapero

South Florida Man
Local time
6:46 PM
Joined
Mar 27, 2006
Messages
10,044
Every year I take a break from the hot Florida sun and go up to the Berkshire Mountains. This year is no exception. As in the past there is always a furious competition amongst my many rigs as to which one will accompany me in this photo rich environment. I am proud to annouce that my recently Pete Smith (may he get better soon) overhauled and newly rangefindered Nikon F meterless SLR with the original version Voigtlander 40/2 lens will make the trip. Sorry no rangefinders this year. There were tears but better luck next year. All filmed up and ready to go.:D
 
I chuckled when I read this. I go through a bit of angst too, trying to select which camera to take on trips. Sometimes I think fewer is better (as I toy with possibly getting another F).

Enjoy the F, and enjoy the holidays.

Vick
 
It's always difficult to pick just one camera to take along with me on trips.. There's always a three or four-way tie.....

But the F is always a great choice!
 
A Rangefinered F? My friend, Pete Smith, turned my shutter button into a two step process. First step takes the shot, the the second punch on the shutter button slaps the mirror. This allows me to, 1. Make my shot almost totally silent and 2. there is virtually no vibration, allowing me to shot at 1/15 or even 1/8 of a second without shake. After that I just press the shutter button again to allow me to advance the shot. Voila it really works very nicely. Of course I can always just shot the old fashion way by pressing the shutter button a little harder for the full deal. Cool?
 
A Rangefinered F? My friend, Pete Smith, turned my shutter button into a two step process. First step takes the shot, the the second punch on the shutter button slaps the mirror. This allows me to, 1. Make my shot almost totally silent and 2. there is virtually no vibration, allowing me to shot at 1/15 or even 1/8 of a second without shake. After that I just press the shutter button again to allow me to advance the shot. Voila it really works very nicely. Of course I can always just shot the old fashion way by pressing the shutter button a little harder for the full deal. Cool?

You have to post a video of this please :)
 
So it's not a mirror pre-release, it's a mirror return delay after the shot. Like the old mirror non-instant return slr's (Hasselblad).

That will cut down on the noise during exposure, but not make a difference with mirror vibration, because the exposure is finished by the time the mirror returns in either case. (instant return or delayed return)
 
Last edited:
A Rangefinered F? My friend, Pete Smith, turned my shutter button into a two step process. First step takes the shot, the the second punch on the shutter button slaps the mirror. This allows me to, 1. Make my shot almost totally silent and 2. there is virtually no vibration, allowing me to shot at 1/15 or even 1/8 of a second without shake. After that I just press the shutter button again to allow me to advance the shot. Voila it really works very nicely. Of course I can always just shot the old fashion way by pressing the shutter button a little harder for the full deal. Cool?

Akiva

Very cool, and I remember now that you mentioned it in a previous post.
I understand the noise thing, but the vibration? any vibration induced after the shot is taken can't really impact the picture, right?

I thought once of using my F in a somehow similar way, as a scale focusing camera. I could use the remains of an old photomic to put a base in place of the prism on which I could place an accessory shoe. Now, I put a wide angle on the camera, a finder on the top, Miror lock up, and there you go...
 
5961143916_4fb9c088be_z.jpg


Trying figure out how to load a video.
 
Very interesting modification and a good choice of lens. Your F is an early one - with the Nippon Kogaku logo on the top - very nice.

I have the series II Voigtlander 40mm - It's a great lens. I would have preferred a series I lens but was too late to get one.
 
So it's not a mirror pre-release, it's a mirror return delay after the shot. Like the old mirror non-instant return slr's (Hasselblad).

That will cut down on the noise during exposure, but not make a difference with mirror vibration, because the exposure is finished by the time the mirror returns in either case. (instant return or delayed return)

Yeah I don't understand how this reduces vibration in the shot in any way. And you'll still get the slap as the mirror hits the damper on the focussing screen frame.

Ronnie
 
Akiva

Very cool, and I remember now that you mentioned it in a previous post.
I understand the noise thing, but the vibration? any vibration induced after the shot is taken can't really impact the picture, right?

I thought once of using my F in a somehow similar way, as a scale focusing camera. I could use the remains of an old photomic to put a base in place of the prism on which I could place an accessory shoe. Now, I put a wide angle on the camera, a finder on the top, Miror lock up, and there you go...
sounds cool.:)
 
what is the difference?
Series I looks like the old style Contax. Both are aspherical. The series II is slightly smaller and includes a close up attachment. The Series I is definitely cooler looking. IMHO.

Series I

SL_40_b.jpg



Series II

VoigtSL2_40c.jpg


VoigtSL2_40a.jpg



Both are sharp as nails and built well.
 
Very cool modification. I wonder if you could get it so that when the button is pushed down the shutter fires, and when the button is released, the mirror returns. So essentially, a delayed mirror return with the release of the button (like the delayed re-cocking of the digital Leica rangefinders).

Also, mind sharing how much it was do do the modification?
 
Series I looks like the old style Contax. Both are aspherical. The series II is slightly smaller and includes a close up attachment. The Series I is definitely cooler looking. IMHO.

I always thought biggest difference is autofocus of ver.2.

am also having first version, brilliant for one lens one camera kit. small, sharp and pretty fast too.
 
I've always felt that the instant return mirror was an advancement. :cool:
 

Attachments

  • Nikon F 001 (Large) (Medium).jpg
    Nikon F 001 (Large) (Medium).jpg
    51.5 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom