Alpsman
Well-known
Sadly, the quality of the painting of the battery pack is not the same as for the camera.
But that's something you can live with and it doesn't affect the function or the sound.
A Love Letter to the Nikon F: Almost 70 years of Analog History and why I still shoot it daily.
- Thread starter Benedikt Schlereth
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 35
- Views 1K
But that's something you can live with and it doesn't affect the function or the sound.
hermank
Member
Big fan of the F. As a collector and as a user. One is always loaded with slide film, and always with the eye-level finder. Most beautiful to see, most convenient to work with.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
I’ve had a number of Fs over the last forty or so years, but for some reason I never held on to any of them. Dunno why - maybe because they’re not weird enough?
Two stand out in my memory — a black FTn with an F36 motordrive that I had during undergrad in the early 1990s, and a chrome F (can’t remember which iteration) that a former journalist bought during the Vietnam war somewhere near the Cambodian border. I seem to recall that he also had quite an amazing collection of Colt 45s in a glass case. Funny the odd memories that stick out in your mind.
This is the last one that I had which I sold last year. 71xxxxx, original box and instructions and I believe the original 50mm lens, accurately-working meter. I never ended up running any film through it.
Who knows, maybe I’ll try again in a few years with another F — a black plain prism version if I had a choice.
Nikon F1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
Two stand out in my memory — a black FTn with an F36 motordrive that I had during undergrad in the early 1990s, and a chrome F (can’t remember which iteration) that a former journalist bought during the Vietnam war somewhere near the Cambodian border. I seem to recall that he also had quite an amazing collection of Colt 45s in a glass case. Funny the odd memories that stick out in your mind.
This is the last one that I had which I sold last year. 71xxxxx, original box and instructions and I believe the original 50mm lens, accurately-working meter. I never ended up running any film through it.
Who knows, maybe I’ll try again in a few years with another F — a black plain prism version if I had a choice.
Nikon F1 by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
Last edited:
trix4ever
Well-known
Can't say I've ever noticed that, but then I'm a photographer not a fondler.
trix4ever
Well-known
This particular F of mine has an F2 prism, and F4 focussing screen in an F3 frame. And then I put a lens on it that can't even use the viewfinder!
I'm clearly insane but I always enjoyed the ability to change everything on the F. I always used the all over Microprism screens on my F, loved them.
MISH
Well-known
I had a F and it was a wonderful camera but I like the F2 even better. So much so I now have two. This F2 with the eye level finder is one of my forever cameras that will never sell. I could have never been able to afford one of these beauties back when I was in high school but now I find the bodies and lenses the best bargain in film photography when you consider the high quality that Nikon built into them. What a system.steveyork
Well-known
The only original black paint bodies I can afford! Took a lot of good shots with an F, but narrowed down my photography to one system. That works best for me.
steveyork
Well-known
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Throughout my college years I used my trusty Nikon F Photomic FTn. I really loved that camera.
After it was stolen I considered replacing it, but by then the 1.3V mercury 625 battery was banned.
I upgraded to a Nikon F2. It's similar enough for me and uses modern 1.5V silver oxide batteries.
Chris
After it was stolen I considered replacing it, but by then the 1.3V mercury 625 battery was banned.
I upgraded to a Nikon F2. It's similar enough for me and uses modern 1.5V silver oxide batteries.
Chris
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
The modern batteries are a major advantage. Plus, you replace the batteries without having to remove the metered finder. (And the shutter release is in the "right" place.)
Alpsman
Well-known
Not to mention the flat, . . . . difficult to unscrew battery lid of the F metering viewfinder.
hermank
Member
Indeed, but on the other hand; how often do you change the battery? Once a year ? Every two years? ( if you don't forget to depress the top button to turn the meter off....)
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Well, with the F2, just push the wind lever all the way in. No need to remember the on/off switch.
hermank
Member
The Nikon F is a pre-ai camera. You have to do the thinking yourself.
Alpsman
Well-known
"How often do you change the battery?" - well - very very rarely, because I usually use a handheld light meter.
In German I would say that screw is "beschissen" but I can't imagine a better design by myself. Too less room for a taller head or a better drive.
But that's not the point.
I even designed a simple tool to screw it on and off a little bit easier.
But then I got a second FTn finder and it has a screw with a shorter, not so deep slot so the tool does not fit so well anymore.
. . . . 😭
But I won't abandon the Nikon F because of such an unimportant, meaningless trifle. 😍
laservampire
Member
After experimenting with a number of cameras the F quickly became my favourite.
There’s not many other instances where I feel like I can happily rely on a piece of 60+ year old tech every day.
I don’t have to baby it. It’s easily serviceable and modular. There was 800,000 of them made so parts are plentiful. I can use any F mount lens from 1959-2000.
The F2 may be the “perfected” F but it doesn’t thrill me like the original.
There’s not many other instances where I feel like I can happily rely on a piece of 60+ year old tech every day.
I don’t have to baby it. It’s easily serviceable and modular. There was 800,000 of them made so parts are plentiful. I can use any F mount lens from 1959-2000.
The F2 may be the “perfected” F but it doesn’t thrill me like the original.
Similar threads
- Article
- Article
- Article
