A Second F2S

[farlymac]

I happened to stop in my favorite junktique store the other day, and he had a chrome F2S sitting on the shelf. I would have snatched it up right then for the price he was asking, but remembered what happened the last time I bought a camera off him.

So I went home, and crunched the budget numbers a bit, and figured it was worth the chance. Had to wait two days as he was closed over the holiday, but I rolled in there this afternoon, and it was still there. I checked it out, and it functioned fine, albeit without a battery to see if the finder meter worked. It had a Series E 1.8/50 on it (that I can put on my FG) with a Hoya PL filter, and an original Nikon strap. Very clean inside and out, except for under the finder, but that will probably only need some air to blow out the dust. The finder screen is a Type P, which I really like. And, the self timer works just fine.

Got it home, and slipped a 3v Lithium in the battery well, and the meter came to life, giving an accurate reading of the lamp next to my desk.

Not bad for $60. It will keep my black F2S company.

Nikon F2S Chrome by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

 

[DCB]

Great find.

Peace

 

[Paulbe]

Phil--mercy! That is a GREAT buy! A very accurate meter and a fine camera to boot. Congrats!
Paul

 

[Rob-F]

Sounds good to me, congratulations! "Junktique?" 🙂

 

[Robert Lai]

Darn, I'm so envious!

 

[Timmyjoe]

That looks really nice. Congrats.

 

[Spicy]

Jerk



10chara



(Just kidding)














((About the 10 characters lol))

 

[raid]

Compare such a purchase with buying a used M9 for $4000.

 

[nikon_sam]

Waiting the two days for them to reopen would have the longest two days ever...
Nice find, great buy and pretty to boot...

 

[farlymac]

Sounds good to me, congratulations! "Junktique?" 🙂

He's got a lot of nice antiques, Rob, and also some junk. Like the Minolta XD-11 I got the last time.

PF

 

[farlymac]

Compare such a purchase with buying a used M9 for $4000.

That's why I stick to my Nikons, Raid. Can't afford the price of admission to that club.

PF

 

[Highway 61]

Very nice find for a very low price. Reminds me my flea market $5 Rollei 35...

 

[farlymac]

Waiting the two days for them to reopen would have the longest two days ever...
Nice find, great buy and pretty to boot...

That was tempered with the knowledge I already have a black body F2S, Sam, and if it wasn't there, the money could be put to other use, like buying a brick or two of BW400CN.

PF

 

[farlymac]

Thanks, DCB; Paulbe; Robert Lai; Timmyjoe; Spicy; and Highway 61.

Yeah, that $5 Rollei is a winner!

PF

 

[Vics]

Nikon makes the best GAS! Fine gear at a price that doesn't break the bank. Congratulations!

 

[Godfrey]

Good find and looks to be in fine shape!

Both of my Nikon Fs were given to me. Both needed service to a greater or lesser degree ... the black one (1972) works OK but has definitely been apart before and needs some fix-up (for instance, the frame counter is off by two...). The chrome one (1965) was jamming so I sent it out for a full clean and overhaul. That ultimately cost me about $200, now it works like it was new. I added a plain prism to the black one (another $100 or so). My little kit of favorite Nikkors is now happy to have their home body to work on, even if I use them more frequently with the Sony A7 ...

Nikon F and F2 cameras are wonderful old things and go for much less than they're worth as cameras. But then, so do old Leicaflexes and Leica R bodies. Comparing them to modern Leica digital RF bodies price-wise isn't sensible.

G

 

[farlymac]

Vics and Godfrey, Thanks.

I was swapping out the Series E lens, and found that the meter lever would not mate up with any lens I tried on it. I looked at the finder on the other camera, and determined that someone had manipulated the lever past where it should be. Using a small screwdriver, I gently worked it back into place, and now it mates up on every lens. I tried more than one lens because they have different shaped prongs. Then I cleaned the finder and focus screen.

It's all good now. I have all the non-AI stuff in one bag, the AF stuff in another, and have to get one for the AI gear now. Or sell off one of the other systems to gain back a bag.

PF

 

[Vics]

...or have the NAI stuff Ai'd... That's what I did.

 

[btgc]

Compare such a purchase with buying a used M9 for $4000.

But you know this $60 wonders almost never migrate alone, very soon on horizon appear also accessories, lenses and then spare bodies 🙂 though still cheaper that surfing digital wave.

 

[farlymac]

...or have the NAI stuff Ai'd... That's what I did.

I've got one lens that has been AI'd, but I don't know as it was done by an expert, as it's a bit overly clicky when setting the aperture.

PF