Any Nikon SLR user?

[BillBingham2]

Ulrich,

I started life in the Nikon SLR system and then move to Leica RF. While I really liked my Leica Ms I found I needed longer glass from time to time. 180 or 300 is fun from time to time. I switched to a Nikon RF and things just fell into place. The handling of my S2 was almost the same as my Nikon F. When I switch to an S3 it was perfect.

Wrong way vs right way is a relative thing for many. I tried the OM system with my Ms and they did not move the same way (for focus and aperture). I did not switch to Leica SLRs due to the price of replacing my Nikkor glass.

What I ended up with was a Nikon S3 with a 25/4 CV, 35/1.8, 50/1.4 Millennium and a 105/2.5 Nikkor. On the SLR side I had a 28/2.8 AIs, 85/1.8, 180/2.8 ED. I was a pig in............Then I sold most of it to help pay some bills.

If I had it to do over again I would go with a Nikon S2 and a two lens set up (28 and a 50). Then I would get a Nikon F with a plain prism with a 105 and a 300. I might add a 28/2.8 AIs for backup.

There really isn't another SLR and RF that feel more alike than the S3 (or SP) and a Nikon F.

These days I'm hanging in the digital world with a GRD III and very happy with a way cool pocket camera.

B2 (;->

 

[healyzh]

I have a FM2, which I've had since '86, and I picked up a F3HP last year. While I love the way the F3HP feels, I prefer the size and lightmeter in the FM2. I would actually like to get a FE2 or a FM3a if I can ever find one cheap enough.

I've pretty much given up using both though, for how I use 35mm film, my Leica M6 makes more sense.

I haven't noticed any problem moving between them, but then I use quite a few different 35mm, MF, LF, and digital cameras.

If I was to recommend a Nikon F series camera, I'd probably recommend the FE2, FM2, or FM3a. Or if you need interchangeable parts, the F3, though the LCD display is a pain to read.

 

[Keith]

Me too...

Normal, after 25 years with SLRs and only two years with RFs...

I think I tried to "feel sure about everything" before hitting the shutter when I use my RFs, just as I feel sure of everything quickly when I use my SLRs...

During the last street shooting months I've started to use my RFs a lot faster... When you really forget about "an image in camera", they're incredibly fast and related to the vision of reality (not the representation of it on an SLR)... For some months focusing a RF was slower, but now it's very fast...

One thing I'll never know is how SLRs feel after a whole lifetime with RFs...

Cheers,

Juan

I think it's a case of focus and composition Juan!

Unless your focus point is smack in the middle of your frame you are going to be hindered by an RF!

Having to compose, focus then re-compose occasionally with a rangfinder can be a drag!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

You said it, Keith: those two things, focus and composition, are the ones that decide lots of our "ways" when we start as photographers, depending on which system we start using...

My beliefs have changed after these two years... RFs have -in some unexpected way- made me get away from the camera, because to use RFs quickly, it was necessary -to me- to attend the real scene in a different way... After RFs I feel a lot more in contact with reality,.. With SLRs I used to see photographs instead or reality...

If one day I give cameras to my two boys (they're 1 year old now...) I will give them RFs instead of SLRs: an SLR could be considered -at first sight- easier because it would let them see the image as the lens sees it, but on the other hand, if they focus their attention on the lens' image, I think they wouldn't see the real scene as much as a RF with framelines and space around makes us attend carefully...

Even though I heard "using a Leica, or any other RF, is really different and very recommended" many times for many years, as an SLR shooter I could have never imagined the great things a RF can do for us as photographers...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Bill58]

The F2 and Nikkormat FTNs were the last hand-made Nikon SLRs. The F2as has the best meter and the Nikkkormat FTN is the easiet, most trouble free, toughest SLR ever made. Get them both CLA'd/ repaired by the best: Sover Wong in the UK, soverf2repair at yahoo dot com

 

[stupid leica]

I think they wouldn't see the real scene as much as a RF with framelines and space around makes us attend carefully...

Even though I heard "using a Leica, or any other RF, is really different and very recommended" many times for many years, as an SLR shooter I could have never imagined the great things a RF can do for us as photographers...

Juan, this stuff is super philosophical and everything, but i completely agree.

 

[David Murphy]

I use the F with an unmetered prism. I've tried various others (Nikkormat, F2, FM, FM2), but I keep coming back to the F. Their lenses are superb - all of them, even the oldest ones

Hi,

I'm going to invest into a SLR system. The Nikon F system has caught my eye. I like the sheet features of their cameras and the fact the F mount has never been uninterrupted.

However I have never owned a Nikon camera. The thing that bothers me is that both the aperture ring and the focus ring of Nikkor lenses seem to turn in the "wrong" way.

So if you own and use regularly Nikon SLRs and Rangefinders, I'd be interested to know whether you have eventually made peace with the difference of ergonomics.

Thank you.

Best Regards

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Juan, this stuff is super philosophical and everything, but i completely agree.

It's great you're young and have experienced both systems and have things clear... I should have used RFs before... But well, now I can hope I live a long life...😀 What really matters is how happy RFs have made me... That will be with me forever.

Cheers,

Juan

 

[PKR]

I use Nikon made film and digital gear. I have some F3 HP bodies that get a fair amount of use. The HP finder is wonderful. The body is heavier than an FM or FE, but you get a mirror lock-up, and other finder options. I've used them for years. It's not a rangefinder, it's a ground glass camera. The lens selection is huge and the cost is a lot lower than Leica. As for it focusing backward, I always thought that Leicas focused backward..

 

[Leigh Youdale]

The F2 and Nikkormat FTNs were the last hand-made Nikon SLRs. The F2as has the best meter and the Nikkkormat FTN is the easiet, most trouble free, toughest SLR ever made. Get them both CLA'd/ repaired by the best: Sover Wong in the UK, soverf2repair at yahoo dot com

Amen to that! I still have my Nikkormat FTn that I bought new in the early 1960's. Switched to RF when I got cataracts but enjoy the compact size and low weight so keep on RF-ing even though my eyes are 'fixed'. But I'll never let the Nikon go. Just great for macro and for telephoto work.

 

[Red Robin]

slr reply

slr reply

JAUN, That last post was thought provoking, thank you. Red R.

 

[Photon42]

It's great you're young and have experienced both systems and have things clear... I should have used RFs before... But well, now I can hope I live a long life...😀 What really matters is how happy RFs have made me... That will be with me forever.

Cheers,

Juan

Sounds you're talking about me, Juan 😀. But then, earlier, Leicas weren't available for me really, as their pricing didn't quite match my budget. Plus, the international used market is a great plus in countries with a small second hand market. Still happy to found the light - and still using occasionally my Nikons.

Cheers
Ivo

 

[PKR]

The F2 and Nikkormat FTNs were the last hand-made Nikon SLRs. The F2as has the best meter and the Nikkkormat FTN is the easiet, most trouble free, toughest SLR ever made. Get them both CLA'd/ repaired by the best: Sover Wong in the UK, soverf2repair at yahoo dot com

The F3 was hand made. A friend of mine watched the last one being assembled a couple of years ago. The Nikkormat has a Copal square shutter. It ie a vertical travel shutter and is very rugged. Nikkormats have held up well over the years.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I couldn't stop using my Nikons either: I feel so comfortable when a Nikon's in my hands... Sometimes I carry one with my RFs, and some other days I carry just an SLR and I feel great: RFs even taught me how to get the best from SLRs!

I use everything: primes and zooms, and manual, AE and AF... For fast distant shooting they're the thing... With fast apertures I prefer to use my AF lenses in manual focus; even if the camera is able to avoid a far background and focuses the right head, a lot of times the focus is on the neck or chest, and with a real fast lens wide open, the face is lost...! If all I have to do is focus before shooting, manual focus is better a lot of times unless you're using a small aperture...

With all the great comments, one day I'd like to try an OM-2 with a small lens... And a small Pentax with the tiny CV 40 2 must be great too...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[mfunnell]

And a small Pentax with the tiny CV 40 2 must be great too...

It probably is. But I find the CV 40mm/f2 is a great match for my FM3a - it's the default lens on that camera.

...Mike

 

[pvdhaar]

I've used a slew of Nikon SLRs over the years. I'm sure it's anecdotal, but I've found AF ones to be more dependable than the manual ones:

FE: Mirror won't return when battery is low, and somehow new batteries were always appeared run down in no time at all.. When on a power supply, the camera would function fine. When I wanted to replace it with a second hand FE2, the one I handled in the store had the same problem. The guy in the store put new batteries in, it works fine for a couple of shots, then the mirror sticks. I have to conclude that the circuit design is marginal at best.

FM: Every once in a while the shutter jammed. It just needed a nudge to click back in place, but it was a hassle to rewind the film, nudge the shutter and advance to where you'd been.

The AF models on the other hand, (I recall at least F60,F65,F75,F80,F90x and digital D40,D50,D90) were/are all trouble free. The F60 warrants special mention. It was soaked in rain to the point where water sloshed in the mirror box, it was barfed upon (don't you love kids?), but kept on clicking..

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

Can someone please tell me the VF coverage of the semi-pro models? (FM, FM2, FE2, FM3A etc)

The F/F2 seem to have the a 100% covered VF, is it the case or does it depend on the type of prism?

 

[Mablo]

At least FM2👎 and FE2 have 93% so the actual picture is marginally larger than what you can see. I've never noticed it in my photos. The F-models (F, F2, ... ,F6) have 100% as you mentioned.

 

[MT4]

Nikon F6 in hear.
Previously - Nikon F100, F5 & F4s.
IMO the F6 is the best comparing to all priorly owned. Michael

 

[racoll]

I'm fairly new to Nikon SLRs as I've been a Canon shooter for over 15 years. I currently shoot a Canon 1vHS along with several Canon FD bodies for film and a Canon 7D for digital shooting. A few years ago though, my dad gave me his Nikon FE which I really loved (and still do), but that led to owning a couple of FE2s and now I own the F, F2, F3HP, and an FA. I absolutely love the F2 but of all of these my favorite is the F3HP. It just feels good in my hand and using it seems intuitive. My Canon FD equivalent that I love using as much would be my T90; both cameras were made to demanding professional standards and requirements and the perfection in their designs is apparent when you use them. There is nothing about them that in any way impedes your efforts to get your shot, but everything about them makes getting the shot feel effortless and natural. I have a rather large collection of cameras, but the F3HP is one that I choose to use most frequently. The F2 is becoming a frequent-use camera as well.

Andy