f2 advice

[TennesseJones]

This is no doubt a dumbo question, but I was confused by a guy in a shop. Will the Nikon F2 work with all ai and ais lenses?

Many thanks, yuletide greetings and apologies for continued dumbness....

 

[dogberryjr]

Yep, I think everything before the F5 can use pre-AI, AI and AIS lenses without any problem.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The F2A and F2AS will work with pre-AI lenses using stop-down metering. The AI Coupling must be pushed into the upright position. Both work with AI, AIS, AF, and Series E lenses without having to stop down the aperture.

The F2 Photomic, F2S, and F2SB work with the pre-AI lenses, and lenses with the coupling prong. Or the "Bunny-Rabbit Ears" as affectionately called.

 

[TennesseJones]

thank you so much, that's terrific and a big help.

i want to get a beaten up old f2, but a couple of the lenses i use on my fm2 don't have the bunny rabbit ears- great phrase- (i think they must be ai-s?! my 50 1.8 definitely doesn't have ears..)

so user f2a and f2as i shall try and hunt out....

 

[ruby.monkey]

All you lose without the coupling prongs is the metering on the less-capable F2 variants. The camera itself will still work fine - you'll just have to use an external meter (or guestimate, if that's your thing).

 

[Warren T.]

thank you so much, that's terrific and a big help.

i want to get a beaten up old f2, but a couple of the lenses i use on my fm2 don't have the bunny rabbit ears- great phrase- (i think they must be ai-s?! my 50 1.8 definitely doesn't have ears..)

so user f2a and f2as i shall try and hunt out....

Just a note: you can also have the coupling prongs installed onto the aperture rings of newer lenses (ai or ais) to make them compatible with the F2 Photomic, F2s, or F2sb. So an ai or ais with prong would be compatible with the full F2 lineup (Photomic, F2s, F2sb, F2a, F2as).

Good luck in your search, the F2 are great cameras.

--Warren

 

[Sonnar Brian]

All you lose without the coupling prongs is the metering on the less-capable F2 variants. The camera itself will still work fine - you'll just have to use an external meter (or guestimate, if that's your thing).

On the older F2 Photomic (DP-1 head), F2S (DP-2 head), and F2SB (DP-3 head), You can still meter by using the DOF preview button to stop down the lens. Just push the coupling mechanism in the up-right position, and the camera indexes to F5.6. Stop the lens down to take the meter reading. This is commonly done for Mirror lenses and others that never had coupling prongs.

This one, will require the external meter for all lenses:

It is the prettiest of them all.

 

[David Graves]

Wait a minute--that is no rangefinder! What is your price range? I may have one you could use. Send me a PM.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I stand corrected: I should have stated it is the "prettiest F2 of them all".

The F2AS does not stand a chance in a beauty contest. But it does have a meter that gets to EV -2.

 

[Calzone]

I stand corrected: I should have stated it is the "prettiest F2 of them all".

The F2AS does not stand a chance in a beauty contest. But it does have a meter that gets to EV -2.

I love the retro look of the F2AS (I own one black and one chrome). Almost as heavy as a F3 with motor drive. For me the F2AS is a SEXY camera. I like the girth.

Calzone

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Retro look. You are making me cry! I sold those when they were new.

I'm feeling a lot older now!

 

[TennesseJones]

Thanks a lot guys, so kind, and thanks for the link to Ken Rockwell. (Although reading his reviews section he suggest I consider something else!)
I think they're handsome cameras.
Don't feel old Brian, sorry to have started this! Retro's brilliant. Feel wise and sought out for wisdom!

 

[Calzone]

Retro look. You are making me cry! I sold those when they were new.

I'm feeling a lot older now!

My two F2AS's are well worn, well loved, and used a lot. Very retro with some nice brassing.

I was kinda jealous because your F2AS was so minty. I feel for you.

Calzone

 

[nobbylon]

I just added an F2as to my stable of F2's. I sent the body to Sover Wong yesterday morning and recieved an email this eve to say it's finished! Hopefully it will be back on xmas eve. Along with the original F's I think these are the greatest mechanical SLR's made.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That F2AS is a Pawn Shop find. I was Lucky.

 

[BillBingham2]

Mr Jones,

The F2 was THE PINNACLE of fully manual cameras. It handles very fast, reloads fast, has lots of options. They do not get better than an F2. Ken has a lot of good info but his opinions are some times well founded but often from a unique point of view. I like his views on lenses but cameras not so much.

B2 (;->

 

[Landshark]

Keep in mind that opinions are like portions of one's anatomy and everyone has one.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Some of us have and use both. The Meter prisms of the F2 are more reliable than those on the F. The meter prisms for the F require "bunny Rabbit Ears", not the AI ridge.

But since you mention it,

My favorite Two Nikon F's. Actually, I just do not have pictures readily available of the other Seven. Or the other Nine F2's.

On the F2- get one with SN starting at 73xxxxx or later. Although I have two from the first batch of 1600 that are still working perfectly. Small changes and improvements were made over the run. The 75xxxxx and later are about the same.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have two of the early F2 bodies, metal tips (not plastic) on the film advance levers, no steel inserts for the lugs, flathead screws. The earliest F body that I have is shown, a 6420xxx with the 5cm f2 Nikkor-S. The early F2's were dumb luck at two Photorama shows, priced as the users that they are. I've had the 65 block F Photomic "Bullseye" shown since 1978. Had it rebuilt twice, and adapted for the F-36 with Remopak.

 

[Dwig]

All you lose without the coupling prongs is the metering on the less-capable F2 variants. The camera itself will still work fine - you'll just have to use an external meter (or guestimate, if that's your thing).

All metered F2 variants will meter with all F-mount Nikkors except those that require mirror lockup. Of course, the G series AF lenses only work at minimum aperture, but all metered F2 variants will meter at that minimum aperture.

The F2 Photomic, F2 Photomic S, and F2 Photomic Sb (single digit DP-n finders) require the shoe (AKA: prong, rabbit ears, annoying sharp thing that snags your pocket, ...) to meter at full aperture. Without the shoe, metering is accomplished by pressing and holding the DOF preview button while metering. The coupling pin on the finder needs to be tripped prior to mounting the lens for metering to be accurate in the stop down mode. The VF darkens making it "less nice", but that's how most TTL metering cameras worked in the '60s. This stop down metering method is the same on the F Photomic FTn and similar on all of the pre-AI metered Nikkormats. Methods differ slightly with the earlier F-series TTL Photomic finders.

The F2 Photomic A (F2A, DP-11 finder) and F2 Photomic AS (F2AS, DP-12 finder) require AI, AI-s, AI-converted, or any non-G AF variant to meter at full aperture. Otherwise, metering is done using the stop down method using the DOF preview button.

Said simply, the single digit DP finders meter at full aperture with any lens with a shoe and use stop down metering otherwise. Two digit DP finders meter at full aperture with lenses that have the AI meter coupling ridge, regardless of the presence or absence of the shoe, and use stop down metering otherwise.

BTW, the F2 body will mount all F-mount lenses of any vintage, though some require the removal of any Photomic finder for full utility (e.g early PC lenses). It is also the last Nikon body that can mount and use the 21mm f/4, which required mirror lockup and a special lug inside the lens mount.