HU for potential ZF lens buyers

C

ch1

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OMG!!!

I was wondering why I haven't gotten even one bid on eBay for my Nikkormat EL. Now I know.

Nikon SLR prices have all but collapsed! Nothing is getting bids. F3's in fine shape are going below $200. Basic Nikkormat bodies cannot garner a bid. The only "odd" thing I saw was a FM3A selling at a good price - but it is supposedly "as new".

I suspect the Nikon announcement that they are essentially "exiting" the film SLR market has taken its toll. So, if you Zeissians really do want to try out that ZF glass - you can get some great Nikon bodies real cheap! :bang:
 
George,

It's interesting, I'll admit. But I have no clue whatsoever about Nikon bodies. I've been a Canon FD user since I started so I know them. There is a part of me that has always wanted to try the Nikons, but I've got the investment made in Canon.

Were I to actually have the money (fat chance anytime soon :( ) what would be a good yet inexpensive Nikon body & 50mm combination? Something equivalent to the AE-1 perhaps?

Thanks,

William
 
wlewisiii said:
George,

It's interesting, I'll admit. But I have no clue whatsoever about Nikon bodies. I've been a Canon FD user since I started so I know them. There is a part of me that has always wanted to try the Nikons, but I've got the investment made in Canon.

Were I to actually have the money (fat chance anytime soon :( ) what would be a good yet inexpensive Nikon body & 50mm combination? Something equivalent to the AE-1 perhaps?

Thanks,

William
Click to expand...

William,

As I was sitting in "shock" looking at the Nikon prices on eBay this evening I was wondering if something similar might be happening with Canons. I have no way of knowing because I don't use Canon (well, actually my little digi P&S is a G1 ;) ) and so I don't know the "prices".

I suspect that Canons are probably holding up a little better price-wise because there hasn't yet been a "bombshell" announcement like Nikon did.

I do suggest you take a look on eBay - you can pick up good Nikon SLR's w/50mm lenses for only a few $$.

This is really a tragedy - such fine gear being treated like "clearance" items! :(
 
Canon FD gear _had_ thier bombshell years ago when Canon went to AF with a totally incompatable mount. Hated at the time, it's probably the smartest thing they did aside from hiring Colani to help them design the T90 which laid the ergonomics bedrock of the EOS series. The old manual stuff is quite cheap but stable as a result.

EOS, OTOH, seems to still be holding it's value quite well and, if anything, is going up slightly due to the 5D with it's 35mm sized sensor.

But, as I said, I really don't know the Nikon models. Are there any that are better or worse than others?

William
 
Let me add my plea to William's. I only know about Nikon AF bodies (and I have a passing acquaintance with the F3HP, a tough, professional, mechanical body). I'd like to know what the pickings are like... 'cuz, to me, the prices are still prices, without any sense at all because I don't have a reference to compare them with.

In sum, suggestions anyone? :)

Thanks! :D
 
In the 29 April issue of Amateur Photographer magazine, there's a mention of the trend in Japan being prices going up for second-hand higher-end Nikon SLR bodies. Specifically mentioned are the older manual F series. The source is a Japanese magazine called PEN.

The buyers are mainly aged in their 30s and 40s are referred to as "DSLR divorced".
 
wlewisiii said:
George,

It's interesting, I'll admit. But I have no clue whatsoever about Nikon bodies. I've been a Canon FD user since I started so I know them. There is a part of me that has always wanted to try the Nikons, but I've got the investment made in Canon.

Were I to actually have the money (fat chance anytime soon :( ) what would be a good yet inexpensive Nikon body & 50mm combination? Something equivalent to the AE-1 perhaps?

Thanks,

William
Click to expand...
Nippon Camera 9-2005 issue has a 14 pages on all Nikon Slrs from 1959 to F6's 2004 Dec debut.
The eq of AE-1 is FE, eq for AE-1 P is FA.
I have an AE-1 P, A-1, and Nikon F2, FM, FE, F3 and FE2. I don't use Nikomat or EL2 any more.
I'll sudjest a FE2(issued in 1983) and If you have money, then FM3a.
I also have an F3, very handsome machine, the Lcd broke once and shutter locked up once on me, very unlike Nikon. It's shutter noise is my favorite, very 'decisive' sounding. If you're not wearing glasses, no need to get the HP, which have a smaller viewfinder.
For the bang for the buck is the FG-20(1984), very compact, like AE-1, w aperture priority and strangly, like F3, the shutter noise is very decisive, not like FA, or FG(1982). FM, FM2, FE, FE2, F3 all have pretty good shutter respond and sound.
The best Nikon lens is of course the 28 AiS f2.8. then the 35/2. I don't use 50s, 85 sometimes, then 105/2.5 and 180/2.8.
Hope this helps.
 
What I don't like the Nikon F is the loading and the position of the shutter, too far to the top front of camera, both were redesigned for the F2. I can use the F, F2 without meter faster than the F2 w photomic head. F2 is legendary, build like a tank and never broke.
 
BrianPhotog said:
It also seems to be a good chance to pick up some classic Nikon bodies. I've got an FM3a, but an F3 might be nice.... :p
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Hi, Brian,
Congrats on your Voigtlander-Cosina site!
I got on your site everyday.
I only have one Cosina, a 28mm 2.8/FD mount. I brought the A-1 and this lens to Los Angeles last time, try to shoot some homeless people around 2nd-6th Street in downtown L.A. When I see those homeless on a sunday, scattered on the side walks, w blankets and cardbords, I fell I am going to add more misery to them if I took their picture. So I didn't take one single picture.

The F3 is handsome (not F3HP). The chrome F2 w prism (no meter) is...art.
 
Taipei-metro said:
The eq of AE-1 is FE, eq for AE-1 P is FA.
I have an AE-1 P, A-1, and Nikon F2, FM, FE, F3 and FE2. I don't use Nikomat or EL2 any more.
I'll sudjest a FE2(issued in 1983) and If you have money, then FM3a.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that's quite helpful. Now I know what to keep my eyes open for.

William
 
So, which Nikon body to snag on the cheap?

That's a loaded question :) but here's my two cents' worth.

One thing to keep in mind - the meter/lens connection varies...see
http://www.aiconversions.com/history.html for an explanation.

The camera that will be pried from my cold dead hands is a Nikon F2AS...mechanical body with a great meter that uses LED readout. Even if the meter croaks and parts can't be had, the body works fine. As satisfying a piece of mechanical equipment as ever been made - I rank it with the M3 as a tactile joy to use.

2nd choice: F3HP. Upside: big bright finder, butter smooth film advance, super easy to motorize with the MD4 drive, aperture priority. Downside: All electronic - if batteries die, you have 1/90th manual only. Parts shouldn't be a huge problem - the camera was made for 17 years.

The über-bargain right now is the F4...decent ones going for $200. Matrix metering, built in motor, great ergonomics. Makes a darn fine manual focus camera. Again, all electronic and not a small beast.

I've never been a big fan of the FM/FE series...the finders don't play well with my eyeglasses and I can't see all four corners simultaneously. But these cameras have a rabid and vocal following.

Then there's the original F - a bit different ergonomics but if you like Nikon RFs you'll ike the F. I have one with the Ftn metered prism; I crave a plain prism to make the camera a bit smaller and to use it with a handheld meter. Eventually....

Remember, these are personal opinions. YMMV.
 
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