Is a Nikon F Nippon Kogaku worth more?

[kshapero]

Very Interesting

 

[Uncle Bill]

The big money goes for the first 100 F's or so with cloth shutters,
from 6400001 to about 6400100.

Not everyone knows that, like a famous big name photo dealer that sold one for $36 or thereabouts a few years ago.

6401001 to 6402000 are the next most valuable.

Collectible value falls off quickly thereafter for most of them,
unless mint in the box, or some rare variation.

My brother bought 6400032 from a rather well-known camera dealer that shall remain nameless for I think $150 USD. He just wanted an early serial number body because I inherited dad's 641 F in the estate. My brother sold the #32 a few years later because he needed to replace a dead water heater in his house and few other plumbing repairs, I think he got about $5-6000 USD for it.

 

[johannielscom]

Mine is #6555470 with a red mark on the shutter button and the old logo.

But it's so run down it shows more nickel than chrome. I bought it from an Israeli seller. It may have been used in the desert a lot, given it's sand-blasted look.
I'm looking to get a plain prism for it, to substitute the dead Photomic Eye prism that's on it...

 

[Jack Conrad]

Mine is #6555470 with a red mark on the shutter button and the old logo.

But it's so run down it shows more nickel than chrome. I bought it from an Israeli seller. It may have been used in the desert a lot, given it's sand-blasted look.
I'm looking to get a plain prism for it, to substitute the dead Photomic Eye prism that's on it...

Red dot F's have a red dot just left of the serial number on the left hand top plate next to the rewind knob. Often, the red dot looks more like a black dot because it's filled in with grime.

 

[farlymac]

My chrome body F is not of the old logo variety, but it's pretty special to me. However, I do have a black body with an FT finder that sports the fancy mark. It's boxed up right now, so I'm not sure which stack it's in so I can check the serial number (as I recall though it's not an early one), but I did finally find a black eye level finder at a nice price yesterday, and put an order in. When it gets here I'll go searching for the body.

Meanwhile, here's a photo of the chrome baby.


Four Lenses and an F by P F McFarland, on Flickr

PF

 

[mynikonf2]

farlymac,
Actually your 28/2 lens (if you go by serial #) is the rarest piece you have shown. That particular lens is from the first production run & is the 762th lens produced of 2998 with NKJ on the front of the lens. After that group was produced, NKJ was replaced with "Nikon" on the front of all subsequent lens.

 

[jonmanjiro]

My brother bought 6400032 from a rather well-known camera dealer that shall remain nameless for I think $150 USD. He just wanted an early serial number body because I inherited dad's 641 F in the estate. My brother sold the #32 a few years later because he needed to replace a dead water heater in his house and few other plumbing repairs, I think he got about $5-6000 USD for it.

I once met the guy who sourced Nikon F 6400032 for the rather well known camera store that shall remain nameless (hint, its starts with K 😉). He found out later how much it was really worth and was like, oh well you win some and you lose some.

 

[Livesteamer]

The older ones may not be worth more but I find a certain joy in using an old camera that was made to last. I dislike products designed to last a little while and then be thrown away. Joe

 

[johannielscom]

Red dot F's have a red dot just left of the serial number on the left hand top plate next to the rewind knob. Often, the red dot looks more like a black dot because it's filled in with grime.

That kind of stuff gets my attention, where do you source knowledge like that? Any good books on Nikon history? 🙄

 

[Livesteamer]

The Head Bartenders site www dot cameraquest dot com has quite a bit of information about Nikon F and other classic cameras. Joe

 

[mynikonf2]

Here is a link to a site that lists known red dot F's & known fakes.

Nikon F Red Dot

 

[farlymac]

farlymac,
Actually your 28/2 lens (if you go by serial #) is the rarest piece you have shown. That particular lens is from the first production run & is the 762th lens produced of 2998 with NKJ on the front of the lens. After that group was produced, NKJ was replaced with "Nikon" on the front of all subsequent lens.

Sad story about that lens, Mike. I got it from a friend who let it roll off the table one day, and it landed on it's mount end. It bent things up so badly it wouldn't go to infinity when you rotated the focus ring.

I opened it up enough to get the shield off so I could straighten it, as that's what everything was dragging on. It seemed to be fine until I took some photos with it. Apparently the interior optics are now out of alignment, as only half the image is in focus at any time.

You think it's worth sending to Authorized Photo Service?

PF

 

[Jack Conrad]

That kind of stuff gets my attention, where do you source knowledge like that? Any good books on Nikon history? 🙄

I happen to have one. I don't think this version is really worth much more than any other Nikon F, though. Maybe a slight premium. Not long ago, maybe a year ago I had a smooth functioning but ugly #6400 F and sold it for $65 including a 28mm lens. Probably should have kept it. It wasn't the cloth shutter type. It was from a batch built 2 or 3 months later in early April 1960, if I remember correctly. Actually I could kick myself for selling it. It was creamy smooth. This red dot camera is crunchy. I really need to clean and lube it.
Anyway, search Nikon serial numbers and collectables. Lots of info.

DSCF3743 by jackcb, on Flickr

 

[mynikonf2]

Sad story about that lens, Mike. I got it from a friend who let it roll off the table one day, and it landed on it's mount end. It bent things up so badly it wouldn't go to infinity when you rotated the focus ring.

I opened it up enough to get the shield off so I could straighten it, as that's what everything was dragging on. It seemed to be fine until I took some photos with it. Apparently the interior optics are now out of alignment, as only half the image is in focus at any time.

You think it's worth sending to Authorized Photo Service?

PF

A couple of years ago I would have said yes but now with prices so low it would probably cost more than it's worth.

 

[johannielscom]

I used to have a 28mm 2.0 pre-AI from a fellow RFF'er but in the startup of my own business sold that whole kit to raise funds.

The business is all but gone after a two-year burnout so now I'm getting back into a vintage Nikon kit just to enjoy it, and the 28mm 2.0 is the one lens I'd like to be able to obtain.

Farly, if you ever consider letting yours go, I'd take it. Wll van Manen can probably fix it once I've saved up to have it repaired.

 

[farlymac]

I kind of like the idea of getting an old classic back in running condition, Mike, so I may get it fixed.

That said, Johann, I'll keep you in mind if I change mine.

PF

 

[steveyork]

Fs and non-ai lenses seem to be good values in the market these days.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I don't trade cameras or lenses and I could not care less.

 

[someonenameddavid]

farlymac,
Actually your 28/2 lens (if you go by serial #) is the rarest piece you have shown. That particular lens is from the first production run & is the 762th lens produced of 2998 with NKJ on the front of the lens. After that group was produced, NKJ was replaced with "Nikon" on the front of all subsequent lens.

Thanks for that piece of information: I immediately jumped to my 28/2 and found it to be a lower NKJ #388 in the series... It is , however, factory AI'd

 

[leicapixie]

A few weeks ago, I bought a fully working Nikon F with orig "Nippon Kogaku" .
In better condition then my hard worked "newer" Nikon F's.
Built 1966 Feb~May.
So smooth winding, back fitting neat and clean.
Soft and smooth shutter release..
All that so rough even when new on my other Nikon F's..
$80. inc neat strap., and 50 mm Nikkor f2.0
Worth more or less, I care not!