New to me F2

[Fraser]

Arrived in the post today, this is my second black F2 with a De-1 finder sold the last one a few years ago before the prices started to rise been on the look out ever since and found this one at a reasonable price (won at a reasonable price!).
16fbpicNikonF2new_01 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr

 

[Fraser]

Just found a pic of my original one which I think I sold here in the classifieds,
12fbpicNikonf201 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr

 

[Flat Twin]

Thats a great looking F2 ^^^ I love mine!

Nikon F2 by Flat Twin, on Flickr

 

[Fraser]

Thats a great looking F2 ^^^ I love mine!

Nikon F2 by Flat Twin, on Flickr

Well hang on to it, don't make the mistake I made. I might just have to look out for a 50 1.4 ai.

 

[benmacphoto]

Had an black F2 with DE-1 as well but sold it.
Regretted it and got an F2AS from here in the classifieds.

My old F2 with DE-1 finder and 2.1cm Nikkor -O

My new F2AS and 50mm f1.2 AI

 

[Dogman]

IMO, the best 35mm SLR ever made. Maybe the best 35mm camera ever made.

 

[Flat Twin]

Well hang on to it, don't make the mistake I made. I might just have to look out for a 50 1.4 ai.

I don't think I'd sell this particular F2, I enjoy using it too much. Sover Wong has serviced the body & DE-1 and the DE-3 finder too. The whole set up came together and it now works perfectly... I do know and sympathize with the regret of selling a camera and then wishing you hadn't...

Regards

Simon

 

[brennanphotoguy]

If my Canon F-1 ever takes a dump on me and it needs a repair I'm going to get one of these. I've always like the F2 with the non-metered head.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Never mind f1.4 man up and get f1.2 🙂

Sover Wong worked his magic, particularly on the viewfinder optics.

 

[Huss]

Never mind f1.4 man up and get f1.2 🙂

Sover Wong worked his magic, particularly on the viewfinder optics.

I'm w/ Chris here. Any of the 50-55 1.2 lenses are a perfect match for the F2 w/ DE-1 head.

 

[Fraser]

Oh you mean like this😀
15fbpic50mmSCOT03 by f4saregreat!, on Flickr

 

[Greyscale]

Horrible, ugly things. 😉

 

[Huss]

Horrible, ugly things. 😉

It does look much much better with the DE1 head than any of the metered heads, as your pic points out.

I bought a DE1 head for my F2AS, but the problem is the DE1 is in perfect condition while the F2 has patina. So it looks kinda weird together!
Guess I need to find a perfect F2 to stick it on...

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Honest question: Is the viewfinder any brighter with the DE1 head than the F2AS head? I know the DE1 head looks "cooler", but.........
I have an F2AS and have always wondered.

 

[benmacphoto]

Honest question: Is the viewfinder any brighter with the DE1 head than the F2AS head? I know the DE1 head looks "cooler", but.........
I have an F2AS and have always wondered.

I have had both.
The focus screen might have more to do with viewfinder brightness, because I don't remember any difference in brightness between the DE-1 and DP-12.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I have had both.
The focus screen might have more to do with viewfinder brightness, because I don't remember any difference in brightness between the DE-1 and DP-12.

Thanks, that's all I needed. I will probably just stick with what I have with the F2AS then. I can't see how the camera looks when I am using it anyway, especially at night. F2 with DE1 does look nice though, granted.

 

[Huss]

The bottom line is the AS head was the best Nikon offered for the F2, with the DE1 head being the entry level budget one. So if anything, the AS head would be brighter as it is higher specced.

The reason the DE1 head is so desirable now is due to our nostalgia and vanity. And I am including myself in that grouping! It is prettier and smaller and is predominantly used now by hobbyists, not pros trying to make a living.
We all love the idea of fully mechanical/no batteries required simple film cameras because frankly they are the antithesis of today's digital photography.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

And the fact that it's much smaller and lighter help in the DE-1's defense.

 

[valdas]

Oh, I'd love to have DE-1, but it would cost 3 times what I paid for my F2... Crazy... Please remove those porn pictures of black F2 with DE-1, can't look at it...

 

[benmacphoto]

The black paint DE-1 finder is also uncommon compared to the chrome version.
Sometimes you can find deals on them, but most of the time people ask too much money for one.
They look really nice on the F2, but I like the LED meter in the DP-12 finder.