V-12
Well-known
The F2 is by far the better camera, but the F is so much more characterful. I would choose an F and enjoy it.
Nikon F or F2
- Thread starter msbarnes
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ray*j*gun
Veteran
I confess I have never handled an F2, I have an F with a Photomic head that works perfectly. I think its significant that I was never tempted to try an F2 which is how perfect the F feels to me. Mine is black but I would be just as happy with chrome... oh and I don't get the deal with plane prisims going for soooo much money... more than the bodies.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Phil,
F. The F2 is a fantastic camera but the F is the greatest camera Nikon ever produced, in my opinion.
Cheers,
R.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
For some reason people got the idea that the plain prisms are rare. Even though it's not at all true. 😕 I think it's kind of like that tulip mania...
msbarnes
Well-known
Thanks for your responses so far. I've only skimmed through them so I will have to read them more carefully but to me it sounds like I can't go wrong with either (or the F3). It seems that the Nikon F is more iconic while the Nikon F2 is more refined. Ofcourse both statements are arguable. Then there is the elusive F3 which too has a cult status. I do not fear aging electronics with the F3 because they seemed to have aged well and are relatively inexpensive. It seems that the best solution is to get them all! I'm kidding.
R
rich815
Guest
Agree. I love my F2 like no Nikon I've ever owned. And I thought I loved Nikon bodies before I handled an F2! My FM2 still get used as does my F3 and both a great cameras but something about the F2, it's feel in my hand, it's sound, the heft, the feel of the advance, all make it such a joy to use. Personally I find it the Leica of the Nikon SLR bodies for workmanship and feel alone.
James24
Well-known
Plain prisms fetch high prices, not really because they are rare but for several other reasons.
1) they don't go wrong, unlike Photomic finders
2) they are smaller and lighter and make both the F and f2 models look altogether neater
3) there is a trend for street shooting these days, with people shooting from the hip, going meterless or using a hand held meter, and getting back to basics, and in some instances using film is a novel experience
4) perhaps there is a nostalgic element where shooters want to use a Nikon F and the image they have is of a sixties photojournalist with meterless F and they just want to copy that
There are probably more reasons but I can't think of them right now. I have both F and F2 without meters and to me, they are the most beautiful slr cameras ever made. Period. Maybe that's another reason...
Frontman
Well-known
I have an F2, but I prefer the old F. I shoot Nikon rangefinders, so the film loading and shutter button location seem natural to me,
msbarnes
Well-known
I'm not Nikon expert (if you couldn't tell) but is there a practical reason for going with the plain prisms? Besides bulk.
Are they brighter or make things easier to focus? A plain would make sense overall but it would depend on the overall cost too (I haven't really looked into the prices).
Are they brighter or make things easier to focus? A plain would make sense overall but it would depend on the overall cost too (I haven't really looked into the prices).
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
No. The eyepiece optics and core block of the prism are the same, and the screen is a) interchangeable and b) independently attached to the body. It really boils down to a matter of bulk, or a minimalistic fashion statement.
farlymac
PF McFarland
I don't know exactly why, but I always preferred the F2 over the F. Even with just the meterless prism, it just looks better. And any time a manufacturer makes improvements to a model, I consider that a plus. I just wish I hadn't waited so long to get one.
PF
PF
Vickko
Veteran
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