Nikon F query

In 1972 I was in the market for a Nikon as I was in Asia with the military. I thought Nikon F but after going through in my head what I wanted, I decided on a Nikkormat. I was told it was as good quality as the F but less expensive as it I couldn’t change the prism. The F is heavier and I’m not a fan of camera straps.

At any rate perhaps, at least, look at the Nikkormat. It takes the same Nikkor lenses as the F. I bought quite a few lenses back then and still use them all.

It has never failed me. Never has had a CLA. The only item I replaced myself is the small sponge rubber bumper by the prism that the mirror hits when activating the shutter. I bought the bumber from a gent named Goodman.
 
I never got on w/ those, and much preferred the Nikkormats, which you can pick up for peanuts. Nikon had serious sales issues when the pros that bought the F cameras for their main use, and a Nikkormat for a backup, started selling their F's, stopped buying new ones, and kept the Nikkormats as their main camera. Nikon had to kill the Nikkormat in order to sell the F's. The Nikkormats have the sweetest sounding shutters that I have ever heard on an SLR, and I have no trouble focusing them w/ or w/o my glasses on.
 
Erik van Straten said:
s-l1600.jpg



Is this lens optically and mechanically good?


Erik.
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Yes and yes. I use it on my Nikon F:






Not sure what is meant by the focus ring 'wobbles'? Never experienced that. It does have an unusual feeling to the focus action where in the mid range the helicoid feels that nothing is happening. But it is. Mine has been much better since a little lubing.
 
I went today without the rose tinted glasses, applied the information from you all and gave it a miss.
Not in as good condition as I remembered, motor drive worked very occasionally, viewfinder not so good and no movement on price.
The problem is that Nikon F's were only of passing interest before this but now I have an itch to get one.
Thank you all.
 
Don't forget about the F2. Different than the F (it had some electronics) but every bit as robust. Same focusing screens (I prefer the P screen that many feel too busy), the motor drive that doesn't require a different back (unless you go 250 exposure rolls), available batteries w/o conversion and several different finders (Plain Prism, Ai, Non-Ai, Sports, etc.).

IMHO Nikkormats rock too. I used one for years and except for the lack of a 100% finder I never had an issue. Again, the earlier FTn was great, very similar to an F. I'd recommend you look at an FT3 as it takes AI lenses.

Find a great F with a plain prism and you will never go wrong. F2, while a classic in its own right, the F was what started professional 35mm professional photography for the masses.

B2 (;->
 
I was given a plain-prism 1971 Nikon F by a newspaper photographer more than 20 years ago. It looks even more well-used and brassed than Don McCullin's, picrured above. It still works just fine -- a great classic.
 
Steve M. said:
I never got on w/ those, and much preferred the Nikkormats, which you can pick up for peanuts. Nikon had serious sales issues when the pros that bought the F cameras for their main use, and a Nikkormat for a backup, started selling their F's, stopped buying new ones, and kept the Nikkormats as their main camera. Nikon had to kill the Nikkormat in order to sell the F's. The Nikkormats have the sweetest sounding shutters that I have ever heard on an SLR, and I have no trouble focusing them w/ or w/o my glasses on.
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The shutter speed selector around the lens mount kills the Nikkormats for me. Tried, but couldn't get used to it. Otherwise great bargains.
 
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