Nikon F Tribute

[Jack Conrad]

I've had this #64 for about a week now
looks like something the cat drug in
but still purrs like a kitten. 🙂
Nikon F #6416733 by Jack Conrad, on Flickr

 

[Shac]

Shac, that's a beautiful black F.

I noticed we have the same Nikkor-S lens. Is yours a bit sloppy in the focus? Mine is, but I'm a bit concerned with sending it for service as the images it produces are really nice as it is. Compared to a current 50mm f1.2 Nikkor that I also have, at anything below f2.8, the old Nikkor-S is sharper.

Best,
-Tim

Thank yes - it's a beaut. I have another black f - a so-called Apollo also in great condition. As to the 50/1.4 - no the focus ring (if that's what you mean) is not sloppy - but a more recent one (119XXXX) has sloppy focus ring. I never compared it to the 50/1.2 I used to have

 

[Timmyjoe]

Not sure how many of you have a Nikon F with the FTN finder like mine, but I made a discovery this week that I wanted to share.

I've read that many of the FTN finders are dead, as the resistor ring can have issues and none of the repair shops I've talked to have parts for these anymore. I've also read that many FTN finders had issues with the contacts in the battery chamber making good contact with the two batteries. Mine worked great for the first three weeks I had it, with two old PX625 mercury batteries I had around since the late 1980's.

But then it developed an issue where it would just stop working. I would take off the battery cover, try to pry the top contact out from the wall of the battery chamber to make better contact with the batteries, then drive myself nuts with my big gorilla fingers trying to get the battery door back on. With the door off and me holding the batteries perfectly in the middle of the battery chamber, the meter worked fine. Then I'd struggle to get the door back on and by the time it was finally in place, the meter no longer worked.

I was ready to give up on it, when I saw this auction on the evil eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIKON-F-PHOTOMIC-FTN-TN-METER-PRISM-BATTERY-ADAPTER-/151718676694

I have no affiliation with this seller aside from buying one of his adapters. He recommends using a 1/3 N battery with the adapter. I put in a 1/3 N and naturally the meter, which is calibrated for 2.7 volts, was inaccurate with the 3.0 volts of the 1/3 N. Although there was no more problem with the meter not getting juice from the batteries.

Then I discovered the 675 size hearing aid batteries at the local Walgreens (at 75¢ each), which are 1.4 volts, and two of them fit perfectly into the above adapter, giving you 2.8 volts. I found that with my FTN, it is now as accurate as it was when I first got it and it was working with the old mercury batteries.

So I wanted to pass this along to others who might be having similar trouble with their FTN finders. The thing I like most about this solution is that the 675 size hearing aid batteries are plentiful and inexpensive. So hopefully I'll be able to use them for a long time.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Huss]

great info Tim. the thing about those zinc air batteries is once u break the seal they last maybe 2 months so have a good supply w u. which is easy as they r cheap and sold in bulk at many places including costco.

 

[colyn]

I made the same adapter for all of my Nikon F's. In addition to using them I also opened the meter and added 2 schottky 1N5711 diodes so I can use 2 silver oxide cells to get proper voltage along with voltage curve as the original mercury cells. I also get the long life of the batteries.

Here the 675 zinc-air batteries are $4.99 each at Walgreen's and more at other stores so they are too expensive for the short life span..

 

[cary]

I was loading my Leica M3 to take photos at a dinner, the bottom plate would not lock. So what did I decide to bring? My trusty Nikon F, it has never let me down. I am the original owner from 1972, it's a black Apollo model. I have used this camera in high school-yearbook photographer, college-Brooks Institute of Photography and at work-Sandia National Labs. Great camera!!

 

[Timmyjoe]

Here the 675 zinc-air batteries are $4.99 each at Walgreen's and more at other stores so they are too expensive for the short life span..

Wow, that's insane. I just paid $18 for a 24 pack of them at Walgreens last night on my way home from work. Comes out to 75¢ a piece.

 

[Kent]

Classic Nikons by Carsten @ www.RetroCamera.de, on Flickr

Grandma & Granddaughter (Part III) by Carsten @ www.RetroCamera.de, on Flickr

Grandma? by Carsten @ www.RetroCamera.de, on Flickr

😉