Nikon F2 Gas

mynikonf2 said:
migtex...from the looks of your avatar you did not need us to make you do anything. :D
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Touché! :eek:

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Beautiful!!

Beautiful!!

Hay migtex, thanks for posting a larger size shot of your avatar, makes it's easier to enjoy. :D
You have a fantastic group of Nikons there. IMHO they are the very best of Nikon's classic SLR's. It is getting very difficult to assemble prime examples like these.
The F & F2, represent the last of Nikon's hand assembled & fully manual "pro" cameras. Nikon really got it right in this same basic design, I have F & F2's that have never required a CLA to prove the point.
 
Mike, tks for you kind comments.
For the record none of my Nikons RF's or SLR's ever need a CLA (knocking on wood like a mad man now!) the only one that required was the D2H with a dead mainboard after firmaware upgrade..!!! (but then it's close to 400k shutter actuations since 2003).
Not even the F3's!
I must be lucky (so far...).
 
Nikon D1H

Nikon D1H

migtex said:
Mike, tks for you kind comments.
For the record none of my Nikons RF's or SLR's ever need a CLA (knocking on wood like a mad man now!) the only one that required was the D2H with a dead mainboard after firmaware upgrade..!!! (but then it's close to 400k shutter actuations since 2003).
Not even the F3's!
I must be lucky (so far...).
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No migtex, you're not lucky, you're a Nikon owner!! :D

It's funny that you own a D2H because I own one too. Not many D2H's were made, as compared to the number of D1's & D1x's produced. That camera was my introduction to digital photography, so it's nice to find someone that still has one in use.
Those 1st generation digital Nikons can be a bit of a challenge, needing more than a little tweaking to get the white balance right (a teething issue not too unlike Leica's M8 needing IR filters) but when corrected, the results can be stunning. :cool: :)
Bye the way, I see that you own a Bessa R2S. I've been looking for a used one but they don't come up for sale too often. How do you like it?
 
I personally don't see the point in a meterless F2 or an F for that matter.
Those meter heads are what make them iconic.
 
The F2 was my first of many Nikon cameras. I purchased it in 1974. the camera was overhauled by out head bartender a few years ago and is mechanically like new (there are a few marks on it from usage). I also have a modest collection of Nikkor lenses. The F2 is a pleasure to use. I say go for it!

Mike
 
I own 2 F2's (one with the DE-1 finder) and just had both of them CLA'd in order to know that they will be around for years to come. I am in the process of having Bill Maxwell to do his Hi-Lux process on a Red Dot screen for one of them. With several AM-1 cassettes I should be set for years to come - as long as B&W film is available that is.

That said, there is no good substitute for a late model AF Nikon for capturing subjects that are on the move (i.e. grandchildren).
 
besk said:
I am in the process of having Bill Maxwell to do his Hi-Lux process on a Red Dot screen for one of them.
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I would be interested to see how this will work. I use Maxwell's screens on most of my medium format cameras.
 
nobbylon said:
I personally don't see the point in a meterless F2 or an F for that matter.
Those meter heads are what make them iconic.
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I agree that the metered heads make the F and F2 iconic, but a plain prism is brighter than any metered head. This is why I sold my two F2AS's and kept my three, now two F3's. Plain un-metered prisms are simply brighter because some of the light is siphoned off for the metering on cameras with metered heads.

Also metered prisms cannot be used with the 45/2.8P which when used with a DE-1 makes for a small camera especially when used with Nikon's smallest SLR lens.

Having an all mechanical camera without any electronics makes a strong point in itself IMHO.

Cal
 
Okay, 'splain to me... never even held an F2, yet...:rolleyes:

The F2 has interchangeable prisms. So, if one wanted to put the DE-1 on an F2, what happens with the other hardware protruding up, is that part of the metered head?

If so, is it so simple a change as just removing one in exchange for the other?:eek:
 
dave lackey said:
Okay, 'splain to me... never even held an F2, yet...:rolleyes:

The F2 has interchangeable prisms. So, if one wanted to put the DE-1 on an F2, what happens with the other hardware protruding up, is that part of the metered head?

If so, is it so simple a change as just removing one in exchange for the other?:eek:
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Dave,

The only electonics on a F2 body is a battery compartment and the film advance which has a switch to power the meter if you have a metered prism; otherwise its totally a mechanical camera. Any other electronics are self contained in the prism head, except of course the DE-1 which has no electronics.

What makes F2's so cool is that they are modular and as electronic sofistication evolved different meters became available that intergrated with the modular body.

With a DE-1 eye level prism the battery compartment and built-in switch on the film advance lever go unused.

Early meters used matched needles to indicate exposure. Later meters utilized LED's. The best metered prisms that had the best metering were SB and AS versions that had light sensitivity down to -2EV.

Any F2 body can be used with any prism. Versions of the different models are identified via the prism that is mounted. A F2 body with a DE-12 metered prism is known as a F2AS for example.

P.S. A F2 with DE-1 eye level prism can be compared to a Leica M3 in that they are purely a manual mechanical camera that offers hand fitted and assembled quality that remains unsurpassed.

Cal
 
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@Calzone -- You're absolutely right that the DE-1 finder has no electronics having to do with metering. But in the spirit of being encyclopedic, the DE-1 does have an external socket where you can plug in a cord from period Nikon flashes. Through the cord, your flash can turn on a "ready" light that you can see without taking the DE-1 away from your eye. So the DE-1 isn't quite as non-electronic as the F plain prism.
 
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