Nikon F2 or F3?

[David Murphy]

The F2 has an all mechanical shutter and thus no battery dependence, which is a key reason I'd select it. Actually I prefer the original F, but the F2 is also a really great camera. Other choices that would work for me are any Nikkormat with a mechanical shutter (any FT, FS, or the FM or FM2) - all real winners).

 

[CameraQuest]

The F2AS is one of my favorite cameras. I have an F2 with each of the Photomic finders.

The F3 is a great camera, but personally I just never liked it - or the humongous F4.

In contrast I have and like the F6.

Stephen

 

[nobbylon]

The F2AS is one of my favorite cameras. I have an F2 with each of the Photomic finders.

The F3 is a great camera, but personally I just never liked it - or the humongous F4.

In contrast I have and like the F6.

Stephen

I know I'll get drawn and quartered for saying this but the F4 was the worst F camera I ever had. Terrible autofocus, buttons all over the place and half old school half new. Once I'd used an F5 it had to go! Now I have the F6 even the F5 feels a little too much of a camera.
Strangely the F6 is much easier to manually focus than any of the other F cameras even with the standard screen so my recommendation would be to buy an F6 and be done with it!

 

[sanmich]

the metered Nikon F and F2 have a feature making them quicker to shoot than most other mechanical/metered cameras:
you can see and adjust the exposure from above, with no need to bring the camera to your eye.
This is a huge plus, and make them almost as quick to shoot as an AE camera.
The leicameter is another example of this great design...

I've had quite a lot of troubles with F3's, which are otherwise excellent cameras to use.
I would go for an F2.

 

[peterm1]

I have never really taken to the looks of the F3. Being designed by an Italian designer it kind of reminds me of some Ferraris of the 1970s which today to my eyes look not beautiful but rather crass. That is personal preference. Pretty sure its a good camera through. It follows that my preference is the F2. Which I think also has the advantages of being fully mechanical and able to natively use pre Ai lenses. My all time favorite though would be an F with a non metering prism. Just so beautiful and built like a tank.

 

[nobbylon]

Peter, non AI can be used on the F3 also and metered in AUTO or Manual modes.

 

[Wulfthari]

I've a F2AS and handled a F3 once. Imo there's no comparison, even an FM feels better than the F3. I don't understand the obsession of some people for the meterless prism, one of the reasons it's rare it's because at that time the F2 was an expensive camera and the customers were available to pay an extra for the metered prism...of course the best of the F2s is the AS but besides for night photography it's more or less equivalent to an F2A.

The F2 is a very nice camera, I'm collecting all the parts of the system but IMO the king of the SLR is the Canon F-1 New.

 

[JChrome]

I've a F2AS and handled a F3 once. Imo there's no comparison, even an FM feels better than the F3. I don't understand the obsession of some people for the meterless prism, one of the reasons it's rare it's because at that time the F2 was an expensive camera and the customers were available to pay an extra for the metered prism...of course the best of the F2s is the AS but besides for night photography it's more or less equivalent to an F2A. The F2 is a very nice camera, I'm collecting all the parts of the system but IMO the king of the SLR is the Canon F-1 New.

You've admitted to handling an F3 once so maybe your opinion of its feel is a bit under-developed?

I've shot extensively with the FM and the F3 and I can easily say the F3 takes the cake in feel. Much more ergonomic. The FM's lighter and much simpler though.

 

[nobbylon]

You've admitted to handling an F3 once so maybe your opinion of its feel is a bit under-developed?

I've shot extensively with the FM and the F3 and I can easily say the F3 takes the cake in feel. Much more ergonomic. The FM's lighter and much simpler though.

And feels like a cheap toy camera compaired to an F3. The FM series cameras have also proved they are up to heavy use but we are talking feel of the camera and not ruggedness. There's a reason the F3 cost near 3 x what an Fm2 did.
I love the arguement about battery dependancy and then everyone wants to use Leica digital! OK not quite everyone but i'm sure you get what I mean chaps 🙂

 

[FrankS]

And feels like a cheap toy camera compaired to an F3. The FM series cameras have also proved they are up to heavy use but we are talking feel of the camera and not ruggedness. There's a reason the F3 cost near 3 x what an Fm2 did.
I love the arguement about battery dependancy and then everyone wants to use Leica digital! OK not quite everyone but i'm sure you get what I mean chaps 🙂

+ 1

On both points

But what do I know, I like my F4 as well.
When I was shooting weddings (part time), it is a stressful thing to record a once in a lifetime event, but that F4 was just so confidence-inspiring. It never let me down. (Yes, I had back-up cameras just in case.)

 

[nobbylon]

+ 1

On both points

But what do I know, I like my F4 as well.
When I was shooting weddings (part time), it is a stressful thing to record a once in a lifetime event, but that F4 was just so confidence-inspiring. It never let me down. (Yes, I had back-up cameras just in case.)

It's odd because I did like it initially that F4 but I gradually went off it and used an F2 instead. Like all the rest of the F series the F4 was and still is a very capable and robust camera.

 

[Wulfthari]

You've admitted to handling an F3 once so maybe your opinion of its feel is a bit under-developed?

I've shot extensively with the FM and the F3 and I can easily say the F3 takes the cake in feel. Much more ergonomic. The FM's lighter and much simpler though.

Yes, I handled it, and I didn't like it. I didn't feel it was worth of the money they wanted and I decided to use these funds (about £260) for a Night kon F2A or F2AS...few weeks later I found an AS plus a Nikkor 50mm f1.8 for that money and I didn't regret my choice, sorry if I've hurt your feelings.:angel:

And no, I wouldn't spend a dollar/pound/euro for a digital Leica, I'm just interested in film photography, if I had received one as a gift I would immediately sell it on the market to get as much cash as possible, I lime my M3, M4 and M5, and they're more than enough for me.

 

[BillBingham2]

Between the two, F2 hands down. Now my guess is that you can get different screens for the F3 and I've heard of using brighter ones with a bit of tweaking (read transplant into different frame).

I just like the AR-1 vs the AR-10 height, but then I love the P screen too.

B2

 

[Sid836]

If it was to decide strictly between F2 and F3 I would go for a nice F2. I can see way many F3s being sold for parts and that makes me thing that they are a lot more prone to disappointments than the F2.

 

[moreorless]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm definitely leaning towards an F2 now.

In terms of the metered prisms is there much difference in reliability? the ZF Zeiss lens I have should work on any of them and I would probably preffer a match needle so the original DP-1 seems most attractive and cheapest, is the meter itself any less likely to be working or to break down in the future?

 

[nobbylon]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm definitely leaning towards an F2 now.

In terms of the metered prisms is there much different in reliability? the ZF Zeiss lens I have should work on any of them and I would probably preffer a match needle so the original DP-1 seems most attractive and cheapest, is the meter itself any less likely to be working or to break down in the future?

If you've decided on an F2 then go to Sover Wongs site and start reading about ring resistors and cds cells. All the info you need is on there.

 

[Calzone]

p.s. a good shape (no dings/dents) DE-1 finder is now about $250.

Only 10% of DE-1's were made in black. Prices of clean black versions are crazy. Finding a clean black DE-1 for $250.00 is a good deal.

Also understand that if you decide to go F2/DE-1 that a killer compact rig is use a Nikon 45/2.8 P AIS lens without hood (lens is only about 3/4's of an inch thick) for a pancake lens. This simple Tessar lens has a quick focus and due to few elements and NIC coating is one of Nikon's most contrasty lenses. Also another upgrade is exchange a F3 "Red-Dot" screen into the F2 screen frame for a much brighter screen.

I can't believe that this thread did not hit on the DIFERENCES that I deem signifigant between the F2 and F3. First is that the F3 offers a high point VF'er with mucho eye relief; next is this improved VF'er can be further enhanced by adding a DK-17 for increased magnification and focus accuracy; and thirdly the F3 was orriginally designed and engineered to be used with a motor drive and to obtain high frame rates ball bearings are utilized in the film transport.

For more info look at the "F3 Tribute" thread with over 5000 views.

I understand the charm of the F2/DE-1: it is like shooting a M3 or M4 in its purity; but realize that the choice between a F2 and F3 is also like choosing between a M3 and M4.

BTW my first camera when I was in art school in the seventies was a F2, and over the decades I have owned others, but currently I own a F3HP and a F3P because of the HP VF'ers and both utilize DK-17's. I also favor the heavily center weighted metering of the F3, but also know that I have a black DE-1 in mint condition sitting around waiting for either a clean black F2 body or a really brassed in body.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I should have taken Cal up on that screaming deal of the black F2 with matching DE1 prism at the last NYC RFF Beauty Contest. Holy cow that camera was essentially new!

As for the question, F2 or F3, it just depends upon what features you want. Both are amazing tanks.

Phil Forrest

 

[Calzone]

I should have taken Cal up on that screaming deal of the black F2 with matching DE1 prism at the last NYC RFF Beauty Contest. Holy cow that camera was essentially new!

As for the question, F2 or F3, it just depends upon what features you want. Both are amazing tanks.

Phil Forrest

Phil,

Tung took the deal I offered you at last year's "Camera Beauty Contest"and now is the proud owner of that black F2/DE-1 with upgraded Red-Dot "K" screen.

I found another clean black DE-1 so now my inspiration is to find a niced brassed out F2. My logic is to find a black F2 that has mucho character via brassing without any dents. I figure that eventually I might get a very cool F2 for no money because of a dead metered prism.

For those F2/DE-1 fans know that if you discount the small hump of a DE-1 that the height of a F2 is actually shorter than a M-body, although it is a little longer than a M-body. A F2/DE1 is a very cool compact body that is a lot like a M3 or M4 which in my opinion are the three best all mechanical cameras ever built.

Cal

 

[Huss]

Also understand that if you decide to go F2/DE-1 that a killer compact rig is use a Nikon 45/2.8 P AIS lens without hood (lens is only about 3/4's of an inch thick) for a pancake lens. This simple Tessar lens has a quick focus and due to few elements and NIC coating is one of Nikon's most contrasty lenses.


Cal

I much prefer the Voigtlander Ultron 40mm F2 over the Nikon 45 2.8.
I find it sharper and nicer mechanically and is only slightly longer.

I just got my DP12 head back from Sover (he replaced the resistor ring) so my perfect, black DE1 head will be stored safely for a while. My chrome F2 and both Fs have meterless heads if I need that fix. I think the coolest looking one is my brassed up black F with F logo front and center on the prism.

One final thing, all my Nikons have the soft release mechanism. It really does improve the shutter action, makes it much steadier. Highly recommended.