Nikon F2 tribute

F2, Micro-Nikkor 55mm, Tri-X

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zoe1 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

A camera so easy to use, you can teach a 9-year old to take pictures with it. Zoe has my (then) brand-new Nikon F2a with a Nikkor-NC 24/2.8, factory Ai converted. Zoe would be in her early 50s now.

Taken with Nikon F Photomic "Bullseye", 43~86/3.5 Ai, Panatomic-X in Microdol. I kept track of my rolls, kept the negatives in a binder. Zoe took some good pictures that day. AR-1 soft release on both cameras, and they are both still on the same two cameras 42 years later.
 
kiemchascsu,
I got both the F and F2
Three reasons the F2 is better
More shutter speeds slow and fast
Better meter for the F2, silcon blue
Better Motor the F2 motor can be
taken off in mid roll unlike the F
also the F2 battery pack can be
removed from the motor unlike the F3
 
kiemchacsu said:
Why do some people prefer the F2 over the F, is it because the 1/2000 speed or anything else?
Click to expand...

I came to Nikon with an F and enjoyed it for the most part, but changed to an eye-level F2 fairly quickly and haven't looked back. In my mind the F2 is everything good about the F (namely build quality and reliability), but finessed and improved in a hundred little ways. Some of the changes are significant, others are very subtle until you actually have the camera in hand.

A few of the biggies for my use:
- Shutter button where it should be. This is the single main factor that drove me away from the F.
- Subtle curves to every edge that make the whole body much more comfortable to hold.
- Very short throw to the film advance.
- Mechanical speeds from 10" - 1/2000"
- MLU that doesn't cost a frame.
- Regular (incredibly solid) film door.

Even if you don't have any use for the additional 'features', the handling is so much better on the F2 that I'm not sure why you would choose an F as a shooter.
 
I've never owned an F, but have two F2s.



The F2 is a modernized F, especially if you have the latest metered finders. I think the reason for preferring an F2 is a lot of little things more than one single difference.
 
I have had for about 20 years a black plain prism Nikon F starting from 1968, and before that I had a Nikkorex F. About 20 years ago I bought the same camera out of nostalgia.
Now I am very sensitive to aesthetics and for my personal taste the Nikon F is way more beautiful and has more character , although I am not saying that the F2 is ugly.
What I find ugly instead is any metered F or F2.
As to the differences they are all irrelevant to me, and, besides, I heard that the F2 is heavier larger and louder
 
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