My preference on most of my cameras is a wrist strap. I tend to carry a camera in my right hand all the time so it is at my side and kinda low profile. The only time I use a neck strap is to carry a second camera bandelier style because I tend to carry two cameras and don't change lenses.
On my F3P I modded the metering so that the light goes on anytime the meter is activated, and I like this even for day shooting because it makes the LCD display easy to read, but this requires a MD-4 motor drive to supply power because otherwise the battery drain is too severe.
Nikon makes this AH-4 "Hand Strap" that makes carrying a heavy camera like wearing a glove. I find that a heavy camera on a neck strap to be tiring, but realize I am a skinny Asian with a rather unusual thick muscular neck from carrying heavy cameras. Also know that my F3P with MD-4 and AH-4 clearly is an aggressive deadly weapon that is carried in plain sight. Also from carrying a rigged F3P this way all day know that my right arm grew kinda supersized and is a lot more muscular and it almost looks like I'm deformed. The difference in the size of my arms is very obvious.
Because I owned a Noct-Nikkor I learned that a heavy camera is a steady camera, but also realize that one person at the NYC Meet-Up calls most of my cameras "Monsters," LOL. Two of my Leicas (0.85 black paint MP & Wetzlar M6) resemble Nikon F3's rigged with a MD-4 because of being permanently rigged with TA Rapidgrips and TA Rapidwinders. Since I generally tend to carry two cameras all the time I protect the second Leica by carrying it in a book bag where it is out of sight.
I suggest trying to secure one of those rare black DE-1's for your F2. Only about 10% of the DE-1's ever made were black. A F2 body with a DE-1 is mighty small. The body is only a little longer than a M-body, but it is shorter than a M-body if you discount the small hump made by the DE-1. The build quality of the later F2's rivals the quality of Leica M3 single strokes. At Nippon Camera Clinic one of the techs there told me like Leica Nikon continually upgraded the F2 and the later ones like your "S" are the good ones. Note that the 45/2.8P AIS does not have "rabbit ears" so it will not work on a F2 with any metered prism, but will work only with a DE-1.
The 45/2.8P AIS is a small pancake lens that is a Tessar. I highly recommend it for street shooting. It can close focus, but the real advantage is the short focus throw which makes for a fast focus. On a F2 with DE-1 the 45/2.8P is an optimized rig for fast street shooting. Understand that twice as many silver versions were made than the black versions. For me the black version is the one that looks right on a black paint brassed in camera. I bought my black version at KEH for $360.00 which was a great price. You don't need the hood. An alternative is a 45/2.8 GN, but IMHO I think the 45/2.8P AIS is the cooler/better lens. You can't go wrong in my book paying a small premium for rarity of collectable value. I made more money selling or trading gear that lost money for this reason.
Here in NYC I don't see many people shooting old pro Nikon SLR's, but shooting one kinda makes a powerful statement about both you and the camera as being "die-hards."
I just want to let you know that your F2 inspires me.
Cal
Hi Cal, thanks a lot for your kind response, insights and suggestions. So glad to know that my F2 brings a positive note to this great thread. Apologies for others that we talk about the F2 for a while.
🙂
So I received it late last night (about 10.30PM) and upon unboxing I found that the plastic thing on the left side of the finder broke, due to careless packaging and shipping. It was actually in a very bad shape I didn't want to bother with a cleaning session, let alone a test roll. I noted some things that needed to be addressed, but that's it.
This morning I rushed to my usual repairman, who inspected the camera and confirmed it is working well, speeds are alright, the meter is not working, and basically nothing wrong with it other than it had lead a very hard and long life in a humid tropical country with almost no proper care.
So we finished with the repair and I hung out with my friend the shop owner I posted a few days ago, and he had a slew of Fs and F2s. A few of the have the DE-1 in black, so I get what you mean about its size and overall beauty. I also read in Cameraquest that confirmed your 1:10 black:silver DE-1 production.
Heavy camera is steady camera, I agree completely, and might I add, also more comfortable. With a normal lens I feel like I'm pinching the body with my middle finger so you can feel it after a few hours. I do understand that motor drives for F2s are loud and heavy so I am not sure I'm going that way. The DE-1 finder sure is a more interesting route to me.
Also thanks for the 45P AIS suggestion, black to match brassed black, hood is not a must, and worth to pay a premium for rare/collectible pieces. - big thanks for the last piece.
Lastly, judging from the avatar, you look cool hahaha. And you're also the same age as my father, I just realised that.
Take care my good Sir, and enjoy your awesome rig in good health.
