Nikon F's are like peanuts

In regard to good standard lenses. Many like the 50mm f2 and the 55mm micro Nikkors are very good also. One of the beauties of F lenses is the low cost so you can afford to try them. The 105 f2.5 is a classic and get a 200mm f4 and see why the Leica's with a visoflex could not compete. Enjoy. Joe
 
Its easy to love Nikon Fs. My only dilemma is that non metering prisms which make them more compact and "pretty" (if a Nikon F can be pretty - the brick that it is) are so rare and expensive - especially in good condition. The large photomic heads are a bit harder to love - a bit like fat legs on a pretty woman. Oops I m going straight to hell for that one!

And I love the lenses. Most non Nikon lenses are superb. Early non Ai ones are no exception - later versions improving only in matters of degrees in most cases. I still use some AI converted ones on my Nikon D200 as I love the IQ they give. I owned a mint FTn in a box but could not use it as it was so good and ended up selling it. In a way I wish it was a bit less pristine and I would have had no compunctions.

BTW another early SLR camera I love are the various models of the Pentax pre Spotmatics. They are not so strongly built as the Nikons but in the hand there is something about them that feels to me like a Leica screw mount- I suppose its the size, weight and form factor - they have a similar shape. And the early Takumar lenses are generally excellent. (Besides which the whole system is inexpensive especially given their quality.)
 
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Vince Lupo said:
Okay, I have a question for all you Nikon F guys -- I'm considering buying one (I've had three over the past 34 years, and of various incarnations), and I'm not sure which standard lens would be the best. Wouldn't matter to me whether it's AI or non-AI ...I just want the lens that has the best optical quality wide open or very close to wide open.

So if you had a choice between the 50/1.2, 50/1.4, 50/2, any of the Micros, or a 55/1.2 or even a 58, which would be your choice?
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The 58/1.4 Nikkor-S. Has the best sixties feel to it!
 
Vince Lupo said:
Okay, I have a question for all you Nikon F guys -- I'm considering buying one (I've had three over the past 34 years, and of various incarnations), and I'm not sure which standard lens would be the best. Wouldn't matter to me whether it's AI or non-AI ...I just want the lens that has the best optical quality wide open or very close to wide open.

So if you had a choice between the 50/1.2, 50/1.4, 50/2, any of the Micros, or a 55/1.2 or even a 58, which would be your choice?
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No doubt an early 9 blade 50/2 or a 50/1.8 AIS serial range 2050001-2268017, the one intended for the Japanese market. Of course if you want to drop some bucks, I hear the 58 noct is as good as the early 50/2...😀
 
RANDOLPH45

Nah...the 1967 Nikon F with plain prism I bought brand new in July 1967, the other two I bought on flea bay out of New York 6 years ago, one for a second "F" and one for parts but they both work so well I use 'em too. One of the flea bay Nikons may have been one of Freds at one time. Yep we'll definitely have to have a Sacramento RFF meet soon.

I think the 50mm F1.4 has to be my pre AI favorite, followed by the 35mm F2.8 and the 105mm F2.5 (P), 28mm F3.5 (Black nose)...yes they all work great on a D700 or D200, I had them all AI'd or found the right kit (50mm F1.4 & 105mm F2.5) except for the 35mm. I would say that in most cases, the AIS versions of the same lens it would be very difficult to notice a difference other than in the color rendition from more modern coatings.....but that is a nice feature of these pre AI lenses, the simple coating and the signature it gives, color or black & white.

Bob
 
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I've got two.
An ebay $75.00 beater that started life with a chrome body until I found a black parts camera and had the transplant made.
Added a motor plate and "As is" KEH f36 ($50.00) that needed the contacts cleaned, and an old DE-1 prism, and its my favorite SLR camera.
And the other is a pristine black body with F36 drive, that spent it's working life on a microscope in the University of Toronto Botany department.
Bought this one against the day the beater gives up the ghost, but I'm beginning to realize that the beater will outlast me, so I might just sell the nice one.
Oh yeah. I've also got a bag of parts bodies for emergencies.
 
1959 chrome body w/ plain and Photomic finders
1972 Chrome body w/FTN and waist level finders
Eight lenses 24 to 200.
Bellows Model II
Slide copy attachment
Shelf queens, mostly.
 
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Yeah I like the look of that Noct lens -- but at $3K+, think I'll look for the next one down the list! KEH has a raft of F's, and I'm torn between a plain-Jane chrome one with a plain prism, or going whole-hog like Goodtimes above with the meter prism and F-36 motor drive. Think I'd probably go with the plain one with the standard prism.

Other problem is that I'd have to justify this purchase, as I'm barely shooting any film. But it sure is tempting!!!!
 
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My Nikon "stash" - this is last year so some add'l prisms and I think one more body has been added - and a lens. Dont keep track of them that carefully - just grab one when needed.
There are couple of favorite lenses, 55f3.5 Micro-Nikkor, the 105f2.5 and also the Ultron 40mm f2.0 and the Voigtlander 58f1.4 (a Topcon replica).
The F also has the distinct advantage that you can use the Rf re-loadable cassettes in them.
 
Got two Fs. That's about enough for me. I seem to collect Leicas and Olympuses for some reason. Ended up getting a Leicaflex SL from the wife of a friend of the family who recently died. Never thought of owning a Leica SLR, but now I've got one....to go with my Ms & Barnacks...

Three OM-2ns. Now some may say that OM-2s are a big step down from Leicas--the other end of the price scale, practically slumming, so to speak, but I like 'em. Call 'em my "rangefinder SLRs." If you've ever used 'em, you know why I call 'em that. They take great pics, too....
 
I must really be in the minority here, as I have never liked the F. I have owned a few, in fact I still own one with a photomic Tn meter and a nikkor 50mm 1.4. (oddly enough the 50 is seen in my avatar pic mounted on my pentax k-7) but I have always found the F to be ‘clunky’ too ‘chunky’. simply too big, too heavy, too much of everything. the same goes for the nikkor lenses. at first I just thought maybe it was just the first example I owned, but all of them have get the same. its strange that they feel so big and heavy, but at the same time don’t feel solid or well built.

I guess my view is skewed by years of classic Pentax, which is of course a very different philosophy in camera design.
 
Tom A said:
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My Nikon "stash" - this is last year so some add'l prisms and I think one more body has been added - and a lens. Dont keep track of them that carefully - just grab one when needed.
There are couple of favorite lenses, 55f3.5 Micro-Nikkor, the 105f2.5 and also the Ultron 40mm f2.0 and the Voigtlander 58f1.4 (a Topcon replica).
The F also has the distinct advantage that you can use the Rf re-loadable cassettes in them.
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A beautiful sight indeed.😀
 
Does anyone own the three book set on the F by Uli Koch? It is great to see so many F's. I own and use two, 1969 chrome with standard prism and a 1973 black Apollo with standard prism.
 
After I sold my entire Nikon kit (FE, D90, AF and Ai-s lenses) I began to lust for an original F, specifically an Ftn, call me crazy but I like the funky oversized metered prism in a quirky way. So I recently picked up a local Ftn from a retired pro, and I got some nice glass to compliment it: a 50 f1.4 sc, 105 f2.5 P Sonnar, 180mm f2.8 ED. Now I suddenly have a Nikon kit again. And I enjoy if FAR more than the Nikon kit I started shooting with. The classic Nikkors produce gorgeous results, and the big metal Ftn is everything a serious camera should be.

Nikon F Photomic Ftn, Nikkor 105mm f2.5 P
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Here is one of my F's

Here is one of my F's

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This is my Nikon F fun system. It consists of the 28mm f3.5, 50mm f2 and the 135mm f3.5. These are the least expensive Nikkors and take great photos. On the 50 and 135 I have Nikon chrome filters. I am going to save for the three volume Nikon F book and after maybe some finders.
 
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