Rediscovering Nikon SLRs

[Steve Bellayr]

There was always a debate on the quality of slr lenses between the canon, nikon, & pentax. But, hands down, the Nikon line was the sturdiest when it came to the body. The old Fs are legendary when it came to abuse. I've never been afraid of dropping mine (given that it landed on the body). I've even accidently done it a few times and nothing happened. One camera dealer I spoke with years ago told me of a reporter who had his Nikon run over by a tank. All he needed was a new lens.

 

[NIKON KIU]

I have noticed just about everyone here has a Nikon SLR!!
Some have bunches🙂 🙂

Kiu

 

[amateriat]

i started with rangefinders and then went to slr and then back to rf cameras.
i like the om 2 and the 180 for those long shots but it's the rf that still gets me going.
joe

Ditto.

I have an OM-2n which is a solid machine, but my ideal SLR setup would be a Nikon F4 (with just the grip battery pack instead of the high-capacity job), and a 28mm PC Nikkor, as a sort of 35mm view camera (one of the few reasons for my still using an SLR). This is where having 100% VF accuracy and a high-eyepoint VF (i.e. eygless-friendly) come into their own. I might even add an 18 or 20mm lens for good measure.


- Barrett

 

[bobkonos]

I have never really left SLR use, as I keep a bag filled with Nikon FM2 and FM, and 24 f2.8. 55 f2.8 Micro Nikkor, 85 f2, and 75-150 Series E Nikon lenses. I also have a Nikkormat FT3 that needs more use. And I also just found a F3 HP, terrific for those of us with eyeglasses. I like the SLR for longer lenses at car races, and the Micro-Nikkor for detail shots at car shows. I cannot imagine being without the FM2.

 

[Carzee]

I have a F3HP, with a Polaroid back too. I only have 2 lenses for it -the Nikkor 20mm and the Kiron 105 macro.

When I want to treat the Nikkors to modernity, I use them on my EOS 5D in Av and Man mode. MF and scale focusing on a 5D works for me. Can't see the dire need to AF a UWA and AF a macro any way.

When I want to treat the Nikkors to nostalgia, I'll use them on my R4A when it arrives, especially the Nikkor 20mm.

I'd like a Titanium in black....

 

[wlewisiii]

I must admit that I do think bad thoughts about an F3 & the new ZF lenses... 😱

William

 

[Anupam]

And I just finally decided to sell off my 24/2.8 and 50/1.4 Nikkors. I find I rarely handhold the SLRs anymore. Whatever calls for handholding is shot with RFs. So rather than a bunch of fixed lens RFs, I'm getting a Bessa. I am into macro photography though, and will keep my macro lens and the 180/2.8. The F3 is possibly the best camera ever made for macro shooting.

For me RFs excel in certain things and SLRs exel in others. But I am not sure I won't regret my current decision - oh, well.

-Anupam

 

[Bryce]

I still have and use my Pentax kit, in fact added to it a couple of years ago when I bought a *istDs. I use them for: longer lens shots, low light (my rangefinders are medium format or have slow lenses), macro, copy work, etc. In fact I shot the equinox pics entirely with my favorite- KX and 35 F/2 M lens. Those are coming soon, by the way...
I sure wish there was a comparably built 35mm rangefinder for a sensible price.

 

[Harry Lime]

PIcked up a F3-P last year and got the new Zeiss ZF 1.4/50 and a vintage Nikkor-P 2.5/105 for it. Love the camera. The high eye point viewfinder is as big as a porthole. The single coated 105mm is amazing.

 

[lynn]

I love my Nikon FE. It is sturdy, and dependable, and intuitive to use. With the 50/1.4, it is my main camera (although I'm using the M6 more and more), and I have collected a half-dozen-or-more lenses for it, including an 85/1.4 that makes my heart beat faster. 🙂

As we say here in the Netherlands: there is not a hair on my head that would consider neglecting it!

 

[wintoid]

I have my Dad's old Canon FTb which is ok, and gets used occasionally for reasons of nostalgia. I have an OM4 because I'd heard so much about it being the most RF-like SLR, but frankly I don't like it at all. Then there's the little Pentax ME Super, and I love that thing to bits. It does get used.

Haven't ever used any Nikon gear, although I did come quite close to getting an FM3a a few years back.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Nothing for me to rediscover, I never got rid of my Nikon SLR gear. I like and use both systems finding they compliment each other.

Bob

 

[JonR]

Nikon SLR rules!

Nikon SLR rules!

Interesting topic!

For me my photo hobby has become more and more fascinating over the years and the beauty today is that there are so many ways to take photos:

- I have my Yashica Rangefinders where I particularly like the Electro 35 CC and the Electro 35 GTN - simple, small, quite and easy to take with you!

- I am a big fan of the new digital cameras and the Nikon D80 with modern lenses like the 24-120 AFS VR, 70-300 AFS VR and 105 AFS VR creates absolutely fantastic results that would have been impossible with the old technology (for example switching ISO between shots and not rolls of films, checking the result immediately on the histogram and the LCD display to be able to correct and try another setting and so on, VR technology making indoor photographing so much more fun without the flash....)

- But there is something special with the old Nikon SLR´s - I have several of them and find myself using them a lot. In particular I like the old Nikon FM2 - all manual and not needing any battery - together with the Nikon E-series lenses. I also have an old EM, FG-20 and Nikormat FTN as well as a more modern F90.

It is not either or - today we have can have it all --- Rangefinders, old SLR´s that can be bought at a very cheap price and the new modern DSLR´s!

Jon

 

[Terao]

F3HP for me as well 🙂

With 20mm f/2.8, 45mm, f/2.8 (gorgeous tiny lens, about as RF as you get on an SLR), and a macro zoom. Considering buying the 105mm f/2 DC and an adapter from Mr Gandy, that lens is utterly obscene for portraiture...
Alternatively, may just wait for the D200 to get cheap (or Nikon produce a full-frame digital body)
Its always about the lenses with me...

 

[GeneW]

I enjoy SLR's and use them. I've been discovering the world of FSU glass for M42 mount that I use on Bessaflexes and a Pentax DS2. I've picked up a couple of K mount Pentaxes that are very nice. I have a couple of Nikons -- F3HP and FM2n.

Gene

 

[jky]

It's funny seeing this thread as I was just fondling my f3hp the other day while thinking, "Haven't shot with this for a while...".
So.. loaded it up w/ fresh batteries - now I just have to get my 35 f/2 back from somebody and we're ready to go 🙂

I've always liked how you can remove the prism & pretend to "fix" the camera while shooting at waist level.

 

[Avotius]

Its weird, I got a free minolta x700 recently with no lens and it fueled me to go out and shoot with my old canon ae1. I forgot what a pleasure it is to use classic slr's, before they moved to things like auto focus, 6582 point metering, and molded hand grips. I love these things.

I got two friends, one has a fm2 the other has an fm3, I got to get them to lend me their cameras for fun, pity neither of them has a 50....

 

[ChrisPlatt]

There's nothing like a Pentax. 🙂

Chris

 

[John Camp]

My first camera love was a Pentax Spotmatic, which I got back in the late 60s and used for ten years; but then I drifted into Nikons simply for the utility of the things. I still have Nikons, an F5 and a D2x -- never kept the older ones because I traded up. But recently I bouight a Pentax K10 with 21, 43 and 70 pancakes. The photos aren't as sharp as the M8's, but it's a pretty handy camera to use -- and when each has a roughly equivalent lens on, I think you could make a legitimate argument that the Pentax is *more compact* than the M8. If I knew how to post photos here, I'd post a couple so you could look...

JC

 

[raid]

I also have returned to theNikon SLR system to complement my RF system. The Nikkor 105mm/2.5 is an awesome lens. I use it on a Nikon FE2 that is one of the most useful Nikon SLR cameras ever made by Nikon. I recently bought a Nikkor 24mm/2.8 and I already have a few other Nikkors, such as the 55mm/3.5 micro and 50mm/1.4. The optics are first class.


Raid