Rediscovering Nikon SLRs

[ChrisPlatt]

The Pentax MX with a Pentax 40/2.8 pancake lens is as compact as a Bessa R.
But I'll be using mine with the Pentax 35/2 I got for $90 (like new!) from KEH. 🙂

Chris

 

[NL2377]

yeah, that's the one I was looking for, but ended up opting for a minolta 40mm 1.8... I figure the extra speed will hav been worth it (it's not that much larger anyways!)

KEH is awesome by the way. Ive never been dissatisfied with their products, especially since thier ratings are generally so conservative!

 

[TVphotog]

As the sig line says, I have an F3 with an MD4. Just got a 24 2.8 Quantaray(sp??) for it. It is not a nikkor, but it is still good glass. I have put a bunch of rolls through the 24 on both the F3 and an F2 and I have gotten great results. I am very happy for the 30$ I spent on it. I also have a bunch of chrome barrel lenses that are great fun. I can't ever seem to shoot with just the Nikons or just the RFs. I gotta carry both.

 

[sepiareverb]

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.

Yes! I can't tell you how many old Canon AE1's I get in Photo 1- meters are dead, bodies just locked up. Every old Nikon but 1 FG has been fine. Pentax K1000's still going strong- but meters are often off by a stop or two these days.

Another one that really surprises me is the Minolta SR-T series. Talk about tanks! I get a lot of these, kids parents bought them in the 70's and they still work fine.

Only once have I gotten a rangefinder in Photo 1- A Retina- absolutely as new, a real stunner, but the kid dropped the class day 2 so I never saw it in action.


- I watched my cousin drop his FE2 down a whole flight of stairs- bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce- a lot of stairs clunking all the way down. Lens and body were fine. I was in shock. I have this body and lens today- the lens (50/1.8Ais) is still excellent, the camera took a fall onto a paved road last semester when a tripod tipped over- (lent it to a student) and won't wind now. Will become a lesson in taking care of your camera for the day 1lecture.

 

[MelanieC]

I love my Nikon F3, its one of the the best camera's I own, and as one poster said, it's damn sexy too. Easy to focus and built like a tank! Digitals will come and go but I will never be parted with my F3, ever!

I do admit I've had my eye on the F3 for a while now, mostly because I like the way it looks (otherwise I guess I'd go for the F2) and handles and because the viewfinder is enormous. I have considered replacing my stolen OM-1 with an F3, but I love the small size of the OMs and I still have most of my OM lenses. What would I gain by switching to Nikon? I suppose I could use the lenses on my D70s, but the viewfinder on that thing is so dim and tiny that I can't imagine manual focusing lenses on the dSLR.

It is a bummer to me that so many of the available F3s I've seen have the HP viewfinder. If I understand correctly, the regular viewfinder has a larger magnification. Also, I find the HP viewfinder quite unattractive. (Hey, I'll admit it. Most other things being equal, I do care what the camera looks like.)

 

[sepiareverb]

Watch out with old Nikon lenses on anything but the D200! They won't meter. All but the D200 (I'm almost 100% sure here) won't meter with anything but the new AF/D lenses.

You might get spot metering with the D70 but I don't think so.

And the new G lenses can't go on an F3 cause there's no aperture ring.

 

[dreilly]

Melanie,
I agree vis a vis the HP and normal finder on the F3. The one I "found" had the normal one. Previously, KEH sent me a bargain one labelled as normal but came as an HP. You know what? The normal finder works better with my glasses. But check ebay and you'll see them fairly often with the normal finder.

I think what you would gain over the OM series bodies is the ability to change finders (to a waist-level finder which I actually like and hope to get for the F3), the ability to use a wider ISO range of film (except comparing it to the OM4 I think), and a body that you can throw through a window with a cable attached to it if you need to make a quick exit from a sticky situation.

Nikon glass seems more plentiful and a bit less expensive (well, some of it is!)

Comparing the sturdiness of the F3 to the AE-1 is not entirely fair, as the AE-1 was their prosumer model and the F3 was built to be a pro camera. I know folks here like the F-1---maybe that's better built than the AE1?

 

[harry01562]

I have a lot of SLR's, mostly different model Canon's from the original Canonflex through the T90. The best of the bunch is the New F-1 (F-1N), hands down. I prefer the feel and controls to the T90 by a wide margin, and it's built like a tank, with an emphasis from Canon on professional use.

I've never owned a Nikon body or lens. I was tempted by an F3 (?) once, but the thought of an entirely new system of lenses scared the %#$$ out of me.
The FD lenses are as good as I'll ever need, and the prices for many of the cameras is an incredible bargain right now. The black FTb and the EF are the other top choices, with the A-1 not far behind.

I'd rather go KEH bargain than eBay, because of the return policy. Unless it's from a source I trust, or a known dealer, the auctions just are too chancy.

Harry

 

[Paul T.]

I picked up a battered FE2 for $30 and love its simplicity and compactness - especially the option of simply using AE when I'm in a hurry. But best of all was when I managed to score a 85/1.4 - an amazing portrait lens. But I've gone off it since I dented the filter ring when it fell off my shoulder, it's so front heavy, and then accidentally bashed my son on the head with the camera/lens combo leaving a noticeable bruise.
Sometimes owning objects built like tanks can be a BAD thing...

 

[ChrisPlatt]

In my experience used K1000 meters are either spot on or not working at all.
Most are fine though.
Just one of many reasons the Pentax barebones economy model has retained its value
as a perennial favorite for beginners...

Chris

 

[350D_user]

Having quickly browsed this thread.... Nikon... Nikon... Nikon... Pentax got an honourable mention... Canon aren't as bulletproof as they were meant to be... someone doesn't like an Olympus...

... do I miss my old Nikon FM (plus MD-11 drive)? The F-801? Thinking about it, no. I don't know why, Nikon always seemed clinical, their cameras felt as though they weren't first designed by a human, there was no "Let's try that" lunacy feel to their equipment. In short, their equipment came across as uninspiring.

However, I do regret not having told my manager (at the time), that I was interested in the Nikon F2 (with photomic head) that had turned up in the camera shop, when I worked there.

Hmm...

... no... shall not consider that Nikon F with its photomic head... not even if I can afford it!

Must resist! There's Leica M3's to save for!

... and Kiev 4's... and FED 1's... and... er... GAS, anyone?

 

[mw_uio]

F3hp

F3hp

I picked up my F3HP in '05 off the bay. It came with the MD-4. What I liked is the 100% viewfinder, the weight, and the controls are in the right place to make changes quickly. Then came my 24/F2.8, then 28/F2.8 and finally the 85/F1.4, over the next year and a half.

(http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/htmls/map.htm)

Everything I like about it, and it has "A" aperture priority which I use when I am not looking through the view finder. A side note, Nikon Canada just serviced my F3 in Jan '07, as I dropped it, caused a circuit issue, had to replace the face plate, and a CLA as well.

The F3 will still be servicable for another 10 years at least, as some have quoted.

When the chrome is loaded, it produces some amazing photos!

I am content! 😀 I just want too focus on producing great photos, than trying too keep up with the digital age.

MArk
Quito, EC

 

[Jerevan]

My F2 is ready, sitting on the table beside me. Most of the time with a non-AI 50/2 Nikkor-H. Always loaded with Tri-X. The lens is clean but has a slightly loose front end, so I may get another one that's mechanically perfect. The F2 had a full CLA last year, including fixing the DP-1 meter. Always rarin' to go... 🙂

 

[mike goldberg]

I am delighted to have noticed this Thread in RFF.
So there IS something to be said for our versatility and openness.
And, I had a look at MelanieC's PBase gear; some great stuff in
there, "cavegirl" ;-) In a predominantly male RFF forum, I for one,
look forward to posts from our female members.

Re: Nikon, see thumbnail below. This is an FM2 that was bought new
and never used commercially. With 6 primes, it's time to give the FM2
AND the photographer, some exercise.

Cheers, mike