Sell the F or the F2?

Both the F and F2 are wonderful mechanical wonders. If you are looking to raise money, sell the F2. You have the much desired DE-1 plain prism, right? if it's in VG condition, consider unbundling or selling it separately. Either keep the body, or replace the with the more common DP-1 or DW-1, and sell the new combo.
 
SI photographer Richard Mackson showed me and some peers his Nikon F with rare Topcon 300 f/2. It was completely beat to **** and he literally threw it on the metal table in front of us from 5-10 feet away. He said "look at this. You think any of you would do this with your digital cameras?"

Point taken. Keep the F. It's everything a camera should be.
 
In your position, I'd keep the F and F100.
One is "THE" classic that probably will keep increasing in value,
the other one is just a darn good camera that is worth keeping and using.

Sell the rest and you should be getting somewhere around 600 to 800 (if someone had a GAS attack).
 
The F is usually worth more money. An "apollo" F in black with the standard prism will bring a couple hundred depending on condition.

F2s are selling for peanuts right now on ebay for some reason. Seen a few go well below $100 lately. I just sold a chrome F2 body only for only 80 bucks on ebay.
 
+1 for keep the F and the F100.

given comparable conditions, the original is always going to fetch more money (but black F apollos are likely only going to go up in value). it's probably not worth that much more than the F2, but that means you can unload the F2 at a reasonably high rate (since you're looking for cash).

the other manual focus cameras are pretty easily replaceable, and between the F and the F100, there are basically no lenses that you can't use.

if you want mechanical fondlage, take out the F. if you want bang-on reliable metering and AF? grab the F100. there's nothing that the others can do that those two can't, and the reverse is not true. plus, they're easy, and will continue to be easy, to replace (provided they have no sentimental value for you).

though i guess it really depends on how much cash you want to raise, and how fast you need it...
 
Just a few photos for the F lovers:

7018542925_8f1ac4749f_b.jpg


6872436184_9024208ba3_b.jpg


By the way, if you keep the F and F2 they can share the screens.
 
The FE or FM2n would be the first of my brood to go, but will probably not fetch much. For the others, you are selling iconic cameras, and if it were me I would regret selling any of those, and could see myself eventually purchasing a replacement, but hopefully one in better shape. Maybe ask yourself: which one of these would I be tempted to get a better version of (cosmetically, mechanically, etc.), then sell that one, and over time start looking for its replacement.
 
These responses are interesting -- the practical, the emotional, the aesthetic. I'm much more interested in aesthetic and emotional connections. Practically speaking I have ten times more cameras than I need in order to take decent photographs. I could easily make do with one camera and three lenses. But then there's a lot of fun in not doing that. For instance, yes, I've sold probably 4 FE's/FE2's in my day, and at least two FM2's. But lately I missed them and I'm having great fun with these new ones.

What I should sell: my Canon collection. But let's not get into that. Thanks everyone for input. I have a clearer notion now that there is no wrong answer to my question, and I can follow my instincts. For now, I'm probably not selling anything. When I do, I'll list it here first.

Here's another attempt at loading a photo of these babies....

......
">


Be well all. If you are interested in seeing these cameras go to my main photostream page after using the link below.
Thanks again.
 
PS The F2 you'll notice has a ding on the front of the viewfinder prism. The lenses shown, if you're curious (I'm always curious about gear....) are the rangefinder 50/1.4 SC; on the F, the Nikkor UD 20mm f/3.5; F2: the Nikkor P 10.5cm f/2.5 (sonnar design); FE: AIS Nikkor 50mm f/1.2; F3HP: AIS Nikkor 35mm f//2; FM2n: AIS Nikkor 28mm f/2; and on the F100 the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D.

All hail film photography. Or at least let enough of us hail it to keep the film mfrs in business.
 
By the way, i decided for now to sell a Canon P and an FD Canon 17mm f/4 which has some marks on front and rear elements. Might pull $300 all together....
 
Good to hear that something else thsn the Nikons are going. :)

Several times I have been meaning to sell my own F2. But... I have had it serviced by Sover Wong, had it with me just about everywhere during the 6 years I have used it. And I know, with the brassing and dents it has, I'll never get any decent money out of it.

But the most important thing is that whenever I pick it up, I just get a big smile on my face... :)
 
Last edited:
I've been thinking real hard about selling my F2 with DE-1...I know for a fact I will regret it if I do however...but I'm thinking of replacing it with a M2 or M3 so I don't know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom