The SLR Takeover: Nikon F vs Leica M2

[Mudman]

It’s been a minute, but I just finished my next video for youtube! I've been dealing with a heart condition that has taken up a lot of my time for the past 6 months. Feeling a lot better now and hoping to be posting more, including an update on my photography grant.

With Canon announcing the discontinuation of the eos 1d series of professional cameras and photographers everywhere bemoaning the “death of the slr,” I thought it would be fun to take a journey back to when SLRs first took prominence in photography over rangefinders with the Nikon F and the Leica M2. Both of mine are from 1961.

Here's the link, let me know what you think! https://youtu.be/mC_33mBSs9c

 

[BillBingham2]

I had some Kodak entry level camera way back then so either would have been s step up for a three year old. Will watch it tonight and comment.

Way cool, thanks for the update.

B2 (;->

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Soviet already finished with Zenit and it was Zenit-C during F release.
Exakta Varex was already where.

But F was real professional camera. Well made. After I used Nikon SLRs I'm laughing every time I read how robust Leicas are. 🙂

 

[Mudman]

Soviet already finished with Zenit and it was Zenit-C during F release.
Exakta Varex was already where.

But F was real professional camera. Well made. After I used Nikon SLRs I'm laughing every time I read how robust Leicas are. 🙂

Yes, I know that there were other SLRs before the F: the F was the nail in the coffin though that marked the wholesale move to SLRs from rangefinders by a majority of shooters.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, I know that there were other SLRs before the F: the F was the nail in the coffin though that marked the wholesale move to SLRs from rangefinders by a majority of shooters.

In Europe it was the Nikkormat FTn who made that happen. (Never buy an electronic Nikkormat (EL) or Leica (R3) btw.).

Erik.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Congratulations on your improved health and for posting the YouTube clip. I've enjoyed watching it. Cheers, OtL

 

[Ko.Fe.]

In Europe it was the Nikkormat FTn who made that happen. (Never buy an electronic Nikkormat (EL) or Leica (R3) btw.).

Erik.

Europe is always more complicated 🙂

 

[Mudman]

In Europe it was the Nikkormat FTn who made that happen. (Never buy an electronic Nikkormat (EL) or Leica (R3) btw.).

Erik.

I've heard that the R3 and the R4 had teething pains. I enjoy my R8 though!

 

[p.giannakis]

But F was real professional camera. Well made. After I used Nikon SLRs I'm laughing every time I read how robust Leicas are. 🙂

I spend a lot of my time recently readings Norman Goldberg's "Lab reports" on past Popular Photography issues. In one of them he stripped down and compared the Nikon F and the Leica M4. He concluded that they are both equally well build.

I will try to find the report and post some screenshots if anyone is interested.

 

[css9450]

Never buy an electronic Nikkormat (EL) .....

Why, do the electronics get flaky or something? I recently bought a newish-looking EL from a forum member but I've only shot one roll through it. So far so good!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Why, do the electronics get flaky or something? I recently bought a newish-looking EL from a forum member but I've only shot one roll through it. So far so good!

Eventually all electronics would quit. But I had XA which quit at VF meter and later on main meter quit. And last year I let go Nikkormat which was much older than XA, but both meters worked.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Why, do the electronics get flaky or something? I recently bought a newish-looking EL from a forum member but I've only shot one roll through it. So far so good!

Sooner or later they stop working. A Nikkormat FTn will never stop. I have a Nikkormat FTn from 1971. Still going strong. The EL and the R3 were designed to work only one or two years. The repair was more expensive than buying a new camera.

gelatin silver print (nikkor h auto 50mm f2) nikkormat ftn

 

[hap]

comments I've read so far, just confirms my inclination to keep the Ft3 , even though I have to carry it around in a wheel barrow. OPtion....just get an early F.

 

[1joel1]

Didn't the M3 come before the M2. That would be the correct comparison, Nikon F and M3.

 

[steveyork]

Didn't the M3 come before the M2. That would be the correct comparison, Nikon F and M3.

Both the M2 and F came out ion the late 50's ('58 and '59), where the M3 camera out earlier ('54). So in this sense, it is an accurate comparison, although I get your point.

 

[zuiko85]

I had always thought that though the M2 was supposed to be a less expensive entry to the Leica M system, it was just a popular as the M3 because of the 35mm frame lines in the viewfinder. No need for the auxiliary clip on wide goggles 35mm lens. Much cleaner and sleek design at a slight expense to focusing accuracy due to the reduction in viewfinder magnification.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I had always thought that though the M2 was supposed to be a less expensive entry to the Leica M system, it was just a popular as the M3 because of the 35mm frame lines in the viewfinder. No need for the auxiliary clip on wide goggles 35mm lens. Much cleaner and sleek design at a slight expense to focusing accuracy due to the reduction in viewfinder magnification.

In fact the first design of the M Leica was the M2 (with a 50mm viewfinder), but the people at Leitz thought the camera didn't look "technical" enough. The designer, Herbert Janke, then made the design of the M3, which was the first M Leica to be released at the time. The M2, which came out in 1957, then got the first design by Janke as appearance.

Erik.

 

[Pál_K]

Sooner or later they stop working. A Nikkormat FTn will never stop. I have a Nikkormat FTn from 1971. Still going strong. The EL and the R3 were designed to work only one or two years. The repair was more expensive than buying a new camera.

…

For the longest time I wanted an R3 Safari (olive green), but I had always heard reports of their unreliability - I think the logistics of them being made in Portugal, at a new facility, and interacting with Leica in Germany contributed to the problems of their new SLR. The electronics of early R4’s don’t have a good reputation either.

A few years ago I bought an as-new mint-condition R3 Safari plus 50mm Safari R lens from KEH. It was beautiful enough to make you weep. Unfortunately it was dead-on-arrival. Tried multiple new batteries and the camera would not function at all. Had to send it back.

As for Nikkormats, I have an FT2 which I believe will last forever. However, I also have an EL - it is so elegant. It uses a trap-needle system to set the shutter speed (displayed in the finder). I do hope it continues to work for a long time because it’s fun to use.

 

[Erik van Straten]

As for Nikkormats, I have an FT2 which I believe will last forever. However, I also have an EL - it is so elegant. It uses a trap-needle system to set the shutter speed (displayed in the finder). I do hope it continues to work for a long time because it’s fun to use.

I hope this for you too; personally I've never owned one, but I stared and stared into brochures about them. Then, I noticed that they soon were forgotten and that all the people that I knew who owned one told me that their camera didn't work anymore and that they wouldn't have it repaired. The same happened with the R3.
I found the contrast to the FTn to be remarkable to say the least.

Erik.

 

[Mudman]

Didn't the M3 come before the M2. That would be the correct comparison, Nikon F and M3.

The M2 Production Timeline lines up better with how long the Nikon F was built. You could really compare either, but the timeline worked better with the M2. Plus both of these were made in 1961. My two M3s are earlier - 1955 and 1957 respectively. I liked comparing something that was sold during the same year. The M3 was discontinued in 1966. The argument could be made they're both wrong, and I should have used an M4, lol. The features would have still been similar however.