What's your favorite film Nikon F Series ?

Erik van Straten said:
Thanks, my favorite is still the FTn, but then in black. I'm so happy that I've never gave in for a Nikkormat EL...
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You are stronger than I am. The jewel-like finish of the EL captivated me and then one look through the viewfinder, revealing its coloured analog scale (similar to FE2 and FM3a), was all that was needed for me to buy one.

I started using it straight away, both in metered manual and aperture priority - exposure was good, though with the battery I was using I may have had to compensate on the ISO setting.
 

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Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f/2, TriX/D76, printed on AdoxMCC110.

Erik.

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I still miss my old FTn Photomic, a camera I used in college in the early 1980's. Sadly that camera was later stolen.
Ten years ago when I decided to replace it I opted for an F2 Photomic (DP-1) as the original mercury battery used in the F was problematic.
I have since added an F2SB (DP-3) and most recently an F4.
The F3 never interested me due to that awful LCD panel in the viewfinder, and later F models are far too electronic for my liking.
I also own a couple of FE bodies as well as a Nikkormat EL and an FT-3. I'm currently looking for a nice FT-2.

Chris
 
This thread reminded me I always wanted to get an EL2. Perhaps a black one; I generally prefer cameras with the leatherette on the prism but at least on the EL-series, the lack of leather isn't so obvious on a black body.
 
Smaug said:
We're getting a little side-tracked with Nikkormats and non-F bodies. (FM, FE, etc)

We can start another thread on non-F bodies, if you want.
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Fair enough.

It's interesting that among the pro F cameras, we hear mostly about the plain-prism F, the FTN, the various F2's, etc., but we hear little about original Nikon F cameras with the other three heads: Photomic, T, or TN. Perhaps after the FTN was introduced, everyone dumped their earlier metering heads.

Having that narrow horizontal slot in the head showing the maximum aperture is a good 1960's artifact. Having the angular asymmetrical "slice" on the head creates the archetype Nikon profile. Among Nikon fans I think it has become a sexy characteristic.
 
Pál_K said:
Fair enough.

It's interesting that among the pro F cameras, we hear mostly about the plain-prism F, the FTN, the various F2's, etc., but we hear little about original Nikon F cameras with the other three heads: Photomic, T, or TN. Perhaps after the FTN was introduced, everyone dumped their earlier metering heads.

Having that narrow horizontal slot in the head showing the maximum aperture is a good 1960's artifact. Having the angular asymmetrical "slice" on the head creates the archetype Nikon profile. Among Nikon fans I think it has become a sexy characteristic.
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The T and TN meter heads are very rare AFAIK.


Erik.
 
Pál_K said:
...
It's interesting that among the pro F cameras, we hear mostly about the plain-prism F, the FTN, the various F2's, etc., but we hear little about original Nikon F cameras with the other three heads: Photomic, T, or TN. Perhaps after the FTN was introduced, everyone dumped their earlier metering heads.
...
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Erik van Straten said:
The T and TN meter heads are very rare AFAIK.
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The F was introduced in '59, the F Photomic with meter built into the head in '62, the F Photomic FT with TTL meter followed very soon after (either one or two years), and the F Photomic FTn came along in '68. The F line ended nominally in '72 with the introduction of the F2. The FTn head has substantive upgrades over the FT head, like the semi-automatic indexing and center weighted metering. So the Photomic and Photomic FT models came and went quickly, within a span of six years; I suspect they didn't sell that well. The FTn head was an instant success because of the new-found ease of setting it up for the lens and the better metering provided. I know a lot of folks who converted their Photomic FT cameras to Photomic FTn.

G
 
The focusing screens are worth a study in themselves. How many different types were made?


The Nikkormat FTn was made with two different focusing screens, one with a small circle of microprisms and the other with a central focusing wedge. I remember that in Europe only Nikkormats were available with microprisms and in the US only with the wedge. The reason for this geographical difference remains until this day a mystery to me.


Erik.
 
I don’t think the meter less heads that are all the rage now were the primary choice back then. with the F2, the DP 3 and 12 heads were the most expensive and desirable for working professionals.
Today most people use these cameras for leisure and enjoy the simplicity and style of the meter less heads. I have both the DE1 and DP12 heads for one of my F2 cameras and while the DE1 is cooler it is a much better camera using the DP12. Especially after Sover Wong replaced the ring resistor!
 
If you look at the cheapest of F cameras on eBay... most come with either the T or Tn.

I would say they are rare in good working condition. Otherwise I just cannot subscribe to that opinion having owned a ton of Photomic, T, Tn, and Ftn.
 
Fun question!

I have had an F and F3 in the past and I currently have an F2 and an F4.

To me the answer is no different than the answer to the question how long is a piece of string? It depends!

The F and especially the F2 are very satisfying to use. In every sense you feel that you are using a finely made tool. The shutter has a satisfying "clack". Both are all mechanical (if you can live without a meter).

I have a magnifying loop VF and speciality focusing screen for macro work for my F2. In the end I found it too difficult to do very close macro work with the F2. The meters available are too limited and don't work well with very close macro work where it can be difficult to calculate the effective aperture and the ttl prisms available are not sensitive enough. For everything else it's great.

For macro work, the F4 (and the F5 and F6 I'd imagine) is superior. Focusing and metering are greatly aided by the modern technology of the camera. Auto advance means you don't bump your shot in between. For everything else it is also fantastic. Easy to use and equipped with powerful and accessible features. The best part is that it uses batteries you can find almost anywhere.

The F3 will always hold a special place for me. I lusted for one when I was younger and had no money to buy one. One day I got lucky and snagged one that was beat to heck for $125 on eBay along with a 50mm f/1.8. I shot a lot of rolls with it wish I wish would have kept it but I think it's probably still out there being enjoyed by someone else.

It's all for the best since these days I hardly shoot any 35mm so I'd hate to see my old F3 collecting dust. I have been swept up by the tides of medium format and I'm not sure can give manual focus 35mm cameras the attention they deserve these days.
 
I was introduced to the world in the same year as the F4 and didn't start shooting film until 2012 so my experience with the range of Nikon bodies is limited relative to many who have posted here. I have shot a few AF-D lenses but predominantly use AI/AI-S lenses. The list of F bodies I've shot in rough order is as follows

F75 - Purchased based on Ken Rockwell recommendations. Actually a decent basic body for AF-D/AF-G lenses but I sold it in favor of a more ergonomic F100 and the better focusing screens of FM/FE series bodies once I decided I enjoyed shooting film.

F100 - This was my mainstay body for several years. It was a solid shooter that was good for AF/MF lenses. I avoided dealing with any of the film door latch issues, but ultimately decided to stick solely to FM/FE series bodies when I sold all of my AF-D lenses many years back (at the time, I didn’t have any AF-S lenses).

FM/FE - I got a few of these on the cheap for less than $50 and really enjoyed them. I actually agree with most that the fit/finish of the originals are slightly better than the newer FM2/FE2 but I have enough light that I have the need for the higher shutter speeds so I willingly sent these to new homes.

FM2/FM2n - I’ve used these several times. Consistent and reliable bodies and there’s really nothing that I can say bad about them.

FE2 - FM2 without the advantage of battery-less operation (not really an issue) but this is what I’ve ultimately settled on for all my MF Nikkors as I prefer the match needle meter setup to the three light diode.


One day I’ll probably buy an FM3a to go along with my FE2 for the best of both worlds and I’d also really like to try an F3T at some point to see what all the fuss is about. One of my neighbors growing up ran the local newspaper. He still has his original Nikkormat (can’t remember which model) and 35/1.4 and they’re both still in good shape! You just can’t go wrong with Nikon F series cameras.
 
Erik van Straten said:
Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f/2, TriX/D76, printed on AdoxMCC110.

Erik.

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Every little area of that photo has an interesting part. I like the play of the ball, the kid looking at the camera, the kids up beyond the wall. That bike - looks like a Schwinn Sting Ray of the 1960's.
 
Given the proviso that i don't collect cameras.... if i were to stop using Leica M as my 35mm of choice and replace it with an SLR, i'd buy an F2 Titan and a few lenses; a micro nikkor 55, a 35 1.4 / 105 2.5 / 180 2.8.... but that won't happen. Be that as it may, the venerable F & F2 (or your choice) and matching lenses remain tools capable of delivering superb negatives.
 
The 180/2.8 Nikkor of any type is a absolutely phenomenal lens.

I’ve owned 1 version of the Pre-Ai, Ai, and ED versions. The former suffering from extreme internal fungus damage. It’s the only lens that keeps me up at night because I do not currently own a copy.

That’s a big reason to own a Nikon in its own right... for me atleast.
 
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