What's your favorite film Nikon F Series ?

[Erik van Straten]

The problem with the FTn meters is that they usually do not work anymore. The Nikkormats had the same meters, but these were more practical arranged and usually are still going strong.

Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f/2, TriX/D76 printed on Adox MCC110.

Erik.

 

[p.giannakis]

The problem with the FTn meters is that they usually do not work anymore. The Nikkormats had the same meters, but these were more practical arranged and usually are still going strong.

Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f/2, TriX/D76 printed on Adox MCC110.

Erik.

I remember seeing this picture years ago. I loved it the moment I saw it and still think it is a classic.

 

[Ricoh]

The problem with the FTn meters is that they usually do not work anymore. The Nikkormats had the same meters, but these were more practical arranged and usually are still going strong.

Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f/2, TriX/D76 printed on Adox MCC110.

Erik.

Fabulous capture.

Not yet a Nikon user but I keep looking on the Bay for an FM2n, which I perceive to be very solid all mechanical (bar the light meter) camera. Is the FM2n a good choice, or should I broaden my search?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Fabulous capture.

Not yet a Nikon user but I keep looking on the Bay for an FM2n, which I perceive to be very solid all mechanical (bar the light meter) camera. Is the FM2n a good choice, or should I broaden my search?

“Sexy” image indeed. Not just usual back 🙂

Why not F2, I finally got one and it is just how Nikon is. Heavy, but not annoying, simple, but not primitive. It has elegance of Japanese heavyweight bulldozers and price of which makes it easy to carry on without worrying.

 

[dfdann]

FE2 followed by F100. F100 is great camera and great buy now
Dan

 

[Ricoh]

“Sexy” image indeed. Not just usual back 🙂

Why not F2, I finally got one and it is just how Nikon is. Heavy, but not annoying, simple, but not primitive. It has elegance of Japanese heavyweight bulldozers and price of which makes it easy to carry on without worrying.

I know it's a bit passé but I'm looking for double or multiple exposure. I can do it digitally but it's not the same.

Looking at the F2 spec 840g without lens. What a 'tank' of a camera, but great for self defence on the street I'm thinking. One whack and it's set of dentures required. 😂

 

[Ricoh]

“Sexy” image indeed. Not just usual back 🙂

Why not F2, I finally got one and it is just how Nikon is. Heavy, but not annoying, simple, but not primitive. It has elegance of Japanese heavyweight bulldozers and price of which makes it easy to carry on without worrying.

FE2 followed by F100. F100 is great camera and great buy now
Dan

Yeah FE2 looks a good option to consider even though I prefer mainly electronics free cameras. I've never really taken to film cameras without the usual mechanical film advance lever. I find it quite therapeutic clicking and winding on - I know, sad init!

 

[Godfrey]

...

Not yet a Nikon user but I keep looking on the Bay for an FM2n, which I perceive to be very solid all mechanical (bar the light meter) camera. Is the FM2n a good choice, or should I broaden my search?

I had all of the F, F2, F3, FM, FM2n, and FE2 bodies over the years. The F was always my favorite, the F3 the one I had the longest, and an FM pair (FM and FM2n) the most used.

The FM became the FM2, then the FM2n, with subtle upgrades over the years. The FM2n itself was upgraded silently two or three times, so a late FM2n is what I'd pick were I buying another FM series body. I never liked the FE2 information display as much as the FM's simple three diode metering readout and was content with match needle, manual metering. The optional/detachable MD12 motor drive for the FM/FM2n was also a peach and I used that a lot.

I only have the one plain prism F and two lenses in Nikon gear now. It's all I want, and I barely have the motivation to use it anymore: I'd rather shoot formats other than 35mm format in film most of the time. 6x6cm film is probably my favorite film format, and after that Minox 8x11.. 🙂

G

 

[Ricoh]

Thanks Godfrey. Reading about the evolution of the FM2n from titanium to aluminium (alloy?) it seems the shutter was less problematic once the durability of the aluminium had improved.
I understand the FM2n requires the Ai or AIS lens to work properly, and fitting a non AI can damage the camera.

 

[Jeremy Z]

I've owned most all of them and still do. My go to for film is the Nikon FE (not the FE2). It just works.

Why not the FE2? You've never tried one or just prefer the FE for some reason?

...
If memory serves, the Canon F1 did not come along until much later, toward the end of the 1970's but it could have been earlier.

1971, but by then, everyone had Nikon for 12 years, so it was hard to make the case to switch to Canon.

Fabulous capture.

Not yet a Nikon user but I keep looking on the Bay for an FM2n, which I perceive to be very solid all mechanical (bar the light meter) camera. Is the FM2n a good choice, or should I broaden my search?

FM2n is a good choice, but if you don't need the 1/4000 s shutter speed or 1/250 flash sync, you can save a LOT of money by going for an FM. The FMs had better fit & finish. Also, if you have pre-AI lenses, they will work on an FM, but not an FM2 or FM2N.

Thanks Godfrey. Reading about the evolution of the FM2n from titanium to aluminium (alloy?) it seems the shutter was less problematic once the durability of the aluminium had improved.
I understand the FM2n requires the Ai or AIS lens to work properly, and fitting a non AI can damage the camera.

Correct. On the FM, the ring with the AI tab was made of metal and the tab could be folded down out of the way for mounting pre-AI lenses. On the FM2 and FM2N, it was made of plastic and would break if you tried to force a pre-AI lens on.

 

[splitimageview]

Is it possible to swap the ring with the AI tab from an FM onto an FE2?

 

[raid]

I was more a Canon FD user, but I kept a Nikon F2, FM2, and FE (I think). I sold an F and FM. The F2 is now matched with the Nikkor 21/4 with mirror lock-up.

 

[Pál_K]

... If memory serves, the Canon F1 did not come along until much later, toward the end of the 1970's but it could have been earlier.

Canon F-1 - 1971
Canon F-1n - 1976 (has something like 12 improvements to F-1)
Canon New F-1 (F-1N) - 1981 (totally new camera)

The F-1 and F-1n were essentially all-manual-exposure cameras. The F-1N offered aperture priority if you added the AE head and you could get shutter priority if you added the motor drive. The analog (!) viewfinder display changed accordingly - very clever. These are very solid, rugged, reliable cameras.

An F-1N on the day I bought it:

 

[Huss]

I’d pass on the F100. There are so many on ebay w broken doors for a reason. Incredible that Nikon made the latch out of plastic when even their lowly EM has a metal one.
I sold my F100 while it was still ok.

 

[Pál_K]

...
FM2n is a good choice, but if you don't need the 1/4000 s shutter speed or 1/250 flash sync, you can save a LOT of money by going for an FM. The FMs had better fit & finish. Also, if you have pre-AI lenses, they will work on an FM, but not an FM2 or FM2N.

... On the FM, the ring with the AI tab was made of metal and the tab could be folded down out of the way for mounting pre-AI lenses. On the FM2 and FM2N, it was made of plastic and would break if you tried to force a pre-AI lens on.

Another subtlety within the FM production itself is that early FM's had a shutter release lock around the collar - which means you can still release the shutter if the wind lever is flush with the body. That happens to be my preference. These early FM's are identifiable by a knurled (rather than smooth) shutter release collar.

Like so:

 

[Pál_K]

The problem with the FTn meters is that they usually do not work anymore. The Nikkormats had the same meters, but these were more practical arranged and usually are still going strong.
...

At this well-known wonderful site there is a table on this page which implies later Nikkormats incorporated an improved variable resistor:

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/history.htm

... and more details here, mid-page:

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/el/features3.htm

 

[Pál_K]

Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor H Auto 50mm f/2, TriX/D76 printed on AdoxMCC110 (1974).

Erik.

Beautiful. Where is that?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Near Richmond, London. Nowadays the three on the right is gone and the path is straight and tiled. The posts are still there.


Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

At this well-known wonderful site there is a table on this page which implies later Nikkormats incorporated an improved variable resistor:

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/html/history.htm

... and more details here, mid-page:

https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/elseries/el/features3.htm

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. The FTn is still a beauty with the leather on the prism and no speed dial on top. The same leather as on the rangefinders.

Erik.

 

[megido]

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. The FTn is still a beauty with the leather on the prism and no speed dial on top. The same leather as on the rangefinders.

Erik

I totally agree. A great reliable camera. Meter still accurate! It sees more use than my black plain prism F. The only downside is that the screens are not interchangeable. A black Ftn with an E screen would be perfect.