Nikon F - 35mm SLR camera

What is your experience with the Nikon F?

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I suppose the notalgia has something to do with it (I still like the "oldies" music), and of course, being able to own a camera that was WAY out of my league when it came out, but I would not want to be without one (or in my case, half a dozen). Yes, they are slow to reload, yes, the corners are a little sharp against your hands on a long shoot, yes, the viewfinders were on steroids, BUT, as my best friend explains it, they are the "sacred cow" in Nikondom....now-a-days they are just plain FUN, and still VERY capable.
When I have to slow down and think about what I'm doing, there is a calmness and a satisfaction, coupled with an expected success that the image results still give you that "wow" effect and a "smile" - that's what photography is supposed to be about.
damn, I didn't realize how sentimental I am.

Is that your F Dallas?  If so - lucky you, it's a very cool camera.  In fact I love most of the cameras that came out near the end of the mechanical era.  Because gears, pulleys and springs are so much more delicate than electronics, they really over-engineered them.

After I shoot with a mechanical (I have an OM-1n) for any length of time, I move my thumb after shooting on my dslr.  I try to chimp the film back too.

I have caught myself chimping at the film door on many of my other cameras!  :smile:

Unfortunately no, it's not my F. I have an F2 Photomic that is in mint condition and takes pride of place on my wall unit. It's still very functional and every once in a while I will chuck in a roll of Kodak B&W (C-41) and take some very cool pics.

Peter Bendheim had a very good condition Nikon F that I was itching to buy, but I have had a really rotten year financially, so I had to pass on it. I did buy one of his Leicas though - he gave me a very good price on my Leica M6. You should have seen his collection of Nikons and Leicas...unbelievable.

I love the F but with its age I would hesitate a bit before buying one for photographic purposes. On the other hand I'm thinking about an F2 like you have, Dallas, though probably and A/AS  finder on a Titan, and an F3/T

Never hold a Nikon F in my hands, but I think it would be nice to have one. On the other hand I know the F2 and I probably would rather get my own F2, too. I am still hoping that my father has a very moody day and wants to get rid of his F2, which is in a very nice condition.

I don't know what the situation is in U.S. or elsewhere on the planet, but in Germany it's hard to get one in good condition. I often take a look here and there, but none that would be worth the money the seller likes to get for it. In my opinion. But a black F2 that in almost shiny silver is not what I think of when said "in great condition".

Cheers,
Arvid

IMHO it's a shame if you do NOT see the brass. These cameras are tools, meant to be used.  :tongue:

Volker, in a way, I do agree with you. Of course the camera should have been a used look... but I don't want to pay €300 for a F2 that looks like sandblasted. :wink:

I've just posted my F2 mini-article here.

This is a picture of my actual F2 and the 50mm f/1.4 lens I will be sending to have AI modified for use on my D2H today! I love my F2. I think I paid about €275 for it, but it came with a 24mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2, 60mm Micro (which I swapped for a Canon F-1N), two versions of the legendary 105mm f/2.5, a couple of extension tubes and the flash shoe adapter. I think I got a good deal.

It's a good thing South Africans haven't all discovered eBay just yet!

Hey AFS,others,
 You might like an old F! F's have around 957 parts or so, F2's have 1547 parts or so [ IMMSMC],according to former camera repair guru Marty Forscher,who owned one of the USA's preeminent camera repair shops in the 60's and 70's,and he often told Herb Keppler that F's were mechanically more-reliable than F2's in his vast experience. I have a nice old chrome-body F I got for $140 in the summer of 1984 with a Photomic FTN finder (all-caps),which was the height of that model's meter prism,and it still works quite well. MOST all F's have never been motor-driven; many F2's were used with motors,and F2's are often very worn and tired,and the meter prisms of the F2's are notoriously finicky for going out. The F's removable back makes it a bit awkward to load in some situations,and it's very sharp-sided and boxy body,but with the meterless F prism,it's a better carrying camera when worn over the shoulder than it is with the bulky metering prisms. A good,clean,low-miles F ought to withstand a lot of use--probably more potential life left in it than a high-miles,motor-driven F2 of 5-6 years newer.

One nice feature for the F and F2 is a "tall release" shutter button,usually made of colored aluminum on top,with a chrome-plated bottom section, these elevate the shutter release button about 1/2 inch or 13mm taller,approximately,and these allow you to shoot and advance the film much faster,by keeping the index finger higher and making more room for a thumb-wind advance,and when used with a metering prism, make the shutter release button taller,and well, just easier to use. Ergonomics is not a word associated with the F, but they're very simple to clean,and the rubberized cloth focal plane shutters in F's are very durable. The tall shutter relase buttons really make the F and F2 feel and work better,for me,esp. when using the meterless prisms.  Mirror lockup's not as convenient on the F as on the F2.

I have a 1986 photo I shot with an F Photomic FTN finder,Tri-X 400 developed in Agfa Rodinol,artistic,B&W but  slight -----IMPLIED NUDITY---Link ,center image in the top row    http://www.pbase.com/derrel/people_pictures_by_derrel&page=3

You can mount and use F-series prisms,both the meterless F,and the Photomic F-series, by removing the "Nikon" nameplate from the F2 bodies, and then that allows the older F-series prisms to mount. An F2 with a F2 metering head has a Nikon nameplate that's 'inside',on the body, hidden by the "Nikon" logo engraved on the front of all of the prisms. So....if you ever need to fit F-series prisms to an F2, remember,just remove a couple screws that retain the F2's body-mounted Nikon logo plate,and then F-generation finders will clip right into the F2's viewfinder receiver area. Long live the F!

My only remaining film camera is a Nikon F, serial # 6907###.  Although it was still in working condition, I had it serviced in the mid- 1980's.  A few years later I fell for AF and the Nikon F wasn basically shelved.  I remember that batteries were becoming an issue, with the mercury ones all but disappearing for environmental reasons in the USA.  Have they come up with viable power options for these old horses, or have they been completely put out to pasture?