Pete Askew
Admin
Just a teaser for now. I will add some more images and text later.
Nikon F (Apollo)
- Thread starter Pete Askew
- Start date
Craig Sperring
Well-Known Member
WOW!
Now that's a blast from the past pete.
How old is that lil' gem?
Craig
Now that's a blast from the past pete.
How old is that lil' gem?
Craig
Pete Askew
Admin
The 'Apollo' version of the Nikon F was produced between 1972 and 1974. I need to check the serial number of this one but it is one of the later ones. It is in stunning condition and appears to have seen little use. As you can see, it is fitted with the motor drive.
Craig Sperring
Well-Known Member
It's a real beaut!
Brian Moore
Moderator
Another stunner!
Chris Dodkin
West Coast Correspondent
Pete - did you find an abandoned Euro barn full of old Nikons?
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
Oooo
more photos! More info!!
more photos! More info!!
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
... im waaaaaaiiiiiiitttttiiiiiinnnnnggggg 
Pete Askew
Admin
Below are more images of the Nikon F, the first SLR manufactured by Nikon from 1959 until 1974. This version is one of the later ones nicknamed the 'Apollo' (due to associations between Nikon and Nasa) and made between 1972 and 1974. The 'Apollo' cameras feature all of the various enhancements and developments that had been made during the preceding 10 years or so including the plastic tips to the wind-on crank and self timer. This example is fitted with a motor drive and battery pack and the plain focussing prism.
The rear view of the camera / motor drive (MD36) shows the controls for the shooting rate (the table on the back shows the shutter speeds that can be used for the various shooting rates), the selector for single and continous shooting (plus lock) and a remaining frame counter / burst limiter.
There is also a single and continuous switch on the battery pack along with a mains adapter. Note also the spacing screw at the top of the grip.
More detail of the switch and additional lug.
This shows the front of the camera (fitted with a Nikkor 55mm f1:1.2 lens of similar vintage to the camera). Further controls can be seen on the front right of the camera...
These include the lever for the self timer and the (upper) button for the depth of field preview. Below this is the lever for the mirror lock up used to either eliminate vibration, allow the fitment of special lenses (eg the 6mm fish eye) or to allow the highest frame rate to be used with the motor drive (4 frames / second).
On the other side of the body can be found the lens release catch (as is still the case with Nikon SLRs)...
and the coupling between the battery pack and the motor drive (external packs can also be used).
On the top plate of the camera is the usual shutter speed dial, frame counter (front of centre of the rewind crack) and a reminder of the number of exposures available in the cassette in use (there is a reminder dial on the underside of the camera for the ASA / ISO of the film in use - this has no other function as there is no meter in the camera). Also visible on the top plate is the shutter release with its Advance and Rewind settings. This is used for non-motor driven shooting. The shutter release for motor driven operation can be seen on the grip (with lock and on positions - lift and twist as with the main shutter switch). The flash synchronisation indicator is shown in the small window in front of the shutter speed dial. It is changed by lifting the knurled ring around the shutter speed dial and rotating it to the desired setting; depending on whether you are using electronic flash (FX) or a flash bulb. The maximum shutter speed for use with electronic flash is 1/60s - flash bulbs are more complex and the settings / limits are detailed here - http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...cameras/nikonf/foverview/fquestions.htm#flsbl).
As with the F2 (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/8097-why-f.html), the focusing prisms can be changed to either one with a meter system incorporated or other finders. These are robust and highly usable cameras although the refinements of the F2 probably make it a better choice as an everyday camera.
The rear view of the camera / motor drive (MD36) shows the controls for the shooting rate (the table on the back shows the shutter speeds that can be used for the various shooting rates), the selector for single and continous shooting (plus lock) and a remaining frame counter / burst limiter.
There is also a single and continuous switch on the battery pack along with a mains adapter. Note also the spacing screw at the top of the grip.
More detail of the switch and additional lug.
This shows the front of the camera (fitted with a Nikkor 55mm f1:1.2 lens of similar vintage to the camera). Further controls can be seen on the front right of the camera...
These include the lever for the self timer and the (upper) button for the depth of field preview. Below this is the lever for the mirror lock up used to either eliminate vibration, allow the fitment of special lenses (eg the 6mm fish eye) or to allow the highest frame rate to be used with the motor drive (4 frames / second).
On the other side of the body can be found the lens release catch (as is still the case with Nikon SLRs)...
and the coupling between the battery pack and the motor drive (external packs can also be used).
On the top plate of the camera is the usual shutter speed dial, frame counter (front of centre of the rewind crack) and a reminder of the number of exposures available in the cassette in use (there is a reminder dial on the underside of the camera for the ASA / ISO of the film in use - this has no other function as there is no meter in the camera). Also visible on the top plate is the shutter release with its Advance and Rewind settings. This is used for non-motor driven shooting. The shutter release for motor driven operation can be seen on the grip (with lock and on positions - lift and twist as with the main shutter switch). The flash synchronisation indicator is shown in the small window in front of the shutter speed dial. It is changed by lifting the knurled ring around the shutter speed dial and rotating it to the desired setting; depending on whether you are using electronic flash (FX) or a flash bulb. The maximum shutter speed for use with electronic flash is 1/60s - flash bulbs are more complex and the settings / limits are detailed here - http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...cameras/nikonf/foverview/fquestions.htm#flsbl).
As with the F2 (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/8097-why-f.html), the focusing prisms can be changed to either one with a meter system incorporated or other finders. These are robust and highly usable cameras although the refinements of the F2 probably make it a better choice as an everyday camera.
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Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
Stunning bit of gear isn't it!?
Paul Lange
Moderator
I looks a hell of a lump too, the word bulletproof comes to mind.
Pete Askew
Admin
Bulletproof. What an apt description!
Don McCullin, veteran war photographer - pictures | Pictures | The Week UK
Don McCullin, veteran war photographer - pictures | Pictures | The Week UK
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
He should have bought a Titan ...
Pete Askew
Admin
Text about the Apollo has now been added to this thread.
David Mitchell
Well-Known Member
Bulletproof. What an apt description!
Don McCullin, veteran war photographer - pictures | Pictures | The Week UK
It says 'Nikon' on the front, anything less would be rare
Ahmad Bhai
Well-Known Member
I think they were literally meant to stop a bullet ... save the press photographers life. Is there a modern 35mm digital that could do that.
Pete Askew
Admin
Interesting question and really, in the name of science, it needs to be answered. So maybe we could take 9 paparazzi with 3 different dSLRs, add one celebrity with a firearm of their choice (Clint Eastwood plus Magnum?) and see how it goes. What do you think? Is the replication high enough to get a meaningful answer?
