Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Anyone here shoot any of the Photomic F2's?
Nikon F2 Photomic shooters?
- Thread starter Gary R. Smith
- Start date
Pete Askew
Admin
Yes, but not for a fair while.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Supposedly, the F2 is/was Nikon's premier/best made SLR. Hand assembled. All mechanical.
There are four versions of the Photomic finder (for the F2).
I'm apparently having another flair-up of G.A.S. and have been looking at F2's. It appears that I can get a clean F2 Photomic for about $200 with a working meter. If I want the F2AS, it's going to cost me $500. I suspect at least 1 of my existing Nikkor lenses will work on the plain-vanilla F2 but my AF Nikkor lenses would need the AS.
The Rollei 3.5B doesn't have a meter at all and it takes GREAT shots (and only will ever have one lens).
Why do I want an F2 Photomic? I have a perfectly functional FE.
Explain G.A.S. to me and what is the cure?
There are four versions of the Photomic finder (for the F2).
I'm apparently having another flair-up of G.A.S. and have been looking at F2's. It appears that I can get a clean F2 Photomic for about $200 with a working meter. If I want the F2AS, it's going to cost me $500. I suspect at least 1 of my existing Nikkor lenses will work on the plain-vanilla F2 but my AF Nikkor lenses would need the AS.
The Rollei 3.5B doesn't have a meter at all and it takes GREAT shots (and only will ever have one lens).
Why do I want an F2 Photomic? I have a perfectly functional FE.
Explain G.A.S. to me and what is the cure?
Last edited:
Pete Askew
Admin
There isn’t one I’m afraid...
These cabinet are now bursting at the seams!
Nikon SLR cameras fall into two broad categories; digital cameras (designated by the letter D followed by a number) and film-based cameras (designated by the letter F followed by a number/letter). The numbers (and, in some cases additional letters) after the first letter code relate to the model / type of camera. Thus you have cameras such as the D7000 and the, recently released, D600 (cameras fitted with and APS-C sized DX sensor and 'full frame', 35mm film frame sized, FX sensors respectively).
Nikon D600
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Nikon D600
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These cabinet are now bursting at the seams!
Here's a shelf-by-shelf breakdown of the F cabinet.
Top shelf: Nikon F Apollo with Nikkor 55mm f1:1.2, waist-level finders, cable release and eyepiece dioptre.
Second shelf: A trio of Fs with various Nikkor 50mm f1:1.4 lenses.
First shelf: From right to left, F2 with motor-drive and Nikkor 35mm f1:1.4, F2 with an aperture control attachment, F3 HP with a motor-drive and Nikkor 85mm f1:1.4 plus...
Top shelf: Nikon F Apollo with Nikkor 55mm f1:1.2, waist-level finders, cable release and eyepiece dioptre.
Second shelf: A trio of Fs with various Nikkor 50mm f1:1.4 lenses.
First shelf: From right to left, F2 with motor-drive and Nikkor 35mm f1:1.4, F2 with an aperture control attachment, F3 HP with a motor-drive and Nikkor 85mm f1:1.4 plus...
Paul Taylor
Well-Known Member
I have one, and love it. Great camera, and robust. I also have a Nikkormat FT2 and really enjoy that camera. Amazingly both meters on both cameras both work and are accurate.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
What finder is on yours Paul?
Ralph Turner
Well-Known Member
The place I worked in back in the late 80s/ early 90s had a rather well-worn one of these adapted to fit one of our microscopes (had metering prism with the asymmetric satin chrome fascia). I never actually got to use it in anger, so to speak. Nikon is a brand that I've never really got involved with very much. I did once consider getting an FM2 but the problem was (being a lefty) that I was at odds with the film advance lever needing to be pulled out slightly for things to work (if I've remembered correctly).
Ralph Turner
Well-Known Member
@Pete Askew that's an impressive display. My little cabinet is over-stuffed with all manner of items, from the good to the bad, to the indifferent, basically a jumbled mess lol.
Pete Askew
Admin
Mine is sadly no longer so sparse as when this was taken. It is all Nikon F though. Later this year it should all move to new display case though.
I do have a D1, a D2 and several variants of the D3 (still in use) too. They are nowhere near as interesting though and I have never found a compelling reason to upgrade beyond a D3x. I actually switched to the Fuji S-series when the first Nikon digital bodies appeared as they performed better for what we were doing at the time (there are a couple of S5 Pros still in use in the lab) than the D200 on whihc they were based. Hence the D1 was bought just to fill a gap as it were as it was in mint condition (and still in its box!). I might add a shelf to hold one of each.
I do have a D1, a D2 and several variants of the D3 (still in use) too. They are nowhere near as interesting though and I have never found a compelling reason to upgrade beyond a D3x. I actually switched to the Fuji S-series when the first Nikon digital bodies appeared as they performed better for what we were doing at the time (there are a couple of S5 Pros still in use in the lab) than the D200 on whihc they were based. Hence the D1 was bought just to fill a gap as it were as it was in mint condition (and still in its box!). I might add a shelf to hold one of each.
Paul Taylor
Well-Known Member
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Looks like the original DP-1 finder. How often do you use it?
I suspect that would be the version I'll end up with - assuming that I can't calm this attack.
I suspect that would be the version I'll end up with - assuming that I can't calm this attack.
Paul Taylor
Well-Known Member
I have probably ran 25 or so roll through it since i got it late last year - however the person I got it from owned it from new and it was his main workhorse for decades as a photographer for a few local newspapers and magazines. I bought the F2, the FT2, and 4 or 5 lenses from him. It is a great camera to have in my rotation. lol.
That being said - it doesn't do anything any better or worse than any of my other 35mm cameras of the same style/period. I would be just as likely to pick up my Nikkormat FT2, Canon F-1 or Voigtlander VSL1-TM if I want that style of shooting.
That being said - it doesn't do anything any better or worse than any of my other 35mm cameras of the same style/period. I would be just as likely to pick up my Nikkormat FT2, Canon F-1 or Voigtlander VSL1-TM if I want that style of shooting.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
This is what I keep coming back to.
Thanks Paul.
There is a super clean one on eBay auction. I'll give it a shot and see how things work out.
