old Nikon F2

[LensWork]

I still have my 1977 black F2AS with MD-2 motor drive and MF-3 auto-stop back; the first year of the DP-12 AS finder and my first year as a working pro. It still sees a roll, or two, of Tri-X per month.



Balconies, Daytona Beach, FL
Nikon F2AS, AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8 IF-ED Nikkor
Copyright © 2013 Michael A. Lawhon - LensWork

 

[Mightyquin]

I always aspired to an F2 when I was a teenager, it was the 'pro' 35mm camera. Then recently I saw one in a camera shop for a bargain price because the metered head didn't work and bought it.

It's a tank, feels amazing, and it's simple to use. I mostly use Leica for film now, but I take the F2 out when I feel like a change.

 

[Brian]

"Nikon F2 and Leica M3", the best mechanical SLR and Rangefinder cameras ever made.

I'll have to post pictures of a few F2's. I have a pair of the first run F2's, from a batch of about 1600 used to shake out the design. All metal advance levers, metal used for the black tip instead of plastic. I'll grab the F2Sb or F2AS occasionally. The F2Sb with a Vivitar 135/2.3 Series 1 is "Heavy Metal". It's been a long time since I used a motor with one.

 

[D12345678]

Enjoying this thread! I have a few Nikon film cameras, but none of the old F classics as shown here, although I do enjoy using my FE

 

[RCL]

I love the build quality of the old Nikons.
From time to time I still shoot with an F2 and F3 just because they feel so solid.

 

[Brian]

Well- I picked an Avatar.

Found these "Glamor shots" done in 2007 using a Nikon E3 with 60/2.8 Micro-Nikkor and SB-29. The E3 seems much more dated, is Nikon's full-frame Digital SLR made in the mid 1990s. One-Point-Three MILLION Pixels. I uploaded full res pictures.

Nikon F2 eye-level, F2AS, and my Nikon SP. All share the same Titanium foil shutters. I have a lot of Nikon cameras.

 

[Brian]

I bought this Nikon F Photomic "Bullseye" in 1979, the third nikon that I bought, after the F2a and Nikkormat FT2. I had the 5.8cm F1.4 on the Df this weekend. The Nikon S2 rangefinder, one of the first made, #219 . Bought it used from an Artist that used it for 35 years. And people think the F could take a beating and work! The S2 has a Russian Helios-103 on it, a Planar formula lens. The lens is built to the Contax/Zeiss spec, I modified the focal length by rearranging the glass in it.

And I used the F to take this picture in 1979, of a 9-year old that I just taught how to use the F2a. She did a good job, got her picture into the University yearbook- This portrait, and the picture that she took.


Panatomic-X, Nikon F

 

[STM]

I have had as many as three but am down to just one now, the one in my avatar. It was my first Nikon film camera. There has never been a finer all mechanical SLR ever built then the venerable F2.