I had and sold the F, F2AS, and F3. I regret selling the F2 and F3. But I kept and still love the FM3A, which was the last all mechanical camera Nikon made, with mechanical speeds to 1/4000 of a second. It only uses a battery if you want aperture priority, and for the meter.
I have a black Nikon F2 with a Nikkor 50mm sc 1.4 lens and a Nikkor 105 p auto f2.5 lens. Perfect. I also have an FE with a 55mm f2. 8 micro nikkor lens. I like the ability to shoot auto when I am with my lady who doesn't know about exposure but she can frame and focus.
The big aperture, manual focus, normal lenses are almost always used for brighter and more accurate focus rather than very shallow DoF and low light. The jump of one stop from 1.8 to 1.2 is just not enough of an advantage in low light to outweigh the vast difference in cost and weight. One stop is too easily bought elsewhere (slower shutter, or a slight push). Once you get over the novelty, you actually want a hint of what goes on in the background. When the main reason for that heavy, insanely expensive piece of glass becomes focusing, you begin to understand the thinking and popularity behind TLRs and rangefinders better.
The F2 Photomic was my first SLR back in 1998. I bought it together with a 50mm 1:1.4 S-Auto non Ai lens. Still have it, added a F2A, a F2AS and the motordrives and MF-3 backs to them. The DL-1 illuminator is also a must have for the needle finders. Still great working tools you can rely on. Made to last, probably the best mechanical SLRs ever made.
Great review. I have found an F2 Photomic (black) in very good condition , with a 50mm 1:4 lens for 160 dollars? What do you think? Is it worth getting it? (I technically don't need it as I have a Nikon FM, Nikkormat Ftn , Nikon D7200, Kodak Retina 3C and Mamiya RB67 ... but you know how these things go ..)
I have 3 f2's and love them all. and I agree with you about 50mm F2 lens. mine is nice and sharp wide open compared to my 50mm F1.8 lenses. and love how the F2's, like the F's are such reliable cameras you don't have to worry about batteries with. I dont think you can get a better camera.
Hardly seems worth buying a camera with a metered prism if you're not going to use it for its intended purpose. My F2AS was recently serviced and calibrated so the meter is spot on. For this reason I don't need to rely on 'sunny 16' or a separate light meter. Now I get perfect images most of the time (human error not withstanding).
I shoot Leica without meters so it's second nature for me. I just photographed a whole roll at Christmas indoors, the negs are perfect. Here are some: kennethwajda.com/christmas2023
@@sputumtube Sure. These were made with a Pentax MX with a working light meter but I never even looked at it. Never thought to. Light is extremely predictable once you start noticing it.
The Series E lens doesn't have the metering prong, but you can still use it if you have the F2A because the A metering head catches the ridge around the end of the lens.
I brought one of these Nikon F2 Black body and It came with the Two parts Motor Drives MD1 and MB1 Also I came with the Nikon DS-1 and I need to buy Finder Meter Head for and I also need to the Camera Repaid and I PAID FOR ALL OF THEM from a camera shop in London in 2023 for £10.00 ONLY
Actually my experience with the F2 did not start off that well, ( don't understand me wrong, it's really top tier camera) I got my F2 with a DP-12 for only 70 Euro; the body works fine and i hoped to experience the whole package. Alas the DP-12 was broken, the catch for the auto-index did not work well, and had to sell it on ebay, instead i got me a DP-3, well it "works" a bit better , but it does not always meter that well. Anyhow i have a good working F1, with some extra prisms, so i will use the non-metered F1 prism on the F2, as they are compatible..Ha!, i don't want to spend more money on the F2, :)
I had and sold the F, F2AS, and F3. I regret selling the F2 and F3. But I kept and still love the FM3A, which was the last all mechanical camera Nikon made, with mechanical speeds to 1/4000 of a second. It only uses a battery if you want aperture priority, and for the meter.
That's a great one I've never had. Someday. I love the 100% viewfinder on the F2 and F3HP.
Thankfully I already have an F2 so you didn't cost me money this week. Loving my F100 by the way....
Nice!
I have a black Nikon F2 with a Nikkor 50mm sc 1.4 lens and a Nikkor 105 p auto f2.5 lens. Perfect.
I also have an FE with a 55mm f2. 8 micro nikkor lens. I like the ability to shoot auto when I am with my lady who doesn't know about exposure but she can frame and focus.
I am a big fan of aperture priority, too. So good.
The F2AS is the best thing I’ve ever purchased. Same metering as the FM2 but in a proper body. Still trying to learn sunny 16!
Keep doing it with negative film, err on the side of overexposure and you'll be fine.
F2 is contagious. Bought 1 for fun and now I end up with 3. Great video as always. 👍
They grow in numbers, I can attest! :-)
Mine has the DP3 finder, typically I use the 105 f2.5 with this body.
The big aperture, manual focus, normal lenses are almost always used for brighter and more accurate focus rather than very shallow DoF and low light.
The jump of one stop from 1.8 to 1.2 is just not enough of an advantage in low light to outweigh the vast difference in cost and weight.
One stop is too easily bought elsewhere (slower shutter, or a slight push).
Once you get over the novelty, you actually want a hint of what goes on in the background.
When the main reason for that heavy, insanely expensive piece of glass becomes focusing, you begin to understand the thinking and popularity behind TLRs and rangefinders better.
Right, that's the best use of that large aperture. Not for shooting wide open all the time!
The Nikon F film cameras are such a joy to shoot with. Great talk Kenneth!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jon. Yes, so good!
The F2 Photomic was my first SLR back in 1998. I bought it together with a 50mm 1:1.4 S-Auto non Ai lens. Still have it, added a F2A, a F2AS and the motordrives and MF-3 backs to them. The DL-1 illuminator is also a must have for the needle finders. Still great working tools you can rely on. Made to last, probably the best mechanical SLRs ever made.
You said it well! Built to last!
Great stuff! Nikon Fm3a requires no battery. The Fm3a can function manually at all speeds without a battery and its a recent camera.
I'd love to find one someday. None have ever come my way. Seems like a real sweet setup.
Great review. I have found an F2 Photomic (black) in very good condition , with a 50mm 1:4 lens for 160 dollars? What do you think? Is it worth getting it? (I technically don't need it as I have a Nikon FM, Nikkormat Ftn , Nikon D7200, Kodak Retina 3C and Mamiya RB67 ... but you know how these things go ..)
Of course you need it! Sounds like a good deal if it's working. Maybe ask $125.
@@kennethwajda thank you for your response
I have 3 f2's and love them all. and I agree with you about 50mm F2 lens. mine is nice and sharp wide open compared to my 50mm F1.8 lenses. and love how the F2's, like the F's are such reliable cameras you don't have to worry about batteries with. I dont think you can get a better camera.
The f2 50mm manual focus AI lens a friend has he swears is the sharpest 50mm he owns, even more so than the digital new lenses he has.
Hardly seems worth buying a camera with a metered prism if you're not going to use it for its intended purpose. My F2AS was recently serviced and calibrated so the meter is spot on. For this reason I don't need to rely on 'sunny 16' or a separate light meter. Now I get perfect images most of the time (human error not withstanding).
I shoot Leica without meters so it's second nature for me. I just photographed a whole roll at Christmas indoors, the negs are perfect. Here are some: kennethwajda.com/christmas2023
@@kennethwajda Lovely photographs. Clearly you have much more experience than myself. Thanks for responding.
@@sputumtube Sure. These were made with a Pentax MX with a working light meter but I never even looked at it. Never thought to. Light is extremely predictable once you start noticing it.
Can I use the series e lens on it ? I have a 50 1.8 with my Nikon FM and was wondering if I can use it on the F2A
The Series E lens doesn't have the metering prong, but you can still use it if you have the F2A because the A metering head catches the ridge around the end of the lens.
I brought one of these Nikon F2 Black body and It came with the Two parts Motor Drives MD1 and MB1 Also I came with the Nikon DS-1 and I need to buy Finder Meter Head for and I also need to the Camera Repaid and I PAID FOR ALL OF THEM from a camera shop in London in 2023 for £10.00 ONLY
Thank you for your recommendation of F2a. I still study and practice Sunny 16. Mechanical aspects are very Amazing !
The light is always consistent. You learn to err toward overexposure and it's flawless.
Actually my experience with the F2 did not start off that well, ( don't understand me wrong, it's really top tier camera) I got my F2 with a DP-12 for only 70 Euro; the body works fine and i hoped to experience the whole package. Alas the DP-12 was broken, the catch for the auto-index did not work well, and had to sell it on ebay, instead i got me a DP-3, well it "works" a bit better , but it does not always meter that well. Anyhow i have a good working F1, with some extra prisms, so i will use the non-metered F1 prism on the F2, as they are compatible..Ha!, i don't want to spend more money on the F2, :)
Just guess exposure for a month with Sunny 16, and you won't ever need a meter!
If you ever get another F2, send it to sover wong.
@@legionchef :-)
Awesome 😍💋 💝💖♥️❤️
Now go out and shoot!
When those Nikons were state of the art, they were preferred by the photographers at National Geographic magazine.
I can see that. Still working as well today!