I have always wanted an old classic Nikon F or F2, and now have finally bought one. I am looking or some basic info pertaining to Nikon "history" and definitions. Im sure some old-time Nikon buffs would be willing to dust off the answers to the following:

1. What is the difference between the F and the F2, functionally.

2. Does "Photomic" mean that the camera has the metered prism?

3. What is different between the F2 and the F2A ?

4. Do the old F and F2 utilize "AI" lenses?

5. Are any of the older Nikons "un-repairable" (parts not avail.)?

6. Are the older "S" lenses as good as the newer Nikkors ? ...thanks for the help!

-- mark spencer (markphoto@mail.kmsp.com), March 06, 1999

Answers

Have a look at this wonderfully quirky Malaysian, arguably among the best on all things ancien Nikon:

www.mir.commy/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/index.htm

Follow the links to Mike Liu's site for specifics on metered finders.

-- Gary Watson (cg.watson@sympatico.ca), March 06, 1999.

I'll second Gary's suggestion. The site has TONS of info!

-- Daryl Hiebert (dhiebe@po-box.mcgill.ca), March 07, 1999.

1. Not much difference, but later F2s have better built-in meters and AI couplings.

2. Yes, but later F2s with metered prism do not necessarily have the "Photomic" designation.

3. F2 comes with the DE-1, a standard non-metered pentaprism, while F2A comes with the DP-11, a Photomic finder that has AI meter coupling and analog exposure meter.

4. You can attach AI lenses on both F and F2.

5. As long as I heard, there no longer is a supply of variable resistors which are used inside the metered prisms of these cameras. So, if it is true, the answer would be "yes."

6. The old Nikon's (Nippon Kogaku, then) "S" designation only means that lens has seven elements. Unless you meant AI-S lenses, it is unlikely that old Nikkor will match the performance of the newer ones. The early Nikkor lenses have single coating, while the latest Nikkor have advanced multi-coatings, and are prone to flare. Although, this does not mean you cannot get excellent results with older Nikkor lenses. It is just like different tools have different characteristics.

Mark, if you are interested in Nikon's history, this link will serve you well.

-- Hiroshi Shigematsu (pooh02@earthlink.net), March 07, 1999.

I regularly use F's and F2's. The major functional difference to me is that the meters on F2's work, but those on F's don't. I read on some forum somewhere that someone is making the variable resistors for the F's, so they might be repairable.

I suspect Hiroshi means 'the latest Nikkor have advanced multi- coatings, and are less prone to flare.'

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), March 08, 1999.

Please excuse me for my confusing English, Alan.

Actually, it should read; "The early Nikkor lenses have single coating and are prone to flare."

Hope this clears the things out.

-- Hiroshi Shigematsu (pooh02@earthlink.net), March 09, 1999.

My apologies for screwing up the URL I passed along earlier. It should read: www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikkormat/index.htm

Older, non-Ai Nikkors can be true bargains. Over the past 2 years I've gathered a small collection of near-mint gems on the cheap: 85/1.8, 55/3.5 micro and an 80-200/4.5. None went for over $150 CDN; all are pin sharp.

-- Gary Watson (cg.watson@sympatico.ca), March 09, 1999.

I agree the older lenses are a real bargain, and very sharp. Putting slides up against those taken with the newest glass at our local photo club reveals no noticable difference to the judges, so the newer glass certainly isnt obviously better. I still think something as simple as film selection makes a far bigger difference than older/newer lenses. As far as the single coated lenses being worse for flare, this also isnt so obvious. I have some old lenses which are very resistant to flare, single coated or not. Anyway, a lens hood takes care of most situations. (You ARE using a lens hood, arent you?). As far as the differences in the F and F2 (I use both), the F has a top shutter speed of 1/1000, the F2 1/2000. The F has a top flash sync speed of 1/60 sec, the F2 1/80 sec. The batteries for the F meter are in the meter housing, in the body for the F2. The F2 has a better mirror lockup scheme. Other than that, the two are pretty much alike. If the old meters arent working, dont mess with them. Just get a decent incident meter (handheld), and be done with it. You can get good ones starting at about $70.

-- Ron Shaw (shaw9@llnl.gov), March 09, 1999.

Thanks for all the great answers to my questions. What a great forum. I recently bought an F2 and will probably never sell it! Through the past twenty years I have owned many cameras, buying and selling,always looking for something better. With medium format, I have settled on Hasselblad; as for 35mm - I believe the Nikon will get along with the Hasselblad ! Sometimes the best is not always the newest!

-- mark Spencer (markphoto@mail.kmsp.com), March 09, 1999.