Kenneth Wajda Buying a Film Camera: NIKON F2A
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- Опубліковано 5 кві 2015
- Discussing the NIKON F2A
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Kenneth Wajda, a professional commercial photographer who still shoots film, walks you through the ins and outs of buying vintage film cameras, which ones to buy, which to avoid, how much to pay and other tricks for making sure you get a working camera and a good deal!
Tips on Leica, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Minolta, Yashica, Fuji, Mamiya, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, Praktica, Exakta, Zorki and more! - Навчання та стиль
Great video Kenneth, your scored big for only 90 dollars. I bought my F2A back in 1984 and I still use it after almost 40 years. I am using it this week with the MD-2 Motor drive. When digital started to become the norm I traded in my F3's in order to get a D1 body but not my F2A. To think a film camera lasting an entire 40 year career without ever failing me. I wish I could say the same for my D2H's, LOL :) A Nikon rep once told me Nikon couldn't make it today, if they did, it would cost 10 grand per body, if not more. Use it, its made to work, work and work. The F2A has one of the best viewfinders Nikon ever made even in the DSLR lines. It is so bright and clear. To Remove the photomic prism push and turn down the lever on the right side of the prism , then push in the button on the back left side. The small button on the front is the battery check. Enjoy your F2A !
Thanks for info. I stumbled on removal of finder, a bit tricky. Great camera. Appreciate your efforts.
Sure!
The legacy is with the original Nikon F, not F2 in terms of the Vietnam War and Woodstock, which in 1969, the F2 had not even been introduced yet.
Alas, history corrected. Thanks!
My F2sb is on its way. Can't wait to mount 105 f2.5 on it....
Just got a great deal on an F2 with the DP1 finder. It was bundled with 28mm and 50mm lenses. What other lenses do you recommend to complete a kit. I think it makes more sense to spend some $ one lenses than try to find a finder that allows for AI. What do you think? Great video as always!
I've got an F2a, cost me an arm and a leg to get a really nice one from Japan and pay the import tax on top to the UK, paid more than 4 times what you paid.
90 dollars is an amazing price!
But boy was it worth every penny, I love my F2a.
Built to service just about any situation,
Mine is black, but the chrome model looks beautiful
Survive = not service, damn auto correct
LOL I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who struggles getting the finder off my F2 👍
:-)
So how do you remove the viewfinder again? Is that a DP-11 model? Is the focusing screen K-type?
I love all things Nikon, especially the F2 and currently have 6 of them. My son borrowed my 2A with a 50/2 for a photography class when he was in the 10th grade. He is finishing getting his PHD and I am beginning to think that I will not be getting the camera back
I bet you're not!
0:21 "big and gigantic"? No way, the F2 is one of the sleekest pro SLR camera. Nikon F5, D700, yes they are humongous and bulky, but the F2 is absolutely elegant. It is a sturdy still delicate camera.
It's a beauty, you're right! Yep!
Recommendations for viewfinders if I want to take medium tele portraits with (obviously) a manual focus lens like the 105?
I spent years with a 74 Nikon F the transitional model to the 2 traipsing the streets of London, it had the plastic covered self timer and a 105 2.5 p lens the all black metal barrelled one before the rubber coating and the best screen was the K screen very quick to focus, very reassuring you could spend those vital seconds watching the meter a far more important proposition especially using Kodachrome 25 very few out of focus shots and the standard focusing screen
I have all black F2a with a 50m f1. 4 ai, and a 105mm f2. 5 ai lens.
My Nikon FE with the 55mm 2.8 Micro Nikkor lens gets more use.
The F2A is a wonderful beast, though.
F2a comes out in the late 70's, I bought one new in -78.
Nice! Bet it has stories to tell!
Great video ! I just picked up a F2A , do you know if I can use pre ai lenses like the Nikon FM ? I have a F also and would like to share
pre ai lens sometimes on the F2A.
Hi, you can use a non-AI lens on an F2 with the lens prong.
Yes you can, on the F2A (DP-11 finder) just push the lever (look for the red dot) up into the finder (looking at the front of the camera, it goes up to the right),
it should lock up out of the way, then you can use pre (non) AI lenses.
To use AI lenses afterwards, push the slider (above where the red dot lever hides) to the left (towards the center of the finder).
ETA: same process for the F2AS (DP-12 finder)
Not forgetting the rare F2SB of course.
I think I have one of those. Not my favorite.
can you buy just the DP-11 head/prism with the “A” on it, to be able to use ai lenses with any F2?
That is correct. www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/prisms/index7.htm
The K refers to the screen? I turned down the offer of a "mint" F2A because I thought that the K was an aftermarket advance lever and thus the camera couldnt have been mint
Doh!
I grew up in the 60’s with the rabbit ears, I find it easier, cuz you know where the lens has to line up with the body, with the ai lenses, it’s like usb, I keep looking to make sure
I got the lens lined up.
And we get good at it once we do it one way a while.
Does the f2a take better quality picture compared with a f2mn ?
Assuming same settings, lens, conditions
Also between a F2a and f2as what do u prefer ?
Nope, it's just a box holding the film flat. Exactly the same photo if the lens and light are the same.
I have the same problem with the viewfinder......can't get it to release.
Tough one to get off!
Sorry buddy, but Woodstock and most of Vietnam was shot with the F, not the F2.
Still a very, very fine machine.
+T Latz Really, the 70s? Okay. If you know for sure.
+kenneth wajda yeah. definitely. the F2 was built from 71 to 79 or 80 until the F3 replaced it.
So Vietnam yes, Woodstock no. .. well there was a Woodstock 2 in 1998 or 1999. Maybe someone brought an F2 then.
But the Vietnam War was November 1, 1955 - April 30, 1975. So it could have been used in Vietnam, no?
+kenneth wajda FYI & Mr. Tapia! This DP-11 finder demounts by pushing in the lever on the viewfinder,THEN turning it down whilst pressing in the button on the back! The K screen was a factory option when ordering,standard was the A screen! The difference was the K had a microprism ring around the center split prism focus as well!
Yeah the F2 was introduced after the original Woodstock. But I suppose the back end of Vietnam would've seen a fair few F2s. In any case, the F2 was a go to camera for many many major historical events.
I have the same model, but I cant remove the viewfinder....
Ricardo Moreno neither can I. I'm opening it correctly and I hear it pop off, but for some reason just won't come off. Did you figure it out?
Hi, AriFranco, no nothing.
Does yours shoot photos fine? Mine seems to work perfectly otherwise
That is a steel. I just sent off for an f2AS. $300
BUT IM GOING TO SELL THE STEEL I GOT . A GOLD TRIP 35 I GOT FIR $25.
I USED TO HAVE AN F2 FOR YEARS TILL IT GOT STOLEN.
Yes, it's worth replacing, for sure!
I'm starting to think a lot of these UA-camrs are lying. I NEVER see deals anywhere in the hemisphere of what I see on UA-cam.
"Hey, I just bought this pristine Nikon F2A for $90." Another video, "Hey, I just bought this Pentax 67...........still in its box, never used.................with this cool 105mm f/2.5 lens for $150 total." "Hey, I just got a 2001 Jeep Cherokee for $700. The owner was kind enough to drain all the fluids when he bought it 19 years ago and it's been sitting under a cashmere blanket in his heated garage. Only 22,000 (highway) miles on it! Owner even threw in a $50 Sunoco gas card."
I mean.....................MAYBE 30 years ago...............before the Interwebs, when anyone couldn't just take 12 seconds to see what the item they're selling was worth.
Conversely, I see the 'deals' where the person is selling a Nikon F4s with the knobs missing and a burnt out LCD for $350 or a Pentax K1000 with corroded battery terminals for $175.
The previous owner could have sold that Nikon F2A for $500 easy...................just for the body.
Remember, most items aren't deals, so we pay full price or pass on them. The great deals get talked about. There's nothing to report for normal and overpriced deals that didn't work out. Also, remember these items aren't from stores where they know what they have but from people who don't know if they work and don't think people use them anymore and assume you can't get film for many of them. Those are the ones where you score the deal. But it's few and far between, trust me.
Lot's of money (90 dollars) you paid for this camera. I paid 5 euro.(secondhand store) Mint condition. How much did you pay??? 90 dollars ! I mean you realy paid 90?
That's a good price. 5 is great, but $90 is a good price for a mint F2A!
I found mine in a dumpster.
The ignorance of this fellow is overwhelming.
I found mine in a dumpster.