I have a nikon f2sb that I love and 2 other Nikon f2a models. I have always stated that I believe that the nikon f2 line of cameras were among the best cameras ever made! I dropped mine off a cliff on a camping trip while hiking and after 2 hours of searching I found it with out a scratch.
Very useful introduction into the Nikon F2 system having an unmetered Nikon F2, and on the search for an LED meter for my non ai lenses, you give me the advice. Thanks :)
I am pleasantly surprised by coming across your presentation to learn about the F2 variants. I started shooting Nikon in 1976, and I managed to purchased and kept quite a few different mechanical Nikon includes the very las FM3A. I always enjoy just looking and handle mechanical Nikons.
Nice video! I joined the F2 club with an F2 and faulty DE11 finder for $200US, incredibly cheap for such a quality camera even with the poor condition meter.
Thank you for this informative video. Your table summarizes everything on one concise page, which I captured as an image and saved. I am expecting arrival soon of a late model F2AS with plausibly matching late serial numbers for both the body and the DP-12 finder. I already have several variants of the F model, plus a beautiful F3. But I look forward most to running some film through the “new” F2.
Just acquired a F2 with a de-1 finder in great shape for about 230€, absolutely love this camera already. I am however considering buying a metered finder for the sake of convenience at some point.
Thank you for a informative video. I have a Nikon F2SB, but I think the body isn't matching. Well, it works fine with me, and it's still have some value.
Thank you so much. This is very helpful as have my late husband F2 camara with serial nos F2, 727...... with meter setting and not sure how to use it. This camera is numerous lenses.
I got one of these classic Nikon F2 cameras black body and it came with the Nikon Motor drives and the DS2 expousre meter reader for use with the motor drive 2 PARTS and I need to buy a expousre meter HEAD and get the camera Repaired and I paid only £10.00 for it from a camera shop in London in 2023
I have a Nikon F2 and a Nikkormat ft2 but am tired of lugging bricks around. I use a Voightlander Bessa L with the 25mm f4 lens. Sharp and light. £300 well spent.
DP-12 issue! My finder shutter readout isn't moving anymore (to be fair, can't remember how long) either of or odd camera. Pin alignment is &fine & it meters ok. It's a #792 later run & finder #687
Great review I would like to tell everyone who has watched this that the only fault I have come across in this cameras metering is that sometimes the internal electrical wire that goes from the top plate the the battery positive contact can sometimes loose contact as my dads did making the photomic viewfinders meter useless.
got the black F2 with great condition almost mint IMO and the nikkor 50mm f1.4 pre Ai for $230, i don't know if it's a good bargain or is it still relatively expensive?
Hello and thanks for the useful informations. Is there any chrome F2 with full black de-1 finder with the SN 764xxxx . On the finder is replaced . Thanks
So if it has a non meter viewfinder, it's really expensive, but if it has metered viewfinder that doesn't work, or works but is considered obsolete, but STILL works perfectly, it's worth is less... Collectors make no sense. I have the DP-1 version, and it's perfect. It's my favorite. . And I didn't pay ridiculous collector prices. And rarely sits on the shelf very long.
I have seen the DP-12 run at least 50% more than the DP-11. I have the DP-11, the outside condition is mint but the meter sometimes fails to come on and then when it does it jumps around and starts working. When it works it’s pretty accurate, but it is temperamental. I think finding a good one (especially cds type) is a challenge.
F2 is a professional camera, not aimed to beginners. However, if you are dedicated to film photography in the long run, I don't see why it cannot be used by beginners.
Thank you so much for this wonderfully informative video! I recently aquired a NIkon F2 and went out for my first film shoot on the streets today when to my horror I realised it has an encraving at the back right below the shutter lever which reads DUMMY. Though I m yet to develop my first film on this F2 it seems to be a perfectly good and fully functioning camera... Would you or anyother fellow F2 fan out there know how this might be possibe? The serial number is 738XXX which i was able to track on literature so I m left scratching my head a bit...
@@riversky33 hhmmm was my first reaction as well! :-) It looks like a factory engraving, big white letters and all. Nikon quality to the encraving as well. I m baffled!
@@TheMiniDiaries check out this website: www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/f2/variants/index.htm. It seems that you have a rare version of F2.
@@riversky33 Thank you for your support! yeap thats exactly the kind of DUMMY encraving I have on mine. Now I really want to see whether the film will come out or not...it really does feel like everything is working top notch...
I own 6 of these beauties, all with motor drives. I collect vintage film cameras but all of my Nikons are users. They are just too good to leave sitting on a shelf.
Finally a clear, concise explanation of the F2 finders. Thank you very much.
Agreed.
I have a nikon f2sb that I love and 2 other Nikon f2a models. I have always stated that I believe that the nikon f2 line of cameras were among the best cameras ever made! I dropped mine off a cliff on a camping trip while hiking and after 2 hours of searching I found it with out a scratch.
Thanks for your comment. F2SB is hard to find.
Excellent presentation thank you, I wish there were more like this explaining the subtlety lying behind bewildering variety.
I used one of those for years back in the 70s. A real workhorse. Brings back memories!
Thank you for that detailed but quick description of each finder. You have helped me decide on the F2 with DE-1!
Thank you for your comment!
Very useful introduction into the Nikon F2 system having an unmetered Nikon F2, and on the search for an LED meter for my non ai lenses, you give me the advice. Thanks :)
Considering buying an F2AS and this is exactly the video I needed to see. Mahalo!
I am pleasantly surprised by coming across your presentation to learn about the F2 variants. I started shooting Nikon in 1976, and I managed to purchased and kept quite a few different mechanical Nikon includes the very las FM3A. I always enjoy just looking and handle mechanical Nikons.
Thank you for your watching my video. I like mechanical Nikon too.
This video was incredibly helpful
Thank you
Excellent seminar and very informative. Well done!
Thank you for watching my video and for your kind comment!
Nice video! I joined the F2 club with an F2 and faulty DE11 finder for $200US, incredibly cheap for such a quality camera even with the poor condition meter.
Great informative video. Really helpful. Thank you.
Thank you for this informative video. Your table summarizes everything on one concise page, which I captured as an image and saved. I am expecting arrival soon of a late model F2AS with plausibly matching late serial numbers for both the body and the DP-12 finder. I already have several variants of the F model, plus a beautiful F3. But I look forward most to running some film through the “new” F2.
Excellent information
Very helpful. Thank-you!!
Thanks so much. Very good explanation!
A very informative, useful video. Thank you.
Nicely done, thanks.
Thank you!
thank you, great video
Just acquired a F2 with a de-1 finder in great shape for about 230€, absolutely love this camera already. I am however considering buying a metered finder for the sake of convenience at some point.
Congratulations!
Very interresting video, thank you for sharing, waiting for my F2 As offered by my father
Thank you for watching my video!
Thank you for a informative video. I have a Nikon F2SB, but I think the body isn't matching. Well, it works fine with me, and it's still have some value.
Thank you for watching my video.
This came in pretty clutch. Thanks!
Thank you for watching my video!
@@riversky33 Thank you for uploading! I plan on getting a black F2 soon.
I have 2 F2 bodies,F2photomic and F2A. both of these 2 cameras still working well today.
Thank you!
Thank you so much. This is very helpful as have my late husband F2 camara with serial nos F2, 727...... with meter setting and not sure how to use it. This camera is numerous lenses.
Have you started using it
Hows your experience with it
Very good.
I got one of these classic Nikon F2 cameras black body and it came with the Nikon Motor drives and the DS2 expousre meter reader for use with the motor drive 2 PARTS and I need to buy a expousre meter HEAD and get the camera Repaired and I paid only £10.00 for it from a camera shop in London in 2023
I have a Nikon F2 and a Nikkormat ft2 but am tired of lugging bricks around.
I use a Voightlander Bessa L with the 25mm f4 lens. Sharp and light.
£300 well spent.
Voightlander Bessa is good!
Be sure to get a F2 AS and one with the "pyramid" prism-finder both in chrome and in black !
Good content. In your opinion, what is the brightest/sharpest Nikon focusing screen for the Nikon F2? Not sure which one I have, but it's very dim.
I know Type G screen is very bright, but I have not tried all screens and can't say for sure which one is the brightest.
DP-12 issue! My finder shutter readout isn't moving anymore (to be fair, can't remember how long) either of or odd camera. Pin alignment is &fine & it meters ok. It's a #792 later run & finder #687
Great review I would like to tell everyone who has watched this that the only fault I have come across in this cameras metering is that sometimes the internal electrical wire that goes from the top plate the the battery positive contact can sometimes loose contact as my dads did making the photomic viewfinders meter useless.
Thank you for your feedback!
that useful chart was 3:08 thanks for a great vid.
got the black F2 with great condition almost mint IMO and the nikkor 50mm f1.4 pre Ai for $230, i don't know if it's a good bargain or is it still relatively expensive?
I think it's a good deal for a mint condition black F2.
Hello and thanks for the useful informations.
Is there any chrome F2 with full black de-1 finder with the SN 764xxxx . On the finder is replaced .
Thanks
Yes. All F2 finders are fully black; and a de-1 finder matching a body with a SN 764xxxx is totally normal and acceptable.
@@riversky33 thanks for your reply
So if it has a non meter viewfinder, it's really expensive, but if it has metered viewfinder that doesn't work, or works but is considered obsolete, but STILL works perfectly, it's worth is less... Collectors make no sense. I have the DP-1 version, and it's perfect. It's my favorite. . And I didn't pay ridiculous collector prices. And rarely sits on the shelf very long.
is it possible to use a lens without bunny ears with a DP-1?
You got over £1.000 worth of NIKON OLD SLR cameras from 1970s
thank you! this is really helpful! also what is that orange K sticker on the advance lever cap? coz i've seen it on couple of nikon f2 before.
K sticker means there’s a K type focusing screen inside.
@@riversky33 thank you very much! that nikon titan looking great! one day i'll get one. are they same price as leica's or cheaper?
@@MrPingaw0790 I think the titanium Nikon F2T is more expensive than Leica mechanical SLR R6.2 body only.
@@riversky33 apologies i meant compared to Leica M film bodies
Are the newer lenses on the AS models of higher quality than the regular older ones on the regular F2 ? Do they take better pictures ?
I think AI lenses are better than non-AI (auto) lenses in terms of picture quality, at least due to better coating technology.
If i wanted the 50mm 1.2 for the as would i just look up ai 50mm 1.2 ?
are both ai and ai-s lens compatible with dp11?
Yes.
How common is dp-12? And how much dp-12 models pricier than dp-11?
I think DP-12 is very common among F2 models. I can’t say exactly how much pricier than DP-11, but a rough guess maybe is about 20%?
I have seen the DP-12 run at least 50% more than the DP-11. I have the DP-11, the outside condition is mint but the meter sometimes fails to come on and then when it does it jumps around and starts working. When it works it’s pretty accurate, but it is temperamental. I think finding a good one (especially cds type) is a challenge.
Is this camera not good for someone trying to get into film? Looking for my first camera.
F2 is a professional camera, not aimed to beginners. However, if you are dedicated to film photography in the long run, I don't see why it cannot be used by beginners.
@riversky33 what camera would you recommend for a beginner?
@@romeovillains Nikon FE would be a better option.
@@riversky33 thanks! Any other recommendations?
Thank you so much for this wonderfully informative video! I recently aquired a NIkon F2 and went out for my first film shoot on the streets today when to my horror I realised it has an encraving at the back right below the shutter lever which reads DUMMY. Though I m yet to develop my first film on this F2 it seems to be a perfectly good and fully functioning camera... Would you or anyother fellow F2 fan out there know how this might be possibe? The serial number is 738XXX which i was able to track on literature so I m left scratching my head a bit...
Hmm, that’s interesting. I’ve never seen a dummy F2. Is the engraving like a formal factory one, or a informal private one?
@@riversky33 hhmmm was my first reaction as well! :-) It looks like a factory engraving, big white letters and all. Nikon quality to the encraving as well. I m baffled!
@@TheMiniDiaries check out this website: www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/f2/variants/index.htm. It seems that you have a rare version of F2.
@@riversky33 Thank you for your support! yeap thats exactly the kind of DUMMY encraving I have on mine. Now I really want to see whether the film will come out or not...it really does feel like everything is working top notch...
@@TheMiniDiaries Good luck!
I own 6 of these beauties, all with motor drives. I collect vintage film cameras but all of my Nikons are users. They are just too good to leave sitting on a shelf.
I watched the entire video expecting some indication on price. Nothing????
Thanks for watching the video. Sorry for not including pricing information, but price depends on condition and varies from time to time.
There is NO 'Y' in NIKON, if you don't believe me ask NIKON its their company !!!!