Hello. I'm looking to get a fully mechanical camera, but I am unsure of what I should buy. Considering my price range. A few people have suggested purchasing a Nikon F2 photomic (I already use a Nikon FTN, and so have a number of lenses, but I want something with a 100% field of view in the viewfinder.) The F2 is apparently a very fine camera despite its age. Does anybody else concur with this assessment, or can anyone suggest any other possibilities (excluding incredibly expensive cameras like the Leicas; the F2 falls well into the range of what I would like to spend.) Thanks a lot.

-- Kenneth M (kennethm@morgan.ucs.mun.ca), October 30, 2000

Answers

The Nikon F2 certainly is a very fine camera, and is the obvious choice if you want a fully mechanical camera with a 100% viewfinder that is compatible with your existing lenses. (The only other camera to meet that spec is its predecessor, the Nikon F Photomic FTn.) Mint F2s are prized by collectors, and their prices are horrible, but cosmetically less grand bodies are available at more affordable prices.

There are three Photomic viewfinders which fit all F2 bodies and use the "rabbit ears" for exposure meter indexing (in the same way as the Nikkormat FTn that you have). The original F2 Photomic has the DP-1 viewfinder with match-needle metering using a CdS cell. The F2S has the DP-2 viewfinder with LEDs for metering using a more sensitive CdS cell. The F2SB has the DP-3 viewfinder which uses the much more sensitive "Silicon Blue Cells" (silicon photodiodes).

The F2SB is much the nicest, but the collectors know that too, and Nikon made the camera for only about a year: so F2SBs can be hard to find. All of the F2s are extremely robust mechanically -- which is as well since parts are no longer being made -- and there are still places left where you can get the metering electronics repaired.

In its heyday of the 1970s, the F2's big competitor was the Canon F1, which is also a fine camera. Canon stopped selling the FD lenses it uses a long time ago to concentrate on the EOS cameras. This means that you're using exclusively secondhand equipment and that repairers are getting harder to find. And, of course, it won't take your existing lenses.

Nikon still makes a fully mechanical camera, the FM2n, which has its devoted fan club, but which doesn't have a 100% viewfinder. It's the only new fully mechanical camera that sits between the inexpensive learners' cameras and the two-thousand dollar Contax S2, Leica R6.2 and Olympus OM3-Ti.

Later,

Owl

-- John Owlett (owl@postmaster.co.uk), October 30, 2000.

I can't add much to John's advice, but I wouldn't overlook the Nikon F - Prices vary a lot but tend to be better than F2's, and it's very robust. Most F2's are very rugged but there were problems in the first year or so, so beware of bargain prices on early examples... unfortunately, these are more likely to have the early non-AI type finder you will want for your existing lenses.

Personally, I'm not so fond of the 100% finder: even printing my own negatives I can't quite get to the edges, and using other folks for printing I lose an awful lot of what I saw in the finder. I think the FM/FM2/FM2N series offers a lot of performance for the money if you don't need the 100% F/F2 viewfinder.

rick :)=

-- rick oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com), October 31, 2000.

You don't say what that price range is or why you need a fully mechanical camera. If you can ease up on the latter requirement, about the very best purchase you can make is a used F3. All the advantages of the F2 plus better metering, with a 100% viewfinder and removable viewfinder. Its a modern classic, to my mind as much as the F2.

And if you don't absolutely need the 100% viewfinder, I'd go for the FM2n in a jiffy. Its a lot of camera for the money, and a strong competitor in many ways to the F2.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), October 31, 2000.

A used and long-out-of-production mechanical camera, such as the F2 (which dates back to anytime between 1971 and 1977, depending on the model), is likely to suffer from inaccuracies with the built-in meter (if any) and the shutter at slow shutter speeds, unless it is thoroughly serviced. If you must have a F2, try to get one that's not too worn-out looking, and preferably one that was made at the end of the production run (check body serial number); you should also build in a budget for getting the camera checked and serviced. A used F3 or F3HP, although not mechanical, is a better buy and probably more reliable than a used F2.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), November 01, 2000.

I think the f2 is a good choice,I have the f2s.I bought it in 1973 with a meterless viewfinder.2 years later I sold the prism and bought the dp-2 photomic.I like the dp-2 but I regret having sold the original finder [de- 1].If I would buy one now,I 'd buy a meterless one or a f2 as.I still use mine from time to time,but only for pleasure,because it's my favourate camera.Now I use an f5 most of the time,jobwise.I also don't like the fm- 2 because of the viewfinder,100 % is a must for me as well.I think an f3 is also nice,but never had one.M. Chen.

-- Michael Chen (sawasdee-_siam@hotmail.com), January 05, 2001.

In reply to efforts to obtain a Nikon F2as camera. I have for sale a very fine, in mint condition, never used, with original case camera. By the way what is your idea of expensive?

-- Dave Schara (ScharaD@carson.army.mil), April 10, 2001.

I would update my answer and suggest a new Nikon FM3A. All the versatility of the FM2N (same controls, speeds and battery-less operation) with the metering and aperture priority AE of the FE thrown in. The latter does not kick in without batteries of course.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 11, 2001.