Nikon F2

Review Date
October 30, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Bryan Rieth , Intermediate

Price Paid
$200.00 at National Camera Exch

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Fine Art

Summary
Hands down best mechanical SLR ever made; nice heavy and durable. The camera has a nice solid feel to it, and all the controls are in the right place (for me anyways). The camera has a wide array of pro-features and assessories that put it a notch above the rest in the ranks of the cameras of its age, and even above many of todays. All and all, a camera that I will continue to use as long as it functions, which I have no doubt will be my lifetime.

Strengths
-Heavy, durable all metal constuction
-Wide array of lenses and assessories
-Plenty of pro features such as mirror lock-up and detachable viewfinders

Weaknesses
-Many of the photomic finders are at the end of their lives, and lack of repair parts means having to cannibalize other F2's for parts.
-Many would state wieght and lack of automation...light cameras and AE are for wimps though, so not really a downside.

Similar Products Used
Nikon F
Nikon FM
Canon AE-1
Canon F-1
Minolta X-700

Customer Service
Sover Wong in London. Just google him and see for yourself.

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Review Date
April 11, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.80 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by
AChester1977 , Intermediate

Price Paid
$580.00 at camera shop

Photography Experience
6-10 years , People

Summary
I have been using the F2 for over 10 years now. It was the most reliable camera I've used and has a distinctive feel that other better cameras lacked. It is quite heavy and slightly larger compared to other mechanical cameras, the controls are big and feels robust; one can compare the feel and precision of an F2 to a classic Swiss clock. Contruction is incomparable, as the F2 represented the best 35mm body at its time, as well as after its time. Those who now appreciate as well as are learning the fundamentals of photography should make the F2 as their first and primary body; besides reliablity, the features on the F2 are rare: compatibity with old and recent lenses, 100% viewfinder, fully operational wthout battery (but no metering), titanium shutter, mirror lockup, multiple exposure, and access to the most comprehensive and mind-boggling photographic system ever created in the history of 35mm cameras, from motordrives to interchangeable finders and many other specialized accessories. The F2 is as much part of history as the photos that it has taken. Unfortunately, this also increases the high collective value of the F2 its accessories. If you are looking for and F2 ro use, my advice is to visit a few camera shops and look for good and fair condition F2 bodies, and skip the collector-quality ones. Try them out and inspect carefully; feel the buttons and levels, make sure it's not loose, but not too tight, inspect the finder and make sure its meter is accurate and as minimal dirt as possible, the inside foam that cushions the mirror should be in good condition, and try them out with a few lenses. If possible, you can request to mix around with other F2 models (ie. the finder is in better condition on one, but the body is no good, so you get a body from another).

Strengths
Best mechanical pro body ever made with pro features, extensive list of accessories, compatiblity with most lenses.

Weaknesses
Mint and like-new conditions cost a fortune, dissapearing repair parts & accessories, but if you are investing in vintage cameras then you should know the downside.

Similar Products Used
Nikon FM-2n, Nikon FG, Minolta SRT-101

Customer Service
None

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Review Date
January 24, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
Christian M Fisker , Professional

Price Paid
$500.00 at photoshop in jutland

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
Let me put it this way;There is no other SLR product that have such a high level as this (rate 4.92)for a number of reasons it is still used by many people every day both by pros and amateurs.
One of them is that this cam is very very strong and durable even compared to digital SLRs.!
You cant make such good looking BW photos yet,as with an Old F2 and a nice 50 mm 1,8 and a trix film put into the chamber.
or an Agfa pan ..etc..my clients love the way it looks,whether they are newly married or just ordinary portraits made with my F2 and 85 or 100 mm.
I also use this with an PB-4 bellow,attached with an DR-3 finder and my famed 55 micro nikkor in front and the results of this combi is amazing!for classic work like this it seems that the F2 can go on and on for ever!
I use the DP-2 (A2) meter which is absolutely stunning,last summer i went for Lisboa,Portugal and brought this F2 with me and a Vivitar 17 -28 mm Lens! wau! the pics we made together is and will always be linked together as part of a dream come true.It Does only slow down the moment YOU NEED to Think and Catch the pic in your head.The tool is a Nikon F2,how can you get it wrong??
Love Christian M Fisker

Strengths
all

Weaknesses
none! i mean it.

Similar Products Used
many

Customer Service
nope

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Review Date
January 16, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Larry Cuffe , Intermediate

Price Paid
$250.00 at KEH

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
If your looking for an all metal mechanical workhorse, look no further. Classicly the only camera to use to photograph the riot, fight off the looters, and hammer the nail into the wall to hold up the picture.

Strengths
All mechanical if the bateries go all you loose is the meter, and meters are for wimps anyway. A what you see is what you get (100%) viewfinder. This is a lot rarer in SLRs than youd imagine.

Weaknesses
All are now quite old.

Similar Products Used
OM2n, OM10, Zeis Icarex, Revueflex, Rico

Customer Service
fine for a camera this old lots of people know how to play with them.

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Review Date
December 6, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.25 of 5, 8 votes

Reviewed by
Scott Warn , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
A great camera that slows you down enough to force you to think about your photo's. My best pics have been taken with the F2, Mamiya TLR and 4x5 View cameras, the slower pace makes me think about what I am doing. With practice one can work quickly with this camera so I do not mean to say that it will slow everyone down. It just is not a simple point and click snap shooter like the new F5. The mirror is very well damped and the design of the camera body is very durable. My first F2 purchased in 1973 is still going strong and the shutter has tested accurate for almost 30 years without adjustment. The only repair that I have ever required on an F2 (1 out of 5) was to replace a contact spring for the meter switch, a simple 30 minute repair.

Strengths
Suberb build quality and design, some shockingly beat up examples still work well with accurate shutters. The camera bodies are simple to work on with the exception of replacing the shutter curtains so any qualified techician can clear most jams or fix minor problems. Most repairs can be done in 1-2 hours or less. Parts have become available on ebay.

The best meters for these camera are the DP-3 and DP-12, they are capable of reading in near dark (ev -2!!), they did not use the ring resistor, and will last a lifetime.

Many consider the weight to be a problem, I consider it a plus, more mass to reduce any mirror slap.

Will work with almost every F mount lens ever made, the only exception being the new economy G series lenses that lack an aperture ring.

Weaknesses
Age, the mirror foam should be checked and replaced when it starts to crumble.

The motor drives MD-2 and MD-3 used Nylon gears on the motor shaft that are starting to split due to age, look for the MD-1 which had metal gears. The MS-1 battery holders tend to develop corrosion problems, complete disassembly and cleaning will solve this for 2-3 years, then a new cleaning will be needed.

The DP-1, DP-2, and DP-11 meters used a ring resistor which is prone to buildup that will cause a jumpy meter needle, or flashing lights in the DP-2. Frequent use and exercise of these meters will minimize this problem, letting them sit makes it worse. Repairing the light meters is a very delicate task and parts can be difficult to find, plan on 4-12 hours of labor for a meter repair.

These cameras require exercize, if you just let them sit things can get gummed up. Any storage should be done in a closed small box in a temp. controlled room, don't let them sit in a smoke filled room on the shelf, the smoke will gum up the works.

Similar Products Used
Nikon F, Nikkormat FTN and FS, N8008S Nikon F5.

Customer Service
There is none, unlike Leica, Nikon would rather forget that they ever made a camera this durable, planned Obsolescence has become Nikon's business plan.

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