The Savvy Consumer’s Guide To Pre-Owned, Collectible, And Vintage Cameras; The Legendary Nikon F: What Makes It The Camera Of The Century?
Jason Schneider, July, 2006
Before launching into paeans of praise for the Nikon F, which, in my arrogant
opinion, may well be the most important 35mm SLR of the 20th century, I must
confess to being a tiny bit biased. When I acquired my first F as a teen-ager
back in 1961 (alas after trading in a mint Leica IIIg with a 50mm f/2.8 collapsible
Elmar) I knew I had finally arrived. I strutted around lower Manhattan with
my imposing chrome F hung on a leather neckstrap over my black turtleneck sweater
trying to look like a hard-bitten photojournalist. I didn’t, but unlike
me, the Nikon F was everything it was cracked up to be, namely an indestructibly
rugged, truly professional camera that never let me down, delivered images of
surpassing quality, was upgradeable due to its modular design, and was and is
a stunning example of first-rate craftsmanship and non-obsolescence.
A Collection Of Classic Components
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the original Nikon F of ’59 is that
it’s not really a technological landmark. Aside from being the first SLR
to offer an electric motor drive accessory, and the first system to provide
a Perspective Control (PC) lens, all the elements of its magnificent modular
design can be found in previous 35mm SLRs. The first of the 35mm SLR breed,
the Kine Exakta of ’36, had interchangeable lenses and a focal-plane shutter,
and by ’50, had acquired an interchangeable penta-prism finder; the Asahiflex IIB of ’54 had an instant-return mirror;
and the rare, made-in-Japan Zunow reflex of ’58 was first with fully automatic
lens diaphragm operation.
Technically, the Nikon F wasn’t even the first professional 35mm SLR.
Many scientists and naturalists used Exaktas during the ’40s and ’50s,
and the East German Praktina FX of ’53 (which had an internal auto stop-down
mechanism, interchangeable prism finder, bulk film back, and accessory spring
motor) attracted a professional following on both sides of the pond, and may
have even influenced the Nikon F’s design.
Of course, one camera line that definitely influenced the F was the Nikon S-series
rangefinder cameras, especially the S3 and SP which, according to Nikon lore,
were designed at the same time as the F. Whatever the truth may be, it is evident
that the Nikon F successfully carried forth the shape and basic operational
design of the exquisite Nikon rangefinder cameras in a way that Leica, Zeiss,
and even Canon failed to match, and that is one of the prime reasons for its
phenomenal success.
Deal Of The Month! |
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Unsung Hero Of The Professisonal Workhorse Set: Nikon
F2A With 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor Lens
$379 In E Condition
One of the most rugged and dependable professional SLRs ever made,
the Nikon F2 never quite attained the panache of the legendary
Nikon F or the redoubtable Nikon F3, but it’s functionally
superior to the F, with a more convenient hinged back, shutter
speeds and apertures in finder, PC flash terminal, 1-1/2000 sec
titanium focal-plane shutter, and optional 5 fps motor drive.
The F2 Photomic A of ’77 (known as the F2A) operates with
AI (Auto-Indexing) Nikkor lenses and has superior SPD cells in
its meter prism, providing center-weighted metering from 1-17
EV with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. It would be hard to find a more beautifully
made, better performing manual, mechanical 35mm SLR for the non-collector
photographer who wants a camera that will last forever, if properly
maintained.
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| Note:
This month’s Deal of the Month was found at KEH Camera Brokers (www.keh.com)
but similar great buys can also be found at other dealers who advertise
in Shutterbug. |
A Masterpiece Of Integration
So what is it that makes the Nikon F so special? It’s the way all of the
existing technology and all of its components are seamlessly integrated into
a functional whole that looks right, feels right, performs superbly, and is
a pleasure to use. It was clearly conceived from its inception as the basic
module in a high-quality professional SLR system, and that’s why it remained
in production, with relatively minor changes, for nearly 15 years (from ’59-’74),
and why it has now attained the status of a living (and, happily quite affordable)
legend. The fact that its viewfinder shows 100 percent of the on-film image,
and that the F-mount has endured—albeit with some operational changes—into the
present digital era have also endeared it to hordes of pros and amateur enthusiasts
worldwide.
The Agony And The Ecstasy Of The F
Of course, no camera design, even one as felicitous and successful as the Nikon
F, is perfect. I’m sure that F-toting pros could come up with their own
lists of pet peeves, but legions of photojournalists have cursed the F’s
removable back (which allows bulk film backs and motor drives to attach easily,
but is a problem to load on the fly), and camera repairmen have had a field
day repairing Nikon F prisms (metered and meterless) that have fallen off due
to the dodgy, less-than-bulletproof mounting system.
The lack of a hot shoe—you can add one by sliding in an AS-1 shoe adapter
over the rewind knob—is another bone of contention. Finally, all experienced
Nikon repairmen know that the carbon-based variable resistor in early Nikon
F meter prisms eventually fails and is now irreplaceable except by cannibalizing
parts.
Of course, this stuff pales into insignificance when you see the brilliance
of Nikon’s externally coupling meter prism that let you upgrade your camera
(albeit with mirror box mods) as the metering system advanced from non-TTL (the
original Photomic of ’62) to TTL (Photomic T of ’65) to meter needle
in finder (Photomic FTN of ’65). Equally remarkable is their durability—I
can think of no other camera that’s 35-45 years old with a higher percentage
of models in good working condition, but check those meter prisms!
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(Top): Nikon F: It’s one of the most elegant SLRs ever in
this classic configuration with plain prism. (Center): Nikon Photomic
FTN of 1968: The ultimate F complete with the interchangeable
TTL meter prism that helped make it both famous and non-obsolescent.
It displayed shutter speeds in finder, and had a battery check.
(Bottom): Nikon Photomic TN of 1967: Upgraded (ASA 20-6400) version
of the Photomic T of 1965, first Nikon F with through the lens
CdS meter and meter needle and metering index in the finder.
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