Good evening. Many thanks for your Kind message. Yes as much as I love my FM2n I have to agree with you reference The F3! Also, as you quite rightly point out the FE2 is a great camera. Aperture Priority is along with " The Sunny Sixteen Rule " my choosen favourite method of obtaining perfection . I shall be almost 70 years young soon, so if I had one other camera to try ? It would have to be The Original Nikon F. Please keep your wonderful videos coming. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn.
Good evening. Just watched your Very interesting video. One query,and one question. Firstly I always understood that the F on these Lovely Cameras stood for Reflex? Please correct me if im wrong. My question is.....Which would be Your personal Favourite Nikon SLR? I have been into Nikon for a considerable amount of time,and my Personal favourite has to be The FM2N. Although the F 3 comes a Close second personal Favourite. Please keep your wonderful videos coming. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn.
I'll admit I had to check to be sure...and your absolutely correct. The "F" in Nikon F was selected from the term "re-f-lex", since the pronunciation of the first letter "R" is not available in many Asian languages.(from wickipedia) I really like the original F. The clean lines and design of it. I actually prefer it over the F2 for some reason...even though logically the F2 is better made...and I think more generally....tank like and reliable. I really like the FE2 and FA. But ...if I could take only one with me on let's say a year long trip round the world... It would be the F3. It's just one of those cameras where nothing gets in the way ... And I like aperture priority.
The meter in the later final FTn finder is definitely the best for quicker shooting, provided you get a good copy that meters correctly. But pure looks.... The basic meterless eye level finder is my favourite and I'm getting better at using sunny 16.
Another question I brought a pair of Wein batteries for the F. I tried putting them in my F2 and there is a small pin on the battery compartment wall that restricts place the battery in. B&H said they would fit both models.
might be a dumb question but, will the photomic finder still function minus the light meter if you don't put batteries in it? if I set the asa and shutter speed will that still work without the batteries?
Yes that's right....if you know what shutter speed you want just set it and the finder will turn the shutter wheel on the camera... All the finder does is read the light and suggest the settings...but nothing to stop you selecting the settings yourself via sunny 16 or another light meter
There are truck loads of these bodies on ebay from Japan but mostly without finders. They seem really cheap at around £50 each. Is it feasible to use one without a finder, ie like a wlf but without the head itself?
Yes it works fine without the finder. As WLF camera. The thing to check on the cameras is the slow shutter speeds. The very slowest speeds are prone to gumming up and not working
Film Camera Reviews I agree. Just put some film in mine. I purchased it 3 or 4 years ago at an estate sale but haven’t used it until now. Noticed shutter was stuck at 1/30th. Got it to release and for now it looks like it’s working.
The foam inside the prism is replaceable but usually something that would have to be done by an experienced camera service person. If the foams have started to melt down inside the prism then it's a messy process and the mirrors inside the prism. Will be permanently scarred unfortunately
I recently acquired a Nikon F with Ftn metering head, circa 1971. I did run into the issue of meter readings being off a bit compared to meter readings taken of the same subject, under same lighting, and same lens as my Nikon FM camera. This I attribute to 'modern equivalent' batteries installed vs. the original mercury batteries it was designed for. No big deal I just fudge the film ASA setting so the Ftn meter agrees with the FM meter.
Exactly and using the ASA to compensate is the easiest way to be fair. I've done it that way for a while on the FTN finders I've got agree it's not been calibrated to Modern 1.5v batteries
@@dangerpowers123 I have acquired one of the adaptors for the hearing aid type batteries, which works perfectly. It was about eight dollars on eBay. The hearing aid batteries don't last too long, but they cost less than a dollar apiece and are available everywhere. I just finished reconstructing my entire Nikon F outfit from the 1970s, and all the kit together cost less than $350 with careful buying on eBay and other online resources. We are still in the golden age of acquisition prices for these wonderful systems - unlike Hasselblad, Rollei, and Leica, which, fortunately, I acquired before the recent surge in prices. Andy
Damn you take a long time to change film. In 66-68 I was able to change film in my F Photomic T, while flying in my F4 Phantom cockpit. I hope you’re a better photographer than a film loader.
But harsh... This was a while ago. I was also trying to load film with a tripod infront of my face. Thankfully my RUclips setup has improved since making this video. Much faster at film loading these days
Film Camera Reviews, LOL, I can feel for you BUT, you ought to try it while working around the control yoke “stick” in your front cockpit of an F4 Phantom while heading up North at 25,000 feet!
@@arttafil6792 Hilarious. Nobody here believes you. Changing film in a camera at 25,000ft while also controlling a multi-million dollar fighter jet? Don't be silly.
Recently purchased a camera like this, didn't come with a manual, thank you for sharing this.
Wow, what a great informative video. I didn’t know that about the prisms for the FTN I’ve got an F2 I like that little light me you’ve got.
Good evening. Many thanks for your Kind message. Yes as much as I love my FM2n I have to agree with you reference The F3! Also, as you quite rightly point out the FE2 is a great camera. Aperture Priority is along with " The Sunny Sixteen Rule " my choosen favourite method of obtaining perfection . I shall be almost 70 years young soon, so if I had one other camera to try ? It would have to be The Original Nikon F. Please keep your wonderful videos coming. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn.
Thank you, I'll try and keep the videos coming 👍🏻
...part two is good as well. I took the plunge today! Regular F with plain prism! Thanks for the G.A.S.
jonathan dowman nice one, great camera! I'm still after a silver plain eye level prism
Well done. What about changing the focal length settings located on the ASA shutter speed dial. I never hear anyone address this?
Good evening. Just watched your Very interesting video. One query,and one question. Firstly I always understood that the F on these Lovely Cameras stood for Reflex? Please correct me if im wrong. My question is.....Which would be Your personal Favourite Nikon SLR? I have been into Nikon for a considerable amount of time,and my Personal favourite has to be The FM2N. Although the F 3 comes a Close second personal Favourite. Please keep your wonderful videos coming. Many thanks and Kind regards Colyn.
I'll admit I had to check to be sure...and your absolutely correct.
The "F" in Nikon F was selected from the term "re-f-lex", since the pronunciation of the first letter "R" is not available in many Asian languages.(from wickipedia)
I really like the original F. The clean lines and design of it. I actually prefer it over the F2 for some reason...even though logically the F2 is better made...and I think more generally....tank like and reliable.
I really like the FE2 and FA.
But ...if I could take only one with me on let's say a year long trip round the world... It would be the F3. It's just one of those cameras where nothing gets in the way ... And I like aperture priority.
Thanks for your kind words
What’s your favorite view finder?
The meter in the later final FTn finder is definitely the best for quicker shooting, provided you get a good copy that meters correctly.
But pure looks.... The basic meterless eye level finder is my favourite and I'm getting better at using sunny 16.
Another question I brought a pair of Wein batteries for the F. I tried putting them in my F2 and there is a small pin on the battery compartment wall that restricts place the battery in. B&H said they would fit both models.
Yerr just use regular LR44 batteries on the F2. It doesn't need wein batteries as the F2 has standard voltage
Can’t help noticing your Americanized pronunciation of Nye-Kon😊
You can't buy mercury batteries, but fluorescent lamps are ubiquitous and actively promoted by the government.
Is there a problem with fluorescent lights? Could’ve fooled me government. Serious question, never knew
might be a dumb question but, will the photomic finder still function minus the light meter if you don't put batteries in it? if I set the asa and shutter speed will that still work without the batteries?
Yes that's right....if you know what shutter speed you want just set it and the finder will turn the shutter wheel on the camera... All the finder does is read the light and suggest the settings...but nothing to stop you selecting the settings yourself via sunny 16 or another light meter
Film Camera Reviews thank you!!!
@@shaunaabryant no worries
Excellent video. Just purchased an F with the T finder. The seller on Ebay mentioned the T was rare. Would you know if this is true and why?
It's less common. But not rare
What's the details of the external light meter?
I use the kodalux usually they made two versions. Both are great .
There are truck loads of these bodies on ebay from Japan but mostly without finders. They seem really cheap at around £50 each. Is it feasible to use one without a finder, ie like a wlf but without the head itself?
Yes it works fine without the finder. As WLF camera. The thing to check on the cameras is the slow shutter speeds. The very slowest speeds are prone to gumming up and not working
Thank you.@@dangerpowers123 I have just received one in the post from Japan. The build quality is fantastic. I love it!
@@tuisitala9068 congratulations
Film Camera Reviews I agree. Just put some film in mine. I purchased it 3 or 4 years ago at an estate sale but haven’t used it until now. Noticed shutter was stuck at 1/30th. Got it to release and for now it looks like it’s working.
@@hoppy760 brilliant, glad you got it working.
Why can't the mirror foam be replaced?
The foam inside the prism is replaceable but usually something that would have to be done by an experienced camera service person. If the foams have started to melt down inside the prism then it's a messy process and the mirrors inside the prism. Will be permanently scarred unfortunately
I recently acquired a Nikon F with Ftn metering head, circa 1971. I did run into the issue of meter readings being off a bit compared to meter readings taken of the same subject, under same lighting, and same lens as my Nikon FM camera. This I attribute to 'modern equivalent' batteries installed vs. the original mercury batteries it was designed for. No big deal I just fudge the film ASA setting so the Ftn meter agrees with the FM meter.
Exactly and using the ASA to compensate is the easiest way to be fair. I've done it that way for a while on the FTN finders I've got agree it's not been calibrated to Modern 1.5v batteries
@@dangerpowers123 I have acquired one of the adaptors for the hearing aid type batteries, which works perfectly. It was about eight dollars on eBay. The hearing aid batteries don't last too long, but they cost less than a dollar apiece and are available everywhere. I just finished reconstructing my entire Nikon F outfit from the 1970s, and all the kit together cost less than $350 with careful buying on eBay and other online resources. We are still in the golden age of acquisition prices for these wonderful systems - unlike Hasselblad, Rollei, and Leica, which, fortunately, I acquired before the recent surge in prices. Andy
Proper coin is the 25 yen coin
Damn you take a long time to change film. In 66-68 I was able to change film in my F Photomic T, while flying in my F4 Phantom cockpit. I hope you’re a better photographer than a film loader.
But harsh... This was a while ago.
I was also trying to load film with a tripod infront of my face. Thankfully my RUclips setup has improved since making this video.
Much faster at film loading these days
Film Camera Reviews, LOL, I can feel for you BUT, you ought to try it while working around the control yoke “stick” in your front cockpit of an F4 Phantom while heading up North at 25,000 feet!
@@arttafil6792 Hilarious. Nobody here believes you. Changing film in a camera at 25,000ft while also controlling a multi-million dollar fighter jet? Don't be silly.