Bought my Nikon F2 3 years ago for around $500 in excellent condition, that had been serviced by Sover Wong. I will never part with this legendary camera! It’s staying with me forever. I get stopped by people all the time to ask about my Nikon F2. Mostly old guys who are surprised I’m shooting with one of their favourite cameras of all time and it brings a smile to their face to see the F2 still being used!

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

2 ай бұрын

I’ve gotten similar reaction from people. I was in New Orleans a few years ago shooting with the F2AS and a carriage drive who was taking a couple on a tour called to me an said “is that and F2.” Thanks for watching.

I agree with you 100% about the Nikon F2, I loved it dearly in the 1970s. They are now part of my collection, but I have remained loyal to Nikon and now use the Z9 and Z8.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

26 күн бұрын

Thank you. The only 2 film cameras I will never sell are my Nikon F and F2AS.

I agree with you 100%... The F2 was not a camera but the center of a very large system and the quality of every piece is amazing . In the time no other Brand Name camera producer was at the same level of Nikon and the F2 was the hearth was of Nikon... Also this camera was using the more extended line of Very high resolution lenses. Thank you for this post about in my opinion, the most iconic camera of the sixties.

Thanks for your excellent video on the Nikon F2. I would suggest a major reason for Nikon's domination in professional 35mm cameras was Joe Ehrenreich. He became the U.S. distributor for Nikon in 1954 (EPOI--Ehrenreich Photo Optical Industries). He had tremendous influence over the design and marketing of Nikons. Most, if not all, the other Japanese camera brands suffered from weak support and a lack of focus. EPOI was a very well run organization that was bought out by Nikon in 1981.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

7 ай бұрын

Agreed.

I agree with you >> my first Nikon Camera was the F2AS >> LOVED IT !!!

Great video

Always love your videos. I have just bought an F2 and love it.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

20 күн бұрын

Thank you David. You will love the F2.

Hi Jules! Great video as always. Wanted to know your opinion - would you still choose the F2 over the FM3a (arguably the peak of the mechanical SLR)? Why or why not?

Totalmente de acuerdo, tengo varias cámaras de Nikon entre ellas una F2 con DP-3 con el 55mm F 1.2 entre tantos lentes, es una maravilla y una belleza digna de contemplar, saludos

Interesting video recording

I've got a one owner F2S I bought about 1975 and seven pre-ai lenses. If I ever shoot film again, that will be my system. No light leaks. Meter works. Functions as well now as when purchased new. I wish I functioned as well as I did in 1975. Meanwhile the FTZ adapter lets the lenses work well on my Z system bodies.

Hi, thanks for the very informative video, I have just bought a F2 with D1 from Japan in mint condition for £138, prices are very good at the moment in Japan, really enjoyed the video

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. Enjoy the F2.

I have the F2 and FE. For convenience and ease of use It’s the FE . Love them both though

Over the decades, I have used Nikon F, F2, F3, and F4. The Nikon F was my favorite manual/mechanical SLR until the F2 was introduced. I use three F2 bodies with standard non-metered viewfinders.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comments.

Very well stated sir! Precisely why I’ve had a few of the F2 models of mine “Soverized” by Sover Wong. Worth double or more of every penny, imo.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

8 ай бұрын

From what I understand, he is the best.

@flyingo

8 ай бұрын

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 yes, definitely! He has created some great modifications to the DP finders, adding illumination, led color mods, and such too.

I really wanna F2, but wasn't able to find viable option in my region, so I bought F4s which is great camera too, but totally different type of beast

I have a Nikon F2AS with a 50mm f1.2 lens. It's been CLA'd and cost me over £600 (UK). Although I appreciate everything you've said here, I rarely use it because of the sheer weight of the thing. They are massively heavy and very cumbersome to carry around all day.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. What do you shoot with when shooting film?

@sputumtube

3 ай бұрын

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 Thanks for responding Jules - I mostly use one of my two Olympus OM2n's or my three cheap and cheerful Ricoh (KR5, KR10 and KR10 Super with Pentax lenses). I love the Nikon of course, but being disabled (osteoarthritis) it's too heavy for anything other than 'home use'. Which is a great shame.

@Leptospirosi

Ай бұрын

I can relate with that: too heavy and too clunky compared to something like an OM1. The same issues were true for the F4, compared to the F90 which made the second preferred even by professional. I find the F1 New and the F3 to be a better design, more streamlined then the F2. Contax and Leica R also made amazing quality cameras with style

I’m 1000% agree with you. Although the F served well in Vietnam, helped ending the war by showing its atrocities, it was designed in a hurry based on the Nikon SP rangefinder. With all respect to F3’s huge fanbase, although Giugiaro designed it sooo well, it detached F series’s trusty mechanical shutter. A lot of F3s I found had it’s shutters in need of recalibration. So yes, the F2 is the ultimate SLR of the 20th century cuz it only applied electronics to what’s necessary (metering and motordrive) while preserving Nikon’s mechanical miracle. Super review!

I can’t say which mechanical camera is best because I’ve only used Nikons. The F2 with a DP-2 meter is my favorite. I also have a DP-11 on my other F2 but I can’t read it in low light.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

Ай бұрын

Thank you for your comments.

Tengo una F2 con el MD3, es una magnífica pieza de ingeniería, muy bueno el informe 👏👍🤙🇦🇷 me gustaria comorar el DP12 para mi camara, tengo el DP1

What is your opinion on the F2SB and the FM2N as bodies?

The titanium Nikon F2 was my favorite 35mm SLR. When collectors made the price of titanium F2 bodies skyrocket, I sold my two titanium bodies, bought two F4 bodies, and pocketed the profit. Today, I use two chrome bodies and one black body, all with non-metered prisms. I use two dozen lenses that range in focal length from 14mm to 1000mm.

I use both the F and F2: The F2 shutter has a slight “ping” sound. Still works perfectly and looks very nice (I have the black version) The F is still going strong. I love both cameras

@jakobblaschke9436

8 ай бұрын

The ping sound should come from the disintegrated side mirror damper and is not a characteristic of the F2.

@albertmeyer8983

8 ай бұрын

Good tip, thanks. I will get it CLA’d

Hi! Loved your video. I have a F, F2AS and FTN. But missing the battery for all of them!!! :( Could you comment on the replacement battery that can be used?! I heard the 1.5v will make the meter reading inaccurate!!

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

14 күн бұрын

The F2AS can use a Duracell 1/3N 3volt battery. The meter will work perfectly with this battery. For the FTN go on eBay and search for bennfoto he sells an adapter for $12.00 that will let you use the same battery for the F2AS but you must adjust the ASA setting to get an accurate reading. You can use your F2AS to check the reading on the FTN and then adjust the ASA on the FTN until the readings match. Thanks for watching my video.

@Firografi

14 күн бұрын

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 Thank you so much for the quick reply. I will check it out as recommended. 🙌🏻🙏🏻❤️

Just got my first F2 and I'm really liking it so far (I have a Nikkormat and FM from before). I like to shoot a slide film roll first, to see where the meter is at. We'll see about the results in a few days :)

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

15 күн бұрын

Which meter finder do you have? Thanks for watching.

@trondsi

15 күн бұрын

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 Dp-1. Seems to work, comparing with the FM. Changing lens is a bit finicky (like the Nikkormat) so maybe I'll change the finder/meter after a while. I like seeing the meter needle from above though.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

15 күн бұрын

@@trondsi Great that the meter works. My DP1 doesn’t.

@trondsi

12 күн бұрын

​@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 Just got the slides back. DP-1 meter and shutter speed are dead on as far as I can tell from this "picky" slide film. Better than my old Minolta (which is actually newer, production-wise). I'll leave a good review for this seller since it was not particularly expensive. BTW I also enjoyed your overview of focusing screens. I'll leave the camera as it is for now, but it's good to know about some of the options.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

12 күн бұрын

@@trondsi That’s great. Glad the meter seems accurate.

I greatly admire the Nikon F's, but no mention here of the Pentax LX which had mechanical speeds from sync upwards but electronic below. The Pentax engineers were given free reign designing it, with the Nikon F2 and Canon F1 as yardsticks. The LX had even more viewfinders than its rivals, and a high level of weathersealing. It was made from 1980-2001 (same as the F3), and my 40yo one works fine. Pentax also never changed their lens bayonet. But the LX was too late to make much inroad into the pro market.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

4 ай бұрын

I agree that the LX was an excellent camera hitting the market too late to overtake Canon and Nikon. Also the Takumar lens line was also excellent.Thanks for watching my video.

I agree, but I’m also a Nikon guy. I’ve used my F2 since 2001, possibly using it more than any other camera I own

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

2 ай бұрын

When shooting film it's my go to camera, but I don't shoot much film anymore. Thanks for watching.

@kirksealls1912

2 ай бұрын

@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I never transitioned to digital, except for iPhone photography. I’ve yet to have an experience shooting digital that gives me more pleasure than using my film cameras. I used to have a Nikon Df, but I gave it to my dad, as I pretty much never used it. I can’t recall a single image I took with it

Versatility is the word when it comes to the finest mechanical SLR. The Nikon F2 wins hands down. Some would argue the Leica SL2 is the finest mechanical SLR camera ever made. It actually cost more to make than the retail price. Beautiful German craftsmanship. But the SL2 had no versatility when it came to accessories such as meter prism finder or focusing screens, etc. Nice video, Jules. Thanks for the history lesson.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

4 ай бұрын

Thank you Hunter.

Absolutely. My 1st pick. It’s everything the F was & some & paved the way into F3 which is amazing as well. But F22AS held its own so well that it sold brand new on the same shelves as F3 new. It’s a diehard workhorse to work along any pro kit I still keep film in mine. The DP-12 is amazing for its age & metes down to +8 sec. Its P screen is so bright it’s hard to meter outside but oh well. Little things

I am not qualified to give an opinion on the best mechanical SLR, but have been a Canon lover for a long time. I used an F-1 for many years. Recently I purchased an F2 Photomic at a flea market and am very impressed. I really like the advance lever doubling as a meter switch. A rock solid camera!!!!! Thanks for your insight! I learn alot from your videos.

@bondgabebond4907

7 ай бұрын

My friend had a Canon F1. We were both stationed in Japan together. I had the F2. Both are superior cameras. Little did we know or realize how much respect these cameras would get in the 2000s. My FeA and FE2 are still working like new. They were built tough.

Hi Jules and thx for this video. Thé F2 is not only a very versatile and very non obsolete camera, it s also a very beautiful one and very convenient to use. When you see the F and the F2 side by side you don t see a lot of difference but when you take them in the hands everything is better on the F2 : the shape is more pleasant, the knobs are easier tu turn , you have it better in the hand. We can say that the F is a legend but it was in some way the draft of the F2. My favorite is the F2 as that I still use. I also get a Canon F1 but I use it less than the F2 and even if the 2 were on the market more or less at the same time the F1 looks a little older than the F2. The 2 other cameras that give me the same pleasure to use are the Contax rts and the Minolta x1 (with the view finder of the xm1).

Thank you for the vlog..i buy a f2a from 1977..i love it..its my dream camera..1977 it was the press photografi camera to use

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

6 ай бұрын

Enjoy your F2A it’s a fantastic camera.

Be calm. It is the best, most beautiful, most versatile, best sounding. . . . that has ever been built and ever will be built. None better.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

6 ай бұрын

Agreed

… and it was the last hand built mechanical shutter SLR camera in assembly line from Nippon Kogaku, K.K. I believe F2 Photomic SB (a non-Ai version of DP-12) from 1976 is the most sought after model due to its rarity of production (only about a year before Nikon upgraded the metering system to Ai I also own a Canon F-1n from 1976. It’s also an equally good camera and the meter was built into the body; not in the metering finder. However, I still prefer the Nikon F2. It’s a piece of art itself. For the lens, Nikkor is superior in their well known quality. It appears sharper than the Canon’s FD lens but it’s too sharp for portraiture work; they are great in photojournalism and scientific photography. Canon glasses and coatings are close to German lenses which is more natural for taking pictures for people IMHO. 😅

The F2 will NEVER let you down.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

6 ай бұрын

I agree.

Please, what are the three models you showed in this video?

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

7 ай бұрын

F2 Photomic with DP1 finder, F2A with DP 11 finder and F2AS with DP 12 finder. The finder determines what model it is. The bodies are all the same. If you put a DP12 on an F2 body from 1971 it becomes an F2AS.

I can’t agree more! I own an F2 Photomic NOS made in 1973 according to the serial number. It’s still inside it’s original box, bagged with silica gel and protective plastics. All bagged instruction manual, warranty and paperwork are present. I found this on eBay. It’s a collector holly grail. 🎉

Jules, I agree with you... The F2 is the pinnacle of Nikon SLRs. I thinking of the F, F2, and F3 as 3 points on a bell curve, with the F2 at the apex of the curve. And since you mentioned the MF-2, 750 exposure back, i am currently working on making a movie with the F2 and the MF-2. I figured i can create a 50 second movie @ 15 frames per second using a 100 foot film roll.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

8 ай бұрын

Sounds interesting.

Ditto for the OM1n.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

4 ай бұрын

Also a great mechanical camera.

I’ve got a super mint F2 Photomic for sale

Great review, thank you! I fully agree with your opinion that F2 is the best! Recently I bought one in the second had camera store in Moscow, so the seller said it works flawlessly, the sound of the shutter sounding like a music! I also have F, and FM2, but F2 I like most of all. As for regular fotography I still prefer using Olympus OM-4 for its dot measuring capabilities. Yet it is not as robust and reliable as F2. I subscribedcand look forward to your new wonderdul reviews. Greetings from Moscow!

I totally agree. People make such a fuss about Leica M cameras, but they’re so primitive and I’m not convinced that Leica glass is better than a Nikkor prime.

@paulatterby7507

5 ай бұрын

I own F2as which I love and mechanical Leica m and yes they are primitive, but thats the point!

Hi Jules. I agree with you, 101% , that the Nikon F2 , is one of the best camera SLR.. I started my photography with a Nikon F2as, wayback in 1980's., and the rest was history. I got the bug of photography. , and I never regreted it. As to present, I am still continue, to use the Nikon system. I still have the some Nikon film camera , Nikon FTN, FE, and miss my F2as. My only con, about the F2, is that it is a heavy beast of a camera, but shoot great! Thanks for sharing & God bless.

What about the FM2 ?

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

8 ай бұрын

Great camera, but not as versatile as the F2.

The F2 would be my "If I could only have one camera" choice. It would also be my Armageddon choice, as swung around my head on a sturdy stap, it is also a weapon.. I currently have six of them, all with either MD-1 or MD-2 motor drives, and a variety of finders. Look in my camera bag and you will find every lens, even the auto focus ones, set at f5.6. I have a Canon F-1 and it is great, but it is not a Nikon F2. Excellent review!

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

6 ай бұрын

Thank you

Exakta Varex Hasselblad 500 C/M

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

Ай бұрын

I agree that the Hasselblad is the finest medium format camera.

I agree The original canon F1 was made of very soft thin brass so they dent very easily The F1New was much better built but because it is a very complex electronic camera, it is not uncommon to have many issues

I've watched many, many reviews of the various F-series cameras, all of which tout the availability of additional types of finders, NONE of which ever show any of the finders. I have two F4 cameras, one accessory waist-level finder for them, and plan on acquiring the magnifying finder for my aging eyes. But I submit that the availability of accessory finders is not a good reason to promote a particular camera if no such finders are actually used. My FM3a with MD-12 motor drive is as versatile as is your F2 cameras, save for the use of pre-ai lenses, but that's why I have the F4s.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

8 ай бұрын

I did own the F2 high magnification and prism reflex sport finder. I sold them because I rarely used them. However, I know of some photographers that made good use of them. The same thing with the 250 and 750 exposure back. I never needed them, but some photographers did.

The Nikon is the best 35mm SLR whilst the Leica MD 262 is the best digital camera...!

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

2 ай бұрын

I don’t know much about the Leica, but I agree with you on the Nikon. Thanks for watching.

I bought an f2 12 years ago for an absolute bargain. Easily my number one or number two camera Ive ever owned at this point. I wish cameras were still made like this today.

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

5 ай бұрын

It was built like a tank. Thanks for watching.

can i use ai lenses withh nikon f2as

@julesvuottosphotofocus4696

7 ай бұрын

Yes, it was designed to be used with AI and AI S lenses. You even use AF lenses with aperture rings. You can also use pre AI lenses if you flip up the AI tab on the the DP12 finder. Search for my video on pre AI, AI and AIS lenses.

@RedHell2884

7 ай бұрын

Thanks

Nikon f2 is so far( last 5 years) my favorite mechanical 35mm camera just for all the reasons you just mentioned, still i have to say this , the original canon f1 is just as precise, robust and reliable and as a user of both i find myself using the F2 with the DE-1 finder as a completely mechanical camera with no meter because is more compact pure and simple, the meter finders for the F and the F2 definitely not my cup of tea...big and clumsy add too much weight and not really worthy, and there is where i prefer the the F1... over all considering no camera is perfect i'd agree to give the crown to the F2 and say that this is the camera that would take if i can only take one camera.

Oooops... Another post mention the F3. Him was not a big fan of this one... I want to said a little more about... When the F3 came to the market I was selling photographic equipment for a retailer called World Wide Foto. The amount of complaints about the quality of this camera enough to make me try one at the store. En reality, was a far away parent of the strong and resilient F2... In general, the salesman at the store stopped trying to sell this camera. Maybe today we can find people that adore it but this equipment never carry on the goods we found in the F2 but carried the only thing we don't like in the F2: it synchro flash at 1/60 sec. That was falling even bellow the older Nikkormat cameras... May be for north living people that is not important; but for South Florida residents 1/125 sec. synchro is necessary if you pretend to take portraits in exterior and need fill in light. In general the contrast in this area is hard to handle...