Nikon F
The Nikon F ( in Germany: Nikkor F ) is a camera from the 1960s, a small SLR, which is considered the prototype of all the following professional cameras of this type. She is the first built by Nikon Small SLR.
The Nikon F was introduced in 1959 and produced until October 1973. It was soon also, due to its modular design, a camera used worldwide in professional and scientific photography. Although the Nikon F had only come up with a real world first ( the 100% viewfinder image area), but they united for the first time all previously known progress in a model. In 1971, she was replaced by the externally very similar Nikon F2.
- 4.1 interchangeable viewfinder
- 4.2 shims
- 4.3 Motor and long film cassette
- 4.4 Flashes
- 4.5 lenses
Prehistory
The Nikon F based on the following innovations from other companies:
It is based technically on the professional rangefinder camera Nikon SP. You can see the Nikon F in some ways be described as a SP with the mirror box and larger bayonet. Particularly striking is the identical design of the controls on the top of both cameras ( advance lever, shutter speed dial, shutter ).
Cameras that were sold in Germany, contributed due to a dispute with the company Zeiss Ikon some years the name " Nikkor " to avoid confusion. The designation " NIKKOR " was included on the boxes themselves ( top and front panel) as well as on the exchange seekers. It is estimated that only 3,000-4,000 copies were made with this label and only a few still exist. These specimens are extremely rare and are considered collectors' items.
The camera
Mechanics
The Nikon F is a purely mechanical camera. It has a horizontally running cloth focal plane shutter.
Shutter
The closure towels are durable titanium blinds at the Nikon F. The shutter speeds are formed via Hemmwerke. The fastest shutter speed is 1/1000 second, flash sync speed is 1/ 60 sec shutter speeds can be set only in discrete steps.
The release button is unusual by today's standards far behind, at about the level of the film plane. For the cable release port the now- usual Leica bell is used. This means a special bell-shaped cable release port that is screwed on the trigger. This system has been used, inter alia, also at the Edixa cameras the company Wirgin. Via separate adapter "normal" cable release can be used. The release button is surrounded by an elevated ring, which also serves to set the film transport (A ) position, or the film rewinding (R- position).
In addition to the normal B - setting ( Bulb ) for long exposures, there are also the typical professional cameras T setting that closes the shutter again until the shutter speed dial is turned to another position. This setting saves the cable release with locking screw for the usual B setting.
Mirror lock- and - interlocksystem
The Nikon F has a mirror lock-up. If the knob is pressed on the mirror box side of the bayonet, the mirror flips up until after the next shot and remains in this position. The photographer is "given away " so that a recording. The problem can be circumvented, however, by only half- presses the shutter button. The mirror is then folded up and not fire the shutter.
The Spiegelarretierung is, inter alia, necessary to allow the use of the three available for the Nikon Fisheyeobjektive (6 mm, 7.5 mm and 10 mm), and the first 21 -mm lens, the lens structure which reaches far into the mirror box. In addition, the Spiegelarretierung is required when the engine is operating at four frames per second, as well as for vibration avoidance in photomicrographs or the like.
Spring iris
As the time modern camera, the Nikon F has been built for her along with the lenses on a automatic diaphragm function, which is effective as of the closing sequence simultaneously. This was the end of the fifties, not self-evident.
Metering
The camera has no built- in camera body exposure. For this purpose With optional, attachable selenium exposure meter was first necessary. Later the light meter part of special change prism finder. For " communication " with the light meter on the aperture ring of the lens is the Nikon - typical " fork ".
Self-timer
The Nikon F has a self-timer. This does not start the normal trigger, but has its own small shutter button, which is exposed when turning the lever. White dots on the version of the lever allow lead times of 3, 6 or 10 seconds to adjust. Among other things, the appearance of the self-timer lever to recognize the particular model generation.
Rear wall
A peculiarity of the Nikon F is its back wall. It is removed together with the base plate downwards. For this is located in the base plate, a retractable release lever. The photographer keeps so when changing film two parts in hand. At the bottom of the base plate will adjust the film speed. However, this has only the sense of a reminder with no technical function.
The engine F -36 has its own camera back and a separate camera base plate ( see below).
Variants of the F
The variants of the Nikon F are distinguished by the different prism finder.
The Nikon F Photomic Hue was the last new model of the Nikon F.
Accessories
Interchangeable viewfinder
Characteristic of the F- series up to F5 is the system of exchange seekers. To change the viewfinder there is a bit hard to use small release button on the back of the camera body.
The basic version of the F equipped with a prism finder, showing an upright and side correct image.
Prism finder with built-in exposure meter were called in Nikon nomenclature " Photomic ".
The first Photomic Seeker (1962 ) had external measurement, the measurement angle could be reduced via an adapter. There were also to a diffuser for light measurement. Then the first Photomic (T) appeared to TTL metering ( Through The Lens ) in 1965, which is now located in the viewfinder housing itself measuring cells measure the incident on the focusing screen light. This happens in all aperture positions at full aperture. The Photomic Tn ( 1967) measures the focusing screen center of 12 mm to 60 %, and the edge portions to 40%. This measurement division was made possible by the construction of an aspherical condenser lens system, governed by a fixed diaphragm in front of the two CdS cells ( the actual light sensors), which are the left and right of the eyepiece. The Photomic Tn was calibrated by ASA 20-6400. The range went from light value 2 to 17 at ASA 100 with the Nikon Auto 55 mm f / 1,2. The Photomic delivered from 1969 Hue has been improved, especially in the ease of use. After engagement of the lens to the aperture ring once to move from stop to stop, to transfer the largest aperture of the lens to the light meter was enough.
The former Photomics work with today's AF lenses without modification of the lenses ( driver fork ) only with working aperture.
Another viewfinder was the light well. The light well (5 × ) fitted with a fold-away motion. The viewfinder image appears in the waist - as well as in the viewfinder magnifier - reversed.
From the F2 there was next prism, light well and also Photomicsucher magnifiers and sports viewfinder for specific user groups. The interchangeable viewfinder of the Nikon F2 fit well to the F, but the front shield must be unscrewed at the camera. The Photomics the F2, however, do not work on the F because they expect a power supply from the camera. The motion detector is within its scope ago a "better viewfinders " for macro and micro photography. It consists of an elaborately constructed 6-fold magnifying glass and is therefore better than the folding motion of the simple viewfinder hood.
The sport - prism viewfinder allows the photographer ( even for eyeglass wearers ) an overview of the entire viewfinder, if he has to wear a helmet or goggles (for example skydiving or on the bike ). Even with special underwater housings of the sports finder is indispensable.
Shims
The Nikon F allows switching to different focusing screens that can be quickly replaced. The supplied shim had a split image with measuring circuit and Fresnel lens. It is universally applicable to a focal length of 135 mm. 14 different models offer the possibility of (macro, architecture aerial photography ) to take at each use the optimal focus. It can also be used shims F2.
Motor and long film cassette
For Nikon F there was a motor drive, the F- 36, which was responsible for, not least that it has established itself very quickly as a professional camera. He became the model for the competitors in the camera market. With the F - 36, the Nikon F looks only slightly different than the much more modern professional cameras. It has an attached battery compartment (at first external power supply), a handle with a trigger and a switch of S (single, single image ) to C ( Continuous, series). The F- 36 provides a frame rate of 2, 2 1/2, 3 or 4 frames per second.
Furthermore, there was a battery pack with cable available. It contained eight batteries with 1.5 V and a resettable timer for single and series circuit. Also it could be used with relay and intervalometer for remote control. The cable battery pack supplied with shoulder strap and cables to the motors. Connected with the help of relay between the camera and battery pack, the camera could be triggered at long distances or a relay member itself.
Unlike modern cameras, the motor can not be attached to any Nikon F. This requires a special for the engine operation suitable base plate, which can however be easily changed by loosening a few screws. In addition, camera and the motor must be adapted to each other, plus a visit to a specialist workshop is required. Then, the converted R can then be used exclusively with this drive to which it was tuned. Can be used with its normal rear camera, however, at any time.
In addition to the F -36, there was also the engine F-250 with two big Nikon cassettes with a capacity of up to 10 m film (equivalent to 250 shots ). The technical characteristics of the two motors were the same. To download the 10-meter tapes, Nikon offered a charger. The film to be loaded length could be selected. This F-250 version was taken, inter alia, by NASA in outer space (as well as the appropriate successor models of F).
Flashes
Like her successor models F2 and F3 it has no normal hot shoe, but a typical for these models own flash connector on the rewind crank. But there was an adapter for normal center contact, which was also used for the F2. Auto flash does not offer this purely mechanical camera, of course. Studio and Staff Flash can be triggered via the cable connector on the front of the camera.
Lenses
Most lenses with F bayonet can be used, but exceptions are AF -G Nikkor lenses without aperture ring, DX Nikkor lenses for digital cameras with smaller image circle and APS lenses.
Ai and AiS lenses have the typical aperture fork with which the Photomic - finder function. AF lenses no longer have this fork. But AF lenses and AF - D lenses with aperture ring can be converted.
Collectible and current use
The first Nikon F was built in 1959, the serial number began with 64xxxxx. The last cameras from 1973 showed 74xxxxx numbers. The agreement between model year and serial numbers in some periods is random.
Since the Nikon F was in the course of their construction whatsoever has changed in details, you can narrow down based on the characteristics of the base housing in any case, the period from which it originated.