Nikon F2

Center-weighted metering

The Nikon F2 is a small SLR, which continued to expand as the successor to the Nikon F, the dominance of the Nikon Group in the area of small-format SLR cameras. She is regarded by many as the best mechanical camera and takes her place among legendary cameras like the Nikon SP, the Nikon F, Hasselblad 500 C / M, or M Leica.

The Nikon F2 was introduced in 1971 and 1980, superseded by the Nikon F3 which was able to continue in the professional sector, the small image of the Japanese manufacturer Nikon success until this top position in the 1990s after the introduction of the Nikon F4 went to the Canon.

While was the Nikon F2 only a gradual evolution towards the F, but simplified to operate compared to this, especially when used with motor drives, the mirror lock-up and growing back walls, and offered exposure times to 1/ 2000 s and up to 10 s (Nikon Q: 1-1/1000 s ). Various parts were also compatible with the Nikon F, the focusing screen, the viewfinder connector and the flash contact around the Filmrückspulkurbel.

Even after decades, not insert easily, the Nikon F2. The basic equipment with a simple prism viewfinder without exposure meter is active for today's standards, simple but it works, and most current lenses with F bayonet can be used (except AF -G lenses without aperture ring, DX lenses for digital cameras with smaller image circle and APS lenses). A metering with " Photomic - seekers " is possible only in those lenses, which thus can be retrofitted with the later "AI models " of F2 ( F2A and F2AS ) from 1977 have the clutch fork on the aperture ring or is instead AI cam on the lens aperture ring necessary for this.

3.1 trigger
3.2 Mirror Up / Spiegelarretierung
3.3 Self-Timer
3.4 automatic diaphragm
3.5 Further development in the history

5.1 Nikon (see also above)
5.2 Foreign Accessories (selection)

6.1 Age determination
6.2 Function test
6.3 second-hand market
6.4 Compatibility with Speedlights

Prehistory

The family tree of your own house it builds technically on the SLR Nikon F, which can be considered a collector's item today. They can probably also be seen as response to the notice published in the spring 1971 Canon F -1, which was more modern compared to the Nikon F. Development task was less of a great technical progress, but rather an elimination of the smaller problems that had been found with use of the Nikon F.

Modular design

The important parts of the F2 were interchangeable - were available interchangeable lenses, interchangeable viewfinder, interchangeable focusing disks, removable back cover, attachable motor drives, including a selection of battery parts, an attachable motorized iris control, Flash Connection, Viewfinder thread for accessories (such Dioptrenaugleichslinsen, Illuminator, viewfinder ), etc. The only missing feature that distinguished them from medium format cameras and some film cameras (Zeiss Ikon Bessa, Rolleiflex SL2000/3003 ), a removable film magazine was (there was, however, a Polaroid back wall of another provider ).

Motor and long film cassettes

For Nikon F2, there were a total of four motor drives, the somewhat simpler exported MD -3, those intended for professional users MD -1 and its successor MD -2. The MD-3 creates depending on the battery pack used a frame rate of up to 2.5 or 4 frames per second. The MD -1 and MD-2 reached 5 images per second and had a battery indicator and a motor rewinding.

The fourth motor drive MD -100 could only useful with the Nikon F2H - are used (see picture below) - version of the F2 of the high-speed. With his group shots were possible at 10 frames per second. However, it was to operate an extra-large battery pack, the MB -100, is required. It found either 20 AA batteries or four Special Batteries MN- 1 space.

The Battery Pack MB -1 took 10 AA batteries, but could also be equipped with the battery MN- 1, MB -2 took on 8 batteries. As another engine accessories there was a connection cable "MC- 7" for the separate accommodation of the battery pack ( for example, at low temperature), and cable release.

In contrast to the Nikon F, there was no specific motor for the long film magazines MF-1 (250 images ), and MF 2 (750 images), because they could be operated by a normal MD -1 and MD-2.

Rear wall

In contrast to the Nikon F, the motor does not have a camera back, but to be screwed under the camera ( in the recording of the tripod thread ). The Nikon F2 has a standard, removable back wall, which is interchangeable with the long film magazines mentioned above. However, are for the use of data back walls special versions, the "Data " models, required. Furthermore there is a special backplane for use with the motor drive MD-2 and MD -1, the ends of a contact, the rewinding motor, before the film has been completely drawn into the film cartridge.

Interchangeable viewfinder and aperture control

Characteristic and adopted by the F series is the system of exchange seekers. For the F2 there was next prism, window well (DW -1) and Photomicsucher also Loupe (DW -2) and sports finder (DA -1 ) for specific groups of users.

To change the viewfinder there is a bit hard to use small release button on the back of the camera body, as well as in the Photomic models another lever on the viewfinder. Only in 1980 the successor F3 the catch was much better resolved.

The basic version had a prism viewfinder, which shows an upright and side correct image. Another was the finder light shaft, useful for macro and micro photography. The light well (5 × ) equipped with a retractable magnifying glass.

The Photomicsucher allow metering and aperture / time adjustment. They include a measuring cell (CdS or silicon ) and are coupled via a ring with the shutter button and a slider with the lens aperture ring. Moving the shutter speed ring or the aperture ring changes a display in the viewfinder, the correct exposure or over-and underexposure displays. There were a total of five models. First, the DP -1 ( with measuring needle ) and the DP -2 ( with LED display), and later its further DP -3 with silicon diodes. The DP -11 and DP -12 were the last viewfinder models: In these, the former, somewhat complicated coupling of the lenses in the viewfinder by a coupling-type with the viewfinder cam has been simplified on the aperture ring. Only when the successor F3 light meter wandered into the camera body itself.

For the Photomicsucher DP-2, DP -3 and DP -12 also iris controls were available. These are placed in front of the camera ( pushed onto the accessory shoe on the rewind crank ) and electrically couple with the viewfinder and mechanically to the lens aperture ring. From the viewfinder controlled, the iris control the aperture adjusted by motor, so that the camera can be thus converted to an aperture machines. There are three models, DS -1, DS-2 (in addition flash connection ) and DS -12 ( for the DP -12).

The motion detector is within its scope ago a "better viewfinders " for macro and micro photography. It consists of an elaborately constructed six times magnifying glass, making it better than the folding motion of the simple viewfinder hood.

The sport - prism viewfinder allows the photographer to view the full image when wearing a helmet or a ( protective ) glasses (eg, skydiving or on the bike ). For special underwater housings of the sports finder is indispensable. So sports finder does not mean the "normal" sports photographers, but the sportswoman photographers.

The interchangeable viewfinders and focusing screens of the Nikon F2 and adjust the model F. When applying the F2 - seeker must at the " F" only the front nameplate be removed, which is straightforward but the screws are visible on the outside. The Photomics the "F2" do not work on the "F", however, since they expect a power supply from the camera.

Shims

The Nikon F2 allows rapid changes to different screens. The supplied shim had a sectional view of the center with measuring circuit and Fresnel lens. It is universally applicable. 19 different models allow for each use (macro, architectural, aerial photography) the optimal focus. Other manufacturers offer screens. Since the light passes through the disc in front of the light measurement and the measurement is influenced, the time / aperture combinations needs to be corrected in many slices after the change.

Mechanics

Since the Nikon F2, a purely mechanical camera, the shutter is " inaccurate " controlled by today's standards (no quartz crystal "counts" in it, the duration of a 1/2000 second).

The container is closed with the Nikon F2 with an extremely durable titanium blind that even after decades of serving. The fastest shutter speed is 1/2000 second, flash sync speed is 1/ 80 s, for which a separate detent is provided on the Zeitenwählrad.

Trigger

The now- standard Leica bell still is used for the cable release port. But there are adapters for "normal" cable release. The shutter release button has a finger guard ring, which also serves to trigger lock and to set long exposure times ("T", see below) is used, which are then selected using the self-timer lever.

A dash in a window in the middle of the Zeitenwählrads rotates with every shot in order to control the film advance can.

Mirror Up / Spiegelarretierung

The Nikon F2 has a mirror lock-up, a further characteristic of the professional class. This is a better solution than the Nikon F and allows an immediate upward pivoting of the mirror at turning a lever.

The ability to raise the mirror was necessary to use the " fisheye lenses " ( 1:5.6 / 6 mm, 220 °, 1:5.6 / 7.5 mm and 180 °, 1:8 / 8 mm 180 °, and 1:5.6 / 10 mm; 180 ° ) to allow their Linsenbau deep inroads into the camera body. Only later it was Nikon possible to implement appropriate wide-angle lenses by retro-focus construction so that they are no longer stuck in the camera body.

The company Cosina recently begun in certain markets, such as the UK, adaptations of their two wide-angle lenses of type " Heliar " brand Voigtländer than 1:5.6 / 12 mm and 1:4.5 / 15mm with Nikon bayonet, which is also due to their construction only can be used with mirror lockup. To it is a " blind detector ", which is placed instead of the normal F2 viewfinder and which has a receptacle for the optical viewfinder of the lenses.

In addition, the Spiegelarretierung is necessary when the engine is operating with 5 images per second, since the mirror can not swing fast enough back and forth. Finally, reduce the shutter sound and vibrations During mirror lockup.

Self-timer

As mentioned above, the F2 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. A number scale on the mount made it possible to read and adjust lead times. The lever also served as the setting of exposure time 2-10 s in conjunction with the " T" of the trigger.

Spring iris

As a modern camera, the Nikon F2 has been built for her along with the lenses using a automatic diaphragm function, which is effective as of the closing sequence simultaneously.

In addition, " communicate" with the lenses of older design with the exposure meter in the viewfinder Photomic. For this is the Nikon -style ( and no longer built ) " fork " on the aperture ring. For each objective change first had the aperture ring to the smallest value be set to adjust the Photomic viewfinder. After introduction of the Ai- lenses in 1977 and the F2A and F2AS this method became obsolete.

Further development in the history

All of these features are still to today's standard for professional SLRs. Improvements in the further development of the camera industry were essentially only the shutter control by microcomputer (and therefore the precise observance of times and enabling the automatic exposure ), shortening the minimum shutter speed ( at present 1/8000 sec), and the TTL flash exposure. Other newer techniques are primarily the convenience of the photographer or compensate for its inability to perform.

Models

The imprinting was performed with a built- in flash unit, the rear wall, which brought a picture of either a small clock, a counter, or even handwritten notes on the film.

Specific Accessories

Nikon (see also above)

MF-1 LCT 250 shots
MF-2 LCT 750 shots
MZ -1 film cassette 250 shots
MZ -2 film cassette 750 shots
SB -7E flash
BC- 7 flash lamp flash
SB -6 stroboscopic flash unit with mains / battery part LD-1
AH-1 hand strap
AR-2 cable release with Leica bell
MC-7 Connection cable from engine to battery pack
DF-1 fisheye viewfinder for placing on hot shoe
21 mm viewfinder for placing on hot shoe
DH -1 Iris control charger
DB-1 cold pocket for batteries of the iris control
DB-2 Antifreeze Pack for Camera Battery
MH -1 battery charger for MN -1 for motor drive
AR- 1 soft trigger
MR 2 additional trigger for motor drive
MC-1 motor extension cable ( between MD-1/MD-2 and trigger SC1)
AR-10 Double Cable Release for bellows and camera motor
MW -1, MW -2, ML- 2 wireless remote controls
DL -1 illuminator for illuminating the viewfinder

Third-party accessories (selection)

Polaroid back wall " Pro Back II", from researchers
Polaroid back wall "Speed Magny " with full format by deflection optics
Voigtlander wide-angle lenses with viewfinder adapter for F2 (to be inserted in place of the standard exchange viewfinder) 12mm F5.6 Ultra Wide Heliar with viewfinder
15mm F4.5 Heliar with viewfinder

28-70 mm; 1:4
75-200 mm, 1:4
200 mm, 1:3.5

Planar T * 1.4/50 ZF mm
Planar T * 1.4/85 ZF mm
Distagon T * 2.0/35 ZF mm
Distagon T * ZF 02/08/25 mm
Makro-Planar T * 2 /50 mm ZF
Makro-Planar T * 2/100 ZF mm
Distagon T * 2/28 ZF mm

Collectible and current use

Since many photographers today prefer a manual adjustment of image parameters focus and exposure, you can see the Nikon F2 is still regarded as a contemporary camera that also with motor drive, aperture control and auto-focus lenses can also achieve a high degree of automation. As of the date of coreless micro motors were not yet available, an appropriately upgraded Nikon F2 is, however, a heavy and awkward camera. Without the extensions, however, lighter than some successors and also by manual film advance then also fairly quiet. The (always possible ) Manual film rewind as an alternative to motor rewind permitted in problem cases, a film removal. For this reason, such a manual Rückspulmöglichkeit found in the Nikon professional cameras to the current Nikon F6.

Dramatic progress has been made in the field of flash control, eg Flash synchronization at up to 1/250 s, flashing down to the shortest shutter speed, multi-field flash control etc, where F2 can not keep up.

A solution for digital photographing with the F2, for example via a digitally upgraded rear wall, is not yet in sight, even if the Leica R8 / 9 demonstrated that such retrofits are possible in principle.

Age determination

The year of manufacture of a Nikon F2 obtained relatively accurate from the first two digits of the serial number of the upper housing cap. If the top cap is replaced, it says nothing more about an year in which the camera.

Functional test

The Nikon F2 is built very sturdy. A weak point of the ring resistors used in the Photomic - seekers who are swept during the adjustment of shutter speed or aperture of a contact. These resistors can wear out or get dirty, which is indicated by a "jumping " needle of the exposure indicator. Plastic gears been used, many of which are worn today or simply break - The MD-2 and MD-3 engines, but not with the MD-1, are - presumably for reasons of noise. However, there is a convert to a brass gears.

Since the operation of the F2 is very clear, a mechanical function check is done by "in- close inspection " quickly. Can the trigger soft trigger the shutter the titanium blind has no dents and holes and also wobbles no lens in it, then only has to be checked whether it complies with the shutter speed fairly evenly with the film. If you already own Nikon lenses or any third party with F mount, so you can use them all. It is necessary to consider whether the automatic diaphragm works. For the actuation of the stop-down should be enough.

Second hand market

The F2 was offered in both black and chrome. The black housing are now quite worn out, and a undamaged and not überpinselter paint is usually found only in copies, which migrate from the cabinet in the cabinet. The functionality of the black F2 is not affected by abrasion of the paint, and the paint is damaged, the less they can charge for the seller. The under it shining brass top of the housing cap, the viewfinder and the bottom panel gives it a patina perhaps desired by the photographer. However, Strong wear points to an intensive use of the camera (eg by a professional photographer ) and thus a correspondingly excessive wear of internal components.

Despite their high number (about 900,000 copies) and then spread the used prices are reasonably constant even after enforcement of digital photography. Specimens with Photomic - seekers can cost more than those without it (ie only in the basic equipment with prism finder as "pure" Nikon F2). Especially the last model F2AS achieved in good condition yet prices which reflect the then Neupreisen.

Compatibility with flash units

Like its predecessor and the successor to F Nikon F3 it has no normal hot shoe, but a characteristic of the former F- models own flash connector on the rewind crank. In addition to a specially designed flash units, there was an adapter ( " AS-1 " ) to connect a normal flash units. Auto flash does not offer this purely mechanical camera. Studio and hand-held flash units can be triggered via the cable ( with screw ).

Metering mode Canon Inc. Nikon F-mount Canon F-1 Polaroid Corporation Leica R bayonet

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