Nikon F2

Review Date
June 15, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Larry Miller , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
Read all these reviews and JUST GET IT!! If you can. AF & Digital do nothing for me. Digital's for convenience. Film is for seriousness. So is the F2.... Having a computer in a camera make the decision for you is foolish. IMHO

Strengths
Everything

Weaknesses
Not a One

Similar Products Used
Too many Nikons to mention over the years.

Customer Service
N/A

Review Date
May 6, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
jirish1957 , Expert

Price Paid
$700.00 at High School graduati

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
I've had mine since I was a teenager and using it is as natural as breathing. I've found that I am enjoying it more as I get older. Classic Nikon lenses that were out of my price range when I was younger are now readily available used on E-Bay along with Nikon filters, so I now have a great (circa mid-seventies) system. I'm having fun with shooting black and white and color, and, as many others have noted, using a manual camera forces you to think about what you are doing. My F2 continues to be my "go to" camera when I really need the shot and when I want to have fun with photography.

Strengths
It is the best manual SRL ever made, and with the range of Nikon lenses and accessories, your only limit is your imagination and creativity. I'm not a Ludite and enjoy using my Canon digital, but for me there is something special about loading up the F2 and shooting a roll of film...

Weaknesses
People complain about the weight, but I find that the typical digital camera with a typical zoom lens weighs about the same. I also have several Olympus OMs which have superior metering capabilities (which are are negated by my own experience using the Nikon for so many years) and are better at using flash. On the othe hand, I take most of my pictures with available light.) Parts and service are getting harer to find, but I suspect that there will continue t be folks out there who love these cameras and will continue to service them.

Similar Products Used
Nikon F, assorted Nikormats, Olympus OM 2, OM 4, Leica M3.

Customer Service
I had the meter recalibrated and had it cleaned and lubed by a local repairman.

Review Date
October 30, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Bryan Rieth , Intermediate

Price Paid
$200.00 at National Camera Exch

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Fine Art

Summary
Hands down best mechanical SLR ever made; nice heavy and durable. The camera has a nice solid feel to it, and all the controls are in the right place (for me anyways). The camera has a wide array of pro-features and assessories that put it a notch above the rest in the ranks of the cameras of its age, and even above many of todays. All and all, a camera that I will continue to use as long as it functions, which I have no doubt will be my lifetime.

Strengths
-Heavy, durable all metal constuction
-Wide array of lenses and assessories
-Plenty of pro features such as mirror lock-up and detachable viewfinders

Weaknesses
-Many of the photomic finders are at the end of their lives, and lack of repair parts means having to cannibalize other F2's for parts.
-Many would state wieght and lack of automation...light cameras and AE are for wimps though, so not really a downside.

Similar Products Used
Nikon F
Nikon FM
Canon AE-1
Canon F-1
Minolta X-700

Customer Service
Sover Wong in London. Just google him and see for yourself.

Review Date
April 11, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.80 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by
AChester1977 , Intermediate

Price Paid
$580.00 at camera shop

Photography Experience
6-10 years , People

Summary
I have been using the F2 for over 10 years now. It was the most reliable camera I've used and has a distinctive feel that other better cameras lacked. It is quite heavy and slightly larger compared to other mechanical cameras, the controls are big and feels robust; one can compare the feel and precision of an F2 to a classic Swiss clock. Contruction is incomparable, as the F2 represented the best 35mm body at its time, as well as after its time. Those who now appreciate as well as are learning the fundamentals of photography should make the F2 as their first and primary body; besides reliablity, the features on the F2 are rare: compatibity with old and recent lenses, 100% viewfinder, fully operational wthout battery (but no metering), titanium shutter, mirror lockup, multiple exposure, and access to the most comprehensive and mind-boggling photographic system ever created in the history of 35mm cameras, from motordrives to interchangeable finders and many other specialized accessories. The F2 is as much part of history as the photos that it has taken. Unfortunately, this also increases the high collective value of the F2 its accessories. If you are looking for and F2 ro use, my advice is to visit a few camera shops and look for good and fair condition F2 bodies, and skip the collector-quality ones. Try them out and inspect carefully; feel the buttons and levels, make sure it's not loose, but not too tight, inspect the finder and make sure its meter is accurate and as minimal dirt as possible, the inside foam that cushions the mirror should be in good condition, and try them out with a few lenses. If possible, you can request to mix around with other F2 models (ie. the finder is in better condition on one, but the body is no good, so you get a body from another).

Strengths
Best mechanical pro body ever made with pro features, extensive list of accessories, compatiblity with most lenses.

Weaknesses
Mint and like-new conditions cost a fortune, dissapearing repair parts & accessories, but if you are investing in vintage cameras then you should know the downside.

Similar Products Used
Nikon FM-2n, Nikon FG, Minolta SRT-101

Customer Service
None

Review Date
January 24, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by
Christian M Fisker , Professional

Price Paid
$500.00 at photoshop in jutland

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
Let me put it this way;There is no other SLR product that have such a high level as this (rate 4.92)for a number of reasons it is still used by many people every day both by pros and amateurs.
One of them is that this cam is very very strong and durable even compared to digital SLRs.!
You cant make such good looking BW photos yet,as with an Old F2 and a nice 50 mm 1,8 and a trix film put into the chamber.
or an Agfa pan ..etc..my clients love the way it looks,whether they are newly married or just ordinary portraits made with my F2 and 85 or 100 mm.
I also use this with an PB-4 bellow,attached with an DR-3 finder and my famed 55 micro nikkor in front and the results of this combi is amazing!for classic work like this it seems that the F2 can go on and on for ever!
I use the DP-2 (A2) meter which is absolutely stunning,last summer i went for Lisboa,Portugal and brought this F2 with me and a Vivitar 17 -28 mm Lens! wau! the pics we made together is and will always be linked together as part of a dream come true.It Does only slow down the moment YOU NEED to Think and Catch the pic in your head.The tool is a Nikon F2,how can you get it wrong??
Love Christian M Fisker

Strengths
all

Weaknesses
none! i mean it.

Similar Products Used
many

Customer Service
nope