I haven’t had an F2 in my collection now for almost three years now, but when I was in Toronto in December and walking up to meet my friend Bill I got the idea that I would like to do a video review on the Nikon F2. It was the last professional mechanical camera released by Nikon and is a rock solid performer. And of course, Bill has a tonne of F2s in his toolkit so all I could do was ask and he loaned me out this lovely black Nikon F2 Phototomic (DP-1 finder). So I took it out at the start of Feburary with the 24mm f/2.8 lens plus a yellow filter. My initial plan was to use Rollei RPX 100, but I switched to Kodak TMax 400 rating it at ASA-200 and developing in Kodak D-76 (1+3).
Nikon D750 – AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4D
Mechanical cameras and I have an interesting relationship, I like them but they don’t stay in my collection for long, although that did change with the Nikkormat FT2. But there is something special about the F2. The F2 is as important to the history of photography as the Nikon F because the F2 transformed the F into a camera separate from the rangefinder base that the F is built upon. For the first part, the fully removable back is replaced by a standard door (that could also be removed) and was designed from the outset to have a metered finder. Plus it also uses a standard silver cell making it infinitely more usable today. And finally being a system camera, the F2 could be upgraded as improved metering finders were released. Which means that someone who got into the F2 with the original DP-1 finder could purchase each finder as they saw released transforming their F2 Photomic into an F2AS at the last.
I have to say it felt good to get an F2 into my hands again I had forgotten how good the camera feels to use. Despite some of the weird little quirks with the F2 that some were fixed with the next professional SLR the F3 and then the F4. I’m talking about the lack of a standard hot shoe (although I can understand why) and the need for a specialty shutter release. Although I do have one kicking around that is from Leitz and designed around the Barnack-Style cameras. While Bill does have all the variations of the F2, I’m also glad I got the original Photomic as it is the version I’m familiar with.
The F2 is a beautiful blend of old and new, it is what I would call a perfect mechanical professional camera with the ability to be modified and customised to however the photographer would like. I can’t image running around with a motor drive and 250-shot magazine attached. But in this configuration it is far lighter than you would expect but still has enough heft behind it to let you know the camera is there. Plus compared to other pre-AI cameras, mounting the lens is far easier than it is even on my FT2.
So the real question in this whole matter is do I want to readd a Nikon F2 into my camera kit, well that’s a complex question. While yes, adding an F2 would be nice, but would it see enough use to be worthwhile. Remember when I said, I have an interesting relationship with mechanical cameras? Here’s the thing I have an excellent mechanical camera in my kit already, the Nikkormat FT2. Would an F2 be nice to add? Sure, but I would probably go for a later version or one without a metered finder and it would have to be a two-tone model. So until I find that right model I think I will wait for now.