In praise of old Nikons...

[JAFO28]

Oldest Nikon I have is my N60, first SLR I ever owned and the camera that really got me started.
I also have my father's Argus C3 that he had in the Navy back in the 50's. Even have the light meter for it.

 

[Dave Maciak]

I have 3 Nikon film cameras now. I guess I'm a fan.

Me too, a fan. One of the 4 is a an "F" I bought made in 1963 bought from another GI while in Vietnam.
Carried on most of the time. Body once dried out (several times) still worked! Lenses tended to get fugus growing in them so I went through several lenses. Can you say "tropical rain?"
F, FT2, FM, F3hp MD-2, MD-12, MD-4

 

[Dave Maciak]

Me too, a fan. One of the 4 is a an "F" I bought made in 1963 bought from another GI while in Vietnam.
Carried on most of the time. Body once dried out (several times) still worked! Lenses tended to get fugus growing in them so I went through several lenses. Can you say "tropical rain?"
F, FT2, FM, F3hp MD-2, MD-12, MD-4

 

[Peeb]

Oh gosh. I've got:

Nikomats,
Nokkormats,
Nikon F,
two Nikon F2 models,
Nikon FM,
Nikon EM,
Nikon FG,
Nikon FG-20,
Three copies of Nikon N80,
All 3 of my F100's have died, so I'm not counting any of them.

My favorite is probably the FM (for intentional work), and the N80 for family gatherings and point-shoot events. Also a certain nostalgic fondness for the FG-20, which I used a lot in my youth.

 

[JoolsW]

Nice selection Peeb. Out of those, the everyday user, for me, is the FG. Super little camera.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Looking for something today and picked up my FM2n a few minutes ago. It has no film in it! Snowed today we'll have to fix that tomorrow.

 

[cgw]

FM/FE variants were special. Never got how Nikon muffed a digital version of that form factor. Fujifilm did it in 2014 with the XT-1 and later updates.

 

[Peeb]

Looking for something today and picked up my FM2n a few minutes ago. It has no film in it! Snowed today we'll have to fix that tomorrow.

Those are superior cameras! Wish I had one (better functionality than the original FM).

 

[MartinCrabtree]

My FM2n was a gift from a forum (not this) member. It was his father's who never used it just stored in a closet for decades. He knew I was into film and asked if I wanted it. I said sure don't even think I paid for shipping. When it arrived I could tell some shutter speeds were off so I sent it off. Spent 2 1/2 years waiting for Gus Lazzari to restore it. Worth the wait as it is as new now. It and the F5 are my favorites. Thinking I'll use a roll of T-max 100 that's been in the freezer for awhile.

 

[Dave Maciak]

Nice team of Nikons, ta for the pic. Must say my old Nikkormat is a very good memory... but it had no meter! -it was an early one, ha! talk about sunny sixteen... and I shot tranny only BITD. (The pen holder is pretty cool too I must say!)
I've just been working on a two Canons, and it's just a random impression, but the quality of manufacture of Nikons always seem a level above to me. I'm sure Canonistas will disagree. (I don't want to start a war ) Both these Canons have/had Battery door problems. (I know the AE1 is famous for it).
But...

No meter is not an excuse!! I still have the "F" I carried in Vietnam as a young soldier. The camera still works although way out of "calibration specs" I could usually bother the many news photogs for a roll or two of good ol' TRi-X . A strip of white medical tape on the camera back with exposure info which was contained in the film box. It worked!! Thank the lord for Tri-X latitude !
I'll post a photo of the veteran Nikon and post it.

 

[cgw]

No meter is not an excuse!! I still have the "F" I carried in Vietnam as a young soldier. The camera still works although way out of "calibration specs" I could usually bother the many news photogs for a roll or two of good ol' TRi-X . A strip of white medical tape on the camera back with exposure info which was contained in the film box. It worked!! Thank the lord for Tri-X latitude !
I'll post a photo of the veteran Nikon and post it.

You may have seen Taizo Ichinose's F with its gaping exit wound...

Indochina by Taizo Ichinose

. The haunting photo above showed the road leading to Angkor Thom – covered in detritus from the forest and devoid of any trace of people, except for a solitary human spine. It was taken by Taizo I…

iconicphotos.wordpress.com

My old F Photomic Ftn

 

[Wallycat]

I bought and sold so many Nikons over the years. The one that stays is my "hand-me-down" Nikkormat FT2 from dad when he went digital. He bought it new in 1977. Meter works fine. CLA'd in 2021 so it is ready for another 44 years.

Bought a F-5 two weeks ago at the right price. Good to have one again. Some cameras have the right sound and feel. My F-6 is nice but it is not the same...

 

[MartinCrabtree]

The F5 is just so stone axe reliable. Size bothers some. It can do anything you can come up with. Mine will never go anywhere while I'm still breathing.

 

[Wallycat]

Only issue I have had with a F5 is swelling of the grips. There was a time you could find replacement rubber goods. Haven't seen them for sale for a few years.

Easy repair if you can find the parts.

 

[Peeb]

The F5 is just so stone axe reliable. Size bothers some. It can do anything you can come up with. Mine will never go anywhere while I'm still breathing.

Must be steadier than the prosumer F100, which is the F5 lite. I burned thru 3 copies of the F100, and they all eventually had an electronics failure and either deliver the 'Eee' message, or just brick. Maybe I should give the F5 a go.