Nikon F, Nikon FT Nikon TN, Nikon FTN, Nikon F2

In the late '60s thru the mid '70s, I owned three Nikons. The F, from '63, the an FT and TN. Later, in the '80s, I got an FTN. I loved all my Nikons and using them, particularly with the 105mm f2.5 lens on a tripod, I was processing PlusX with "NACCO" D-76 and Illford Polycontrast (no filters) paper 11x14 inch black and white prints. They were so sharp you couldn't see any grain and I was consistently getting 8 or 9 zones of gray scale. It helped having a Ziess lens on my Bessler enlarger.

Recently, after getting and using a reasonable digital camera for my web publishing, I just had to get another film camera, and it just had to be an older Nikon. I had planned on getting another FTN, but after doing a good deal of research, I found that all the "experts" are saying the the FTN is surpassed only by the F2 and the Lieca M3.....thus, now I own a 1973 Nikon F2, and again a 105mm f2.5, and now a 28mm f3.5 lens (which turned out not to be sharp at anything above 8x10), a 35mm/f2.0 and a 200mm/f4 which I haven't used yet. I've purchased all non-AI (older) lenses as a matter of economy mostly, but the older 105 is sharper than the new ones. So far what you see in the photo has cost me about $300. The lenses were purchased on ebay and the F2, at a New York camera store. I'm now printing on an Omega D3V and using powdered Kodak D-76, Dektol and still printing on Ilford RC multigrade.

September 2005

Since gong back to old Nikons, I've been scouring the world for a reasonably priced Nikon F and standard prism. I quickly concluded it'd be a tough proposition to get, especially a standard prism at a decent price, but I refused to budge.

The equipment seen in these two photos I ended up paying a bit over $60 for. Pretty damn good, wouldn't you say!!!

This is a prism for a F2 of what year who knows. I paid $25 for it. It does fit the '65 F, but it's a tad tight where the two red dashed lines are. The plastic tunnel connecting the eye piece is quite snug in the old F's slot for that purpose, but I wouldn't have pushed it in if I thought is would warp, bend, dent or otherwise damage anything.

The rubber cushion that the green arrow is pointing to, I believe is keeping the prism from locking down on the camera. It also appears that the infinity focus setting is off by just a tiny bit, and this may have everything to do with that. I'm considering removing the rubber to see it the prism will then fit correctly.

....and yes, I removed the black name plate off the prism.

I ended up deciding not to take the F2 Pentaprism apart or further modify it. It's just too valuable and it fits on my F2A perfectly. I may look to trade it for a silver one, though. And of course, I'll be looking for one to go on my F.