F2AS - what is it like?

<p>I have just been into my local store and they say that their other branch has an F2AS, motor drive and manual in M- condition for 699 pounds. Now, they said that it really is a wonderful camera and that it is worth me visiting and looking at it. I will have a look, but what do you think of it? If it really is in nice condition, is it worth that money? I don't want to miss a bargain but on the other hand I don't want to overspend on something that is not worth the money.</p>

<p>I was not thinking of getting more film cameras (I already have the F3 and FM3a) but it does sound interesting.</p>

<p>Your thoughts really appreciated - I really don't know enough to make a decision (cannot afford to waste money these days as you well know).</p>

<p>Thanks, Ian</p>

<p>I used one for several years in the 70's. Wonderful camera.<br /> May be a problem finding batteries for the LED viewfinder metering system.</p>

<p>Sold it for about half the price you mentioned (in the 90's, after 20 years in storage!)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Back in the days when I was considering my first camera purchase, the F2AS was my dream camera - alas, it was way out of my price range so I purchased an FM instead. The F2AS is one off the cameras that held their value fairly well over the years. If I remember correctly, there were two different motor drives, MD-2 and MD-3 (being the slower one) - both take the same MB-1 battery attachment (makes for quite a stack though together they are about as high as the MD-4 for the F3). <br /> Whether or not the camera is worth it for you is something only you can decide - 699 pounds is a lot of money for a camera that is now at least almost 30 years old.<br /> BTW, thought you had an F6 too...<br>

Batteries: doesn't the F2AS use the same 1.5V silver oxide batteries like any other MF Nikon film camera?</p>

<p>Not a problem for finding batteries.I have put one lithium battery,instead of two silver oxide,which I think it has.<br>

If you want,write about,to tell you the type of this.<br>

I think,the only problem,is that ther ia not a replacement part for the resistor of the finder,if and when it goes off.</p>

<p>Battery should not be an issue as the F2 in all its guises uses modern 1.5V batteries. You can use alkaline or silver oxide.</p>

<p>However, it is not entirely correct to say that all manual focus Nikons use these modern batteries as the Nikon F, predecessor to the F2, uses the obsolete 1.35V mercury battery.</p>

<p>A fellow named Sover Wong is perhaps the foremost recognized expert in the history, service and repair of Nikon F2. I believe he resides in the UK. A Google search will turn up his contact info.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I think,the only problem,is that ther ia not a replacement part for the resistor of the finder,if and when it goes off.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I've heard the same thing. Before you buy, you might want to email Sover Wong about the chances for repairing an AS meter should it die.</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments - soaking them up here. Yes, it is a LOT of cash, but if it was 'unmissable' I could scrape it together and sell a couple of items.</p>

<p>Yes Dieter I have the F6 too and this is my 'main' camera for weddings and the like - the MF gear is just for the love of it and it has a different feel to the AF gear which makes for a different approach to my photography, along with a different style in the end reslult I have found.</p>

<p>Cheers, Ian</p>

<p>Sover Wong:<br /> http://www.soverf2repair.webs.com/<br /> Ian, I had toyed with the idea of purchasing a F2AS for sentimental reasons a few times- but then decided against it, in particular because of the somewhat high prices. It appears to be more of a collectors item now - which of course doesn't mean it cannot be used to actually create images. Aside from the feel, it will be no different in doing so than your F3 or FM3A - but it is a milestone camera. If you have to sell other gear to acquire it, I'd say it isn't worth it - but that's me.</p>

<p>The romanticization of the F2 escapes me. I've used it and the F3 (the last "super pro" MF camera Nikon made) and I'd take the F3 over it any day. And I'd take the F6 over either of them with its far superior metering. You want a MF camera? Turn the switch to MF on the F6 imho. (Then again, I won't shoot film anymore.)</p>

<p>You have better cameras. Skip it.</p>

<p>you do not shoot film anymore sorry for you </p>

<p>No need for a film vs. Digital debate. I don't shoot film now... but someday... Maybe I will again, Dave. It doesn't suit the kind of stuff I'm shooting right now, and I live in the back of beyond and don't have any quality E6 processing in my town, but I continue to lust after an F100 and a brick of velvia every now and then.</p>

<p>But one thing for sure, if I shoot film with Nikon, even if I go with a MF camera... I'll stick with an F3 or newer.</p>

<p>Well I still shoot film, and this summer am planning to shoot a bunch of slide film on vacation. I had my first 35mm SLR experience with my late fathers Nikon F, and later got the F3HP, which I absolutely loved. The F3HP is, to me, the pinnacle of Nikon manual focus film camera bodies. It is so well built it's a real pleasure to hold. And the sound it makes when the shutter is released is beautiful. A real solid piece of engineering. But no more, it was sold a few years ago and I now have a near new Nikon F100 that I will use for my slides. Another Nikon Gem.</p>

<p>The only F2 rarer is the F2SB which had the DP-3? finder which can handle either pre ai or ai lenses. I believe the F2AS can only use ai lenses. Would love to have an F2 AS but unless I win the lottery can't really justify the price since I shoot 99 percent digital. I'll just have to be happy with my F2 Photomic.<br>

Those who don't understand the allure of the F2 probably weren't around yet when it was king of the Nikon line. If the reason a person wants one has to be explained to you then you probably won't ever understand. For those of us who lusted after the F2 back then, owning one now is like the guy who finally bought or built that '32 Ford "Deuce Coupe" that he couldn't afford in 1963.</p>

<p>Thanks once again. After reading the relplies you kindly furnished me with I will leave the F2 where it is for someone else to buy and enjoy.</p>

<p>Ian - you appear to be suffering from a severe infection of NAS. :-)</p>

<p>I've seen some outrageous prices on the F2's in good shape lately. They are great cameras, but for the money, I'd buy an F6, or even an F5.</p>

<p >I'll stay away from the questions of 'is it worth the cost...worth it to me, etc.' I have doubts about 'bargain' in M- condition as most shops know the market and small shops, in particular, are more pricey. Food for thought...have you checked for comp sales? Should you consider its' future value with regard to your willingness to shoot it freely or perhaps only on sunny Sundays? Might you be reluctant to expose it to damage if it approaches collector quality? I take it you want a shooter.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Other than a lean toward 'collecting', it seems you would have considerable redundancy between the F3 and F2AS. Even the FM3a is loosely comparable in some respects but an F6 is doesn't enter the conversation for comparison's sake.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Unless you have a compelling need for the MD consider selling if acquiring. The MD is huge and heavy, requiring 8 AA batteries. The F2 body with the buxom DP-12 finder (making for 'F2AS') is larger and heavier than the F3HP. I much prefer the v'finder illumination of the F2AS over that of the dimly lit F3HP, which requires mashing the tiny red 'on' button.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >The Nikon DP-12 finder will mount non-AI and AI lenses. When mounting a non-AI lens the metering tab on the finder must first be pushed up where it will remain recessed until released. When shooting non-AI lenses stop-down metering is required. Rarer than the F2SB are the F2 Titan, F2 Data and even rarer yet, the F2 High Speed (hardly a regular production model).</p>

<p > </p>

<p >We have a raft of Nikon film bodies, among them three copies of the F2AS. I consider it a favorite over the F, F3 and, at times, M4. What is it like? Wonderful camera.</p>

<p>I've thought about the F2as a bunch of times, but never saw the benefit over the F3HP. I love the F3 more each time I use it. I love also love the F4 and F6 that I have. Used the F5 for a few years, but that camera never bonded with me like the others have. <br>

Good Luck if you decide to go with it.</p>

<p>Anthony</p>

 

<p>699 pounds? Thats nearly $A2000! It would have to be a mint one with everything working properly.</p>

<p>I use the F2AS far far more than any of the others in the F-F5 range. I honestly think the F2AS is a fantastic camera although I paid about £350 for mine a couple of years ago. Its interesting to see how peoples opinions differ. I had an F3 and didnt like it a great deal at all, I will get another one but it will be for the collection rather than using whereas I use the F2 a fair bit. Sover Wong can service it if you do buy one and he does an excellent job.</p>

<p>I remember one thing about the viewfinder of the F2AS that I handled in a store in1979 - there was no rubber ring around eyepiece and I would have scratched my glasses badly over time. Did they ever add one? To me the camera is an icon, but I'd rather spend my money on something more modern. When creating images, who cares that the camera was the pinnacle of mechanical SLRs? And had the shortest throw of the rewind lever (120 degrees if I remember correctly)? And stepless mechanical shutter speed from 1/125s to 1/2000? I am also fascinated with Leica rangefinders - though they are a pain when it comes to actual photography.</p>

<p>IMO the finder display of the F3 (a great camera) is horrible for manual exposure conrol. In AE, the F3 is fine - but unless you have eagle eyes working with that silly and miniscule +- indication is crazy in bright light and literally impossible in moderate or poor light, since the F3 backlight is impossible to activate conveniently even when it works, which it usually doesn't! If you want to shoot with manual exposure control, again IMO, the F2AS and similar finders (like the FM2 and some of the earlier DP-xx finders for the F2) are ideal for speed and clarity.</p>

<p>If money is an issue, sell the F3 and the F6 (keep the FM3A) and buy a D700 ...</p>

<p>Seth</p>

<p>I have an F2A, and I've always loved the ergonomics. Quality-wise these are pretty much the pinnacle for a mechanical camera - ask a camera repair guy. But sinking a lot of money into an old flim SLR in this day and age is hard to justify from the perspective of results. You could get some very nice Medium format gear for that sort of money, not to mention some very capable digital cameras. You should be able to find a clean F2A for about $300USD, unless prices have changed dramatically.</p>

<p>What Lilly said.</p>

<p>For straight manual shooting, the F2AS feels like a swiss watch, just inspiring to shoot.</p>

<p>An F3 with the MD-4 and the special Nikon NiMH batteries is the ticket for manual focus high speed shooting.</p>

<p>And Dieter, I've forgotten the precise specifics, but I *think* the non-HP F3 rubber clad eyepiece ring fits on an F2. Once I've set mine up this way, I forget exactly how I did it......</p>