Nikon N2020 (F-501 outside North America)

<p><strong>Nikon N2020 (F-501 outside North America)</strong><br />1986-7<br /><br />Kadlubek Nr. NIN0750<br /><br />Although this was the first of the true Nikon AF cameras, it is the second report that I have done - earlier I did a report on the Nikon N8008s ( http://www.photo.net/modern-film-cameras-forum/00abnh ), a model from 1990-1 with more advanced features. It's long story, but I am back with the start of it all here. Briefly, I have been shooting early AF film cameras, from the Maxxum 7000, to a number of EOS Canons, and now it is Nikon's turn.<br /><br />In this case there are fairly good histories of this camera. Nikon's exemplary essay series has one at http://imaging.nikon.com/history/cousins/cousins15-e/index.htm .<br>

Wikipedia's article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_n2020 looks good too. <br /><br />Like other major camera makers, Nikon had originally played around with massive AF lenses that would fit onto more conventional non-AF bodies. In Nikon's case this was the F3AF of which Nikon's series says:<br /><br /></p>

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<p>At the beginning, it was studied to adopt the system of Nikon F3AF (with AI AF Nikkor 80mm f/2.8 and AI AF Nikkor 200mm f/3.5 IF-ED) which equipped the motor inside the lens barrel but it was abandoned because it would make the size of the interchangeable lens larger and cause the cost increase."<br /><br /></p>

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<p>So in terms of actual market economics, Nikon developed their first real AF camera, the F-501 - sold in the USA as the N2020, for reasons that are not clear to me. In any case, Nikon's response was really sort of a kludge (don't write, read on). Unlike Canon and some others, they retained their 1959 Nikon F mount (mostly) and managed to screw in (literally) an AF mechanism consisting of a little screwdriver that slots into a matching screw head on the lens proper. <br /><br /></p><div></div>

<p>Compared to the electronic elegance of their competitors this reminds me somehow of VEB Pentacon's valiant effort to make their deluxe new Pentacon Super ( http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00WMyi ) compatible with the older M42 screw in lenses. It works, but why do it? As a critic once said of the Checker automobile, "It's as though an insane engineer tried to make the perfect 1953 Chevrolet." (please, don't blow up, keep reading)<br /><br /><br />Of course, Nikon did finally move on from screw-drive AF, but it has to be admitted that they did not alienate their existing user base the way other companies did. It is still argued whether this "backward compatibility" was an overall plus, as other companies after 1987 moved into the lead in sales and use. I think we can't really be sure of what the exact causes were, however. I think neither Canon nor Nikon has had a shortage of funds for development.<br /><br />A contemporary Nikon ad for the N2020/F-501 is on YouTube at . It emphasizes sports action for the N2020, perhaps a claim scoffed at today, but the AF is really very usable and neat in operation, screws or ultrasonic motors, never mind.<br /><br /><br />Anyhow, I have learned one thing in the last few days, trying to shoot this camera. You really, really need to check to make sure every <br /> dotted, etc. <br /><br />Film has to be loaded just right and make sure it is really advancing, <br />the lens has to be set to f/22, <br />the lever on front of the camera has to be turned off manual to S or C, <br />the speed dial must be set to P or whatever automatic mode, <br />_<em>and</em>_<br />the camera switch also has to be set to S or C.<br /><br />If one of these things is not done, then it is critical that you look at what the camera is telling you when various odd symbols in the viewfinder blink madly. I shall go no further in detailing how I came to this checklist, but it is not a pretty story. Somehow I had less trouble with the Nikon N8008s. <br /><br />Here is a contemporary review from <em>Popular Photography</em> (July 1986):</p>

<p>First, I bought a Nikon N2020 on eBay for about $15. After getting the lens and all together, found out that the lens did not work (tried it on another AF Nikon at the local store). Sent in for new lens from KEH, they were very quick and got a "new" 35-80mm to me right away, but then I discovered that the first N2020 worked fine for focus confirmation, but that the AF was definitely kaputt. Bid on another N2020 on eBay, which I got for $2.76, except that it had a very high shipping cost for priority (but I wanted fast delivery anyhow). Waited, and it took the (probably disappointed) vendor 7 days to get the package into the mail stream. So much for expensive "priority shipping."<br /><br /><br />So, I had tried a roll of Walgreens' finest ISO 400 film, in the first N2020, but had rewound it after 7 exposures to use in the new, working one. First - I found out after shooting the rest of the roll that I hadn't got the film in properly, so I reloaded it, advanced it 8 exposures, ………. and forgot to change the speed back to P(dual) from 1000 (for advancing), so rest of roll was hideously overexposed.<br /><br />What happens when the shutter is set to 1000 instead of P(dual)-</p><div></div>

<p>Realized what had happened (making up the check list above in the process), got a new roll of Ilford XP2 Super 400 (C41 B&W), and after a day of rest, started all over again. <br />This time everything went well, the images were fine, fat exposures with the silvery quality of XP2.<br /><br />Banal is banal, but even that can wear thin after many repetitions, so this time I headed out for the Campus airport (code MDH). We used to have our own little airline that made flights from here to Louisville, St. Louis, and Chicago, but that's sadly gone now after a disastrous crash many years ago. Still, the airport is a very busy one, with both charter flights, a fixed-base operator flight school, and a university aviation school. I think that the touch-and-goes from flight training count as landings, so this inflates the importance of the airport. Mucho bucks have been invested in upgrading it over the years.<br /><br />I myself got a Private Pilot's License here (VFR only, though) with many adventures, but that is another story. Perhaps someday….<br /><br />Anyhow, here are some scenes at the airport:<br /><br /></p><div></div>

<p>More airport scenes:</p>

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<p>The campus fleet includes large and small planes. Train not only pilots, but also air traffic controllers and mechanics.</p><div></div>

<p>Somehow, clouds are never again so beautiful after one has learned to fly. (top)</p>

<p>A local bird seems to be emulating Jackson Pollack, fine art on a lamp post (bottom)</p><div></div>

<p><strong>At last, I'm done.</strong><br /> <br />My experience with this camera was not so pleasant as with the Nikon 8008s, nor should I have expected such a result. The fact is that the autofocus is considerably less capable than the 8008s. I had difficulty in getting focus to lock on to many subjects, and the movement toward correct focus was less certain and slower. Strangely, one of the most awkward things for me was finding the shutter button, which on the N2020 is still in the old, top-of-the-camera location, not forward as on later Nikons (e.g., the 8008s) or other cameras. <br /><br />However skeptical as I was of the wisdom of the effort to use a "screw" AF, I am here to testify that this "kludge" works very well. I have now shot two AF NIkons, this N2020, and an earlier report on a worthy successor, the N8008s ( http://www.photo.net/modern-film-cameras-forum/00abnh ). Despite the amusing little screwdriver spinning around, AF on the N2020 is OK and that on the N8008s seems just as quick as on their more electronic competitors, on which I have earlier reported at length. At the very worst, the N2020 and N8008s, are superb MF cameras with focus confirmation with any AiS Nikkor lens. However, even the cheap, plastic Nikkor AF D 35-80mm works just fine at AF. As Nikon said in their ads at the time, these cameras, including even the N2020, are really faster at focus than the vast majority of camera users.<br />All in all, still a capable shooter, although I am unlikely to do much with this as an AF camera in the future, although I think I will be doing a little more, if slowly, with the N8008s</p>

<p>Nice write up and cool pics of the airport. Thanks for taking the time to post this.</p>

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<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=1998172">Louis Meluso</a><a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub7.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/2rolls.gif" alt="" /></a>, Jul 27, 2012; 11:16 p.m.</p>

 

<p>Nice write up and cool pics of the airport. Thanks for taking the time to post this.</p>

 

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<p>+1<br>

A F301 (basically the same camera but lacking AF) was my back-up-body for a while. A neat camera with a nice „chirping” sound. I know some professional shooters who loved their N8008s (F801s) as a nice compact alternative to their F3/F4's. I still remember the grumble about the F90 (considered to be an impostor compared to the F801s :-).</p>

 

 

<p>Can't wait until you do a write-up on the Minolta Maxxum 7000 which was my first AF. It served me well until it started skipping frames for no obvious reason. I traded it in for a Canon Elan II, but I think the Maxxum was better.</p>

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<p>Can't wait until you do a write-up on the Minolta Maxxum 7000</p>

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<p>No need to wait. That was the first (other than the Canon EOS, which had a different goal):<br /> http://www.photo.net/modern-film-cameras-forum/00YGy4</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Cool review, thank you. I just picked up a 2020 for $20 at a local flea market- but what I really wanted was the 50 1.8 AF that was attached to it. The lens is nearly mint, but there is corrosion in the camera's battery compartment. Maybe I'll go ahead and see if I can bring it back to life.</p>

<p>As I have mentioned in other posts I have a number of N2020s. I have read that putting very heavy lenses on them can cause problems so I have avoided that. My collection of Nikkors includes very few AF lenses. A late 28-80 AF Nikkor (wide focusing ring) came with a Pronea 6i I have and I have used this lens with N2020s. It's surprisingly good if slow. I use the N2020s primarily as manual focus cameras, with the focus confirmation. They work very well that way. Even the standard screen is nice for macro work and for shooting with slower lenses. The N2020 also works well in TTL mode with the SB-15 and SB-20 flash units I have. There are much better AF cameras for shooting a car race but for more general shooting the N2020 is quite capable. </p>

<p>I agree with Jeff. I had a couple of 2020s for many years. It was certainly a 'good enough' AF body as I had little need for anything faster and I like the feel of it. Felt like a "normal" camera to me, not the rounded blobs that manufactureres made a little later on.</p>

<p>Harry, the Maxxum 7000 was my first AF camera body too. I wore that thing out.</p>