Nikon F finder questions

[richard_laepple]

Hello all, I've found a clean rare black eyelevel prism for a F. I

thought it would be nice to get body for it. I have 2 questions.

 

</p>1. Most Fs come with photomic finder. Are the original name plates

under the photomics or is it necessary to remove them for attaching

the big finder? So, when I change the finders do I need an extra name

plate?

 

</p>2. Many eyelevel prisms have or will get glass separations. As far

as I know it's no problem to attach the F2 standard prism on the F

(and the F prism on the F2). Are F prisms more prone to separation

than F2 prisms? Do you have any experiences? Thanks in advance.

[david_h._hartman]

The Nikon F has the name pate on the body, the Nikon F2 has

the name plate on the finder. If you wish to install an F2 finder

on a Nikon F you need to first remove one of the name plates. In

respect for the old girl Id remove the F2 name plate not

the Nikon F name plate. Id store the F2 name plate with

care so it can be reinstalled at a later time.<br>

<br>

I only owed a Nikon FT finder over night. I swapped it for a mint

standard prism. I never removed the name plate from my Nikon F. I

must conclude that the FT finder as well as other Nikon F finders

such as the FTn finder fit over the name plate on the body.<br>

<br>

Hope this helps,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

[vick_ko]

The F nameplate is screwed to the body. It is under the Photomic finder, no modifications to the finder nor body are needed.

 

On the F2, the nameplate is attached to the finder, not the body of the F2.

 

I done not know of higher probability of separation on the F2 vs the F finder, just that the F2 finder will be newer.

 

regards

Vick

[kelly_flanigan1]

The Nikon F body was modified about 1965 to accept the larger Photomic. The F standard will fit all b F bodies. The newer Photomic had to have a milled out area on the earlier bodies. The Nikon F bodies that came with reg prisms; but were already factory modified when built came with a red dot. Earlier 1959 to 1965 bodies were often factory or non factory modified to accept the larger Photomic; ie "made like a red dot body". This happened 6 years after the Nikon F body came out. For some reason collectors think these are early bodies. The red dot is like a Ford Pinto that 6 years into production went from leaded to unleaded gas; and came with a special decal "unleaded only" by the filler cap for only say a year.. Collectors then flock to the odd rare "unleaded decal Pintos" as being collectable. At the time the red dot was just a clue that the Photomic would fit with no mods.

[kelly_flanigan1]

Many Nikon F's were sold with standard prisms. The TTL photomic didnt even come out for over 1/2 decade plus later after the Nikon F came out in the spring of 1959. In many organizations the standard prism was the standard camera settup. The metering systems changed many times before the Photomic FTn that one sees on Ebay alot became the norm. There were about 3 self powered meters; a CDS external cell unit; a WL finder; a 6X precision finder; Sports Finder; that were out before the Photomic T came out.

[mskovacs]

If I recall, there were two eye level prisms sold for the F. I think the early one had a square eyepiece, the later had a round eyepiece like the F2, perhaps coinciding with the Nikon F "Apollo" models with Nikon F2 cosmetic touches?

 

Memory is foggy today, maybe you can confirm what you have.

[richard_laepple]

Mine is the later version with round eyepiece (threaded). It shows a vertical separation line in the middle from top of the frame to the bottom. Maybe it can be used like a grid line. Everything else is very clean.

[kelly_flanigan1]

Most of mine are the older square eyepiece ones..