Mechanical jewel, which one? Nikon F2, F, FM2 etc or No Nikon?

[pbromaghin]

Hi all,

I want to buy another camera.... Again the Last one.....

Denny

It always is the last one.

[CGW]

It always is the last one.

Just one more drink...Promise!

[Moopheus]

Olympus OM-1n? I don't think "jewel" when pick up an F2, but they are very solid.

As in, you could use the F2 to crush the Olympus into dust, and then take a picture of the remains. (I own both, by the way!)

[Jeff Kubach]

Depends on how many lens you have in the Nikon mount. If you have a lot stick with a Nikon like the F2. I like my old Canon F-1 with their inexpesive FD lenes.

Jeff

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Leicaflex SL: slightly more camera than tank....

You would get:
Better mirror damping
Better shutter damping
A far better viewfinder (probably the best SLR viewfinder ever - sorry Olympus OM fans... )
In some/many cases, better lenses.

As I said, maybe less of a tank than a Nikon F2 (do tanks take good pictures?), but a Leicaflex SL has famously survived being ejected from a crashing fighter jet and lying on the desert floor for months before being found.

Whatever you decide, newer *isn't* always better, often just more cheaply made....

[resummerfield]

My favorite mechanical 35mm camera, hands down, is the original Nikon F with the eye-level (non-metered) prism and a hand-held meter. There is nothing in the viewfinder except your image, and you see 100% of the view the lens sees.....

Exactly. The original F is built like a tank.

[CGW]

Not to be snarky, but I wonder if one of these days we can compile a list of pros and cons to the Nikon series and just make it a sticky.

Great idea and not just for Nikon. Might cut down on the windy OT testimonials and misinformation.

[StephanA]

I agree with the tank v. camera approach, which is why the last 35 I bought was a Contax IIA, 35+ years ago. "Takes a licking and keeps on clicking"

[Pumalite]

???

[PDH]

I have owned F, F2, and F3. The F2 is a very strong camera, higher shutter speed, than an F, the F3 is more modern, but the F with a non metered pentaprism, and 50mm 1.8 is just classic. But for the long haul the F2 would be my pick.

Other camers to think about, Spotmatic, Canon F1, and Minolta 201 or 101. I still have the Spotmaitc I bought in College in 1966, it was used at that. Last serviced in 1986, meter is spot on (no pun intended), will work with hearing aid batteries or just about any batttery that will fit. Lens are very good for the day and still hold up to many new lens.