Lomopedia: Nikon F2

The Nikon F2 was a professional level 35 mm film camera made from 1971 to 1980. It's a mechanically-controlled single lens reflex camera with manual focus and exposure control. The F2 uses the Nikon F mount for interchangeable lenses and it also accepts other accessories like finders, focusing screens from previous models. One of the strengths of this camera is its modular system that lets users mix and match components according to their needs.

There are different versions of the Nikon F2 — with different prisms and photomic heads. These versions share the same durable body and mechanism that made the F2 a solid choice among professional photographers. As a matter of fact, the F2 was received very well by a lot of enthusiasts when it was announced at the 1971 Tokyo Nikon Fair. An estimate of 260,000 fans showed up for its preview, all excited for the promising feature of this system camera.

What really made the Nikon F2 stand out was its high-quality build and top notch performance. Very few cameras during the time could match the F2 (some would even go as far as saying that it bested Leica at some point.) Its horizontal travel focal plane shutter with titanium curtains was particularly commended for its performance and durability. As for the aesthetics, the F2 isn't too far behind with its timeless design and rugged style. Nikon F2 bodies came in chrome or all black.

Photos Taken by Our Community Members

Technical Specifications

Standard Lenses: Nikkor 50 mm f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2,0, and 50 mm f/1.2
Mount: Nikon F/bayonet mount
Shutter: 1 to 1/2000th of a second, titanium foil focal plane shutter
with intermediate shutter speeds available from X (1/80th of a second to 1/2000th of a second), ultra slow shutter speeds possible from 2 to 10 seconds
Exposure Measurement: center-weighted measurement at open aperture, manual exposure control, metering range EV1 to 17 with ASA/ISO 100 film
Film Type: 35 mm film
Winding Mechanism: single stroke or series of strokes, manual, with the possibility of a motor drive
Film Rewind: manual
Viewfinder: Interchangeable among 6 different types, finder screen is also interchangeable with 17 different accessories
Dimensions: 152.5 mm × 98 mm × 56 mm (body)
Weight: 730 g (body)
Other Features: With automatic instant-return type mirror with a lock-up feature, With depth-of-field preview feature

All information used in this article was sourced from Mir, Ken Rockwell, and Nikon.

Explore our collection of Lomopedia articles from the Lomography Archives to learn more about films, cameras, lenses, and accessories!

2018-04-11 #gear #lomopedia #slr #nikon-f2 #lomopedia #sytem-camera