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Post by SuperDeluxe on Mar 6, 2013 22:47:58 GMT -5
A couple months ago I found a Nikon F2A Photomic locally in absolutely fantastic condition. I tested at the seller's place and all seemed to be working very well. Included in the deal were the original case and strap, and two genuine Nikon accessories (the AS-1 flash unit coupler and the AR-1 soft release). Price paid was $100. At the time I thought this was an F2 body (that's how the seller listed it, and I don't know much about these Nikons). The price seemed right so I pulled the trigger.
Doing more research I realized that this was actually an F2A Photomic (good news, as it is more valuable). Playing with the camera, however, I realized that the mirror was sticky (bad news). I took it in to have it repaired and also professionally CLA'd. Today I picked it up. They tested it, everything works as it should, and of course the mirror issue is now gone.
The crazy thing is that the owner of the store told me that they sold an identical camera in identical minty condition for $900 a couple weeks ago. I don't plan to sell this baby anytime soon, but it's nice to know that those $100 were a good investment, even if I decided to spend an additional $80 to fix the mirror issue and have it CLA'd.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 22:06:15 GMT -5
$100 is a good price. I find it hard to believe that today anyone would pay $900 FOR ANY f2, however, unless it was still in a sealed box. IMO the F2 was the best film body Nikon ever made. The late models with the LED finder are high;y sought after by collectors. I have an early F2 that I paid, I think, $60 for but It's not in the same category as yours. Is that a Micro Nikkor lens on the camera?
Also, if you got it CLAd for $80 you got another bargain!
W.
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Post by SuperDeluxe on Mar 14, 2013 10:37:26 GMT -5
$100 is a good price. I find it hard to believe that today anyone would pay $900 FOR ANY f2, however, unless it was still in a sealed box. IMO the F2 was the best film body Nikon ever made. The late models with the LED finder are high;y sought after by collectors. I have an early F2 that I paid, I think, $60 for but It's not in the same category as yours. Is that a Micro Nikkor lens on the camera? Also, if you got it CLAd for $80 you got another bargain! W. Yes, $900 sounds like a ton of money for a used 35-year-old camera, regardless of the shape it's in. What the story tells me though is that I shouldn't have trouble finding a buyer if I ever decide to sell for the $180 I've invested in it  That's indeed a Micro Nikkor, the 55mm f/3.5 Ai. I've been surprised by its sharpness on my digital bodies. Also love the super-long focus throw. |
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Post by nikonbob on Mar 14, 2013 12:44:52 GMT -5
F2s are very nice Nikon bodies and I think you did well. The higher prices are usually because the F2 has one of the later meters attached, in particular the AS one, and condition. you have a very nice body and finder combo there and I think you are right in that you will not loose money should you sell. I don't have the 55/3.5 Micro but I do have the 55/2.8 version and it too is brutally sharp on digital bodies. It is also not bothered with colour fringing as some of the older manual lenses are on digital bodies. I don't know if these guys are getting what they are asking for the F2s but it gives an idea of what retail might be www.vintagevisuals.com/nikon.htm . Bob |
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Post by SuperDeluxe on Mar 15, 2013 19:30:34 GMT -5
Thanks for that link, Bob. I didn't even know that place existed, and they're around the corner... Well, two provinces to the left, but still pretty close.
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Post by nikonbob on Mar 15, 2013 22:46:04 GMT -5
Glad you found it useful. If I remember right Tim Tran ran the place and was pleasant to deal with. You wouldn't happen to be in the Peg? We are in Blunder Bay. Yea, it is just around the corner, used to make Calgary in two 12 hour days driving. Not so much any more.
Bob
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Post by SuperDeluxe on Mar 16, 2013 1:10:27 GMT -5
Glad you found it useful. If I remember right Tim Tran ran the place and was pleasant to deal with. You wouldn't happen to be in the Peg? We are in Blunder Bay. Yea, it is just around the corner, used to make Calgary in two 12 hour days driving. Not so much any more. Bob I am indeed in the Peg. Does my writing on the forum feel cold? I'm not sure where Blunder Bay is – had to google it and the only hit was in the British Virgin Islands – I'm not sure how you can make it from there to Calgary in 24 hours of driving... |
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Post by nikonbob on Mar 16, 2013 7:42:57 GMT -5
Sorry about the Blunder Bay bit, a little derisive humour about where we live. That is Thunder Bay normally. I have relatives in the Peg so we get there once in awhile for a visit. We know your weather and watch what is happening there because we usually get the same 24 hours later, thanks for sharing BTW. Being in the British Virgin Islands sounds pretty good right about now. If you are ever down this way feel free to get in touch for a meeting and coffee.
Bob
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Post by Randy on Mar 16, 2013 9:44:40 GMT -5
I've always thought that camera had a "busy" look to it.
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Post by nikonbob on Mar 16, 2013 10:55:43 GMT -5
I could not argue that point at all Randy.
Bob
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2013 20:23:28 GMT -5
The only bad thing about the F2 is it has the same shoe mount as the F -- an adapter that fits over the rewind knob rather than a shoe on top of the prism. A big advantage over the F is that the F2 uses silver batteries rather than the older banned mercury batteries. And, of course, the back is hinged rather than detaching from the camera when changing film.
My F/3.5 micro Nikkor is the older model made for the F and was changed to auto indexing by John White. Some older film lenses don't work that well on the newer DSLRs but the old Micro Nikkors are so sharp they make your teeth hurt.
W.
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melek
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Post by melek on Mar 31, 2013 12:32:09 GMT -5
I bought my F2A in 1980, and it's always been a very sturdy, reliable camera. It was my second Nikon, having first picked up an FE.
30+ years later, both are still great shooters. The F2A has needed very little service. I replaced the seals and mirror bumpers a few years back. Otherwise, it works fine.
In the mid-1980s, I was doing a lot of newspaper work, and I shot both cameras quite a bit. I usually carried both cameras, which let me continue shooting and then reload when I had the time.
I just came across a couple of screens that I had bought for the F2A.
I never had a huge stable of lenses: 20, 28, 50 and 105. I also had two Vivitar Series 1 zooms, with the hefty variable-focus 35-85 being the most used of them.
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Post by genazzano on Apr 1, 2013 3:05:04 GMT -5
I always lusted over the big black F2 Nikons at the UPI office where I was stringing. You found a great camera at an excellent price I think. Finally got my F3 and it sits in front of me still after decades of flawless operation. Also, the Micro Nikkor (f/2.8) is still the lens I often use on my DSLR to shoot the cameras for the web site. Sold my 650 back 10 years ago on ebay... a big mistake. David
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Post by herron on Apr 1, 2013 15:10:14 GMT -5
I always lusted over the big black F2 Nikons at the UPI office where I was stringing. You found a great camera at an excellent price I think. Finally got my F3 and it sits in front of me still after decades of flawless operation. Also, the Micro Nikkor (f/2.8) is still the lens I often use on my DSLR to shoot the cameras for the web site. Sold my 650 back 10 years ago on ebay... a big mistake. David Sounds like she could be my wife's sister. My collection is down from it's peak. Only have about 240-250 right now (and it's actually going down as I get rid of duplicates I had been hanging onto for 'repairs and such.') I realized they've all been repaired, at least he ones I intended to repair. None of them get used much anymore.  I have a Canon digital and a small Lumix digital (the one with the Leica lens), and I carry them around most of the time. For snapshot type things, my wife an I have been using our i-Pads. It's getting to be a hassle to find film and developers anymore. Even the store where I used to buy chemicals for my own B&W developing has gone out of business.  |
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Post by genazzano on Apr 2, 2013 2:06:53 GMT -5
Same situation, Ron. I do shoot film once in a great while but only for technical shots - testing shutter and lens performance - but my refrigerator is beginning to fill with exposed film these days. Chemicals are difficult to dispose here and our new septic system is too delicate to dispose of even dilute solutions since it's a new kind that is very small. Even clorox can't be used cleaning the house any more. Anyway, I'm so accustomed to using my DSLR and, seeing images instantly and finishing them on PS that I no longer can wait until negatives are returned by mail (ie Italian mail remember).
David
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