A 1970's Time Capsule
Mar 13, 2022 00:19:07 #
My friend of many years, Bob, has a son, Tim who is an Army Colonel. Tim and my son were friends years ago and went to grade school together. Tim knows I am interested in photography and Nikon cameras as his dad is. About a week or so ago Tim sent me a text message saying he had met a friend, another Colonel who had inherited a few cameras. He sent me some phone photos and one of the cameras was a Nikon F2 with a DP1 meter prism. Along with the camera were three lenses and some other kit in an old very beat up Nikon hard side bag. He wanted to know if I was interested. I told him I definitely was and asked the price. He said he would get back to me. A couple of days later Tim texted me again and said the equipment was mine and he would ship it to his dad. It arrived on Friday.
What I ended up with was a Mint condition F2 with three mint lenses, a 24mm 2.8, 105mm f2.5 and a 200mm f4. Also in the bag was another focusing prism, 7 various filters, a cable release and a roll of 36 exposure Ektachrome ASA 400 film. The lenses all look pretty much brand new. With the 200mm it appears it has never been on a camera. The other two are very close as is the camera. I took a good look at the camera today before taking some not great photographs. I had a hard time finding a mark on it. The meter which I thought probably would not work seems to work fine so far. At least the needle goes side to side when I change exposure. Of particular note is the old fashioned 70's camera strap that is about 3 inches wide and about as gaudy red as one could imagine. I believe it belonged to the friend's grandfather who died. The camera was found up in the attic. It looks as if someone bought it and then put it in a Nikon bag and forgot about it. The bag as you will see is really worn and cracked. Inside there is three bayonet attachments where each lens bayonets onto the bottom of the case. The camera sits above the lenses.
All lenses are of course from the same period and when comparing the lenses to those my friend has, his were made around the same time. We saw a difference in the lens hood for the 105mm f2.5. His was much shorter than mine. Both had the buttons on each side to push in which released a circular spring. But his stopped there. Mine had another circular spring out toward the end of the hood and appeared as if it was supposed to work similarly to that which threaded into the lens EXCEPT there were no buttons to push nor any way to compress that spring. There was also nothing we could come up with as to why there was a second spring. Does anyone have one like this is described. Any idea what the second spring would be for. The 24mm has a very shallow lens hood and the 200 has a sliding lens hood permanently attached. Everything is metal and no plastic seems apparent anywhere.
I am looking forward to using this camera. I have had F2's in the past, a number of them in fact. But this one will be a keeper. Most likely I will transfer the equipment to a much lighter case as this whole outfit is incredibly heavy. A video on YouTube said the F2 was a tank, a beast of a camera. It sure is.
Dennis
What I ended up with was a Mint condition F2 with three mint lenses, a 24mm 2.8, 105mm f2.5 and a 200mm f4. Also in the bag was another focusing prism, 7 various filters, a cable release and a roll of 36 exposure Ektachrome ASA 400 film. The lenses all look pretty much brand new. With the 200mm it appears it has never been on a camera. The other two are very close as is the camera. I took a good look at the camera today before taking some not great photographs. I had a hard time finding a mark on it. The meter which I thought probably would not work seems to work fine so far. At least the needle goes side to side when I change exposure. Of particular note is the old fashioned 70's camera strap that is about 3 inches wide and about as gaudy red as one could imagine. I believe it belonged to the friend's grandfather who died. The camera was found up in the attic. It looks as if someone bought it and then put it in a Nikon bag and forgot about it. The bag as you will see is really worn and cracked. Inside there is three bayonet attachments where each lens bayonets onto the bottom of the case. The camera sits above the lenses.
All lenses are of course from the same period and when comparing the lenses to those my friend has, his were made around the same time. We saw a difference in the lens hood for the 105mm f2.5. His was much shorter than mine. Both had the buttons on each side to push in which released a circular spring. But his stopped there. Mine had another circular spring out toward the end of the hood and appeared as if it was supposed to work similarly to that which threaded into the lens EXCEPT there were no buttons to push nor any way to compress that spring. There was also nothing we could come up with as to why there was a second spring. Does anyone have one like this is described. Any idea what the second spring would be for. The 24mm has a very shallow lens hood and the 200 has a sliding lens hood permanently attached. Everything is metal and no plastic seems apparent anywhere.
I am looking forward to using this camera. I have had F2's in the past, a number of them in fact. But this one will be a keeper. Most likely I will transfer the equipment to a much lighter case as this whole outfit is incredibly heavy. A video on YouTube said the F2 was a tank, a beast of a camera. It sure is.
Dennis
Mar 13, 2022 06:15:40 #
Mar 13, 2022 08:05:59 #
Mar 13, 2022 09:01:41 #
Mar 13, 2022 09:54:58 #
Mar 13, 2022 09:58:54 #
Mar 13, 2022 12:57:53 #
Mar 13, 2022 16:15:04 #
Thank you to everyone who joined the discussion. Forgive me for not addressing each one separately as I looked at is as simply a discussion. I appreciate your comments. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will put this F2 Beast to work and see just how it does, how sharp the lenses are etc. I think I will enjoy using it from time to time.
Dennis
Dennis
Mar 13, 2022 16:18:12 #
mwsilvers
Loc: Central New Jersey
Wow! Everything, except the case of course, looks practically brand new. Very cool! Enjoy!
Mar 13, 2022 21:28:48 #
mwsilvers wrote:
Wow! Everything, except the case of course, looks practically brand new. Very cool! Enjoy!
Thank you. I bought two batteries today for the meter so should be set.
Dennis
Mar 14, 2022 05:46:52 #
Mar 14, 2022 06:44:36 #
I still have one of those cases which I've come close to throwing out a few times! Also still have 2 Nikormat bodies and a couple of lenses.
Mar 14, 2022 07:26:55 #
Mar 14, 2022 08:40:20 #
I believe the second ‘spring’ inside the lens hood is so the hood can be reversed. Try flipping it around. It should accept the lens cap, and will probably fit in the camera bag that way.
I have a bag like that, and just sitting in storage it, too, cracked horribly. No idea what material they used in making it, but it self-destructs after 30 years or so.
I have a bag like that, and just sitting in storage it, too, cracked horribly. No idea what material they used in making it, but it self-destructs after 30 years or so.
Mar 14, 2022 08:55:29 #
Jeffcs wrote:
I had that case rear elements got dusty dirty all the time
Thanks Jeffcs. I can believe that. Next month I will be at my home in Idaho where I have a few empty camera bags. I will transfer this kit to one of those cases and end up with a little lighter weight and more protection. It seems like an ingenious case but your comment points out a problem. The inside of the case was filthy until I vacuumed it out.
Dennis
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