Nikon F Questions: I have my Dad's Nikon F camera and have some questions. In searching, I have not found one that looks just like this one. I am hoping that some of you who are more...

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

I have my Dad's Nikon F camera and have some questions. In searching, I have not found one that looks just like this one. I am hoping that some of you who are more knowledgeable on older Nikon's can help. The numbers on the camera for some reason, don't relate to when the F series was built. I was under the assumption that Dad purchased this Nikon in the late 50's, but could be wrong.

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

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buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

Others will know more than I, but it is a "f" Photomic, which preceded the Photomic FTN. It metered through the lens, but was an averaging meter. This one has the motor drive, which was an option with the F. As I recall, the Photomic came out in the mid "60s. Although the prisms were interchangeable, I don't remember if you could just slap the photomic prism on a regular F. I never tried it. The serial Number does indicate the age, but you have to know how it works. An F with three 0s at the beginning, is among the first manufactured, and could be quite valuable.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

Thanks Buckwheat! The only numbers I could find are the one's in the photos. On the top left: 84475 and one on the back at bottom is: 132034 None of these match the Nikon site on the F series Nikon. Did not see any others.
The lens is a Nikkor S 50mm 1.4

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

Opp's, double post.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I disagree. The FTn viewfinder, which I think you have, has a little silver screw in front of the ASA wheel. Probably made in 69-70, but would need the serial number on the bottom of the viewfinder to date it. The camera itself was made in 1969 (serial #6926625) equipped with motor drive and battery pack.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

The one number on the bottom is on the motordrive. The number on the top left side is a low number, but no match with the F series numbers.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

OddJobber wrote:

I disagree. The FTn viewfinder, which I think you have, has a little silver screw in front of the ASA wheel. Probably made in 69-70, but would need the serial number on the bottom of the viewfinder to date it. The camera itself was made in 1969 (serial #6926625) equipped with motor drive and battery pack.

Thanks OddJobber, but where do you see that serial number? I know Dad had several Nikons over the years. He may have traded or sold the older one, because he had a Nikon before 1960.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

The top left number on back is for the battery pack.
The motor drive number is just below Nikon (your second picture).
The camera serial # is next to the rewind knob, by your thumb in third picture.
Viewfinder # is on the bottom of the viewfinder which has to be removed to see it.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Oops! My bad. :oops: I dated the body from the 69XXXXX number, but another source says the 692XXXX was made between Jun and Oct 1968. Go figure!

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

OddJobber wrote:

Oops! My bad. :oops: I dated the body from the 69XXXXX number, but another source says the 692XXXX was made between Jun and Oct 1968. Go figure!

Thanks for that information. I never noticed that. My son has the camera at his home and sent me the photos so I could ask. Will see if he can get the other number for me.

Nikonhermit Loc: In This Place

juicesqueezer wrote:

I have my Dad's Nikon F camera and have some questions. In searching, I have not found one that looks just like this one. I am hoping that some of you who are more knowledgeable on older Nikon's can help. The numbers on the camera for some reason, don't relate to when the F series was built. I was under the assumption that Dad purchased this Nikon in the late 50's, but could be wrong.

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

The Nikon F came out in 1959, but it did not have a metered prism back then. This one has a metered prism called the Photomic FTn, which measures light through the lens. The first example of this Photomic FTn was introduced in 1968. It remained unchanged until the end of the F line, though the camera body changed in minor ways. The last F body shared the plastic-tipped advance lever with the F2 and was informally called the "Apollo model" because it accompanied that space mission. So- this is at the earliest a late-sixties Nikon Photomic FTn.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

Nikonhermit wrote:

The Nikon F came out in 1959, but it did not have ... (show quote)

Thank you for that feedback as well. Dad always had a Nikon and produced many photos in his darkroom. He wasn't one who babied his equipment, as the photos show. lol
I still have many photos he took during WWII. He was a photographer and was stationed in the South Pacific.
Some of his best shots during civilian life was of bridges. All in B&W.

GC-FineArt Loc: WDC

juicesqueezer wrote:

Thank you for that feedback as well. Dad always had a Nikon and produced many photos in his darkroom. He wasn't one who babied his equipment, as the photos show. lol
I still have many photos he took during WWII. He was a photographer and was stationed in the South Pacific.
Some of his best shots during civilian life was of bridges. All in B&W.

And if you should be interested in trying it out for yourself, you can download user manuals, not only for the F," but also for the Ftn finder and the battery pack/motor drive here: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon.htm :)

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

juicesqueezer wrote:

I have my Dad's Nikon F camera and have some questions. In searching, I have not found one that looks just like this one. I am hoping that some of you who are more knowledgeable on older Nikon's can help. The numbers on the camera for some reason, don't relate to when the F series was built. I was under the assumption that Dad purchased this Nikon in the late 50's, but could be wrong.

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

This is a Photomat FTn that started production in 1967, I have the one with serial # starting 72xxxxx, and also a Nikkormat FTn serial # 38xxxxx. The motor on your Nikon is model F36 motor drive. You can check it on line for the whole history of Nikon profuction.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

I have several Nikon 'F's and oddjobbers info is correct. The winder and battery pack are scarce, and if working makes them doubly scarce, I have 3 sets of them....none work! :wink: