I bought my first Nikon 50 years ago (Page 3): Do you still have the time machine?

Leitz Loc: Solms

billnikon wrote:

I bought my first Nikon Ftn 72 years ago.

Do you still have the time machine?

hrblaine

[quote=grandpaw]My dad had given me other cameras but my first purchase on my own was a Nikon "F" with a FTN meter and F2 50mm lens fifty years ago and I still have it and it looks like new.

I can't recall when I got my first F but I'm sure it was after I graduated from law school in 1962. I came home from Korea with a Contax 35mm in the mid 50s iirc, had a Voightlander first, then the Contax, both bought through the Army PX. When I went digital, something convinced me to switch to Canon. been there ever since, currently shooting with the "old" 5Dc. Had it a long time, still meets my needs!

Harry PS At 90, I'm not much of a heavy user anymore as most of my energy goes towards my dogs as I still field trial English Cockers and Pointers in their respective venues. (BTW, my Pointers have long tails and are originally from England not Germany!)

brontodon

I remember when Nikon insisted that their cameras would continue to work without batteries. The F3 had a single manual shutter speed, 1/90 sec., and even the inexpensive EM had one. Of course, in the digital era that's no longer the case.

AnthonyBiss Loc: Toronto, Ontario

grandpaw wrote:

My dad had given me other cameras but my first purchase on my own was a Nikon "F" with a FTN meter and F2 50mm lens fifty years ago and I still have it and it looks like new.

I have owned a D80 and D90 for my first digital cameras. I have also owned a D600 and currently own a D7000, D810 and D500 with a Z6ii on order.

Needless to say I am a Nikon fan.

What a mistake I made, I traded in all of my Nik film oldies, except a D90 for the D3S, D300s, D7100, No more trades. Can't dump those great lenses I have.

DMZX

This thread stirred up some nostalgia. The camera on the left was bought at a PX in 1973 with a 1.7 55mm lens. I used it until 2000 when I got a 5 MP Olympus. It is still in good shape as I religiously kept it in a black leather case. It is fully manual now, (battery not available), but the meter only gave an aperture suggestion.

The camera on the right has a manual 1.8 25mm lens. Smaller, lighter and much more capable, but it is able to give me the a similar look that the SLR produced with color film. Using it can be challenging, but sharpens my old film skills.

tommyII Loc: Northern Illinois

Me too. I've been a Nikon shooter ever since.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Have one just like yours grandpaw! Best that I can remember got it around 1975.

Don

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

grandpaw wrote:

My dad had given me other cameras but my first purchase on my own was a Nikon "F" with a FTN meter and F2 50mm lens fifty years ago and I still have it and it looks like new.

I have owned a D80 and D90 for my first digital cameras. I have also owned a D600 and currently own a D7000, D810 and D500 with a Z6ii on order.

Needless to say I am a Nikon fan.

Very nice. My first Nikon was a D50, and D80, D90 and D3400.
along with a Coolpix S9600 which replaced the stolen S8200. Still have and use all five
regularly and they all look like new also. Go Nikon!!

ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

rdgreenwood wrote:

On July 17, 1968, I arrived in Atsugi, Japan, on m... (show quote)

So so sorry for your loss. But a wonderful memory of your last moments with your son. BTW thank you for your service. Ron

GreyOwl40 Loc: Quebec City

bsprague wrote:

Couldn't afford that beast so I bought a Nikkomat while on an Asian deployment.

Bought my first Nikkormat FTn with 50 mm f1.4 lens in Oct. 68. Still have it. Over here they had the r. A friend ordered his from Hong Kong and, of course, it was missing the r.

Camlane Loc: North Carolina

grandpaw wrote:

My dad had given me other cameras but my first purchase on my own was a Nikon "F" with a FTN meter and F2 50mm lens fifty years ago and I still have it and it looks like new.

I have owned a D80 and D90 for my first digital cameras. I have also owned a D600 and currently own a D7000, D810 and D500 with a Z6ii on order.

Needless to say I am a Nikon fan.

I ordered an FTN to take to Expo 67 but it didn't come in time so I settled for an FT with 1.4. Still works great but is rarely used.

tschuler

grandpaw wrote:

My dad had given me other cameras but my first purchase on my own was a Nikon "F" with a FTN meter and F2 50mm lens fifty years ago and I still have it and it looks like new.

I have owned a D80 and D90 for my first digital cameras. I have also owned a D600 and currently own a D7000, D810 and D500 with a Z6ii on order.

Needless to say I am a Nikon fan.

That's the same camera I bought 49 years ago when I was in Japan for the Boy Scout World Jamboree. It was my first DSLR. Before that, I had a Kodak Hawkeye and a cheap plastic Polaroid.

tschuler

jerryc41 wrote:

I bought the same camera a few years before you. After it sat in a closet for a few years, I put it on eBay in 2005. It went to a man in Dublin, Ireland ($300). I've often been tempted to buy another one on eBay, just to have.

You got a good deal. I paid very close to $300 when I purchased it new in 1971. You basically had a great camera for free.

beeyul69

Almost 50 for me too, got my first Nikon, the F, while in Japan 1974 😎

wide2tele Loc: Australia

ronpier wrote:

Very nice. My first Nikon was a D50, and D80, D90 and D3400.
along with a Coolpix S9600 which replaced the stolen S8200. Still have and use all five
regularly and they all look like new also. Go Nikon!!

You started late and beat me. I started with a F90x. These guys in this thread are making me depressed! haha
Always "desperately" wanted a Nikon F4s, my dream Nikon. Would buy it today if I ever found one in as new condition.
Go Nikon!!!