A solid design, built to last. After all these years the camera sill works.

If any thing does break(which is rare) parts are hard to find.

Frankly the best camera I've ever used. The F is the most reliable camera as well. My F is 36 years old and still works great.
My father bought my Nikon when he was in the Viet Nam war, stationed is Okinawa, Japan. He was an itellegance photographer in the Air Force. He wanted a professional quality camera for himself so he bought the F; this was back in 1965.
About 5 years ago he pass the camera on to me for a photography class in high school. I don't think he knew this camera would last this long. However I know this F body will last for many years, so I can pass it on to my kid someday.

Customer Service

Who needs it. However if you do, I have found a repair shop that still has parts for the F. "Allied Camera Repair of Oak Park Heights, Inc" in Stillwater, MN.

Similar Products Used:

All types from point-shoot to N-90's, including digital.

Will always work, despite weather, age, and lack of support structure batteries, local repair facilities). Suffered one failure with the F coupled with the F36 motor drive,--repaired by EPOI and never failed again. Also, retrofitted the hardened steel insert strap lugs. Have several of these, and every Nikkor lens I own will fit on them, from the earliest fisheye, to the latest AF-S Nikkor.

Hot shoe contacts sort of flaky, mirror lock-up should have been retrofitted for every F to avoid wasting frames

Rugged shutter will outlast nearly every photography out there. A precision tool that just runs and runs.

Customer Service

Not as bad as one would expect for a 30 year old camera. Fortunately, parts are in good supply since there are so many Nikon F bodies around.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FTn, Nikkormat FTn, Nikon F3, F3/T, Nikon F5, Hasselblad 903SWC, Nikon Coolpix 950, Canon IIB, Canon ELPH, Nikonos II, Nikonos V

F1Solid, durable, great optics, multiple viewfinders and focus screens, great optics, legendary status

None, unless you're a sissy

Just go out and get one of these on the second-hand market - and then you can get on with your life. The F is the camera that counted back in the 60s, and it still counts today. It's not really a camera - it's a beautifully engineered machine for taking photographs. Sure, it can't keep up with the later F models, and even the Nikon FM can probably out-perform it. Still there's something about an F - the way it looks, the way it leaves you out there on the edge, actually having to think (!) before you shoot the picture. Makes a photographer feel like a photographer. You can pick up a good body on ebay for $150. A Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 will cost you $70 - $100, depending on condition. Don't bother with the eye-level prism; an undented one will cost you over $200, and the d*** thing doesn't even have a meter. Get the Ftn metered eye-level finder for around $80 - $110, and pick up a waist-level finder too (another $100-$150). I mostly use the meterless waist-level finder, which keeps you on top of composition because you have 100 percent field-of-view. Then you just pop in a architectural (multi-grided) focusing screen and you can cruise right back to the land of the Rule Of Thirds. I've probably had five of these in my life, lost two, dropped one from a helicopter. I also have an F2 and an F5. But when I just want to go out and have fun with a camera, I always bring along an original Nikon F.

Customer Service

not often needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon F1

*****durability
*****all mechanical
*****simple
*****100% viewfinder display
*****mirror lock-up
*****nikon systems camera
*****nikkor "F" lens compatibility
*****resale value

None

This was the first "Profesional" level SLR that made the powerfull German cameras go down in flames during the 60's and Nikon never looked back. Compared to todays camera, the Nikon F doesn't seem so increadible. Take the batteries out of your new camera~ then you will be impressed by the capabilities of this vintage shooter!

I have a Nikon F with my Nikon F100 for the fact that their lenses are compatible with one another. Beat that "Canon"!! The F has a mechanical shutter and doesn't need batteries to set speeds from 10sec~1/1000. Meter you say~ well my F doesn't have one. I mainly use a handheld meter. This is a basic, to the point SLR. Built like a tank and feels like one!! The viewfinder displays 100% of what the camera takes a picture of. Also, it has mirror lock-up to reduce mirror movement. It is cheaper to maintain vs. an autofocus camera when it comes down to repairs.

Now you say, "$850 for a Nikon F!!!!"

I bought my camera on e-bay for $850 big ones; and was worth every penny. The camera is the all black "Appolo" or a transition model which had some slight modification similar to the Nikon F2. It came with a standard prism(no meter); a 5-frame per second motordrive/250 exposure back; Nikon battery pack; a Nikon pistol/shutter release grip; the standard film back; Nikon verifocal veiwer; and a Nikkor-P 180mm/1:2.8 lens. All in mint/-mint condition. This is why it's worth every penny. If you were to buy a "new" all mechanical SLR camera today; one would have a choice between a Leica R6.2($1800) and an Olympus OM3($1500). This does not include lenses. So the investment towards a Nikon SLR is a big plus consider the cost of the entire "systems" camera.

If you are considering on getting into photography seriously and looking for a professional "systems" camera~ eventhough your not looking to collect, buy and invest on an all mechanical Nikon F.

Customer Service

none~ but many camera repair specialize on Nikon!!

Similar Products Used:

Leicaflex type I/II
Leicaflex SL/SL2
Nikon F2

virtually undestructable
very strong (and heavy)
camera.

the shutter button place

Very strong camera until for bad professionals,completelly manual operations and no fail in anywhere.I think so this camera is like a jewel and some friends mine are trying buy
me this oldie but very likelly camera.

Customer Service

Incredible no service at 27 years ago,I think so what this camera are eternal.

Similar Products Used:

I dont find any similar in any market.

Kudos, only those in the know use them.

Durability.

Reliability.

100% viewfinder.

Nikkor optics.

The dreaded ring resistor of the Photomic Head!

Like a fool I sold my Nikon F with plain prism & WLF a few years ago, (to fund a roof repair, big mistake). Thats why I jumped at the chance of owning another F, imagine my surprise when staring back at me through a camera shop window was a Nikon F with FTn Photomic head, 50/2 NAI Nikkor and best of all, it was a Nikon F Apollo with F2 cosmetics! plastic tip wind on lever, F2 self timer etc and the serial number 74XXXXXX indicated that it was one of the last F made! the best of all, they only wanted £150.00 for it, what a perfect camera to carry and keep my FE2/FA company in my Billingham. Not everyones cup of tea, but if your after a no nonsense, manual jewel that will never let you down buy it, if not you could always buy a point and shoot!

Customer Service

Theres a few good clinic arround that will service your classic Nikon, even the photomic head!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F (plain), & FTn Finder, F2A, FM, FE2, FA, Nikkormat FT2, Canon F1NAE, plus too many more to name, I apologise I love cameras!

Design
Fit and feel
All mechanical
Pick a Nikon lens, it will work on this camera

All mechanical, if you call that a weakness.

I am 32 years old and the only two things that I remember my father having my entire life are a stainless steel Rolex and a Nikon F, both bought in Vietnam in 1967. This year, he gave me the F for my birthday, original boxes and even the original receipt, paid $225 34 years ago. A better present I can not imagine. What an absolutely beautiful machine. I have thoroughly enjoyed the picutres I have taken and I truly expect to pass it on to one of my kids.

Customer Service

Not used, don't expect to.

Have good luck with KEH mail order in Atlanta for used lenses, etc.

Similar Products Used:

Other Nikons

It's bulletproof! No need for batteries.

Not a one. Even the meter works in mine.

This is an awesome piece of equipment. I have a working FTN meter, and the metering as far as I can tell is spot on. It weighs a good bit, even compared to my Minolta X-700, but it makes it more stable in your hands. I love the fact that the viewfinder shows 100% of the picture area, as well.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing.

* first and last great Nikon SLR
* trusted not to fail
* recommended to all beginners in photography
* back to basics camera, no battery used with simple prism

none

The first time I brought the Nikon F into the Leica repair shop for evaluation before buying it, the camera repairman (Rudy) told me that this is the camera that Nikon built their reputation on. Then he smiled and said that the Nikon F-4 is the camera they will lose their reputation on. He went on to cite the number of moving parts on the Nikon F was far fewer than the complex F-4.

He was right.

The camera checked out fine, all the shutter speeds were dead on, except the high end but that was OK with me (1/3 stop off). I brought the camera used for about $100 and have never regreted the purchase for a moment. It is an excellent value at $100 or even $200 for a used body. The removable prism is great when you are shooting from the floor or holding the camera overhead. It allows you to do this while other cameras do not.

This camera taught me to use a hand held light meter and to eventually learn to judge lighting conditions with my eyes. The lack of electronics makes you feel connected to the camera and the picture taking process. The lack of a light meter in the viewfinder results in a non-distracting viewfinder which results in better pictures in my opinion (something like the early Leica M3 cameras and larger 4x5 and 8x10 view cameras).

If you are starting out in photography and need a solid well built, low cost camera, that carries a great tradition behind it, I would recommend the Nikon F.

The lenses can be found used and at a discount in any good camera store. The all metal construction typcially means they can and have taken a beating but keep on working. Just check the front and back elements for marks and examine the internal elements for fungus growth.

Bottom line you cannot go wrong with this camera (once it has been checked out by a good repairman).

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon and Nikon SLRS
Leica M6
Minolta 9000

One of the greatest cameras ever made, also the first professional slr

None, my 70 FTN hums like a champ

A classic mcollectable and user camera. Heavy and durable. Parts, especially the meter are scarce. Film loading difficult due to removable back.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F2, F3