Nearly unbreakable
Great latch mechanisms for Photometer housing
Quality materials all over, which result in great fir to this day.
I have the black version, and still use the original shine cloth that came with camera-despite of a few scratches here and there, black is hanging tough

Very heavy
Dust can get to screen rather easily

I love this camera, and have kept it even if I don't shoot that many rolls with it now. I still recommend it as a great camera for those who want to get introduced to serious photography. You can take this camera anywhere (I worked with it in the Amazon Rainforest twice, and in several other nasty areas, it - and Nikkor AI lenses-survived beautifully)

Customer Service

Sent camera in for maintenance a few times, always great service from Nikon.

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Nikkormat
Nikon FM2n

Top-notch, hand-made quality of the 70's. It's not a consumer toy, it's built as a professional tool.

Simple and intuitive mechanics. Did I mention it's a solid, unbreakable work of art?

The eyepiece mount for LED-type viewfinders is slightly rounder than the needle meter viewfinders; for some reason this makes the eyepiece easier to fall out. Better to use none.

The following is very subjective, but I hope it could be helpful.

I've been using the F2 for a very long time. 5 years ago I upgraded to the F3 and I immediately noticed the "improvements". But then photography became boring because modern cameras made many variables that go into the art of photography invisible. The F3 definately "solved" many of the limitations of mechanical design: lighter, quieter, and smaller. But I felt very much dislocated with the film.

Then I switched to the F4, but it just wasn't my style. Too rugged and action-oriented. I still have the F4, it's a very reliable no-brainer field camera.

Perhaps I'm a purist. When I take pictures I think only about composition, lens angle, exposure, and depth of view, and nothing more. If you're taking action shots, stick to the latest technology. If you're a manual kind of person, try out the F2. It's the best manual camera ever made.

Customer Service

Had body tweaked after 10 years of use. Tightened up the speed dial tension and adjusted the minor mirror lock lever. Not cheap. Camera places charges a premium for vintage camera service.

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Owned: F3, F4

This camera is the Sherman tank of cameras. I have had this fine piece of engineering for over twenty years now and it still has the same feel (crisp shutter release) and reliability it had when new. All I ever have to do is feed it batteries (not often) and film.

Oh yes...it still takes excellent pictures too.

Heavy by to today's standards.

They should still be making this model. Now if Nikon would only start building cars, TVs, VCRs and all other consumer items with this degree of quality I'd never have to buy anything ever again.

Nikon is a household name for good reason. Their products are THE BEST!!!

Customer Service

Excellent. All I have ever needed was information or additional equipment. I have never had to have the camera repaired and only occassionally had to make sure the metering was accurate.

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Canon, Minolta, Olympus, and Pentax.

Hardy!
Well made joints and covers.
Impossible to accidently open film door:-)
Looks GREAT
All mechcanical no batteries required
Well Balanced with MD's and Long lenses.
Near impossible to damage

Resistor Ring in my DP-11 Head is touchy

I can remember being 19 years old and walking past a local store here and seeing this huge monster all dressed up in it battle gear and steaming the windows up with crazy anticipation dreaming of the day that I would have the pleasure to use one. It was only a year later that we went home together and we spend most if not all weekends together working and capturing memories. I sound SO passionate about this.... A Camera because it changed my life and the way I work. I own 3 of these and will always purchase more and more, even though they will all out live me. I know that someone after me will get to feeling just like I did steaming up that window.
The combination of my F2AS with the MD-2/MB-1 and a good 35-100 one the end is behond words.

Customer Service

Never needed it

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F-1 Lake Placid (x2)

Camera is Indestructable. I have had my F2 with DP11 finder for 26 years. The Prism housing has a gouge in it from when I fell on it and it still works as well as the day I bought it. I have 5 Nikkor lenses all superb. Lately when I am out shooting with it more people are noticing it because it is obviously not wonderplastic! A young chile actually approached me and asked me what it was! After my reply "It's a camera" the young boy answered "Gee mister I never saw a camera like that before"!! And there never will be another like it.

It is starting to garner the interest of collectors, so reasonably priced accessories are getting rare. Yeah it's heavy...it's metal.

The best SLR you can own. It is a real camera.

Customer Service

Never needed

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Nikon F3, Canon EOS something or another.

Wonderful bomb proof camera that will outlast modern rivals (and most of us humans). Reliability is 99.999%. Fantastic range of lenses still at resonable prices. Also makes a great backup for later Nikons. As a Pro I use F4 and F100 but still love to come back to the F2, it's simply that good!

Becoming collectable so prices are rising for better condition bodies and lenses.

Can not see the latest Pro offerings lasting the course the way the F2 is doing.

Customer Service

Rarely needed

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Minolta SRT - Good as well

Very dependable and built to last a lifetime. Even tougher than F3.

100% Viewfinder

Titamium Shutter

Not driven by batteries

Accepts all Nikon lenses

Feels great in your hands

Flash is old and limited, but I hate flash anyway.

If you're starting out photography and have or like Nikon lenses, this is body is the way to go. FM2n is good too but try them both out first before you make a decision, they're in the same price range. Any honest camera expert will tell you the F2 is the most solid camera ever made. The F3 is a fine camera but it's too pricy for what it is and the F2 is more dependable anyway.

If you want motorized, I advise NOT to get it for the F2. Its motordrive may be an engineering marvel and collector's toy, but to actually use it, you have to be a lunatic.

Customer Service

None

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Nikon F3, F4, Minolta SRT101

No battery needed, interchangable finder & prism, always, works will all manual / AF Nikon lenses

Fastest speed if 1/2000 but sufficient for all situation.
Weight, accessories become less available now

If you like classical, nostagic era, manual camera. Won't miss out this one... This in an all time high rated in Nikon Pro & Machanical line in the year of 70's, before F3,4,5 exist . You fell the different in your grip the moment you hold on the the F2 body and loading is much easier than F, Try to get the gadgets & accessories for this Fine camera that no more in production. How I wish Nikon will reproduce the same workhorse with quieter & faster speed with buit-in winder.

Customer Service

No need

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Nikon F, FM2 & Canon F1

Rugged, moisture resistant body. Removable finder turns SLR into a view camera when using a tripod. Useful features, good control over exposure and metering. Meter on top of finder is especially useful.

Big. Won't fit inside your average Pelican box.

Top notch camera for landscape work. Tough as nails, allows me to worry about getting the shot and not the miserable conditions. I use mine on wilderness canoe trips, and combined with Nikkor lenses gives great results. Manual exposure gives full exposure control, and light meter never fails. Battery-free use!

Customer Service

Never required, but judging by the vast number of Nikon dealers should be excellent.

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Contax RTS (squirrelly light meter, over priced system)
Minolta x-370s (great beginners camera, limited system)

Build quality is simply incredible.

Feels better in the hand than the F, thanks to its more-rounded profile.

Loading film is more-convenient than with the F, too.

Slightly smaller than an F, which makes it a bit more-packable.

Weakness? In an F2?

OK, its flash sync *may* leave something to be desired, but only if you need it for daylight fill. In truth, if a flash is my main light, I usually want to drag the shutter speed down a bit to get more ambient exposure - say, 1/30 or so. The short duraction of the flash itself keeps the subject sharp.

The F2 may be the ultimate "F." Like the original, it's practically bulletproof. But, it has numerous small design tweaks that, taken together, make the F2 a more user-friendly camera. Sure, it's small stuff like the plastic coating on the film wind lever, but ripping up your thumb knuckle can get old very quickly. The flip-open back makes it easier to load film in your lap, expecially when being jostled.

I think the F2, with the non-metered finder, is the best manual camera ever.

Customer Service

Never needed.

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F, F3/T.