price, speed
lightmeter
body design
cheap battery source

tripod connection is way over on the left hand side
no aperture view in finder
no DOF preview
no multi-exposure
10 sec self-timer

Nikon cameras have always impressed me regarding their design and innovations. I purchased this N2000, or F301 (first manufactured in 1985), with a standard Nikon Lens Series E 50mm 1:1:8 nearly eight years ago and it has continued to serve me well. The focus, color, speed, and lightmeter are excellent. It takes high quailty shots. But I hate the location of the tripod connection. This was my first manual SLR with auto film winding, of which I am a fan. In my use, the film has never wound incorrectly. I continue to use this model as my walk-around manual camera and highly recommend it to those looking for a reliable and inexpensive SLR.

Customer Service

Never needed repair or servicing. But it is an older camera and replacement parts are most likely expensive.

Similar Products Used:

F80
FM2

Durable
Uses inexpensive alkaline batteries
Easy loading
Comfortable to hold
Dependable

Has no dof preview feature
Has no mirror lock-up

I missed these features at first but found that I miss them less all the time.

After having owned nearly every model Nikon from F2 Photomic through FE not to mention several RF's [ond one terrible plastic n55] I've landed on the N2000 and it has served me well for 12 years with no problems whatever. It is much tougher than I expected and has bellss and whistles, program modes etc. that I've never used...I use it strictly in manual mode. The only auto features I take advantage of are auto adbvance [singly or continuous] and auto dx reading.
It takes all of my Nikkor lenses.and provides shutter speeds from B through 2000.
It lacks some of the features of the old Nikon bodies but serves me very well. I've considered buying another n2000. Great little camera. There is absolutely no difference in images I've taken with this 2000 and imagesI've taken with my other Nikon's. Of course there wouldn't be because I'm using the same ai lenses.
Today I carry only the N2000 and an old 1972 Canon rangefinder that is too small to leave home alone.
I recommend the n2000!

Similar Products Used:

Othe rolder Nikons

other older;
Pentax
Canon
minolta

Takes film!, durable, reliable, excellent quality both of the camera itself and the photos it takes, is even good looking

Not the most beginner-friendly, takes some practice to work it properly, question mark about parts availability

My parents bought this camera in the year of my birth, 1985, when it first came out. They took it on many trips to Europe and captured most of our photographic memories on this machine. Then, this little gem was bequeathed to me after I wanted another REAL camera, a 35mm. I'm not very high on the most modern technology, digital "cameras" among them, so it was a joy to again get a 35mm in my hands.

As just a casual photographer, the number of options, switches, and dials on the camera was a little bit bewildering, especially now lacking the manual, but having practiced with it a little, it is very pleasant to use. The quality of the shots is beyond reproach even today.

The camera's quality is also exceptional. Although made of plastic - one of my least favorite materials for anything - it has proven itself immensely durable. As previously mentioned, it traveled well, and took thousands of pictures, and then subsequently sat for 10 years before I picked it up. Aside from some corrosion on the battery terminals which I cleaned off with my own homebrew cleaning solution, it fired right up and still takes beautiful pictures. It also has a nice heft to it, helping to keep it steady and imparting a solid, quality feel to the camera.

Customer Service

Not needed

Speed,viewfinder, lightmeter

No DOF, No multiple exposures Remote release is hard to find/expensive

Very good camera, bought it to replace an stolen FE2 in 1991. Takes AI/AIS lenses, giving P capabilitities with the latter. I have run huundreds of rolls through it and the metering is alwaya accurate. easy to handhold for exposures of 1/15 or so. Tough to replace with any of the new breed.

Customer Service

Not neede

Similar Products Used:

several Nikons, Pentaxes, etc`

Cheap, fast, plenty of functions, cheap battery source, long shutter speeds in A mode, DX coding and it would seem, TTL flash too!. good viewscreen, it would seem to be reliable from the reports here and the fact that it`s survived this long.

Plastic top panel which doesn`t look too strong, can`t be used without power at all, Self Timer is fixed at 10 secs or so, no DOF Preview lever, Aperture can`t be seen in the viewfinder, 2000th max shutter speed, 125th X-Sync

I was given the F301 by a friend who was going to throw it out as I have an FM2 and manual lenses and I have to be honest and say that I`m impressed with the thing!.. built in drive (forward only) which I clocked at 3FPS and runs off cheap AA batteries (Hooray!), seemedly accurate metering, very handy AV mode which can hold the shutter open for a LOT longer than the 1 sec manual offers - I don`t know what "P" mode is all about as the camera doesn`t have shutter priority capability (where you lock the aperture at the smallest and the camera keeps it open and chooses in P or S mode) so it`s nothing like "P" mode on an F80 or the like.. seems tough bar the top panel (which has a crack in it on this example). Decent non-removable viewscreen but no aperture window in the viewfinder, it even has a handy rotating window in the back to see if you`re winding real film or thin air!. and of course a window to show the film (the FM2 doesn`t have this) - a well featured camera which still FEELs and operates like a classic SLR unlike later AF SLRs like the F80, F90 and my own EOS-, all of which are more like Digital SLRs which happen to take film ..

Customer Service

Who knows, I doubt they`d want to service this now.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM, FM2, F3, F80, F90 - Canon EOS-10, EOS-1, Pentax K1000, Spotmatic.

The incredible clarity of the viewfinder because of the mirror design, the stability and feel, and the ergonomics . Rugged, can survive many a fall

No DOF indicator. (can live without it !) Aperture indicator not displayed in viewfinder (just look over the lens !)

I grew up on Nikon's - F2's particularly. I bought my N2000 in 1985, soon after it was released..it seemed to have the Nikon feel with the plus of a motor drive. This baby is rugged..I have had mine for 18 years now, and everything runs fine. The only time it has had a problem was from a severe fall onto rocks. Minor repair to the spring that controls the mirror..I have travelled the world with this camera, (i have never had a case for it, it is usually wrapped in sweaters, towels etc), in conditions ranging from monsoon to desert sand. This is a hall of famer model. I will pass this on to my children.

Customer Service

Never had need for it. I had damage repaired by an authorized service group in Bombay India in 1988..hasnt been in a shop since.

Similar Products Used:

F2's , Praktica, FM (not same standard)

Metering capability, solid feel.

None noted.

I have an N90s, N80 and two N70s. I bought the N2000 on eBay. Ran a roll of film thought it today in deplorable conditions, heavy over cast, steady rain. This little jewel took 12 great pictures. The metering was excellent. I will have fun with this camera. Nice solid feel.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon EM, Several Nikkormats, Nikon EL, N90s, N80, N70.

Solid Camera. Heavy. Well Built. Its absolutely durable. Anyfilm will do well in this camera. It warns you if it thinks you will take a bad shot!

Its not a camera for dummies. You have to know how to take pictures to use it. No autofocus. 50mmlens,

This is my fathers camera. As a young guy I thought 'why would i want to use this if i can get a P&S or a Digicam' I took it out of the bag and my passion for photgraphy began! This camera has great preset modes that makes it easy to use. P mode is easy as pie. But the strength of the camera is its ability to let you play with images. So my dad used it to take family pictures. I use it for extreme sports!

Customer Service

The camera is over 10 years old and it still works! Thats quality man!

Similar Products Used:

Canon, and various Digicams.

Readily available and cheap AAA batteries. 2.5 fps motor drive. DX or manual encoding. TTL flash. Bright & readable shutter speed display through viewfinder. Fully automatic if you are feeling lazy or fully manual if you want the control. Built like a tank, metal film rails, metal lens mount, more metal than plastic.

Loud motor, lens aperture not visible through viewfinder. No (cheap) screw in shutter release cable.

I love my N2000. I bought it new over ten years ago and have not come across a compelling enough reason to upgrade. Buy it and a 50mm Nikkor lens and you can take great pictures for next to nothing. Great for a student / beginner. You will have to learn a bit but you will be a better photographer for it. I have skied, sailed, biked, kayaked, hiked & traveled with it and it still works great.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM, FE, F100 & various point and shoot.

Rugged for an electronic camera Accurate meter and electronic shutter Simple controls with a "classic" feel Good weight, well balanced

Autofocus is slow, loud and clumbsy. It's virtually worthless - keep it on manual. Requires an electronic cable release Timer button is awkward No DOF Rewind lever has begun to wear over time.

I own the N2020, which is the auto-focus version of the N2000 - but otherwise, it's the same camera. I've taken this camera through the streets of two continents, on a dozen backpacking trips, and through all kind of weather. It has held up great. It has shown very little wear and works as well as the day I purchased it (which was used, 5 1/2 years ago). The auto-focus is so and clumbsy that it's worthless, but as a manual camera, this body is superb. One of Nikon's forgotten models.

Customer Service

Never had to use it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 6006, Nikon 8008, Nikon EM