The Nikon F - "Class of '59" - Setting the Standard for the next 30 Years
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- čas přidán 7. 12. 2023
- #filmphotography #filmcamera #35mm #nikon #nikonf #camerareview #vintagecamera #kodaktrix #nikonlens
First in the "Class of '59" Series, we'll take a look at the groundbreaking Nikon F - the first SLR from Nikon. It would be hard to overstate the importance of this camera and how it helped Nikon dominate professional 35mm photography for decades.
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It's fascinating to watch someone shoot so much at f/8. I feel like most photographers today think of f/4 as "stopping way down", lol. So there's something very liberating about setting you shoot at f/8 so freely, and thinking of f/4 as "shooting with a shallow depth of field". Genuinely, it's inspiring!
Thanks for the kind words! On these shoots - for some reason - there’s usually a technical incentive. This one mainly because I was rating the film at EI 800. In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have done that. I would have had a more usable range of f/stops had I used 100 speed film. But the weather was crappy, and I thought I needed more speed. Along with that, I wasn’t sure how accurate the faster shutter speeds are on this cameras. Typically, the most accurate ones on these old manually-controlled shutters will be 1/60, 1/125, 1/250. The higher ones will tend to be a bit slow. If the camera had a CLA, I’d trust them all. But since I hadn’t had that done - and I don’t know if it had been done prior to me owning it - I was erring on the side of caution. There were a couple of shots that I was able to pull off f/2. But that was it. I should’ve planned better.
The Nikon F was the start of my serious photography journey. I still have my original F and I have used it all over the world since 1966. It has been in a variety of harsh weather conditions including several wrecks where it was bounced around but it still works flawlessly without any CLA. I have used all the professional Nikon cameras through the F6 but still go to the F when I'm just doing fun stuff. It is the most durable Nikon and very simple to use.
Nikon absolutely set the bar with the “F”. It was perfectly simple AND robust. And that’s what we all want, right? Something that’s great and durable. Thanks for watching!
I'm 52 yrs old. Just retired from a wedding photography business. My dad, who is still around, recently gifted me a Nikon F and a Nikon S rangefinder in pristine condition with a 50mm on both, also like out of the factory. He had purchased them during his time in the Navy and stationed in Japan. And forgot he had them. I shoot Leica film Ms for my personal work. But they've been put on the shelf in favor of shooting the Nikon F & S. They've been waiting for me all these years. Cheers!
What an incredible surprise gift! I’ve never had the opportunity to even hold a Nikon rangefinder. But it’s on my bucket list. Have fun!
What I really like about your approach is that you're "all-in" on the accessories, like the "official" Nikon case-I love it!-and having extra focusing screens in addition to a wide assortment of lenses, not just this video but in your others as well. Love this channel and your highly professional way you put these videos together.
Thanks, Joe! I like to be as comprehensive as I can with a particular system. I’ll admit, though, that this Nikon case came about just because of its cool factor :-). The accessories in some of the other videos usually came about as a solution to certain inherent shortcomings of the cameras themselves. Take the Yashica Electro 35 - no close focusing - so they made the Auto-Up to allow for that. And non-interchangeable lenses - so they made some auxiliary lenses for it. In all cases I try to point out these shortcomings and what the solutions are (if any). Thanks so much for the comment and your continued support of the channel!
Nice relaxing video. loved the incident metering and of course those classic F cameras.
My 1971 F still runs like a champ.
Not surprising at all. Those cameras were built to last. Thanks for watching!
Beautiful pictures you took! 🎉
Thanks as always!
Very much enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
I'm a neighbor in Powder Springs and just today I was out in downtown Douglasville & Hunter Park taking a few shots with my recently acquired 1969 F & 2007 F6. Interesting to see the difference between their first SLR & their last.
Nice to hear from a close neighbor! I’m envious of the F6. I’m sure it’s a fantastic machine. And of course the F is simply legendary. I’m sure it feels like a world of difference between the two!
Love the F-mount; purchased my first camera, a Nikon FE2 new in 1985, and later a Nikkor 50mm f1.2 manufactured in 1969...I still use that lens on my digital D300 and D7000 - awesome system! My daughter now owns my second FE2 (black body) which she shoots exclusively B&W.
I love to hear these stories of passing down a camera to the next generation. These are amazing tools and it’s sad to see any sitting on shelf or in a box in the attic. That being said, my kids have zero interest in photography outside of their smartphones. So, kudos to your daughter!
And yes - the F-mount was one of the best ideas ever. Pentax did the same thing, eventually, with their K-mount. Their lenses will still mount on modern DSLRs (or at least some of them). But Nikon did this 15 years earlier. Brilliant move.
I recently used my Nikon F and was very pleased with the results. Next I plan to use my Nikkormat. I purchased this new in 1972. My first Nikon and it has been 'Used' I also have an F2 and a S2. The S2 looks and operates like it is a brand new one. Too me it is like a peice of Jewlery. This is a very good video.
I think “piece of jewelry” could be an accurate description here. Everything just fits together well and operates with a smoothness you don’t always find.
Another good video, Mr. V., despite the weather. I love the camera case. I have never seen one like it before. The Nikon F looks like a tank of a camera. Their prices seem reasonable also. If I have any money left on my photo budget, I might look for one. I have some older Nikons, but the only Fx is an F4 which I don't shoot enough. Some of my old non-Nikon rangefinders have the back that comes off. I read somewhere that the 1960s journalists would put the Nikon F back under their armpit while they loaded film. Problem solved of not losing it. Maybe I just missed it, but did you end up shooting at 400 or 800?
The armpit solution sounds reasonable enough. I did end up shooting at 800, but 400 would have been fine in retrospect. And I did push-process slightly. I was certain that the Tri-X would perfectly handle it. I do think my metering was off on some of these. It was the first time I’d used that Minolta meter in a while. I may need to check it against my others.
My first Nikon was the F with the FTN meter attachment. As well as the F36 motor...back in 1973. Followed that up with a Nikkormat FTN, as a High School student, I couldn't afford to F bodies. Alas, someone stole my F and I got a F2AS to replace it. Too many lenses to mention, and I still have most of them...even though I've cycled through a half dozen digital Nikon's recently. Keep up the good work on, especially hand metered b&w images.
Thanks for tuning in! Gotta say I’m jealous of the F2AS. I have a “regular” F2 Photomic, but it’s surely one of my favorites. I definitely prefer it over the F, but the F has such a rich history it’s a shame not to own one. Glad you like the B&W shots!
really enjoyed this.
Thanks for watching!
I have a 1963 F body that is awesome. With it, the elements are not a problem.
Sounds about right!
Great channel, love the content.
Tip i got from a pro that used the "f" on a pro base back in the days: put the backplate under your armpit while you're loading film.
It never gets lost that way ;)
Grtz from Belgium.
Thanks for the tip! And it must’ve been a common thing back then. I’ve heard the same tip from others who heard it from old pros. Problem solved! Thanks for watching!
First of all thank you for the video. I always find your videos both relaxing and informative.
Secondly, I do like the idea behind the case. The dead space is an issue, but not having to take the caps off the rear of the lens when changing intrigues me. I thinkg that would be cool to see in a modern day system.
I’m in agreement. Having the lens ready to go on as soon as you pick it up is a huge help. I’ve read where some don’t like the design due to the rear element being exposed to potentially humid air that might lead to fungus growth. So I just put a bunch of silica gel packs underneath the mounts. Besides Nikon, I’ve only seen one other 3rd party manufacturer make a case with the built-in mounts. But I don’t recall who that was or which mount it was (but it was probably a K-Mount). And it doesn’t look like Nikon did it for very long, either.
@@vintagecameradigest K-mount you say? If that's the case I'm intrigued as I've a lot of k-mount cameras both film and digital
I can’t swear to it, but I *think* that’s what it was.
Nice video! I love the content. I picked up one of these from Japan, but the light meter prism does not work. Do you know where I can find the original viewfinder prism you have on yours? Any recommendations help.
That was exactly what happened to me. I’ve had the F for a few years, but the meter prism wasn’t working. That seems to be a common story with the old prisms. So a lot people end up looking for the plain eye-level version. You can find just the prisms by themselves on eBay, but they tend to be pretty pricey. I ended up just buying a second F that wasn’t in complete working order, but it did have the plain prism. So at least I have a good body and a good prism now.
Nikon was always the camera I loved to hate! However, it proved itself in reliability and not too shabby optics. Your Christmas tree is beautiful.
I think I could change viewing screens in my Canon faster than you did with your Nikon😁!
I’ll need to get out my F1 and see which is easier to change the screens. But you’re probably right about that. And I’ll let my wife know you like her tree 🌲
I'm lovin' that case. I'd gladly give up a little room for the bayonet mounts. Would like to see a modern day company offer backpack-type cases with these mounts for major brands.
I'm not a fan of the split image or microprism screens. I fit both of my F2 Photomic's ('71 & '72) with B screens - ground glass with a large outlined circle which, I presume, represents the meter's center weighted area. Dust particles are a pain in the caboose to deal with when change screens!!
It is definitely a cool case - Nikon FB-5. For the longest time I thought Nikon was the only one who did this sort of thing. But I’ve seen one in the last year by 3rd party maker that I think had Pentax K-Mount bayonets. As for the screens, as my eyes get older and my astigmatism gets worse i need all the help I can get!
This is such a legendary camera! Probably started the the prominent use of SLRs in photojournalism. If you are able can you please review the Nikon F2? That one is my favorite 35mm camera of all time and I regard it as the best mechanical 35mm SLR bar none.
My F2 is on the list and just waiting for it’s moment! And I agree. Nikon fixed just about every issue the F had (which really wasn’t that many) and made the F2 one of the best cameras ever. An excellent camera by any measure!
Really enjoyed your video. I bought a Nikon F with a 55mm f1.2. What is the model of the focusing screen you changed to? Also can you share the equipment you used to film yourself. I don't know know much about video production but your video quality is impressive. Thanks for sharing.
I swapped out an “F” screen for a “K” screen. The “F” has a large micro-prism spot, and that’s it. The “K” screen has the “usual” micro prism collar around a split-image. I have more info on these screens on my site. Just scroll down to the Sales Brochure section. Also - F screens are interchangeable with F2 screens. So, the K screen I put in was really for the F2, as I don’t think there was a K option for the F at the time of release.
vintagecameradigest.com/manuals/
Also - to your question about equipment: I’m lucky that my “day job” is freelancing photography and video - mostly video these days. So, I do have access to decent gear. Currently the set-up includes a Canon C70 camera, Sigma Art-series lenses, a couple of Amaran LEDs with soft boxes, and Audio-Technical mics. In the field I mostly use a GoPro Hero 10 with a Media Mod and Sony wireless mic system.
Did you do any adjustments to the images post production, or is what we saw straight from the negatives? Those were great shots you did.
Thank you! I usually do a curves adjustment in Photoshop to set the highlight and black point and get the best contrast. But I hardly ever go beyond that.
The earliest or earlier ones have cloth shutters. Serial numbers starting 640xxxx 🎉
Yes those very early ones have the cloth shutters. But I think they were replaced with the titanium foil pretty soon.
is there a difference in your approach in composition when shooting BW vs Color - I notice you shoot a lot of BW vs color - is it a project or just preference?
love the content. im someone who tends to capture a bigger scene and your videos/pictures are great examples for framing close up detail shots
Not really a different compositional approach unless the color is a major part of the subject. I do B&W mostly because sometimes I find color too “literal” of an interpretation. B&W let’s me remove that variable and concentrate on light and shadow. Maybe it’s a cop out. Could be. But I can also process the B&W at home and get consistent results. Home-processing color is not for me.
As for close-up and details, I’ve found it’s good for seeing new ways to photograph rather mundane subjects
best camera ever
Not much to complain about for sure. I WOULD like a 1/2000 shutter speed, but that’s what the F2 is for :-)
How many cameras or do you own? Or do you just break into KEH once a week? 🙂
LoL! Yes, KEH is only about an hour away from here… I don’t know the exact number of working cameras I have, but probably in the 80-90 range. Yes, I need help.
@@vintagecameradigest I need help too! :)
We’ll have our own support group!
@@vintagecameradigest no such thing as too many.
What is that camera bag, good Sir?
That bag is the Nikon FB-5. Very cool concept.
@@vintagecameradigest Thank you! It looks unusual, but interesting.
Definitely interesting. Lots of wasted space though.
How many cameras your collection has or are these loaners?
So far, all of these are mine. I’ve been collecting (hoarding) for the last 2 decades. And most are in usable shape. It’s a sickness really. :-)
@@vintagecameradigest It's only a sickness if it has big negative effects on life. 👍
Luckily, this brings me nothing but joy!
It's a great camera, but let's be honest it was the "Pentax Spotmatic" that was the true SLR daddy, and it was launched a full two years earlier. I think it's true to say, without the Pentax there probably wouldn't be an "F", because it certainly wasn't the path that Nikon were on prior to its arrival.
You absolutely have to give Asahi Pentax credit. They went straight into SLR production - never having a rangefinder model at all. And I think, if we talk about overall SLR impact, Pentax has had the greatest influence. My angle in this video is more of how the F impacted the pro photography sector and practically dominated photo-journalism until at least the early 1980s. Yes, other makers had pro-level SLRs, but they just didn’t catch on at the right time to give the Nikon F-system (and later F2 and F3) a run for the money. Although a splendid camera, the pro-level Pentax LX didn’t hit the stage until 1980. And I’ll never understand why it took them that long to release something to compete with the Nikons and Canons.
Now the reality is that not everyone is a “pro” or needed a camera of that level. What Pentax was able to do with the awesome Spotmatic series is make SLR photography available to the masses. It was reasonably priced, had excellent lenses, numerous accessories, and was reliable. I think it did for the 60s what Canon did with the AE-1 in the 70s. And as I said earlier, it’s significance can’t be overstated. Thanks for the excellent comment!
@@vintagecameradigest Thanks for your reply. I think the "F" is a phenomenal camera, even though I believe the "F2" to be infinitely superior. You have gone a long way in addressing the essence of my comments, being, Nikon grabbed the Pentax concept, refined it, and ran with it, leaving every other manufacturer of the day eating dust. I love Nikon, in fact I own several, my personal all time favourites, F2, FM2, and the F5. However, I still own three mint examples of the Spotmatic, two silver bodies, one black, and I still marvel at these diminutive, masterpieces of innovation, and ask the question, "How The Hell Did They Do It?"
Exactly! The Spotties are small-ish and incredibly refined. And they feel good in the hand. It’s been a while since I’ve had mine out on a shoot, and you’ve inspired me to put it in a bag with a few nice Takumars and see what I can find. I’m even fond of the S2/H2 bodies prior to the Spotmatics. Nice and compact. Oh, and by the way, the F2 is indeed a much better camera than the F - no arguments there at all! Cheers!
@@vintagecameradigest Enjoy your shoot, and keep up the good work, it's nice to engage with someone that's on the same page!
Many thanks!
And I still want an F3
Or how about an F2? I think it may be my favorite of the F-Series.
@@vintagecameradigestwill look.
Thank you for the reply.
The Nikon F made it's bones so to speak during the Vietnam war when it became the camera of choice by photojournalists covering the conflict.
I agree. It served that purpose pretty well.
Seattle liked 😂 weather.
LOL! Maybe not that bad 😁
I love the Nikon F but a standard Hotshoe would have bee nice.
I miss interchangable Prisms ... 🦘
Yes! the hotshoe. Can’t believe we’d have to wait until the F4 to get that.
I’m left eye 👁️ dominant 😢
I can switch between both, but lately I’ve been wearing a contact lens in my right eye only. Getting old.
… and hollow film Advance lever 🎉
Yes, you’re correct on that, as well.
"Setting the Standard for the next 30 Years", well, the Canon New F-1 did overtake the Nikon F3, I have both Cameras, I do not like the Nikon F3 as much as I like the Canon New F-1 which I think was the best ever analog 35mm Camera. The Nikon F2 was the best analog Nikon camera.
I recently picked up an F3, and it didn’t blow me away. It is a fine camera, no doubt, but I may like the F2 better. I do have the first version of the Canon F-1 and do like it a lot. The New F-1 is still on my wish list. But it’s price point is consistently out of sync with my bank account. One day, though!
@@vintagecameradigest I have one Canon New F-1 that is close to be worn out and one that is mint which I was very lucky to buy new unopened in 1999 from the Canon head quarter in Europe.I can see on ebay that the prices starts from US $200 which I think is an alright price.
Yes, $200 isn’t a bad price. Is that with the AE Finder? Or just the standard prism? I believe I’d want to go for the AE finder for the added flexibility. I need to get back on eBay and look.
@@vintagecameradigest Yes with AE finder
‘Nickon’ not ‘Nykon’
Probably depends on which side of the pond you’re on…
@@vintagecameradigest I suppose it would start with whether you’d pronounce Nippon as Nyppon but people in Japan wouldn’t add a ‘y’.
Makes sense. I wouldn’t pronounce NIkkor (lenses) as Ny-Kor, but Nick-or. Or Nippon as Ny-pon. Ah…the subtleties of language and translation