The Nikon F2
September 1971 Nikon introduced the F2 body/system, Nikon's most highly evolved and advanced all mechanical body, intended to replace the aging original F. Where the original F had been a work in progress nearly over its entire life, the F2 was nearly constant over its lifespan with precious few visible, cosmetic or internal changes over its entire product cycle.
The very earliest bodies produced had a very serious design flaw, a relative rarity for Nikon, wherein the film would be caused to move during an exposure inducing and unacceptable blur in the resulting image. This problem was corrected very early on and almost no working examples of this survive this set of episodes.
Also, within the first 100,000 and all with 71XXXXX serial numbers, Nikon made a cosmetic change in the leatherette covering from the original coarser shiny "pebble grain" ala the original F to a much smoother duller finish. This change was to both the body covering and to the supplied finder of that time. Surviving DE-1 and DP-1 finders with the older covering and appropriately DP-1 early serial numbers are considered rare and command a premium for their collectibility.
The F2 was intended to mimic the original F as much as possible without limiting the capabilities of the new camera body so that it would substitute into a PRO's hands with as little obtuse adjustment as was practicable. BUT, one obvious discretionary change was obviously incorporated. The original F, which shared parts with and was heavily based on the SP and other S series bodies as an obvious expediency intended for prompt original design execution, had a rearward positioned shutter release button which placement had mystified many users who did not understand its derivative history. This awkward was corrected in the F2 as is illustrated in the following picture flanked below by an F and above by an SP which needed the rearward placement of facility of use of the geared focus wheel.
In addition only the mirror lock up feature suffered any meaningful change in position/operation. Instead of a rocker switch that necessitated the loss of an exposure located at the bottom right of the bezel; a new rotating collar about the depth of field preview button permitted mirror lock up at any time without the loss of an exposure.
Obvious great effort was exercised in order to keep virtually everything else as identical to the original F as possible. Even the weight of the body with the initial DP-1 finder was kept within an ounce of the weight of the departing F with an FTN finder. But the changes were extensive and comprise the following list:
1. A 10ms travel time sped up titanium horizontal FP shutter. Nikon could well have designed it and specified it to X-Synch at 1/100 but opted for 1/80 to conservatively allow for spring tension degradation over the life of the camera body.
2. Extended shutter speed range of 10 to 1/2000
3. ASA 6 to 6400 with initial DP-1 head
4. Rounded contour body that actually feels more compact but has virtually identical dimensions
5. Rewind crank pulls up and locks in a 6mm raised position for easier manual film rewinding
6. Larger reflex mirror to minimize viewfinder vignetting when using long lenses.
7. Removable hinged back.
8. Shorter 120 degree stroke for film advance lever.
9. Meter/electronics on/off switch incorporated into film advance lever at a 20 degree offset
Nikon F2 Prism/PrismMeter/Finders
When September 1971 Nikon introduced the F2, which for several years it was to simultaneously produce with the original F, it introduced a number of viewfinder accessories to parallel those available on the F. In fact, the two camera body types, which take identical focusing screens, will also take a number of each others finder accessories. The basic F pentaprism will fit onto an F2 (but looks ?naked? with no proper Nikon logo.) The DE-1 F2 prism will fit onto an F if the Nikon plate is removed. Waist level finders between the two camera body systems are similarly interchangeable. Metered or Photomic heads are much more problematic and interchange generally should not be attempted though some can be made to seem to work. It is strongly suggested that it not be tried. (Damage can be done even if you are not clumsy.) AND, there is no point to the effort as the F body cannot supply voltage/power to F2 meters,
The DE-1 and DP-1 are direct equivalents of the basic pentaprism finder and the Photomic FTN head respectively:
As with the F2 body, the earliest DP-1 finders had the early coarse pebble shiny leatherette covering. There was some variation in the window shape from early DP-1 types to later ones. The illustration shows the three types of DP-1 finders from left to right.
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In March 1973 Nikon introduced the Photomic F2S finder for which there was no equivalent F Finder/Meter though the original F was still being marketed.
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It weighs about a half ounce more than the DP-1 and like it only is available in black and has to be indexed as it accepts ?prong? lenses, It is Nikon?s first non moving part all electronic meter head, The head has an LED display for exposure aid and accepts awkward and slow DS-1 (later DS-2) EE adapter controls for aperture control in shutter priority automation.
The DP-3, produced in very small quantities is the last index requiring meter head. It employs the superior silicon photodiodes that were used in the DP-13 and resembles it.
It also uses LEDs to guide exposure and has a similar coupling to the DP-2 for aperture automation.
In March and July of 1977, Nikon added the AIS final updates to the meter heads for the F2 bodies.
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or
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The DP-11 or F2A meter head is nothing more than an auto indexing embodiment of the DP-1.
The DP-12 or F2AS meter is the head from the F2SB body adapted to AI. That is, it is a DP-3 with auto indexing capability.
The DP-12 was Nikon?s last, most highly evolved and highly regarded, meter head for the F2 and since it takes all AI/AIS/AutoFocus lenses, it much in demand by users as well as collectors and commands a premium in the marketplace.
In addition to the F2 waistlevel finder, the DW-1, which is nothing more than a late motel F waistlevel finder with a Nikon logo plate added on and was only available in black with a chrome Nikon logo.
Nikon added the DW-2 :
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a 6X magnifying meterless finder; which, as pictured, was only available in black.
Nikon also made available two, Models I and II, ?SPECIAL? medical/scientific finders which render reversed images and have a built in adjustable diopters, and which were manufactured in black with a chrome Nikon logo and which can be fitted to the original F by removing the Nikon nameplate.
The DA-1 sportsfinder, available in black or chrome, also requires nameplate removal to be fitted to the F body.
