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.
