Nikon F2 FindersNikon F2 Meters & FindersThe Nikon F appeared in 1959, followed by the Nikon F2 in1970. They are generally considered the most reliable of all mechanical 35 SLRs.The F2 is an improved F. Together they are the ONLY professional quality Mechanicalshuttered Nikon cameras. Unlike the later F3/F4/F5 and most of today's electronic wonders,the F and F2 shutters work even with dead batteries. Unlike today's F3/F4/F5,the F and F2 will still be working a hundred years from now-long after the electroniccamera's electronic parts are unavailable!!All Pro Quality Nikon F series cameras have BOTHinterchangeable finders and focusing screens.

• Nikon Dp-3
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This flexibility allows you tomatch the viewing and focusing to the job and lens at hand.Changing to the right finder or screen for a particular job and lens combination can makethings a lot easier. Very few SLRs offer such versatility. For example,as excellent as Canon EOS cameras are, NONE offer the versatility of interchangeablefinders.The F2 was introduced in1970 and produced until 1980.

The original Photomic (DP1), Photomic S (DP2) and PhotomicSB (DP3) finders are for NAI lenses. The Nikon F2A (DP11) and Nikon F2AS (DP12) findersare for theand later lenses introduced in 1977.

Nikon Dp-3

The benefit of AI lenses isfaster lens changing. AI lenses Automatically Index the meter to the lens, without havingto manually do it by turning the lens aperture back and forth. Metering accuracy is thesame. On F2's, the battery compartment was moved to the bottom plate (two P76's) and theon/off switch was moved to the lever advance (In = Off, Out = On). All F2Photomics show both the f/stops and shutter speeds in the finder.NOTE Backward Compatibility.

The Photomic and Photomic S finders will also meter just finewith the later AI/AIS lenses since these lenses have the NAI metering prong. Photomic Finder (DP1) This finder is the most numerous (translation: least expensive)F2 meter head. Both the F-stops and shutter speeds are visible in the finder, as they arein all of the F2 metering heads.

It is a match needle design. You adjust the f/stops orshutter speed to center the needle. Sometimes dust gets inside and makes the meter needlea bit erratic. As long as it moves smoothly through its range, you probably have a goodmeter. DP-1 is engraved on bottom of metering head besides serial #. Exposure EVrange 1 to 17 with ASA 100 film. Photomic S Finder (DP2) This finder was Nikon's first meter to use LED's.

It hasincreased sensitivity to light, and to batteries. Don't leave the meter on. DP-2is engraved on bottom of metering head besides serial #. Shutter Priority automationpossible with EE-1.

Increased exposure EV range of -2 to 17 with ASA 100 film. Solid statemeter construction for better reliability. Photomic SB Finder (DP3) Nikon's first Silicon cell using an improved LED readout.

This isthe rarest of the various F2 meter heads. DP-3 is engraved on bottom of metering headbesides serial #. CDS cell replaced by Silicon cell for faster metering and improvedresponse. Improved finder readout, going to 3 LEDs from 2.

Shutter Priority automationpossible with EE-2. Solid state meter construction for better reliability. Photomic A Finder (DP11) Nikon's match needle CDS meter for AI coupled lenses (same styleas DP1 only for AI).

DP-11 is engraved on bottom of metering head besides serial #. Willmeter with NAI lenses too, in stop down mode. Exposure EV range 1 to 17 with ASA 100 film. Photomic AS Finder (DP12) Nikon's best and most expensive meter head for the F2. AImetering, LED readout much like the later FM2.

DP-12 is engraved on bottom of meteringhead besides serial #. Increased exposure EV range of -2 to 17 with ASA 100 film.

Willmeter with NAI lenses too, in stop down mode. With its combination of rugged solid stateconstruction, five position LED readout, improved silicon photo light response, and greatlow light sensitivity, the AS finder is easily the F2's best metering head.Translation: the most expensive in the used market by 2-3x. Meterless Plain Prism findersare relatively rare for the F2, due to the popularity of the F2 Photomicfinders not many were sold. Today F2 collectors are pushing the pricesup. There were 3 versions: chrome, black paint which seems to be muchrarer than the chrome by perhaps a factor of 1 to 10, and the Titaniumprisms made only for the F2 Titanium and F2 High Speed. Action Finder Much the same finder for the F above, designed for the F2.

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Note the F2Action finder has no meter capability. 6x Waist Level finder DW-2 Provides higher magnification forcopy work, macro work, astronomy. It can be used on the F if you remove the F'sfront nameplate by taking out two screws. Rather hard to find. Note the F2 6xfinder has no meter capability.

Waist Level Finder, only one variation, see notes on F waist level.Very convenient one action opening and closing with four sides tokeep out stray light. It will also fit the F if you remove the F's nameplate (twoscrews.) Identical to the last F version, except for the front mounted nameplate.Note the F2 waist level finder has nometer capability.Home Made 4x Finder for Nikon F orF2, the 'Koblosh Custom.' Years ago when I was a struggling photographer and barely couldafford anything.or was that last week?I had the idea of adaptingmy view camera 4x Schneider focusing loupe to my Nikon. Dan Koblosh did theconversion for me, and came up with the little gem above. Yes, it does work great.Yes, the same idea could be adapted for most interchangeable 35mm SLRs. Ofcourse, I have patented the idea, so you are obligated to send the paltry sum ofonly $19.95 to me as a licensing fee.

It's a variation of the shareware idea.OK, so maybe a bad variation. I tried.Although the F2 has no Automatic Exposurecapability built in, it is indeed possible. All you have to do is addthe handy dandy auto servo gizmos to the 'S' series of F2 finders.For AE, attach the DS-1 to the DP2 (F2S), DS-2 to theDP3(F2Sb) or DS-12 to the DP-3 (F2AS).

These Nicad battery operatedmotor attachments couple to the meters and CHANGE F-STOPS by physicallyturning the aperture ring! Quite ingenious actually, but veryobsolete compared to the F3 and later cameras.Alas, by today's standards they are ungainly, awkward,obsolete devices, painfully slow, large and heavycompared to the built in automation of the later F bodies. The only reasons I canthink of using one today are 1) you need a mechanical rather than electronic SLR 2)you want to save $ by using the much less expensive F2 250 or 750 back with automation 3)you are on a limited budget, already have the F2, and need automation 4) you were droppedon your head as a baby. Having said that, these things are going up inprice, thanks to F2 collectors. Not too long ago, dealers could barelygive them away.Stop Down Metering? Howcan that help me?Well, maybe it can't, but at least it canhelp take pictures.

The various F/F2 meters normally work at FULL APERTURE. That is, they take areading at the lens' maximum f/stop. This is a great feature which allows thebrightest viewing of the subject all the time. Yep, you got it,FULL APERTURE metering 'won' and became today's standard.The alternative is STOP DOWN metering: closing down thelens to shooting aperture to take a meter reading. This makes the finderimage darker, often much darker. This was necessary in the days when withoutcoupling between the lens and meter, like the Pentax Spotmatic.

Yet, STOP DOWN has its specialized uses.for bellows work forClose-ups or slide copiers, no Nikon bellows has fullaperture meter coupling.for microscopemeter readings.for lenses without meter coupling of any kind, especially lenses which are adaptedWhy bother? Because all TTL F/F2meters offer Stop Down metering. When you need it, you really need it,and then you have it. Hmm, sounds like a Trojan commercial.Revised:November 25, 2003. Copyright © 1998-2002Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved. This means you may NOTcopy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printedpublication of ANY kind.

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