Among many camera fans this was the best and still is the most beautiful Nikon SLR ever made.
Nikon F2A (= Nikon F2 + DP-11) + fast Nikkor 1.2/55 mm. + Nikon AR-1 (soft shutter release)
The Nikon F2 was introduced in late 1971, while the Nikon F was still in production. Maybe that's why the Nikon F2 was given a cold reception by the thousands of Nikon F owners. Funny enough this happened with the introduction of the Nikon F3 and Nikon F4, too. The F2 was a camera system as well. The camera body remained nearly unchanged during its production time, which ended in 1980. The body can be 'dressed' with finders, backs, motor drives etc. The lay out of the top was improved up to contemporary ergonomics. The feeling and grip was much better. Advancing the film is a single-stroke action of 120°, the back is hinged and can be opened by turning the key at the bottom. Like in the Nikon F-series there is a choice of various viewfinders. An eye-level finder (DE-1), a sportfinder (DA-1), a waist-level finder (DW-1), a waist-level finder with a 6x magnification (DW-2) and 5 Photomic finders (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, DP-11 and DP-12) with built-in exposure meters can be fitted.
If a Photomic finder is fitted the exposure meter will be activated by pulling the advance lever 30° out from the body. The shutter runs at speeds between 1 and 1/2000 sec. with a flash sync of 1/80 sec. The 5 Photomic viewfinders give the Nikon F2 a special indicator/name when fitted:
Nikon F2 Photomic = Nikon F2 + DP-1 (CdS cells, center-weighted metering and needle indicator)
Nikon F2S = Nikon F2 + DP-2 (more sensitive CdS cells metering down to 8 seconds, center-weighted metering and diodes)
Nikon F2SB = Nikon F2 + DP-3 (SPD = silicon photo diode cells, center-weighted metering and a five-stage LED display)
Nikon F2A = Nikon F2 + DP-11 (= modified DP-1 to accept AI-lenses)
Nikon F2AS = Nikon F2 + DP-12 (modified DP-3 to accept AI-lenses)
The Nikon F2S and Nikon F2SB can be fitted with a Nikon DS-1 EE aperture control unit, the Nikon F2AS can be fitted with the Nikon DS-2. Both control units make the Nikon F2 a semi-automatic camera with shutter priority setting. Both units have to be fitted before a lens or viewfinder is mounted. The upper left button will screw a little screw into the PC sync thread. The lower button covers the battery compartment. Via a Nikon DH-1 charger the DN-1 battery (which runs empty before you'll notice it!) can be charged (see picture below).
Nikon DS-12 automatic aperture control unit + DN-1 battery + DH-1 battery charger
When any other viewfinder is fitted the Nikon F2 remains Nikon F2. Simple as that!!
For information about motor drives and backs see chapter miscellaneous
More info will be uploaded soon!!!