If rapid film advance or power rewind features are not impressive enough, well, here is another unique feature in the F2 motor drive design that would certainly raise some eyebrows. Nikon was the first 35mm trend setting SLR camera in the world that can convert from non-metered, mechanical shutter camera to a fully automatic, electronic exposure control camera - without changing the basic camera body !
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The key to this exciting concept is a special accessory which would stopped the aperture diaphragm during exposure and hence keep tracking continuously - shifting light values by turning them into data to control the servo motor that physically turns the aperture ring of an Al-spec Nikkor lens mounted on the F2 camera. |
The accessory, referred as "EE Aperture Control Attachment Unit " which works with some selective F2 metered prisms provides consistent accurate exposures even under constant changing lighting conditions - automatically ! Technically, the device would convert the F2, easily one of the most trusted and ever dependable mechanical SLR camera into body which enables automatic exposure control. Such pioneering concept of hybrid functionality has laid a guide for many other camera manufacturers to follow when preparing their respective future generation of professional SLR system camera.
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I am sure you would agree with me when you examined some of those fine classic bodies such as Canon New F-1 and Pentax LX which were introduced during early part of the eighties. These bodies were mechanical camera in nature and remains operational at certain mechanical shutter speed settings even if there is no battery(ies) installed; but they will also "transform" into a SLR with various automatic exposure modes either when a specialized prism or a motor drive is attached to the camera. |
I have my admiration for each of these fine cameras, but I would also think the Nikon F2's supremacy during '70 in the professional users' market would certainly had its influences on the design of these models.
Spanning throughout the entire product cycle of F2 bodies which stretched from 1971 to 1980, many changes, updates occurred that had a direct relation to respective performances of various F2 models. The original DS-1 EE Aperture Control Attachment Unit which was introduced only after the DP-2 Photomic finder (whereby referred as Nikon F2S Photomic) was introduced in 1973. DS-2 introduced later was aimed to patch a little flaw in the earlier design where the unit covers up the PC terminal once attached to the camera.
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An exotic view of a rare Nikon F2H (High Speed Motor drive camera) along side with a F2AS with a DS-12 EE aperture control unit which will transform the camer into an automatic SLR that provide shutter priority AE. The EE Unit only works with metered prism DP-2, DP-3, DP-11 and DP-12. Where meterless DE-1 mounted here on the Titanium F2H and DP-1 Photomic are not usable. |
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The DS-2 has a very impressive EV range with various metered finders: With DP-2 finder EV -2 to EV 17 (with 50mm f/1.4 at ASA 100); with DP-3 finder EV 0 to EV 17 (with 50mm f/1.4 at ASA 100). The DS-2 EE unit was upgraded as DS-12 when Nikon introduced the AI-feature in 1977 and so did the DP-3 finder, it was named DP-12 with an AI-spec. So, the DP-12/DS-12 was just an AI-version of the DP-3/DS-2 combination. Wondering why there wasn't a DS-11 ? because the DP-11 was essentially an AI-spec DP-1 Photomic finder where both of the finders cannot be used with any EE Aperture Control Attachment Unit.
Operation of the EE Unit with F2 camera is conducted entirely on internal batteries, for an example, DS-12's NiCd power supply furnishing enough power for up to one hour of continuous running and much, much more if operated intermittently. If very long periods of continuous running are desired, both a supplementary battery pack, the DB-1, and an AC/DC converter, the MA-4, are available for such requirement too.
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The use of the DP-12/DS-12 combination in conjunction with a Nikon motor drive and the MT-1 Intervalometer permits totally automatic, unmanned photography and opens up a whole new vista of applied photographic techniques never imagined before prior to availability of such combination (Well, it may sound primitive to you, but those days, such capability was really something..). |
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The scope of this unmanned automatic exposure operation can be even further enhanced by the addition of one of the bulk-loading film backs. |
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Although most modern day's SLR cameras have an integral/built-in motor drive in the camera body, and that could make you wondering why would it needs a separate film advance device ? Well, the course of development in SLR design plays a significant role.
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Prior to mid-'80, where Nikon finally introduced their first camera integrate with a built-in winder, Nikon F301 (Named "N2000" in US); most photographers would prefer camera with a modular design but with options to extend functionality via attachment of accessories. There was a strong belief that a camera should be setup or configured to ensure flexibility in operation whatever the assignment required. |
So, a 35mm photographic system can possibly grown into a full scale comprehensive system. It may comprised of a full range of auxiliary support equipment ranging from film cassettes, focusing screens, finders, filters, cases, motor drives, winders film backs, duplicating equipment and even bulk loaders, through cords and connectors to radio, remote control devices and macro/close-up accessories. Most of the time, these are more than enough to fully meet the demanding needs of press, action, scientific, fashion, studio or industrial photographers, not to mention serious amateurs.
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The Eyes of Nikon:- |
Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm |
Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm |
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Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm
Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E
Nikon F
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Nikon
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Nikon
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Recommended links to understand
more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html
About this photographic site.
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HOME - Photography in Malaysia |
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Copyright © 2000. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.
In
memory of my friend Com.
Augusto Staut,
Brazil, 1971-2000.
Credit: Chuck Hester, US for his patience, encouragement
and help to setup the various content in this site; Robert Johnson for some of his original
images on the F2H-MD appeared in this site; my ex-staff, KiaSu for his superb
3-D logo appeared in this Nikon F2 site; Marc Vorgers from Holland who
generously provide me with some of his images of F2AS; MCLau®, who has so much time with me to
re-edit the content in this site and not to mention buying a Nikon Coolpix 990 just
for this site. Keat Photo,
Kuala Lumpur for providing
their Nikon F2A to take some images for this site; again, Mr Edward Ngoh the
great camera collector who provides us his collection of F2AS with MD-2; hawkeye.photographic.com
for their images on the Speed Magny film backs; Sean Cranor for his image
on Nikon F2 25th Anniversary Model; Ted Wengelaar®, Holland for his continuous
flow of input on some of the early Nikon bodies; CYLeow ® , photo editor of the Star
newspaper, Malaysia for some of his images used in this site. Ms Rissa Chan, Sales manager from
Shriro Malaysia who has helped to provide some of the very useful input. HiuraShinsaku®,
Nikomat ML, Japan for some of his images on various F2 models; my staff, Wati, Maisa, Mai and my nephew, EEWyn®, who volunteered and helping me
did so many of the film scanning works. Contributing photographers or resellers:
Jen Siow, Foo KokKin, Arthur Teng, Mark Fallander, John
Ishii, Ed Hassel, YoonKi Kim, Jean-Louis, M.Dugentas (Dell Corner.com.), Mr "Arsenall" and a few images mailed
in from surfers with no appropriate reference to their origin. Dedicated to KU Yeo, just to express our mutual regrets over the outcome of
a recent corporate event. Made with a PowerMac, broadcast with a Redhat Linux powered server.
