Fotoguy wrote:
On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:49:59 -0400, Alan Browne wrote:

Fotoguy wrote:
[snip]
I personally rate the Nikon F2 with the standard (non-meter) pentaprism
as the best 35mm SLR ever produced based on its overall durability,
longevity, and dependability as well as reviews, tests, opinions of
other pros and camera repair techs, and shooting with it (and FMs &
FM2s) professionally for over 20 years. I've yet to come across
another camera--film or digital--that even comes close. The F2 was
unique, synergistic, and today is considered by many in the
auto-digital crowd an antique curiosity that should be in the
Smithsonian.
A camera is a tool. As such the F5, the EOS-1n/1v, Maxxum 9 are the
absolute standouts in 35mm cameras. The F6 is a slightly watered down
F5 but incorporates what is needed by a serious film shooter. Why then
is the F5 better than the venerable F2? Because metering (etc.) are
tools that the photographer needs. While the F2 might be legendary,
that does not make it the best tool - elsewise nobody would have bought
the F5 (etc.).

A tool is only as good as the tool user. You don't really need all the
fancy features that today's electro-mechanical film (or digital) SLRs
have to be a good photographer. You don't even need a light meter, built-
in or hand-held, if you're a good photographer. I remember my second
semester college photo course: No light meters permitted. You learned
to "see" the proper exposure . . . eventually.

In limited cases I do that. (Recent pano for example). However, for
most photography the lack of a meter and relying on experience would be
somewhat error prone. Further while negative and B&W film allows you
more latitute (esp. if you err to the high side), slide film simply does
not give you that luxury. Digital is likewise prone to blow out in a
manner similar to slide.


If the only choice was the F5, there was no choice.

If the F2,3,4 satisfied, the F5 would not have sold. Pros however
upgrade gear at a fast rate. A legendary F2 that lasts forever somehow
gets replaced as there is a need.

Of course, there are
always those whose decision is based solely on the brightness of an
object, and consider little else.

One German studio had an F5 go somewhat over 1,000,000 shutter releases
before going in for service (for other reasons). The studio is of
course a benign environment, but that number is outstanding.

An exception, I'm sure, like those cars/trucks you see in ads with a
million miles on the original, unoverhauled engine.

Far end of the bathtub, but Nikon's rep for reliability is not for
nothing. Emerging design for manufacturing was sweetening at about the
time that the F5 came on the scene.

I wonder how many F2s are out there that have as much mileage? We'll
never know, since the camera, being all mechanical, is incapable of
recording such statistics. Actually, in the mechanical camera days, the
longevity of the shutter in cycles (or actuations as it's now called) was
never advertised or even really considered (by the buyer).


Off the top of my head, my guess, is the F2 shutter was good for 500,000
cycles, typical, with the FMs or FM2s good for half that. It took me
about 12 years of fairly serious shooting with motor drives to wear out
the shutters on two of my FMs. So, that's in the ballpark.

A single point statistic.