Decent nikon manual focus body?

Came across some nice nikkor lenses (been using a couple on my E1 with an
adapter) but want to be able to use these on film as well. What is a decent
manual focus body that is cheap? Must have full manual exposure control and
A priority would be a nice bonus. Not interested in AF or a bunch of bells
and whistles. Doesn't have to be a mechanical model, electronic shutter is
fine. Any hints?
--
Stacey

Stacey

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

...
Used F3HP. I picked one up off of ebay for $127--beat to hell, but
functions flawlessly.
--
Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com

Matt Clara

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

Stacey <fotocord@yahoo.com> wrote in :
Price is good on the F4 now a days, it is a lot of camera for the money. It
has auto focus, but just turn it off.

Rusty Shakleford

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

The FE-2 is probably the best choice here. The price is right and it
has the best
features for manual and AE appications. The FM3a is essentially an
FE-2 with full mechanical backup shutter speeds. The FM/FM2 are a
little lees useful for seeing manual compensation directly with the
finder readout.

Bob.kirkpatrick@heapg.com

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

...
If you want to be able to use non-AI lenses as well, a Nikon FE would meet
your criteria. If you don't care about non-AI, a Nikon FE2 would be nicer
and new(er). If you want to add in AF (or simply don't care), look for
deals on the N8008S, N90, and F100. The most recent Nikon body that fits
all your criteria except cheap is the FM3A...but those are about $800...you
can pick up two factory demo F100 bodies for that if you don't mind
"suffering" with the AF (just turn it off if it actually bothers you, but AF
cameras are a bit harder to focus manually than manual focus only bodies).
George

George

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

I'd go with an 8008 instead. It has more features, and has a wonderful
high eyepoint finder, which many of the others mentioned do not.
The price difference at this point is minimal.
Geoff.
--
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Gsm@mendelson.com (Geoffrey S. Mendelson

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

Stacey <fotocord@yahoo.com> writes:
The FM10 is the cheap non-auto body, but lots of people think it's
badly built (I've never owned one, but I hear it's made by Cosina for
Nikon). The FM3A is the current-production non-AF body; *NOT* cheap,
and like the FM10 no auto-exposure.
The FM2n is the previous long-running manual body, then (working
backwards) the FM2 and the FM. I bought my FM in 1981, to give you an
idea of how far our time-machine has gone. You can get an FM used on
Ebay under $100 with modest care (you can, of course, pay any amount
you like, no upper limit, if you want!).
The FE and FE2 were corresponding bodies with auto-exposure (still
pre-AF).
The earlier auto-focus bodies will meter and even auto-expose with
manual focus lenses, so an N90, while not manual at all, would do
everything that can be done with the lenses.
--
David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b@dd-b.net>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/>
RKBA: <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/>
Pics: <http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/> <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/>
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David Dyer-Bennet

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

You didn't mention whether the Nikkors are AI or non-AI. That would
make a big difference on the type of body you would choose.
If AI, I would agree with the suggestions of something in the FM
series, later (FM2n) being better.
If non-AI, consider the Nikkormats. The FT2 would be what you would
want, because it uses the readily available silver oxide batteries.
The FT3 (as well as the FM) will work with non-AI lenses, but only in
the stop-down mode (no meter connection).
The professional-level F2 would also be a good choice. The DP-1, -2,
and -3 finders work with all lenses with prongs, while the DP-11 and
-12 finders are limited to AI lenses. The downsides of the F2 is that
it has a low sync speed (1/80 sec.), that it has a
horizontally-travelling titanium-fabric curtain that's liable to
cracks, and that it's *much* more difficult to repair than the
Nikkormats or the FM series (which have the much superior Copal Square
shutter).
If you want an integrated motor drive, but are willing to settle for a
polycarbonate body, an N2000 might be the way to go. This would give
you aperture-priority autoexposure as well.

Alexander Arnakis

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

The FE-2 is the greatest MF Nikon ever released with regards to ease of
use and metering, imo. (Coming from a person who hasn't played with an
FM3a)
I had an F3HP and liked it a lot, but the only feature I used was the
changable finders, really. I didn't like the LCD screens or the wacky
flash shoe.
I'd say if you plan on beating the hell out of your camera or just
being in hostile situations, get the F3. If you want to have fun using
your camera, get an FE-2. FE's can take most things you throw at them
(I've had mine in snow, rain, 4-wheeling, etc) but they are a little
more delicate than the brick that is the F3.
Take care,
des

Desdinova

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

...
The F3hp gets my vote, hands down. They have really come down in price
lately on Ebay; I see them go for less than the FE2's.
The F3 fits your discription exactly.

Advocate

Re: Decent nikon manual focus body?

People used to say the thing about Japanese products a few years back,
and look where that ended up.