Nikon F2: Tips & Tricks!

Here are a few tips I've picked up since using the Nikon F2! I put the more obscure ones first and ended with some basics. Hope you enjoy!
0:07 Lens Trick
0:23 Self Timer
0:51 Shutter Lock
1:03 Exposure Trick
1:29 Double Exposure
2:30 Basics

[@rbob4931]

Nice video and some good tips. However, it is gut-wrenching to watch your thumbs kept pushing onto the shutter curtain as you attempt the load the film. The shutter curtain is arguably the most delicate part of the entire camera. Nice work otherwise.

[@LeDibeau]

I load the film the other direction. First slide the end into the takeupspool, then pull the cartridge to the left and insert it into the camera. This way ya do not run in danger to damage the shuttercurtain with your thumb.

[@esolthailand7439]

Good stuff. At the 3:55 mark I would also strongly advise that when making those first two dead exposures on a fresh reel, one should ALWAYS make sure the film wind lever and spool on the left of the camera is turning as you wind the film advance lever on the right. Otherwise it’s gonna be a bad experience when you develop that roll lol. Nice video.

[@exposuretherapy524]

Good to know. Thank you for the advice!

[@rogerwalker3201]

It seems that most individuals place the film cassette into the camera first. My method is to place the leader into the uptake cylinder first and then aligning the film with the sprocket teeth. After which, I pull the film cassette carefully over to the cassette’s well; on the left side of the camera. I then turn the advance lever to eliminate any slack in the film between the cassette and the advance sprocket, and partially advance the lever to make sure there is no binding. Finally, closing the back. I then slowly advance the lever observing the top take up lever to assure that the film is actually moving along the internal film tracks. Then advancing the film to number one on the counter window.

[@monstersdoexist]

I have better luck buying on eBay from camera dealers in Japan. The shipping is a bit much, but they are good at listing every detail about the condition of the camera as well as testing everything on it. Photos are always detailed to show minor flaws in the paint or small dents and imperfections. Always read their feedback comments to make sure they are reputable and have a high rating. My advice is to spend the money now because both the F1 and F2 models are going up in price as collector items.

[@daryljohnson9010]

Don’t smash your shutter loading it that way. Oi!

[@zkcessnaguy]

That made me cringe.

[@kevykev555]

I was about to comment about the anxiety I got from witnessing the handling of the film over the shutter curtains but then I figured there was for sure already a comment about that. Also please clean the viewfinder, it deserves a good life... Good video still.

[@DiesIstEinMülleimer]

3:15 loading film. I really don‘t understand, why people always put the canister in first and then also waste at least one shot with the open back. I do it like that and I am absolutely certain that the film is secured, because I can see the rewind spool turning at the first winding. kzbin.info/www/bejne/onuwlYx6jMSEb8k

[@photobobo]

It is not required to never clean all of the shit off of the camera.

[@linusfotograf]

Don't put pressure on the shutter curtain when loading the film! 😰

[@bp-ky2nr]

Thanks for the tips!

[@amonite48]

What a great video!!! Thanks so much for all that info 🙌🏻

[@Psilocy-ben]

Thanks for this video. Can you explain why you cover the lens and take a 3rd shot after doing a double exposure? So you can’t just 1. Take first photo 2. Hold rewind button simultaneously advance lever (which doesn’t actually advance film) 3. Take second exposure, and then advance as normal to the next frame?

[@linusfotograf]

I was wondering the same

[@joelarriaza1913]

Thank you!

[@hannelore6208]

I really enjoyed watching your videos. I found a Nikon F2 at my grandpa's house, but the battery is dead, therefore the exposure tracker doesn't function...do you know which batteries are necessary and if there are available at Amazon🤔

[@exposuretherapy524]

Thank you so much! The Nikon F2 takes 1.5-volt silver-oxide "button" batteries. You should be able to find them easily online and your local camera store should also carry them!

[@SchwarzPoet]

Do you also have the light well viewfinder from the Nikon F2? If so, maybe this would be a good idea for a new video? Greetings from Germany.

[@DavidBerglund]

It's easy to understand why many who grew up using film cameras were relieved when they could move on to digital and leave all this work behind. It's equally easy to understand why people who grew up with digital can feel relieved to have to slow down and put some effort into creating a photograph. I grew up in the middle of that, digital cameras became really good in my late teens but it took a few years before I could afford a DSLR myself. Now I'm looking to revisit film photography.

[@khanscombe619]

A remarkable workhorse of a camera. I still use my Grandfads F2AS

[@shademanirvanipour6870]

I got one of those Nikon F2 black body cameras and it came with the 2 parts motor drives and the special expouser meter which fits on the left side of the camera and allows the camera to be used also I need to get a meter head for the camera and get the camera fixed and I paid £10.00 for all of them from a second hand camera shop in London in 2023

[@davidpope2189]

Will the double exposure tip/trick work on a Minolta X570?

[@landesnorm]

Good advice; however, I would add a couple of variations: 1) no one ever mentions this, but before you start to load film you should always turn the rewind crank to make sure the camera doesn't have film in it already. If the rewind crank has tension, then there's film in the camera. Very important, and the first step in loading film. Do this even if you "know" the camera is empty. 2) after you make sure that the film leader is in the take-up spool and the film is riding the sprockets correctly, wind the rewind crank to put a little tension on the film. This step may ensure the film lays flat, but more importantly, when you close the camera and start advancing the film to frame #1, you can make sure the film is advancing properly by watching the rewind crank. It should be turning. If not then the film is not advancing, and if you don't catch this, you will be sorry. Advice from a seasoned photographer's assistant and former commercial photographer.

[@nullentrophy]

I think I am going to buy a F2. Nicely produced, good job

[@soyginna]

Great Video! Question, are you familiar with the waist view finder you can put in these cameras? I have one but it doesn't have a ISO setting mechanism. I have not found any info in how to use it.

[@AndreoPhoto]

thank you for this!

[@exposuretherapy524]

happy to help!

[@michaeltuffin8147]

Base f2 de-1 prism has no meter

[@michaeltuffin8147]

And all metered prisms for f2 are 80% center-weighted, like the f3’s

[@duncanthorn6338]

Looks like your film advance lever return spring has gone, if you have to return the lever manually?

[@exposuretherapy524]

Huh, you are right! Thanks for pointing that out, I never noticed! Thankfully it's never missed with any of my captures.

[@karstenblack7898]

@@exposuretherapy524 send your f2 (if you want) to Sover Wong if you want any repairs done. It will come back near mint

[@karstenblack7898]

Also glad to see you upload another video! Best of luck to you

[@lilakfir8060]

Agreed about Sover being the guy to send it to. I’d wager the big ‘ol dent in the top plate is liable to be the issue here, as opposed to an advance lever return spring

[@SmokinGun55]

I've used Sover Wong as well for my F2. He's the best in the business.

[@ThePhotoDept]

cool video!

[@bpelectric]

Great content. Also, those creative tips on multiple exposures are pretty fun. :D

[@uribashan6995]

Great video. Thanks!

[@Geert890]

Is your F2 broken? Because you have to push the wind lever back yourself it seems..

[@exposuretherapy524]

the film advance lever return spring is broken, but all other mechanics of the camera work fine

[@neilpiper9889]

It's not broken. You push the lever back yourself. There is no return spring

[@Geert890]

@@neilpiper9889 My F2 has a return spring. They all do.

[@neilpiper9889]

@@Geert890 there is a return spring when you wind on, but not to return the plastic covered lever end to cover the red dot and turn off the meter.

[@Geert890]

@@neilpiper9889 true, but I wasn't talking about the final part. His F2 doesn't return at all.

[@landesnorm]

This is all good advice,

[@vvonn9605]

Thanks for posting! I've set the ASA wrong to 100 but it should be 200, will the result be very bad?

[@LeDibeau]

So you underexposed the film by one stop. If ya used B&W or Colournegative film, ya really wont really notice de difference. Problem is only when ya shoot colourslide film.

[@samshaysharp]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@PSYCHIC_PSYCHO]

I am curious about the F2 viewfinder; it seems to be too small for comfort, as presumably would have to swivel their eye-ball to check the framing of their subject, as well as information display in the viewfinder. It would have been great if the F2 viewfinder was as big as the one for the F3.

[@artoftheoutdoors]

Great tips 😊

[@RAG3Xbox]

I have one but im a complete beginner and no only the basics of film photography, so im really scared 😬

[@exposuretherapy524]

You will do great! Photography in general is all about trial and error in my opinion. So go out there and give it your best shot, if you aren't happy with your results, you can learn from your mistakes and repeat the process. I hope you have fun! :)

[@Ayagershanov]

Thank you sooooo much!!!

[@c.shumategreennova8082]

Thanks Dude

[@donjagoe]

Super job!

[@neilpiper9889]

T is for time exposure L is to lock the shutter. Set it in between for normal use. Duh

[@corinneallen3036]

great vid

[@smileycomments]

Hey mate - bit of an old video (hope you're still around), just had a question: Do you take your first photo when the film counter is at 0 or 1? And accordingly, is your last frame of a 36 shot roll at 35 or 36? I just had a roll come all the way out of my canister and wanted to know if I'm doing it wrong. Cheers!

[@exposuretherapy524]

Hey Michael! I always start shooting at frame 0. I think some people start at frame 1 but depending on how far you thread the film into the leader that may change how many shots you can get out of a roll. For me, frame 36 should contain a shot. Hope that helps a bit!

[@landesnorm]

If by "came all the way out of my canister" you mean that you got more than 36 or 37 frames on a commercial roll (a roll that was commercially made and loaded by Ilford, Kodak, etc.) then you have a problem. Possibly the film either came off and out of the canister or, more likely, the the film sprockets stripped. In both cases you will have to open the camera in a darkroom to extract the film, and don't forget to blow out the pieces of film left in the camera.

[@onairsebcycling]

Just subscribed! Do you know if there is a way to shoot with modern nikon g lenses that don't have an aperture ring?

[@exposuretherapy524]

Hey there! I believe that G lenses will not work unless you shoot them wide open as there is not a simple way to control the aperture.

[@foolsmate]

Love the music you’ve chosen for the video

[@jakobblaschke9436]

Clickbait shaming: This is a basic manual, not tips & tricks.