Nikon F with very early serial number 6400087

[RonVol]

This is going to create a bit of a stir amongst the collectors; the 87th F, complete with cloth shutter curtain and type I film guide rails - http://r.ebay.com/ht76gv
Not too often one gets to see an F that's so early and so original.

[richardHaw]

Hello, Ron. I am currently contemplating on purchasing an F for around $135. seller said that it is working properly and it does look clean as far as i can see. what do you think? I am also considering getting a Ftn head separately.

[RonVol]

Hello, Ron. I am currently contemplating on purchasing an F for around $135. seller said that it is working properly and it does look clean as far as i can see. what do you think? I am also considering getting a Ftn head separately.

Hi Ric,

I reckon that $135 sounds like a fair price for a clean F.
What's the serial number?

[pluton]

On F's and F2's, aren't the first two numbers in the serial number the year of manufacture, which would make yours the 87th F made in the 1964 production run?

[Bjørn Rørslett]

That is a myth unfortunately. One cannot date these cameras in this manner with any certainty.

The first Nikon F was produced in 1959 with serial number starting at 6400001.

By coincidence, the later annual runs  were around 100.000 cameras, which made the two first digits "roll over" about once a year. However, during the first 5-6 years of production, the Nikon F sold in smaller numbers. Not sure about the F2 though. I have cameras with different serial numbers purchased more or less at the same time.

[the solitaire]

Unfortunately the serialnumber/manufacturing year myth does not hold true.

I own two F's starting with 65xxxxx. One is manufactured early 1964, the other early 1965.

Richard, $135 is an excellent price for a clean and working F.
I paid $150 for the first F I bought.
I prefer using the eye level prism heads. The FtN head is not bad either, but the other photomic heads do not attach to the body as secure as the photomic heads on the F2.

Personally I prefer using my Nikon F over my F2 btw. The F3 is so different to the other two that I can't say whether I prefer the F or F3.

[Roland Vink]

You can date Nikon F and F2 camera bodies here: http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon_f_bodies.html

[richardHaw]

thanks guys. dot want to derail the topic but i won an FTN for $100 in great cosmetic condition
SN unknown

[dslater]

Where's the post that engages the tab on the lens f-stop ring? I don't see it in any of the pictures.

[richardHaw]

Where's the post that engages the tab on the lens f-stop ring? I don't see it in any of the pictures.

i think that is for photomic heads only.

[the solitaire]

Yep, metered heads only. The non-metered heads (eye level, waist level, action finder and loupe finder) do not interact with the aperture ring.

[RonVol]

Only one day of bidding and it's already up to US$3,161.

Anyone dare to guess what it'll reach?

I'm guessing around 5-6K.

[Akira]

Such an early F body needs to have the "Nikon" name plate trimmed in order to attach any Photomic finders with the integrated light meter onto it, if I remember correctly.

[the solitaire]

Need to be trimmed for at least the FtN finder. The other two AFAIK fit without modification and any pf the non-TTL Photomic finders fit without modification.

The finder collar also needs to be trimmed btw

[RonVol]

Sold for US$6,111.00
Turns out my guess of between 5-6K wasn't far off.
I love stories like this; where people find what appears to be worthless junk and end up receiving a handsome sum.