Nikon F and F2 Miscellaneous Accessories

Panorama Head

The original Panorama Head provides a fairly convenient way to extract panoramic photographs from a given scene, your tripod, and a 28, 35, 50, 85, 105, or 135mm lens. Apparently the 35, 50, and 105mm panoramas are fairly simple click-stop affairs, while the other focal lengths involve some rotation juggling. There are three rings on this lens; from bottom to top, these are the focal length ring (FLR), the index ring (IR), and angle scale index ring (ASIR). The circumference of the head is marked from 0 to 360 degrees in 5 degree increments.

With a 35, 50, or 105mm lens:

  1. set the printed focal length of the lens on the FLR against the black index dot of the IR
  2. turn the ASIR so that its white index dot lines up with the 0 degree mark
  3. take your first exposure
  4. turn the head to the next click stop, and take another exposure
  5. repeat step 4 until satisfied

With a 28, 85, or 135mm lens:

  1. line up the black index dot of the IR with the white dot on the FLR
  2. take your first exposure
  3. turn the head to move the white dot of the FLR to the current position of the appropriately colored line (corresponding to the lens in use)
  4. take your next exposure
  5. repeat 3-4 as necessary

The appropriate rotation for a 45mm lens is 40 degrees, and that for a 55mm lens is 35 degrees. Because of "wide-angle distortion" effects on the picture's edges, the use of lenses shorter than 28mm is not encouraged. The total number of exposures needed for complete 360 degree coverage is:

Bubble Level

This bubble level slides into a ISO-type accessory shoe and provides a simple way to check (when doing architectural or panoramic photography) the level-ness of the camera on a tripod. It is also devilishly hard to find and has obscene value as a collector's item, even when separated from the original Panorama Head.

AP-2 Panorama Head

The AP-2 has an integrated bubble level (one less thing to lose) and offers click-stop or free rotation without any angular index. It has a clamping lever which must be released (by turning it clockwise) before attaching the camera. After the camera, head, and tripod are hooked together, set the focal length in use against the white indicator dot, and take your pictures with a click-stop (gained by turning the chrome milled ring) in between. There is a white triangle at the next position after 28mm, which declutches the clicking mechanism, and allows unimpeded rotation.

Because of "wide-angle distortion" effects on the picture's edges, the use of lenses shorter than 28mm is not encouraged. If you choose to use different focal lengths, use the next higher focal length. The total number of exposures needed for complete 360 degree coverage is:

Leather Neck Strap

This neck strap is made of black cowhide and is a misery-inducing 11mm wide and 3mm thick. The length may be adjusted out to 860mm (33.9 in.). Yes, I know that neoprene straps look somewhat cheesy, but you wouldn't believe how comfortable they can be.

Leatherette Neck Strap

This neck strap is made of black leatherette (Eslon) and is a misery-inducing 12mm wide and 2mm thick. The length may be adjusted out to 1 090mm (42 in.).

DB-2 Anti-Cold Battery Pack

This accessory, still available for the F3 and FM2n, allows the use of two "AA" batteries in place of the two silver oxide cells in the base of the camera. It is intended for use in cold weather, when the small button cells tend to lose voltage quickly (although they seem to be all right down to about 0 C).

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