To close the shutter, simply turn the eyepiece shutter control 60° clockwise. As the shutter closes, the internal LEDs are deactivated and the external "correct exposure" indicator is switched on for metering operation from atop the finder.
To set the camera for proper exposure using the external LED indicator, simply adjust the aperture ring and/or the shutter-speed selector until the LED just glows; once the LED comes on, the camera is set for correct exposure. |
In addition to its use for low-light metering or for unmanned photography, the eyepiece shutter comes in handy to ensure correct exposure measurement in critical shooting situations (e.g., photomicrography) or for protection against the entry of bright light into the viewfinder during daylight shooting.
Finder
Illuminator
When shooting under low-light levels, the finder's shutter speed and aperture
indicators (located just below the viewfinder image) often are difficult to read.
To solve this problem, only DP-12 and older DP-3 was fitted with a finder illuminator.
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For other finders such as older DP-1 and the AI version DP-11, you can use an accessory called DL-1 Viewfinder Illuminator to provide more comfortable reading of the exposure display. * |
To operate, slide the illuminator switch at the top of the finder toward the rear of the camera; with this action, the shutter speed and aperture settings will glow red. WARNING: Activate this button only if deemed necessary and it may drains the power of the camera if keep unattended
* The long discontinued DL-1 Illuminator takes mercury cells and may not be easily available in many countries.
Viewfinder
Accessories
 |
The Photomic finder DP-12 shares and accepts a host of Nikon designed viewfinder attachment accessories, some are designed specifically for Nikon F2 bodies. Popular ones include Right-Angle Viewing Attachment DR-3, Eyepiece Magnifier, Rubber Eyecup and a complete range of Eyepiece Correction Lenses. Most of these can also be used with the DP-12 without any significant compatibility problems. |
Among many of these accessories, one rather interesting special purpose accessory is none other than the EE Aperture Control Unit Attachment DS-12 which designed exclusively for automated exposure control (Three finders that was designed to use that accessory is DP-2 (F2S), DP-3 (F2SB) and DP-12 (F2AS) featured here. The non-AI F2S and F2SB should be used with a non-AI version DS-1 or DS-2 (two of these models are differentiated by a PC terminal on the unit enable the use of flash), but since the DP-12's F2AS is an AI-body and Nikon soon designed an AI- version of the EE Aperture Attachment Unit DS-12 exclusively for use with a F2AS.
 |
Specially designed for operation with F2AS camera and Al-type Nikkor lenses, the EE Aperture Control Attachment DS-12 brings the F2 user the convenience of automatic aperture control. With the DS-12, the photographer is free to concentrate fully on the subject while the attachment's built-in servo mechanism is automatically adjusting the aperture setting as necessary for perfectly exposed photographs under even changing lighting conditions. Power for DS-12 operation is via any of three optional power sources mentioned in the instruction manual. |
Personal Conclusion: A DP-12 equipped Nikon F2 is a very attractive investment. If you intend to use the F2AS as a sole working camera, handle and preserve it with utmost care and attention as I think you could possibly help yourself a little with the ever increasing appreciation of value in the collector market. In the eyes of the collector, it reflects a level of charm hard to compared by any other regular production 35mm Japanese manual focus SLR camera models. This camera represents an era which has the best of mechanical engineering in camera design and production. Besides, it also showcasing a rich tradition of product excellence by its manufacturer, Nikon which has staged such a commanding position in the professional SLR users market during those days.
 |
A collector's perspective may be too inclined towards sentimental reasons. But a standalone F2AS as a working camera is equally interesting especially when used with the many system accessories that tailored designed for it. The professional grade Nikon MD-2 motor drive and a cheaper alternative Nikon MD-3 are two very good day to day high performance supplementary accessories. The MD-2 in particular, was one of the TWO regular production Nikon made Motor Drives that provide a power film rewind feature (Another model is the MD-4 designed for the Nikon F3). |
| Previous | NEXT | 15/17 Film back Options and Various Issues relating to sensitivity of metering sensors
System
Accessories:
Motor
Drives
/ Prisms / Screens / Macro / Film
Backs
/ Flash
Other Accessories:
DS-1 / DS-2 / DS-12 / eyepiece / DH-1 / cases / Cable releases / Miscellaneous
| History
& Background
| Semi-FAQ | Various Features and Functions - 6 Parts |
| Message Board | for
your favourite Nikon
F2 Series SLR model(s)
| Message Board | for your Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon/Nikkor Photographic
Equipment
| Back | to Main Index Page of Nikon F2 Series SLR models
| Back |
Main Index Page of Pictorial History of Nikon SLRs
 |
The Eyes of Nikon:- |
Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm |
Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm |
Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm
Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E
Nikon F
| Nikon F2 |
Nikon
F3
| Nikon F4 |
Nikon
F5
| Nikon F6 |
Nikkormat / Nikomat |
Nikon FM
| Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models
MIR Supports for Photographic Community: Various Message Boards/Community
Forums
Nikon
F-series|
Nikon
F2-series|
Nikon
F3-series|
Nikon F4-series| Nikon
F5-series|Nikkormat/Nikomat-series
Nikon FM-series|Nikon
FE-series|Nikon
FA|Nikon
Digital
SLR
series|Various
Nikon
Models|Nikkor
Optic
-shared
Others:- Free Trade Zone - Photography| Free Trade Zone - Business Community |Free To Zouk - Photographic Community
Apple's Mac Public Community Message Board | Windows based PC &
Apple/Mac
Public Community Trade Exchange Centre
Recommended links to understand
more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html
About this photographic site.
 |
HOME - Photography in Malaysia |
 |
Copyright © 2000. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.
In
memory of my friend Com.
Augusto Staut,
Brazil, 1971-2000.
Credit: Chuck Hester, US for his patience, encouragement
and help to setup the various content in this site; Robert Johnson for some of his original
images on the F2H-MD appeared in this site; my ex-staff, KiaSu for his superb
3-D logo appeared in this Nikon F2 site; Marc Vorgers from Holland who
generously provide me with some of his images of F2AS; MCLau®, who has so much time with me to
re-edit the content in this site and not to mention buying a Nikon Coolpix 990 just
for this site. Keat Photo,
Kuala Lumpur for providing
their Nikon F2A to take some images for this site; again, Mr Edward Ngoh the
great camera collector who provides us his collection of F2AS with MD-2; hawkeye.photographic.com
for their images on the Speed Magny film backs; Sean Cranor for his image
on Nikon F2 25th Anniversary Model; Ted Wengelaar®, Holland for his continuous
flow of input on some of the early Nikon bodies; CYLeow ® , photo editor of the Star
newspaper, Malaysia for some of his images used in this site. Ms Rissa Chan, Sales manager from
Shriro Malaysia who has helped to provide some of the very useful input. HiuraShinsaku®,
Nikomat ML, Japan for some of his images on various F2 models; my staff, Wati, Maisa, Mai and my nephew, EEWyn®, who volunteered and helping me
did so many of the film scanning works. Contributing photographers or resellers:
Jen Siow, Foo KokKin, Arthur Teng, Mark Fallander, John
Ishii, Ed Hassel, YoonKi Kim, Jean-Louis, M.Dugentas (Dell Corner.com.), Mr "Arsenall" and a few images mailed
in from surfers with no appropriate reference to their origin. Dedicated to KU Yeo, just to express our mutual regrets over the outcome of
a recent corporate event. Made with a PowerMac, broadcast with a Redhat Linux powered server.
