k_ashok_k
Nikon FTn with Nikkor 50mm f/1.4
Equipment used: Nikon D7000 with Really Right Stuff (RRF) right angle bracket, Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 lens, mounted on Gitzo 2220 with Acratech ball head. Hari and Sons light table, Manfrotto Super Clamp and 196 arm
Manual Exposure, ISO 100, f/14, 1/200 sec. focal length 112 mm.
Strobist information: A black paper sweep was placed on the light table. One Elinchrom FXR 200 up and left of the (taking – D7000) camera mounted on a Polystand. One Yongnuo 560 with Lumiquest III softbox to the front of subject and right to illuminate the second half of the FTn.
One Elinchrom FXR 400 (with 20X20 softbox) on an Elinchrom light stand was used to give the front lighting and also the light on the lens elements. The color on the lens elements is due to the coatings No gels were used. This was the fill light and was aimed up slightly to prevent light falling on the background.
All the three strobes were fired with cam's built-in flash set at 1/128 power in manual flash mode. An SG-3IR was used to make the camera’s flash output into an IR pulse and hence block all light from this flash. The camera was raised on small plastic blocks to get the right type of shadow - under the lens and the body.
The lighting concept was based on a recent D4 ad called the “Dark Knight” that appeared in some British magazines. This photograph is largely due to the effort of Rajasekhar (AKA RBP).
About the Nikon F:
When history of photography is written it will definitely contain a paragraph on the Nikon F, the first really professional 35mm SLR. Strangely Nikon F brought nothing new to the table. Penta-prism, instant return mirror, etc. were all introduced earlier by other manufacturers. However, it is the flawless execution, a very accurate viewfinder and more importantly bullet proof construction made it one of the all-time greats. It was also the first camera to embrace what is now taken for granted – a systems approach. Every conceivable accessory - motor drives, radio triggers, intervalo-meters, interchangeable screens and finders, bellows, extension tubes, bulk film backs – you name it and the Nikon F had it. I used to have a brochure in the F accessories and it was really a thick book.
The lenses ranged from a fantastic 6mm (a fish eye which could actually look behind as the coverage was 220 degrees) to a 2000mm behemoth. No other manufacturer was even close to this arsenal. There were several special purpose lenses like Medical Nikkor which was specifically designed for doctors plus lenses for UV photography.
Nikon F was introduced in 1959 and was in production for 14 long years. The initial price was Yen 47,000 which is very high (adjusted for inflation, an F costed a huge amount of money)! It was developed along with a rangefinder camera Model SP but it was so successful that SP a great camera by itself was canned quickly. By the time production ended in 1973, 862,600 Nikon Fs were produced.
The modular approach followed by Nikon enabled them to develop new finders as the technology developed thus keeping the camera up to date. The lens mount called the F Mount, is unchanged even today and even lenses that were made in 1959 can still be used (with minor modifications) on today’s DSLRs.
Nikon F was responsible was two major developments. First it killed the rangefinder camera relegating it to a niche market. Second it lead the Japanese onslaught on the camera market which drove the redoubtable Germans out. While one could dispute this, if one looks at a collectors guide you will see that the number German camera firms during the pre WWII was huge. Today Leica (with a little Japanese help) and Linhof are the only genuine camera manufacturers left in Germany (Are there any others?). The beautiful Zeiss Ikon and Voigtlander 35mm RF cameras are made by Cosina and so are the Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses.
The problem was that German camera industry relied too much on rangefinder cameras and then when they moved to SLRs they stuck to leaf shutters (Contaflex, Bessamatic, Ultramatic, etc.) for too long. The few focal plane SLRs like Contarex that Zeiss made were simply too complex and lacked some basic features like an automatic diaphragm! In fact they look quite pathetic (features and overall system-wise) in front of a camera like the F even though they were beautifully made. Jason Schneider the well-known camera historian described the Contarex as “….magnificent 35mm anachronism of heroic proportions.”
Organizations like NASA and National Geographic who can afford anything regardless of price but for whom ruggedness and reliability is most important chose Nikon F.
The camera shown is the FTn model, the last but one of the series. There is another variant, also called FTn “Apollo” with plastic tips on levers like the F2. However, this was never the official name. The serial number of this body is 7307949 and is shown with a matching and period Nippon Kogaku 50mm f/1.4 lens. This was most probably produced in 1972 and is in excellent condition something rare for black bodies which brass easily.
Note: On my monitor both edges of the camera are visible. You may need slight adjustment on your monitor.
Nikon FTn with Nikkor 50mm f/1.4
Equipment used: Nikon D7000 with Really Right Stuff (RRF) right angle bracket, Nikkor 80-200 f/2.8 lens, mounted on Gitzo 2220 with Acratech ball head. Hari and Sons light table, Manfrotto Super Clamp and 196 arm
Manual Exposure, ISO 100, f/14, 1/200 sec. focal length 112 mm.
Strobist information: A black paper sweep was placed on the light table. One Elinchrom FXR 200 up and left of the (taking – D7000) camera mounted on a Polystand. One Yongnuo 560 with Lumiquest III softbox to the front of subject and right to illuminate the second half of the FTn.
One Elinchrom FXR 400 (with 20X20 softbox) on an Elinchrom light stand was used to give the front lighting and also the light on the lens elements. The color on the lens elements is due to the coatings No gels were used. This was the fill light and was aimed up slightly to prevent light falling on the background.
All the three strobes were fired with cam's built-in flash set at 1/128 power in manual flash mode. An SG-3IR was used to make the camera’s flash output into an IR pulse and hence block all light from this flash. The camera was raised on small plastic blocks to get the right type of shadow - under the lens and the body.
The lighting concept was based on a recent D4 ad called the “Dark Knight” that appeared in some British magazines. This photograph is largely due to the effort of Rajasekhar (AKA RBP).
About the Nikon F:
When history of photography is written it will definitely contain a paragraph on the Nikon F, the first really professional 35mm SLR. Strangely Nikon F brought nothing new to the table. Penta-prism, instant return mirror, etc. were all introduced earlier by other manufacturers. However, it is the flawless execution, a very accurate viewfinder and more importantly bullet proof construction made it one of the all-time greats. It was also the first camera to embrace what is now taken for granted – a systems approach. Every conceivable accessory - motor drives, radio triggers, intervalo-meters, interchangeable screens and finders, bellows, extension tubes, bulk film backs – you name it and the Nikon F had it. I used to have a brochure in the F accessories and it was really a thick book.
The lenses ranged from a fantastic 6mm (a fish eye which could actually look behind as the coverage was 220 degrees) to a 2000mm behemoth. No other manufacturer was even close to this arsenal. There were several special purpose lenses like Medical Nikkor which was specifically designed for doctors plus lenses for UV photography.
Nikon F was introduced in 1959 and was in production for 14 long years. The initial price was Yen 47,000 which is very high (adjusted for inflation, an F costed a huge amount of money)! It was developed along with a rangefinder camera Model SP but it was so successful that SP a great camera by itself was canned quickly. By the time production ended in 1973, 862,600 Nikon Fs were produced.
The modular approach followed by Nikon enabled them to develop new finders as the technology developed thus keeping the camera up to date. The lens mount called the F Mount, is unchanged even today and even lenses that were made in 1959 can still be used (with minor modifications) on today’s DSLRs.
Nikon F was responsible was two major developments. First it killed the rangefinder camera relegating it to a niche market. Second it lead the Japanese onslaught on the camera market which drove the redoubtable Germans out. While one could dispute this, if one looks at a collectors guide you will see that the number German camera firms during the pre WWII was huge. Today Leica (with a little Japanese help) and Linhof are the only genuine camera manufacturers left in Germany (Are there any others?). The beautiful Zeiss Ikon and Voigtlander 35mm RF cameras are made by Cosina and so are the Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses.
The problem was that German camera industry relied too much on rangefinder cameras and then when they moved to SLRs they stuck to leaf shutters (Contaflex, Bessamatic, Ultramatic, etc.) for too long. The few focal plane SLRs like Contarex that Zeiss made were simply too complex and lacked some basic features like an automatic diaphragm! In fact they look quite pathetic (features and overall system-wise) in front of a camera like the F even though they were beautifully made. Jason Schneider the well-known camera historian described the Contarex as “….magnificent 35mm anachronism of heroic proportions.”
Organizations like NASA and National Geographic who can afford anything regardless of price but for whom ruggedness and reliability is most important chose Nikon F.
The camera shown is the FTn model, the last but one of the series. There is another variant, also called FTn “Apollo” with plastic tips on levers like the F2. However, this was never the official name. The serial number of this body is 7307949 and is shown with a matching and period Nippon Kogaku 50mm f/1.4 lens. This was most probably produced in 1972 and is in excellent condition something rare for black bodies which brass easily.
Note: On my monitor both edges of the camera are visible. You may need slight adjustment on your monitor.