C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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The Nikon F-301 (1985, marketed as the **N2000** in North America) was notable as Nikon's first SLR to integrate a motor drive directly into the body. Rather than requiring a separate motor-drive accessory bolted to the base plate, the F-301 housed its film-advance motor internally and delivered a continuous shooting rate of approximately 2.5 frames per second. The body is manual-focus only - autofocus was not added until the F-501 (1986), which used the same chassis. The F-301 accepts Nikon F-mount AI and AI-S lenses for full metering; AF Nikkors mount and can be used in manual-focus mode. Exposure modes are program AE, aperture-priority AE, and manual. The shutter is an electronic vertical-travel metal-blade unit with no mechanical fallback; the camera requires its four AAA batteries to operate at all.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
Nikon's first SLR with a built-in motor drive - 2.5 fps integrated advance, manual focus, F-mount.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI / AI-S; AF Nikkors in MF mode) |
| Years | 1985 - ~1987 |
| Shutter | 1s - 1/2000s, electronic vertical metal-blade |
| Flash sync | 1/125s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted SPD |
| Modes | Program AE, aperture-priority AE, manual |
| Motor drive | Built-in, ~2.5 fps |
| Viewfinder | 92% coverage, 0.85x magnification |
| Battery | 4x AAA (no mechanical fallback) |
| Weight | ~ |
Before the F-301, Nikon's consumer and semi-professional bodies relied on separate motor-drive or winder accessories - the MD-series drives for the F and F2, and dedicated winders for the EM and FG. The F-301 changed the formula by integrating the advance motor into the body itself, a design approach that would become standard across the industry through the late 1980s and 1990s. Nikon introduced the F-301 in 1985 alongside its North American N2000 branding. One year later the F-501 (N2020 in North America) arrived with the same chassis but with Nikon's new in-body AF motor, making the F-301 immediately its predecessor. The F-301's production run was consequently short - roughly 1985 to 1987 - though it remained available in some markets for a period after the F-501 launched.
The F-301 represents the transition moment when integrated motor drives moved from professional-tier add-ons to standard equipment in the consumer SLR segment. For photographers in 1985, a body that could advance film automatically at 2.5 fps without a separate accessory - and at a consumer price point - was a meaningful step. The F-301 also demonstrated that Nikon could ship a single chassis that would serve as both the manual-focus motor-drive body and, one year later, the autofocus motor-drive body: the F-501 used the same outer shell with an added AF drive. For today's used-camera buyers, the F-301 represents good value as a sturdy manual-focus F-mount body with no-hassle integrated advance.
Nikon F mount with AI and AI-S metering coupling. AI and AI-S Nikkors meter fully in all modes. Pre-AI (Non-AI) lenses can be mounted but do not couple to the AI ridge and may meter incorrectly or damage the aperture follower tab - check before mounting older glass. AF Nikkors mount and operate as manual-focus lenses. The built-in motor eliminates the need for any external winder or motor-drive accessory. Compatible with the SB-series Speedlights for TTL flash when using program or aperture-priority modes.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Nikon F-301
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