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.
View profile →
slr-35mm
The F2 is a refinement of the Nikon F: same interchangeable-finder/screen system, same F mount, but with a redesigned all-mechanical titanium shutter that runs to 1/2000s, a proper hinged back (the F had a removable back), and an MD-1/MD-2/MD-3 motor drive system that integrates fully without a separate cord. Body is mechanical end-to-end; metering lives in the Photomic prism, and the meter is the only part that needs a battery.
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.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profile →C41
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
The mechanical perfection of the F line. Most reliable 35mm SLR ever made.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI on later F2A / F2AS) |
| Years | 1971–1980 |
| Shutter | 1s – 1/2000s + B + T, mechanical titanium |
| Flash sync | 1/80s |
| Meter | None (body); via DP-1, DP-11 (AI), DP-12 (AIS) prism |
| Weight | 730 g |
| Battery | None (body); PX625 / SR44 in prism |
Released 1971. The original F2 Photomic (DP-1 prism) used a CdS meter with 60/40 center-weighting. The F2S (DP-2, 1973) added a silicon-photodiode meter with LEDs in the finder. The F2SB (DP-3, 1976) added LED arrows. The F2A (DP-11, 1977) added Auto-Indexing for AI lenses. The F2AS (DP-12, 1977) is the final and most refined — silicon meter, AI coupling, LED finder. Production ended 1980 when the F3 took over.
The F2 is the camera that working press photographers carried because they had to. It runs entirely without battery (the meter is the only electric part), the titanium shutter goes 1/2000s, and the build quality is the high point of mechanical Nikon. Don McCullin's later war work, Sebastião Salgado's Workers, James Nachtwey's early career — all F2s.
For a film photographer in 2026, the F2A or F2AS is the most-recommended Nikon F-series body: AI compatibility means you can use modern Nikkors that meter automatically, the meter is serviceable, and the titanium shutter is the most durable Nikon ever built.
F-mount, all generations: pre-AI (with conversion), AI, AI-S, even AF-D Nikkors (mount and shoot in manual focus). MD-1/MD-2 motor drive (5 fps), MB-1 battery pack. Interchangeable finders: DA-1 action finder, DW-1 waist-level, DW-2 6× magnifier. Same screen system as the F, with later additions K (split + microprism collar) and B (clear matte).
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →C41
Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →