Comparisons
By Ken Schwartz, NHS Member (Update: 9/25/99)

Webmaster's note Jan 2006:
Since publication of this article, I have received a number of emails pointing out cameras, with serial numbers, that in some cases vary by a few thousand from the numbers in the article. Kens numbers are, for the most part, quite useful, but remember the article is about variations, not dating bodies. Nikon did not always make changes in an orderly way, so many variations appear on later and earlier bodies.

There were many similarities between the Nikon S2, S2-Black Dial, SP, S3, S4 rangefinder cameras and the succeeding Nikon F SLR models. The success of the Nikon SP was the foundation for the Nikon F. The S3 and S4 were slightly less expensive versions of the SP and appeared coincident with the Nikon F. During Nikon F production there have been several variations. I have been surprised a number of times when someone pointed out to me differences that I never noticed. Even as I wrote this article and refined it, Fred Krughoff NHS webmaster and fellow NHS member clued me in on some of these differences and they were incorporated. These differences are very subtle and interesting in their own right. They may also help the collector to identify modifications or whether the camera was pieced together. The manufacturing run of Nikon F's overlapped with F2 production from 1971 to 1974. A few external parts were shared and serial numbers were not contiguous. These Nikon F's with F2 cosmetics were nicknamed "Apollo". I own a Nikon F2 Photomic 7364297 with a lower serial number than my Nikon FTn "Apollo" 7424007.

The Nikon SP shares several components from the S2. The Nikon F shares several components from the Nikon SP. I've read that the basic Nikon SP body mechanical drawings were simply widened to accompany the Nikon F's SLR mirror chamber. The focal plane shutter and flash sync mechanisms are similar. The Nikon F2 is really an improved Nikon F sharing many components from the Nikon F.

Locking Lever on removable Back with "Japan" engraved on the lever (S2, S2-Black Dial, SP, S3, S4).

Film Speed Reminder Dial on removable back. ASA marked in red from 10-32 and in white from 50-400 plus a white E for empty on black background (S2 Black Dial, SP, S3, S4).

Rewind Knob & Crank. Non-rotating tip (S2, S2-Black Dial, SP, S3, S4).

Film Advance Lever with hollow tip (S2, S2-Black Dial, SP, S3, S4) with Nikon F a bit longer.

Exposure Counter, 20/36 Exposure Indicator & Metal Housing: 3 concentric circles for (SP, S3, Early F), 7 concentric circles (Later SP & S3 & F). Editor's note: The counter cover changed when "F" parts began to appear such as the flat self timer and the "Made in Japan" bottom.

Non-Rotating Shutter Speed Dial with one screw on top (SP, S3, S4) with Nikon F having a post to couple shutter dial to meter

Neckstrap Lugs. (Except Nikon F "Apollo")

Rotating Shutter Release button with red dot. Film Advance / Rewind Collar surrounding the Shutter Release with inside thread for cable release.

Flash Sync Socket (except Nikon F "Apollo").

Flash Sync Window (except all S2's).

Serial numbers listed are from bodies I've seen, articles IÌve read, and a little bit of guessing. Other than the earliest serial number, all serial numbers are presented as a guide and not to be construed as perfectly accurate.

ASA marked in red from 10-32 and in white from 50-400 with white E (empty) on black background (6400001) and up.

ASA marked in white from 10-400 with white E (empty) on black background (647XXXX) and up.

ASA marked in white from 25-1600 with white E (empty) on black background (69XXXXX) and up.

Locking lever engraved with "JAPAN" (6400001) and up.

Same back as above showing plain bottom plate (6400001) and up.

Plain locking lever (647XXXX) and up.

Same back as above, bottom plate engraved "MADE IN JAPAN" (647XXXX) and up.

Non-Rotating Tip (6400001) and up.

Rotating Tip (647XXXX) and up.

One Screw on top and Yellow-Green color for fast speeds (6400001) and up.

Two Screws on top and Green color for fast speeds (647XXXX) and up.

Slanted Machining on Lever (6400001) and up.

Vertical Machining on Lever. Same stock as slanted lever (647XXXX) and up.

Vertical Machining on Lever. Thinner stock, no indentation (654XXXX) and up.

Plastic Tipped Lever (73XXXXX) "Apollo Model".

Machined Hollow Lever (6400001 - 6401xxx)

Stamped Hollow Lever (6401xxx) and up.

Solid Lever (648XXXX) and up.

Plastic Tipped Solid Lever (7400000) "Apollo Model".

Slotted Head Screws (6400001) and up.

Cross-Point Head Screws. Identical to F2 (73XXXXX) "Apollo Model".

Identical to S2, S3, S4, SP, F (6400001) and up.

Threaded type with narrower diameter. Identical to F2 (73XXXXX and up) "Apollo Model".

Identical to S2, S3, S4, SP, F (6400001) and up.

Stainless Steel Insert. Identical to F2 (73XXXXX and up) "Apollo Model".

Solid Completely Around (6400001) and up.

Slotted to allow fingernail clearance (69XXXXX) and up.

Solid Completely Around (6400001) and up.

Made taller and slotted to better insulate and allow hot contact access when sliding on flash or hot-shoe adapter.(654XXXX) and up.

Engraved "Nippon Kogaku Tokyo" (6400001) and up.

Engraved "Nikon" (6750000) and up.

Note: The mirror housing extends up through the top of the camera. The top of the housing is where the focusing screen and viewfinder are located.

The top rear of the mirror housing had metal removed on both sides of where the eyepiece is located to accept the Photomic T meter finder (subsequently FT and FTn meter finders). The Photomic T's through the lens (TTL) meter had cells on either side of the viewfinder eyepiece and the extra clearance was required. The earliest run of these bodies had a Red Dot engraved to the left of the serial number to indicate that this body was already factory modified to accept the new Photomic T finder. After about 16,000 cameras were made the Red Dot was dropped. Only cameras in the 6585000 - 6603500 range exhibited this Red Dot and this body is referred to as a "65 or 66 Red Dot". Numbers were skipped starting at 6700000 without the Red Dot.The proper finder is the Photomic T.

Unmodified Original Chamber (6400001) and up.

Rear of Chamber Modified for Photomic T, Tn and FTn Finders (6585000) and up.

"Red Dot Next to Serial Number

Original Nameplate (6400001) and up.

Lower left & right corners are notched to accept front locking pins of FTn finder (6900000) and up.

Exposure Counter Housing has 3 concentric circles (6400001 - 64001xx)

Exposure Counter Housing has 7 concentric circles (64001xx) and up.

Original numerals underneath clear window were engraved and painted (6400001) and up.

Later style numerals underneath clear window were screened (6XXXXXX) and up.

Although Nikon F's could accept the F36 or F250 Motor Drive, a "motor ready" metal plate inside the body on the bottom had to be installed. This "motor ready" plate had two holes drilled in precise locations to enable the mechanical coupling between the camera and motor. This mechanical coupling consisted of two pins alternatively moving up & down. The timing was controlled with custom fitted spacers and the whole movement controlled by gears, cams, and springs driven by a small electric motor. These components orchestrated the film advance and shutter firing. Embedded microprocessors and software control today's Nikon motor drives!

Bottom Plate Not "Motor Drive Ready"

Bottom Plate "Motor Drive Ready"

Early Version "Nippon Kogaku Japan" engraved underneath front (6400001) and up.

Later Version "Nikon F Japan" screened underneath front (6435XXX) and up.

Rectangular eyepiece. Adapter required for circular threaded accessories. (6400001) and up.

Circular threaded eyepiece (6XXXXXX) and up.

Model 1 Shown (64XXXXX) and up.

Model 2 Shown (64XXXXX) and up.

Model 3 Shown (64XXXXX) and up.

Photomic V1: External Cds cell & "Flag" On-Off Switch. Appears in 1962 at serial no. 6450000

Photomic V2: External Cds cell & "Pushbutton" On-Off Switch. Appears in 1963 at serial no. 647XXXX

Photomic T: TTL Averaging Meter. Appears in 1965 at serial no. 6580000

Photomic Tn: TTL Center Weighted Meter. Appears in 1967 at serial no. 68XXXXX. Small white button in front of On-Off Indicator and small white "N" behind it.

Photomic FTn: TTL Center Weighted Meter w/semi-auto lens indexing & extra locking mechanism. Appears in 1968 at serial no. 6900000

Editor's Notes:

For more information, an excellent article on the F, and early variations, appears in The Nikon Journal issue number 24 - June,1989 - by Calvin Ho.

Another good source for early F information is Camera Quest, a link can be found on the NHS home page.

There are many subtle variations present in the Nikon F as it evolved, including:

• Several different F wind levers including the first one which was solid with a hollow tip!
• Changes in the design and finish of the F prism, the front plate, and the focus screen. The front name plate was hollow, with a back shim, until about camera number 10,000.
• There were several rewind knobs, late ones have a rotating tip.
• The first few Fs had a cloth shutter!

Calvin Ho published a monograph entitled Variations of the "64 Series" Nikon F in Feb. of 1991, I have not been able to secure his approval to reprint it. If you can get copy, it compliments this article, and provides a great deal of detail on the early F models. In addition Calvin Ho also published a monograph on the F motor at the same time.

A note on the nickname "Apollo". Many dealers (hoping to make the common 73-74 F more valuable) have begun to refer to any Nikon F with a plastic wind lever tip as an "Apollo". I have no idea how this started, since there is nothing special about this tip, it is the same one found on F2s, F3s, FMs, FEs etc. But for some reason the name has stuck! Actually "F with F2 cosmetics" would be more proper, since these parts were inherited from the F2 design, and not from the actual NASA cameras.

John McCulloch 2006 notes:

He (Ken) mentions several items and indicates that these happened with serial number 647XXXX and up.

On the ASA - my F has the " ASA marked in white from 10-400 with white E (empty) on black background (647XXXX) and up.", but is serial number 6457149.

My locking lever is plain, my rewind tip does - not - rotate and I have the " Two Screws on top and Green color for fast speeds (647XXXX) and up." shutter dial.

My self timer is the second type, "Vertical Machining on Lever. Same stock as slanted lever (647XXXX) and up." I have a hollow winder.

Finally, contrary to your " Engraved "Nikon" (6750000) and up.", my 6457149 S/N is clearly still "Nippon Kogaku" !
I have the " Later style numerals underneath clear window were screened (6XXXXXX) and up." on this S/N.