About 7 weeks ago, I received my copy of the “Nikon F Trilogy” by long-standing German Nikon user, collector and NHS member, Uli Koch. This 3-volume set literally blew me away with its completeness, impressive photos and wealth of information. The Nikon F, introduced in July 1, 1959, takes the word “system camera” to new limits of expectation. This trilogy is a most impressive literary endeavor, and is now available for sale either from Uli himself through his web site (www.nikon-f.de) or through a variety of world-wide distributors, including Jim McKeown, Centennial Photo Service, 11585 State Road 70, Grantsburg, Wisconsin, USA, 54840.

Incidentally, you can either purchase the complete trilogy in its colorful dust jacket, or the individual books. The trilogy comes in a very substantial and beautiful cardboard dust jacket, and includes; Nikon F-The camera; Nikon F- The lenses; and Nikon F- The accessories, each beautifully bound. Each book is richly illustrated with hundreds of professional color and B&W photographs, and infinite detail about the subject matter in question.

In “Nikon F- The Camera”, Uli explains each Nikon F model with every minor/major modification/ upgrade over its 16 year history. Within these 181 pages, each individual part of this camera is explained/dissected/examined in a level of detail that makes your head spin! I've laughingly told Uli that these books are presented with typical German efficiency, precision and effectiveness! Any and all modifications are examined, whether major or minute. There are many graphs and charts which segregate detail modifications by date and serial number ranges. Uli touches on all the various “Special Bodies”, including military, NASA, medical, high-speed and some never-before-seen prototypes. In addition, there is a large section devoted to the German Nikkor “F” Story, an interesting side-bar of this glorious camera having to change its name in order to be legally sold in Germany. This, in itself, is a fascinating story which most of us know very little about. Uli has richly illustrated “The Nikkor F Story” chapter with items from his own substantial Nikkor F collection.

In the book, “Nikon F-The Lenses” (213 pages), Uli richly describes every lens produced during the lifetime of this famous camera….from fish-eye to tremendous mirror lenses to zoom lenses to never seen before prototypes. He begins this book with a comprehensive overview of Nikkor lenses, an important primer on construction, engraving, mounts, rings, etc. Not only is each Nikon F era lens discussed in the minutest of detail with charts, graphs, etc., all of the lenses accessories are discussed (shades, caps cases, filters,). There is a section which explains all rings and connecting accessories such as the N-F, BRI tubes, and how they inter-relate to the Nikon F’s extensive close-up/macro applications. Again, this book is richly illustrated with many color and B&W photographs. There are many charts and graphs to explain modifications.

Finally, “Nikon F- The Accessories”, a 221 page saga that introduces us to a myriad of accessories built for this famous camera. Nothing has been overlooked as far as I can see, and Uli brings to our attention some rare/little-known accessories that very few collectors have ever seen…let along heard of. There is lots of space made available richly explaining all the various finders for this camera, from standard prisms, to waist-level, sports finders, to the many variations of the metered “Photomic” heads. A lot of space is also devoted to the now-famous motor-drives available from the earliest beginnings of the Nikon F system in 1959. Each accessory is explained in the most lurid of detail, and any and all modification during its life is discussed. Focusing screens are dissected as never before, with each modification reviewed……. Again, charts and graphs back up his story.

In conclusion, “The Nikon F Trilogy” is a must, not only for avid Nikon collectors, but camera collectors in General. In my opinion, “The Nikon F Trilogy” is to Nikon what Jim Lager’s series of books is to the Leica. This book reserves it place along side the best books on camera collecting and cameras ……ever produced. It proudly stands on one of the shelves of my camera library, but is out being referenced on a regular basis. Believe me, it will never gather dust on the shelf!

Uli, congratulations on a job well done!