Typology of Early Nikon F2 Bodies
The first 1,600 (?) Nikon F2 bodies had some details that were different from the remaining production. Here you find some of these variants.
Front Cover (part 30FB-2)
Type 1: the Nikon engraving on the front cover has normal characters and on chrome bodies it is laid out with black enamel.Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748.
Type 2: the Nikon engraving on the front cover has flat characters and on chrome bodies it is laid out with black enamel.Examples: 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7135889, 7473382, 8060912.
With apron type 1 the Nikon lettering remains half-way visible when a DP-1 Photomic finder is mounted on the F2 camera body. Doesn't look like a professional design.
On apron type 2 they changed the height of the characters (but not the width of the «Nikon» name). Now the characters are hidden under the DP-1 finder, but the lettering looks quite strange and different compared to other Nikon products (corporate design?).
Type 2: on black bodies the engraving is NOT laid out with white enamel.Examples: 7134379, 7452108.
Finder Holder Screws (part 30FB-845)
Type 1: the finder holder lever (part 30FB-138) is fixed by four unslotted head screws (same as F bodies).Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748.
Type 2: the four screws holding the finder holder lever (part 30FB-138) have a head with a fine slot.Examples: 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7135889, 7452108, 7473382, 8060912.
Neck Strap Eyelets (part 30FB-18)
Type 1: the chrome eyelets are made of soft brass (no steel inserts).Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748.
Type 2: the chrome eyelets are larger and reinforced with steel inserts.Examples: 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7134379, 7135889, 7452108, 7473382, 8060912.
Take-Up Lever (subassembly 30FB-A33)
Type 1: the rear side of the wind lever is flat. From below we can see that the metal part of the lever has a round tip.Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748.
Type 2: the rear side of the wind lever is rounded. From below we can see that the metal part of the lever has a more rectangular tip.Examples: 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7135889, 7452108, 7473382, 8060912.
Leatherette (parts 30FB-32, 33, 623 and 624)
Type 1: the black leatherette has a shiny finish and a small structure (same as F bodies).Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748, 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7134379, 7135889.
Type 2: the black leatherette has a dull finish and a larger structure.Examples: 7452108, 7473382, 8060912.
Screws (parts 30FB-783 and 885)
Type 1: bayonet and front plate fixed by slotted head screws in chrome finish. On early black F2 bodies the screws holding the top and front
plates are chrome.Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748, 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7135889.
Type 2: bayonet and front plate fixed by cross recessed head screws in chrome or black finish. On later black F2 bodies the screws holding the
top and front plates are black.Examples: 7452108, 7473382, 8060912.
Rewind Crank (part 30FB-313) and Rewind Crank Knob (part 30FB-314)
Type 1: the tip of the rewind lever has no ribs and is the same as on the F bodies. The crank is quite thin.Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748, 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7135889.
Type 2: the tip of the rewind lever is larger and has a better grip due to the vertical ribbing. The crank is thicker and somehow stepped.Examples: 7452108, 7473382, 8060912.
Bottom Cover (part 30FB-7)
Type 1: the rewind button pit on the bottom cover is large (about 12 mm).Examples: 7100259, 7100547, 7100669, 7101748, 7103176, 7103240, 7105870, 7112996, 7119232, 7128758, 7135889.
Type 2: the rewind button pit on the bottom cover is smaller (about 9 mm only).Examples: 7452108, 7473382, 8060912.
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