[nikomat 8286] Re: ....earliest F2 serial# in Japan?

[Shin SUGIYAMA <ssugiya@biol1.bio.nagoya-u.ac.jp>]

すぎやま　です
みなさんearly F2のレスありがとうございます。取りあえず先方には以下のように返
事するつもりですが、
実物を見ないで想像で直訳している部分もあるので添削おねがいします。
所有者名、アドレスは書かないことにしました。

Hi Sover,
It seems that your #7101090 F2 is more exceptional than I thought. None of
my friends have such an early model and they didn't know about the metal tip
on the advance lever. The #71001xx F2 sounds very interesting and is
probably not something available in Japan. Please let us know if you get
more information or decide to purchase it. Below is the information I was
able to collect. It may not help you very much other than to demonstrate the
value of your  #7101090.
The price of the F2 is gradually rising here and I am sure interest in the
early ones will increase when people become aware of and learn how to
recognise the differences.
Shin

７１０６５２９：normal early version
	normal (later) strap eyelets of  brass  with  stainless steel liner.
	normal (later) lens release and depth of field preview buttons
７１０７XXX：normal early version
７１０８XXX(black)：normal early version
７１０８XXX(black)：normal early version
714XXXX:  still F-type leather, non-phillips screws, early type spool
715XXXX (Dummy) entirely stainless steel strap eyelets
715XXXX(black) still F-type leather, non-phillips screws,non-locking
photomic finder
Comments:
1) Black F2s in early catalogs had chrome advance levers like the F
2) non ７１０XXXX Dummies sometimes have entirely stainless steel strap
eyelets
Speculations
1) Entirely stainless steel strap eyelets were probably used only in the
first lot (2000?).
2)  F2s commercially sold in Japan  probably start at 4000-5000

1000-5000番台が国内で確認できないのは不思議な気がしますが、輸出が優先されて
いたのでしょうか？それとも、これまで注目されていなかっただけで探せばあるので
しょうか？
並んでいるF２を眺める時に楽しみが増えました！！



>From: Sover
>To: ssugiya@biol1.bio.nagoya-u.ac.jp
>Subject: AW: early F2
>Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 10:46:32 +0200
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>
>Hi Shin,
>
>Here are the differeces I found on my #7101090 F2 to #711xxxx F2's.
>
>1) The wider tip is not plastic but white metal painted black, looking
>almost exactly like the plastic tip on #711xxxx and later F2's.
>
>2) The buttons on the lens release and depth of field preview is rounded on
>the edges. Like #7102xxx F2's.
>
>3) The strap eyelets are smaller than later F2's, but bigger than the F's.
>Like #7102xxx F2's.
>
>4) The screws (to release the prism) in the screen chamber is not slotted
>but flat.
>
>5) The counter sunk for the base plate is not as deep as later F2's so the
>screws protrude slightly.
>
>7) The chassis and camera back is very slightly different.
>
>6) Some internal variations which you can only see if you take it apart.
>
>The DP-1 that came with this F2 is #201xxx which is also very early.
>
>I have been doing some research on early F2's since I bought the #7101090
>with the metal tip. The tip on #7102xxx F2's is again different. It is much
>flatter and more rounded, but I don't know if it is metal or plastic as I
>don't have one. Do you know anybody has one like this ?
>
>I know a seller for a 'used' condition #71001xx F2. I haven't seen it but
>the asking price is US$3000 plus shipping.
>
>What is the earliest known F2 in Japan ?
>
>Regards,
>
>Sover