Nikon FTN

^Nikon FTN with interchangeable photomic TTL metering prism. The same model was taken on an Apollo mission to the misson

Education time. This is not a digital camera. Not a compact. But this camera is special in its own way and of note.

Introduced in 1959, the Nikon F camera introduced the concept of the 35 mm single-lens reflex camera (SLR) system; that is to say, it introduced a lineup of the following interchangeable parts connected to the camera body.

The Nikon F evolved from a rangefinder camera, the Nikon SP. "In the trial model, based on the body of the Nikon SP, the mirror box was inserted in the central part. Only the three principal components, mirror box, pentaprism and bayonet mount, were newly developed, and the other components were virtually identical to those in SP/S3."

^ The FTN Finder is the last metering finder that officially offered to the Nikon F users before the Nikon F2 started to market and it sold along with the Nikon F2 until 1974, it remained as one of the most popular prism for the Nikon F.

Upon its debut, the Nikon F SLR system revolutionized the photographic market, stealing the thunder of German manufacturers Leica and Zeiss. The F also had a reputation for being extremely resilient to damage or mechanical failure. It became known as "the hockey puck". Many professional photographers, especially photojournalists, began using the F camera system.

^The camera is exhibited in Hong Kong

The first Nikon F Photomic viewfinder had an independent photocell, then Nikon introduced the Photomic T (superseded by the Photomic Tn), which featured through-the-lens TTL metering. The final metering prism for the Nikon F, the Photomic FTn, provided 60% center-weighted TTL which became the standard metering pattern for Nikon cameras for decades afterwards. Additional viewfinders included a waist-level viewer and an "action finder" with a larger viewable area.

One possible disadvantage the Nikon F had compared to other professional cameras was the fact the entire bottom and rear plate was made in one piece, and had to be removed to reload the camera. Even so, the camera was a mainstay of professional news photographers desiring a 35 mm SLR. A specially modified Nikon FTn was also taken on the Apollo 15 mission to the Moon, which is shown here.