Sheppard Sherbells Nikon F2 could be yours...

David: the reason that busy areas like this site's Nikon forum have a rule about not posting ads and links to them is really simple: otherwise it would become a total spam-fest.

I'm afraid I can't connect the dots between you not liking a particular brand of equipment, and having a spam rule on a discussion forum somehow reinforce that. Really?

In the early days of ebay I remember seeing anachronistic auctions for various Nikons claimed to have been *the* camera used by Steve McCurry to create the original "Afghan Girl" photo. The sellers (never McCurry himself, of course) invariably listed some model that didn't exist at the time that photo was taken. After that particular myth was shattered the speculation moved on to which lens he used, since that wasn't as easy to prove or disprove.

"Please enlighten me."

Don't drink the snake oil. But if you do take wooden nickels, save 'em - they're actually collectible now.

As one explanation from my end, I've known some Nikon-only shooters to be insufferable snobs, and couple it with the rah-rah fanaticism of some digital folks (how many times have they hauled out the "film is dead" proclamation when a higher megapixel digital sensor comes out?). It makes a pretty toxic combination, and I have been to the Nikon forum and seen posts by people who appear to have both these traits (and worse!). I don't hold it against the equipment, I like the Nikons I have. I just don't have to join the club.

Matt- Yes, really. Not only am I not overly fond of the gear itself, but in my time as a born again photographer I have had several bad run ins with Nikon users. This has happened at photo fairs and swap meets and even in a local park. Its happened enough that Ive noticed it. For instance, at a swap meet last year a vendor basicly shoved a Nikkor something or other into my hands as I looked over his table. He started to loudly proclaim what a great lens it was and what a great price it was that I couldnt possibly pass it up, not even knowing if I owned a Nikon camera or not. When I informed him that I was really looking for certain Minolta Rokkor lenses he actually laughed in my face. Then he asked why I would want that old crap when 'real' photographers shoot Nikon! There have been several instances like this involving Nikon users who are sanctimonious about their gear. Add to this that I just dont like the cameras very much, I dont like the way the lens mounts, I dont like that you cant use a lot of the old manual focus glass on Nikon DSLR's that I can use on my canon and the single 35mm camera that has failed me out of all my collection has been my only Nikon, an FE.It just adds up to the fact that I just dont like Nikon.

Now I know that I probably have just been unlucky and have encountered the snobbish minority of Nikonions but it doesnt matter. My overall experiance with the brand and users of the brand has been negative. So imagine when I actually find what could be a good deal for somebody who uses Nikons on a local craigslist and I go to post about on the Nikon forum and...BAM...a warning not to put up that type of post. Which, btw, I have not encountered on any other forum that I have posted to on pnet. That speaks volumes as to what probably goes on in the Nikon forum. My take on the whole thing is that the only positive aspect Nikon has going for it is Paul Simon mentioned it in Kodachrome.

Lexx- Thanks for the sage advice. The snake oil Im aware of and I have never even seen a wooden nickle. :)

Mark- I have to say, you are one of the nicest Nikonians I know. And I think Les may be as well...or was it JDM? Im sure there are many great Nikon users on this forum and Im sure I have received much great advice from them. But Im a Canonite (with leanings toward the Yashican heresy) and I just dont care for brand N.

Did anyone here actually try to buy this thing? Does it look authentic?

Ha, zat is nuthin'

I have the all black Contax II used by Joseph for family pictures of Svetlana. Make me an offer. I can provide a certificate of authentication if required.

:)

I know what you mean about them durn Nikonistas, David. They've been a snooty bunch for decades. It got worse during the 1970s after Topcon and Miranda failed to grab a secure niche with pros. Even after the Canon F1N grabbed a respectable pro market share, Canonites still had to put up with Nikonistas getting sniffy as though the FD mount had a peculiar odor. Everyone knows the odor was the bad lube in the AE-1 mirror box.

I used to be a Canonite and Zuikoholic but about 12 years ago I switched camps to Nikon just to pester them. Every family needs a black sheep.

I'd still kinda like a non-metering prism F or maybe an F2, but not enough to devote any real energy or money to the cause. My F3HP and FM2N work fine.

David's kind words mask one thing - I never owned a Nikon until last year. I met my second true Nikonista last year and it really was an experience I didn't need, I just sat through it in a kind of dazed wonder. I knew a Leicaphile who wasn't a tenth as irritating. Surprising to me, both were women. Normally I link such bluster to testosterone.

JDM- Ha! Let me guess, it has his name and drivers liscence engraved on the bottom correct? :)

Now Nikonista was something I hadnt heard before Lexx. They have always been Nikonions to me. Maybe I can use the two terms to differentiate between the nice and snooty. :)

Lol, just goes to show you Mark. Doesnt matter the sex of the Nikonion, its just inherent to the brand. Maybe Nikon is coating their lenses with some super secret toxic brew that alters the brain chemistry in anti social ways. Who knows?