Editing Nikon F (section)

==History==
[[File:Nikon F SLR camera with NIKKOR-S Auto 1,4 f=5,8cm.JPG|thumb|left|Nikon F professional SLR camera with eyelevel prism and early NIKKOR-S Auto 1:1,4 f=5,8cm (1959)]]
The Nikon F was the first 35&nbsp;mm SLR system to be widely adopted by professional photographers, especially photojournalists covering the [[Vietnam War]], as well as for use by [[NASA]] astronauts.<ref>[https://history.nasa.gov/SP-362/ch1.htm Camera Systems Carried on Board the Command and Service Module (CSM) on Apollo Lunar Missions]</ref>

It was originally priced at US$186 with 50&nbsp;mm f/2 lens; in November 1963 the US price was $233 for the body with a standard prism plus $90 for a 50&nbsp;mm f/2 lens or $155 for a 50&nbsp;mm f/1.4.

A combination of design elements made the Nikon F successful. It had interchangeable prisms and focusing screens; the camera had a [[depth-of-field]] preview button; the mirror had lock-up capability; it had a large bayonet mount and a large lens release button; a single-stroke ratcheted film advance lever; a [[titanium]]-foil focal plane shutter; various types of flash synchronization; a rapid rewind lever; a fully removable back. It was well-made, durable, and adhered closely to the successful design scheme of the Nikon [[rangefinder camera]]s. The camera was the first to use the [[Nikon F mount|F-mount]] bayonet [[lens mount]] system, which is still used as of 2024. Lead designer of the Nikon F was [[Yusaku Kamekura]], the man behind the 1964 Summer Olympics logo.<ref>[https://sunrise-camera.net/user_data/blog/detail?p=36665 "伝説の名機ニコンFの特徴・おすすめモデルを一挙紹介！,"]</ref>

The Nikon F evolved from a rangefinder camera, the [[Nikon SP]]. The prototype model, in particular, was an SP with a mirror box, [[pentaprism]] and larger lens mount grafted on.<ref>[http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Nikon_F_engl.html "The Nikon,"  by Frank Mechelhoff] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202040917/http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Nikon_F_engl.html |date=2008-12-02 }}</ref>

The Nikon F revolutionized the photographic market, stealing the thunder of German manufacturers Leica and Zeiss. The F had a reputation for being extremely resilient to damage or mechanical failure, becoming known as "the hockey puck."

In some markets, the camera was marketed as a "Nikkor F" due to trademark conflicts. In Germany, "Nikon" was seen as too similar to the Zeiss Ikon camera line. Nikkor F cameras have become collector's items.

The Nikon F was succeeded in 1972 by the [[Nikon F2]] series after a production total of 862,600 bodies. Subsequent "single-digit" F cameras continued as the top of Nikon's professional line of film SLRs, through the [[Nikon F6]] introduced in 2004.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sendai-nikon.com/profile/history/index.htm|title=仙台ニコン {{!}} 会社紹介 {{!}} あゆみ|website=www.sendai-nikon.com|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref> Since the introduction of the digital [[Nikon D1]] in 1999, Nikon has continued to reserve single-digit model numbers for top-of-the-line cameras.