Nikon Nikkorex F black

The Nikkorex F black represents Nikon's first foray into the 35mm SLR market for budget-conscious consumers, produced from 1962 to 1965. Designed to compete with simpler, lower-priced SLRs like the Praktica or Asahi Pentax Spotmatic, it utilized the universal M42 screw lens mount rather than Nikon's proprietary F-mount. This choice offered affordability and access to a wide range of third-party lenses. The camera featured a simplified design compared to Nikon's flagship F model, with a cloth focal-plane shutter offering speeds from 1 to 1/500th second plus B, and an uncoupled selenium cell meter that provided readings in a viewfinder window but required manual setting of exposure. Its construction was basic, primarily using metal and plastic components to keep costs down, aimed squarely at amateur photographers seeking an entry-level interchangeable lens experience without the expense of Nikon's professional offerings.

Discontinued after three years, the Nikkorex F was effectively replaced by the improved Nikkormat series, which integrated the M42 mount with more robust build quality and coupled meters. While historically significant as Nikon's initial consumer SLR attempt and a bridge to its later mass-market successes, the Nikkorex F itself remains a relatively obscure model. It lacks the technological innovations or iconic status of contemporaries like the Nikon F or Canonflex, and its build and metering were notably basic. Its primary historical note is its role in helping Nikon establish a foothold in the burgeoning amateur SLR segment before pivoting to the more successful Nikkormat line.