The Nikon F Apollo is an analog single lens reflex camera that takes 35mm in black and white and produces photos in a 24mm x 36mm standard format. This is one of the "F" models, which were first produced in April 1959. The Apollo F is one of the last F models made in 1973 in Japan. The camera body comes with MF-250 film. These innovative and groundbreaking photographic devices were the mainstay of professional photographers throughout the 1960s and early 70s, so most of the iconic shots of the Vietnam War, The Beatles, and The Doors were taken with these classic pieces of equipment. It is manual, has a classic body, and some of the features include interchangeable prisms, focusing screens, and a depth-of-field preview button. There is a mirror that has lock-up capability, and the camera can be mounted bayonet-style. It has a large lens release button and a single-stroke ratcheted advance lever. It uses a built-in motor drive to advance the roll (it was the first 35mm camera on the market to use a motor drive rather than a winder to do this), and the possible exposures are F36 (36 exposure) or F250 (250 exposure). The Nikon F Apollo body also has a viewfinder showing 100 percent of the image, which is rare in cameras from this era. It is durable and carefully made and designed, with a fully removable and interchangeable back. Its shutter is a titanium foil focal plane with various types of flash synchronization, and it is rated for 100,000 shutter releases when in new condition. It is capable of firing shutter speeds up to four frames per second (mirror locked up) or three frames per section with full reflex viewing maintained. It employs the mirror lens system a Catadioptric system design, which allowed the light path to be folded and thus making it more compact than others do from this same era. The Nikon F Apollo is compatible with a huge range of lenses from Nikon, covering 21 mm to 1000 mm focal length, and they are mounted via the Nikon F bayonet (which is very similar to what you will find on a digital single lens reflex today). As far as stock goes, it uses special 35 mm roll 250 exposure film back or two Speed Magny film backs, the same as a Polaroid 600. The Nikon F Apollo uses two PX-625 1.3V mercury cell batteries, and rather than the auto exposure, you’ll need to use an electronic flash bulb that fits into the socket at the top. For the real die-hard single lens reflex 35mm photographic enthusiast who wants their pictures to have authentic atmosphere and depth, or for those who prefer levers over auto, grains over Photoshop, black and white over full color, cameras like the Nikon F Apollo 1973 are rare finds and irreplaceable treasures. This is an amazingly well made retro tool and piece of photographic history.