The Nikon F was Nikon's first SLR, and theo world first universally adopted 35mm SLR.

It is the same as the 1956 Nikon SP rangefinder camera with a prism grafted on top. Interchangeable prisms are actually because the Nikon was first designed as a rangefinder, not because the world ever needed interchangeable prisms.

While there were German SLRs decades earlier, the Nikon F was the worlds first SLR system that was practical enough to become popular everywhere. This Nikon F is what's been putting LEICA out of business ever since its introduction.

Ultimately, it is the Nikon F which landed Nikon it's place in today's camera world.

The Nikon F works perfectly with any auto- or manual-focus Nikon lens, except G lenses. Its meter, if you have a version with a meter, works perfectly with any lens with an aperture coupling prong

More at Nikon Lens Compatibility.