Nikon SP frameline illuminator

R

Rik

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Hi,
I'm looking for information on the above. I'm aware of the information on camerquest and the upcoming westlicht auction but am looking for other information, also technical like kind of light used.
Anything welcome

thanks
Rik
 
There isn't much info on the net about the "Rangefinder Field Illuminator" in English or Japanese. All I can find is that it uses one "AA" size battery to power a grain-of wheat-bulb (as Bill suggested) and has a simple on/off switch.

02a_NikonSP.jpg
 
The ones I have seen has a variable resistor so you could adjust lightlevel. Neat idea, but adds bulk and has become a rare collectible by now,
 
The SP illuminator and the SP motordrive are my favorite Nikon RF accessories because they showed Nikon's innovation.

Stephen
 
I always thought that Tom would build an updated one of these for Nikon and Leica RFs..........perhaps with an LED rather than a bulb? More complex switch that had say three levels of light, four states, On High, On Medium, On Low and Off. Takes either 1 AAA or two LR-44s.

B2 (;->
 
there was never an illuminator for the Canon 7 ?

oh yes Canon never put a cold shoe on that camera and velcro was not in use yet so it can never be attached to the camera. :eek:
 
so, do you guys reckon there is an interest in a renewed version ? And at what price ? This is something I may look at.
 
It'd be very straight forward to make. If you did it correctly you could make one basic model with different shoe attachments for different cameras. It could be made for just about any RF out there Leica, Nikon, Canon, Zeiss.

Till we hit this recession thing I would have thought $75 USD shipped, but now between $45 and $50 USD is the right price point to sell several thousand.

B2 (;->
 
Stephen and I have discussed this thing. It would be possible to do it with modern technology. One idea was to use a LED source and/or elctroluminscent screen that was hinged as to be able to be folded down over the Leica/Nikon window. The modern stuff like that has a very low draw so even a standard SR76 or two would suffice. The switch could be incorporated in the hinge (down for ON and folded back up -180 degrees to be flat on the top - could be OFF). The positioning of the battery pack and the luminance screen in relation to the shoe could be adjustable, similarly to the Bessa VCII meters adjustment for either M's or Nikon RF's.
I dont know what the market and price would be - weird enough to attract some people and too weird for others! I have no idea what the cost would be though.
 
Once owned one, used it on an SP, foolishly traded on an M2R sometime around 1980 [seemed like a good idea, but it was a black SP]. I'd certainly like one to use now, and if adjustable [or available in different arrangements], I could have one for my M8.

Tom?????

--Norm Snyder
 
For those who did not read my comments on the NHS discussion page, I will repeat some of the things I said there. The illuminator has two major design problems: first, the switch has no positive 'off' position. As a result, it is all too easy to put it away with the light still on and end up with a leaked battery. Secondly, it is all too easy to cross-thread the battery cover while trying to force down the battery against the spring while engaging the chrome cap against the soft plastic of the housing. Otherwise, an interesting design and idea. The pass-through of the hotshoe is a nice touch. WES
 
I am in the process of making one of these for my M5, it will illuminate both frame-lines and the meter. I should have the first prototype in a week or so. Whether I will make more than what I need, I don't know.
 
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