User Nikon SP... Vintage or Re-Issue

furcafe said:
Like Jon, after some searching I was eventually fortunate enough to get 2 original SPs w/good VFs (1 from a RFF member) & they're only slightly worse than the SP 2005, but still noticeably so.
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That's been my experience with the SP 2005 as well.
 
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marcr1230 said:
Explain this to me, in all seriousness, what's the point of having 3-4 of the same camera?
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For me at most I want one back up body. My 4 S2s are totally temporary.

I plan to have one Vintage SP, 2005 SP, Black Reissue S3 and two S2s at most. That's still two many, but not insane. Once I have that I won't be buying another Nikon RF ever.

I think hording cameras is as bad as anything else. I managed to go from about 10 m-lenses to 3 in a week. I got rid of a body too and still need to get rid of another as soon as I can make a decision on which one. Probably an M2.
 
Three or four of the same camera- they are all slightly different. They are loaded with film.

I have Eleven F2's and Nine F's, only Four F3's. I sold some of the F2's and F's off. They add up after 35 years of collecting.

The hard part was getting fitted cases for all, including the F2S with DS-1 and F2 with Action Finder. You can go a long time without seeing a CH-11 and CF-2.
 
Mister E said:
I like my S2s better than my SP, but the SP is more usable for lenses other than 50mm. I just picked up a vintage SP, but it's not here yet. It was supposed to have a great finder; hopefully it does. The S2 would be nicer with parallax correction.
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Nate,

This is a very interesting observation as I intended to use my SP with only 35 or 50 lens, so figured that the SP would be the better choice for a good finder. I seldom use any my RF gear any more, preferring to use my Nikon F or Nikkormat FTn, only missing a rangefinder when street shooting fast and furious, but even then I have a F slung over my other shoulder. Grappling with focusing rings and aperture rings that rotate in opposing directions is causing me to not even bother with my RF's. But switching to a Nikon RF cures all that angst. I will shooting a 50mm most of the time, although I definitely want to have a 35/1.8 to use when I want.

So maybe I need to take a hard look at the S2 as well...
 
P. Lynn Miller said:
Nate,

This is a very interesting observation as I intended to use my SP with only 35 or 50 lens, so figured that the SP would be the better choice for a good finder. I seldom use any my RF gear any more, preferring to use my Nikon F or Nikkormat FTn, only missing a rangefinder when street shooting fast and furious, but even then I have a F slung over my other shoulder. Grappling with focusing rings and aperture rings that rotate in opposing directions is causing me to not even bother with my RF's. But switching to a Nikon RF cures all that angst. I will shooting a 50mm most of the time, although I definitely want to have a 35/1.8 to use when I want.

So maybe I need to take a hard look at the S2 as well...
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Yeah, I'd get an S2 and an external finder for the 35 and love life. Forget an SP for just two lenses.
 
The SP is my favourite, but a nice S2 is a very good camera and all that you really need if just shooting with a 35 and 50. Mister E might even have one or two for sale soon 😉
 
I finally had an opportunity to hold a new S3, and compare its finder with those of my original SP and two vintage S3s.
I concluded that one of my S3's has at least as good a viewfinder as the new one, and the other 2 cameras while not quite as good are certainly useable.
Based on that I would assume that the same sort of conditions would apply to comparing the viewfinders of vintage versus new SPs; some are as good and others are not.
So, if one is fortunate enough to find a vintage shooter with a good viewfinder, it will likely cost less than a new body (especially if the new one is black), and so in my opinion be a better value.
I paid $2,565.00 for my two S3s and SP (all trouble-free since I've had them), which would have barely covered the cost of one re-issued S3, so I think I came out ahead buying as I did.
 
rbsinto said:
So, if one is fortunate enough to find a vintage shooter with a good viewfinder, it will likely cost less than a new body (especially if the new one is black), and so in my opinion be a better value.
I paid $2,565.00 for my two S3s and SP (all trouble-free since I've had them), which would have barely covered the cost of one re-issued S3, so I think I came out ahead buying as I did.
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Prices have come down so much on the S3 reissue recently that these days you could almost buy three S3 reissue bodies for that amount.
 
jonmanjiro said:
Prices have come down so much on the S3 reissue recently that these days you could almost buy three S3 reissue bodies for that amount.
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Jon,
The $2,565.00 that I referred to was for all three cameras, so I'm curious as to where new S3s are available for roughly $850.00 each. I'm no expert, but I've never seen them offered anywhere even close to that price. Perhaps things are different in Japan.
Of course the point is moot. I've got as many bodies as I need and other than some filters, a lens and body cap or two, and perhaps the CV 25, my needs are met.
 
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