Nikon RF focusing wheel

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evilspoon21

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Feb 14, 2015
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Hi, I'm considering buying a Nikon S2. Can anyone tell me if its comfortable to hold and operate the camera? Its difficult to tell how sharp and uncomfortable the focusing thumb wheel is. Thanks
 
With a 50mm or wider angle mounted, I, at least, can operate it one-handed.
No problems with the focusing wheel.
With focal lengths longer than 50mm, i.e. with the 85mm or the 105mm, you have to focus on the lens, because the adjustment wheel is too hard to turn.

cock with my thumb,
release with my index finger and
focus with my middle finger.
The left hand remains free for drinks, rolls or a fag.
 
I find the S2 the most pleasant to use of the Nikon rangefinders as long as you’re only shooting with a 50mm lens. As for the focus wheel, I like it and use it with small lenses. For bigger, heavier lenses, like the 105mm f/2.5, I just focus on the lens itself.

I don’t think you’ll regret getting a nice S2. I love mine.
 
I love the focus wheel - it's one of the reasons why I am a Contax shooter. It means you can operate the camera one-handed which is great when shooting in the rain (umbrella) or getting quick grab-shots.

On a well serviced wide-angle it should be possible to focus with the thumb-wheel as well. Longer lenses (85mm and up) will have too much friction and it's not going to be pleasant.
 
I have always used the focus wheel for all my normals and wide-angles—except the heavy 2.1cm Biogon. It is easy to use if you have a smooth helicoid on the camera. It also places the index finger over the release where it should be. As the old Nikon RF ads pointed out: It's a matter of one-two-three: frame, focus, shot—all with one hand.
 
Out to Lunch said:
Considering the fuzzy rangefinder patch, I'd zone focus anyway. Cheers, OtL
Click to expand...
I do a lot of zone focusing on my rangefinders (Nikons and Leicas), but I also use the rangefinders on all of them. The Nikons' patches are much less distinct than on a Leica, but not unusably so, at least for me.
 
Darinwc said:
How do you disable the wheel? I personally hate it but otherwise love the camera.
Click to expand...
I am going to assume that by "disable" the wheel you mean the infinity lock of the wheel.

This can be achieved non-destructively for both Nikon and Contax by bending a paperclip into a small "U" shape and wedging it between the pin that disengages the infinity lock for external mount lenses and the mount itself. Obviously if you want to mount external mount lenses you will have to remove it.

A word of caution: Once you have done this do not slam the lens home to infinity or into NFD, since the infinity lock also acts as a brake for the helical. The back of the scale ring serves as a secondary stop for the infinity position, but is not as sturdy as the solid arm of the infinity lock that snaps down into the focus helicoid cutout.
 
I've only had my S & S2 for about a week but I can't say I enjoy using the wheel too much. It's very stiff on the S (probably needs a CLA) so it's definitely a no-go. The S2 is smooth but I still prefer to twist the lens.
 
Never a fan of the focusing wheel, so much so that I invested in the Voigtlander 50mm Nokton (long out of production) in order to have the conventional helical focusing ring experience. Otherwise, I just twisted the lens, too.
 
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