the s2 is here...

[back alley]

...in my hands!

what a lovely camera, very solid and a bit chunkier than it's contax brother. it fits my hand nicely. the finder is green which is different, a bit canon p like, if i recall correctly, in it ease of focus.

the moment i saw/held it i knew this camera was going to get a nice cardinal red cover from camera leather. it just screams sexy!!

but i may not get the 35 lens. it may, like the lla, remain a 50mm camera.

the reality is the finder on the zi ruins every other camera/finder for my eyes. the zi and lenses will remain my primary kit.

that is not to say that the nikon will get neglected - it will get used alot.
i already know and like this camera.

i also got the domke 803 bag today and it way bigger than i had imagined. i doubt that i would ever use it as a camera bag but it seems perfect for a day bag, much much nicer than my backpack. so i can carry all my crap plus a camera/extra lens/film, whatever.
i like it!!
it is a good day.

joe

 

[back alley]

thanks brian.
i think a j-12 might be fun to play with.

joe

 

[ferider]

Congrats, Joe.

I would love to see some photos of your three fast 50 Sonnars next to each other !

Roland.

 

[back alley]

now that would be pornographic eh?

joe

 

[VinceC]

Glad you like the camera.

 

[back alley]

Glad you like the camera.

it has a wonderful feel to it.

i already prefer the feel of it to the contax.
amazing what a mm or 2 can make.

joe

 

[rover]

Hmm, tomorrow my 50/2 Nikkor will arrive, so my S2 will have 2 eyes to see out of.

Glad to hear you like it.

 

[roundg]

weeks ago, someone declared that he needed nothing more.......

Congratulations, Anyway, Joe.

 

[ferider]

now that would be pornographic eh?

joe

🙂

I should have said "photos taken by the three lenses next to each other"; whatever "portraits" you want to take, just no Joe bathroom mirror shots, please 🙂

Roland.

 

[back alley]

rover, do me a favour please, have a look through the finders of the p and the s2 and compare them for me.
nothing to in depth, just want to know if you think they are similar.

joe

 

[rover]

Up off my lazy fat bottom.

Back to you in a second.

 

[furcafe]

Glad the S2 made it to you in good shape. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

My Canon P has a clear finder, no tint, like the Nikon S3, etc. To me, a green tinted VF is a trademark of the Zeiss Ikon RFs (Contax, Contessa, etc.).

rover, do me a favour please, have a look through the finders of the p and the s2 and compare them for me.
nothing to in depth, just want to know if you think they are similar.

joe

 

[back alley]

sorry, didn't mean that the tint was similar.

when i look thru the s2 i am reminded of the p but not sure why.

 

[furcafe]

Perhaps the 1x magnification (or lack of minification)?

sorry, didn't mean that the tint was similar.

when i look thru the s2 i am reminded of the p but not sure why.

 

[back alley]

that could be it chris!!

is it really half the weight of a p?
i don't remember the p feeling all that heavy.

joe

 

[rover]

Well, first things first, the S2 is a smaller camera in hand. Half the weight, it doesn't seem like that much of a difference, but dimensionally it is smaller.

And I had not noticed the green tinted viewfinder of the S2. The Canon P finder is cool toned, but very bright and clear. My P finder is brighter than my S2 finder. The RF patch though in the S2, warm toned is much more defined than the cooler P patch.

That said, I actually was fondling my cameras this weekend, the result was in fact that I am much more impressed with the P finder than I was before. Comparing my cameras, the P finder is bigger and brighter than the S2. Though the S2 patch is better defined, the brightness of the P finder more than makes up for it and makes its patch easy to see and use.

I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that the P is a 5 year younger design than the S2. When compared to my L1 and VT the S2's finder does shine. I do not have an SP or S3 (P contemporaries) to add to the comparison, but I suspect there is a difference largely to be seen in my next comparison. The entry and exit pupil of the P finder is clearly larger than that of the S2. While both finders have a 1:1 magnification, the P accommodates 35mm framelines due to the fact that the finder simply has more viewable area.

To this point, I do think using a 35mm lens with the S2 is possible, but the 35mm framelines in the P are clearly wider than the viewable full area through the S2 finder. If you want to be careful with your edge composition with an S2/35mm combo you will have to really be into your finder and really look out to the edges. You have to do the same with the P finder, but not to the same degree because the framelines are there and you can see beyond them with a little work.

What else can I offer Joe?

 

[back alley]

well done rover!
a+!! and beyond the call!

the s2 seems almost pugnacious compared to the p which i previously said was a rugged looking looking camera.
joe

 

[rover]

The P is no slouch. Both cameras are made of like materials and quality, but the P seems a bit more "finished." Perhaps Canon's many more years as a camera manufacturer at that time shows. Again, I wish I had an S3 to hold too.

Pugnacious, I guess if the P is elegant then we say the S2 has a little pit bull in it.

 

[VinceC]

Size-wise, the S3/SP are the same size as the S2. Also very close in weight. The S3/SP are supposed to weigh a little less than the S2 but I don't detect a difference.

The S3 finder is considerably larger than either the S2 or Canon P. If you don't wear eyeglasses, you can easily use it to frame 28mm lenses at 1:1 magnification, and the full field of view approximates the 25mm lens ... I've daydreamed about getting contact lenses just to take advantage of this.

The S2 has a fairly sharp rear finder that will scratch eyeglasses. The S3 and SP have a flattened rear finder that's less damaging (but still scratches the coating off my eyeglass lens).

Fit and finish on the S3 and SP are comparable to a Nikon F.

That "pugnacious" description seems apt. These are serious business-like cameras.

 

[rover]

Stop Vince, really, I can't afford an S3 right now and I am so damn weak. 😱