a different Nikon 35mm brightline viewfinder

[Erik van Straten]

Here's a picture of both my 35mm Nikon brightline rangefinder viewfinders. I've owned the one on the right for many years without ever seeing a variation of it - not even in Rotoloni's books - until recently the other one appeared on eBay with a BIN-price of GBP 59. A bargain. I grabbed it instantly. However, it differs in finish and engraving from the well known type on the right. Otherwise they are identical. It carries a serial number, 359128. What the **** is going on? For what camera the one on the left was made? The new logo suggests that it was made in about 1965, long after the S2's and S4's were out of production. Has somebody ever seen anything like it?

Erik.

 

[kbg32]

I'm sure someone here can enlighten you Erik. I don't think it is such a big mystery. Maybe Tom A. or the head bartender can be of help.

 

[FrankS]

Isn't the Nikon one simply a newer version of the older Nippon Kogaku one?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Isn't the Nikon one simply a newer version of the older Nippon Kogaku one?

Yes, very well possible, those small viewfinders often get lost, so there could have been a demand for them also after 1965. However, in those years most people spend their money on Nikon F gear. And: why did they change the finish? It does not look like a rangefinder item.

Erik.

 

[FrankS]

Answer to one of your questions: black chrome was considered an improvement over black paint. (Or maybe cheaper/easier to apply?)

 

[Erik van Straten]

black chrome was considered an improvement over black paint or maybe cheaper/easier to apply)

The finish reminds me of the finish of the springs inside Nikon F lenshoods to clip them on your lens (so you lost them easily). It is no black chrome I would say, it is more a kind of chemical blackening of the aluminium. It has a purplish shine on it.

Erik.

 

[splitimageview]

Looks anodized

 

[CameraQuest]

the Nikonos had a 35/2.5 lens usable above or below water.

It may be a Nikonos finder.

Stephen

 

[Erik van Straten]

It may be a Nikonos finder.

Not very probable since the Nikonos cameras had a built-in 35mm finder. The 35mm was their standard lens.

The finder is not mentioned in "Das Nikon Handbuch", Braczko, 2nd printing 1999.

Erik.

 

[Waus]

Don't have the answer-perhaps post the question on the nikonhistoricalsociety website?

 

[ChrisLivsey]

They were listed in 1958:
Link to .pdf download

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...ac-4Ew&usg=AFQjCNEezHZC_H7LJV4DReBQgSBeKK65DQ

Does state; mini for S2 only.

The early cassettes, lacquered brass not the later crinkle finish, had the Nikon name on not Nippon and they were early in the rangefinder years.


EDIT:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...kor/RF-Accessories/Nikon-RF-Finders/index.htm

Shows the dedicated "fish eye" finder which has the same logo as your finder the "Nikon".

 

[Erik van Straten]

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...kor/RF-Accessories/Nikon-RF-Finders/index.htm

Shows the dedicated "fish eye" finder which has the same logo as your finder the "Nikon".

Thank you, Chris, for your research. However, my finder is not a fish-eye finder, but a "normal" 35mm finder, probably made years later than the well known rangefinder cameras. I just wonder to wich purpose it was made and when. It has a normal foot, not that typical "F" one of the fish-eye finder, but most likely it dates from the same era.

Erik.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Thank you, Chris, for your research. However, my finder is not a fish-eye finder, but a "normal" 35mm finder, probably made years later than the well known rangefinder cameras.

Erik.

Erik, Thats why I said only the logo was like your finder 😀

The anomaly I also pointed out was the "Nikon" brass lacquered cassettes. They bear Nikon and by all accounts are early ie back in rangefinder days. This is possible because AFAIK the logo "Nikon" was introduced in 1946.
Although you conclude your example may be later I am pointing out that it may in fact be early. You are supported by my link to the fish eye which as I said has your logo and is obviously later.

 

[Erik van Straten]

the "Nikon" brass lacquered cassettes bear Nikon

AFAIK the cassettes bear the name "Nikon", but not the new logo. They carry the old art déco logo. Even the black crinckle painted ones do.

What I want to point out that this finder is probably from the period that the "Nippon Kogaku"-logo disappeared from the cameras, about 1965. The cameras for wich the finder was intended, the S2 and S4, were long gone by then, so the question rises why the finder was made. Maybe there was a demand for them because the 35mm finder of the SP is not exactly great, to put it mildly, but then: why was it finished this way? Again, it does not look like a rangefinder item.

Erik.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Here's another one in Shintaro's flickr photostream.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/amU6WR]
What I bought today. by edozakura, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Erik van Straten]

Okay, thank you Jonmanjiro! These finders have the same - ugly - finish too. Maybe they were marketed only in Japan. Problem solved, I think.

What a fun photostream! Everybody should take a look. Just click on the photo above.

Erik.

 

[kbg32]

You could send an email to Nikon.....

 

[enasniearth]

The serial numbers were not on earlier finders ,
It similar to the Nikon f top plate , which went from the Nippon kogaku Tokyo logo to simply the word nikon .
It's definitely for the rangefinder cameras .
If you had a sp and shot the 35 focal length all the time , it's nice to have the larger brightline view .
Nice find - I have seen 2 others sell on ebay in the last 10 years marked nikon

 

[Erik van Straten]

If you had a sp and shot the 35 focal length all the time , it's nice to have the larger brightline view .
I have seen 2 others sell on ebay in the last 10 years marked nikon

Thank you, enasniearth.

That about the SP I've said too.

They are rare, it is clear that the Nikon-rangefinder era was already ended by the time these finders were made this way.

Erik.

 

[CameraQuest]

FROM BOB ROTOLONI:

Stephen

I have seen other VERY LATE finders fron Nikon where the logo is gone and replaced by just Nikon. It is possible that they made some late runs from leftover parts to fill a demand somewhere. I feel this is a very late example. As for the finish. No idea. Maybe someone did it later on for some reason

bob