An Introduction and a Nikon s2 Rangefinder for Sale
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Larry Cloetta
Veteran
That's just piling on.
nikonhswebmaster
Retired NHS Webmaster
There are very few collectors left. They want the glamor cameras.
Not meant to be that, just showing the recent sales on ebay, obviously there is not an exact correlation between the RFF classified and the items on ebay in terms of what is included, and of course there is no way to confirm identical condition (or not.)
Anyone in the market for such a camera will be looking at these figures and it is entirely up to the buyer to decide if the price for this item is reasonable or not.
It appears to me (and others in this thread) that Nikon RFs have declined in value quite a bit over the past few years. They are now excellent buys, as they are great shooters!
nikonhswebmaster
Retired NHS Webmaster
I remember when all those cameras were shipped back to Japan during the '80s from camera shows. Very few originated from Japan. I honestly have no idea of their quality, but they are expensive to return.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku?
I tell you a story, it's interesting to read. Sorry I don't mean to hijack the thread but I think it's related.
Like Tom A. says, rangefinder cameras can multiply if you are not careful with them. They need to be watched. I wasn't watching mine for a while and then one day I looked and there were 15-20 of them! I just had to get rid of some...
Since last month, I have sold 5 Rangefinder cameras, I put up a couple of ads here but got no response at all, I did the evil bay too.
You know what got me the most hits and the most money of all the junk I sold?
Years ago, I had a fellow RFF'r paint this after I had it overhauled. I never changed the leather although it really needed it. It became an unfinished project...
It was this camera:
Result was almost 800 views and about 100 people watching!
It sold for $430
That was the best I got out of the all the cameras I sold!
The rest of the listings did not even come close, I got 150-200 views with 10 watchers at best.
The collector market is there but it's changing. People want working cameras, that's the most important aspect these days, it has to be working, cameras that need work to function bring very little $
It also seems buyers are looking for something different, an everyday chrome camera is not exciting anymore, even if it has docs and box with original lens. A custom camera that needs to be recovered can command 4 times interest.
Go figure!
Kiu
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
I was joking.
vytasn
Established
Welcome to the original poster and thanks for your participation.
I saw a user S2 on the bay, it did under $400
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351919047133
Kiu
Hey I was the one that just bought that user S2! I was looking for a fast 50 for my Leica CL, but got distracted and decided to buy a fast 50 that came with a camera. However, I think that the real reason was that the S2 was made in my birth year (serial number 618554 - late model black dial should put it in 1956). If anyone can verify that ... wait I don't want to know if it is not 1956.
Cheers,
Vytas
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku?
The only thing that made it a user was the tripod marks on the base plate, else looked really good.
You got a really good deal. Any Leica 1.4 lens costs more than that!
Kiu
nikonhswebmaster
Retired NHS Webmaster
That camera looks like $400. And it may be worse than it looks in the photos.
The fit of the front plate is very poor, which may have something to do with the bashing on the area over the focus wheel. The upper front plate screws are buggered, and the plate no longer is UNDER the top plate.
The bottom is one of the ugliest tripod marks I have ever seen, it looks like it was on a spinning display at one time.
Covering on the front is not glued back on straight.
Personally I would not want to own it.
To me there is an enormous difference to collectors between a beater, and a camera with minimal use, boxed, papers and a clean case. (By the way this case is an EP case not original to this camera.)
I once knew an annoying collector who would call me and say:
Collector: "You know that mint black SP you have, that you wanted $XX,000 for? I found one for way less."
Me: "What was the condition?"
Collector: "Just a few dents, and the bottom plate was totally brassed, but on a shelf you can't see it."
There is always something cheaper.
css9450
Veteran
I paid a lot for my S2; it looks only lightly used except for the usual scratches around the tripod socket (I wonder if everyone used tripods with sharp burrs on them back in those days?). Its a great camera but soon after I bought it, I found this forum and made the realization I probably paid more than I should have. Oh well... It'll be with me until I die; its such a great shooter.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
This is why I bought a Nikon S2. I like to shoot, and like to shoot vintage glass. The S2 lets me do that for a lot less money than doing the same with my Leica. My S2, w/3.5cm was less than a decent 35mm Leica lens, and it has the same vintage renderings. I can pick up a 5cm for it for peanuts compared to a decent collapsible Cron, and an 8.5cm I have my eye on is less than a third of the price of the 90 Elmarit M I bought years ago.
The Nikon Rangefinder line just gives you a lot of options for a lot less money.
Best,
-Tim
nikonhswebmaster
Retired NHS Webmaster
I have paid all sorts of prices for S2's from $150 to $2500, and there was really no rhyme or reason. I paid about $2500 for the nicest one I ever had, a mint black paint, black dial.
The user ones are definitely cheaper right now, but compared to say a Nikon F, they are still very expensive considering there are so very many of them out there.
The user ones are definitely cheaper right now, but compared to say a Nikon F, they are still very expensive considering there are so very many of them out there.
enasniearth
Well-known
To put it in prospective 138,000 nikon rangefinder cameras total all models were produced,
Leica made 233,000 m3 cameras just one of their models .
So for every 4 nikons you see there are 7 Leica m3's
Many 50-75 year old cameras need serviced , try to buy the nicest camera you can find . Or afford .
Leica made 233,000 m3 cameras just one of their models .
So for every 4 nikons you see there are 7 Leica m3's
Many 50-75 year old cameras need serviced , try to buy the nicest camera you can find . Or afford .
BillBingham2
Registered User
Perhaps, but you went with the best information you had at the time. It's really easy to second guess every decision. I've paid a lot more for stuff over the past fifteen years or so than I could have, but then I had it longer, enjoined it more, and when I sold it I recovered most of what I paid for them.
I've also gotten some get bargains and made money when I had to sell them.
I look at my purchases as long term rentals as I've been bouncing between employed and Un way too much the past five years or so. They bring me joy when I have them and give me something to think about where to go next when I don't.
B2(;->
P.S. My wife loves to point out how every can be done better, even every so often on things she did. I've gotten to the point to the best I can, learn everything I can and don't sweet the stuff I don't have reasonable control of.
DansArtRealm
Newbie
Wow! What Wonderful Responses!
Wow! What Wonderful Responses!
Hi, Everyone,
I am rather pleased to see the advice and debate (and even criticism) my ad has generated. I would have joined in sooner if I'd know how to navigate this site better. I used to do eBay all the time back in the day, but this format is new to me.
The overwhelming consensus seems to be that I am asking too much for this camera/outfit. I concede this may be true. I would reduce the price, if I could figure out how to, but I've searched FAQ and gone into the add and just can't seem to change it. I have been made a few offers via private message and have had a number of inquiries, but I'm not quite where I think this camera should really be. I know cameras quite well, in general, but of antique cameras, only what I've learned from recent research.
It would indeed seem the s2 market has calmed down compared to its high point. I'm not terribly surprised considering how many s2's Nikon made. But this is an outfit, not just a camera and a case, or camera and a bag, or a camera and a lens. I have in all my searches found nothing quite like it.
I'm not a hard-nosed salesperson or cynic. I'm a former broadcast and print journalist/photographer/videographer (yeah, really, I wore all those hats and it was awesome) and current part-time photographer. My goal here is a sincere one, to sell a good camera at a reasonable price. I may not get it -- I certainly don't expect $1350.00 at this point -- but just to have sparked and enlivened this thread is pretty satisfactory on its own.
Peace Out!
Dan
Wow! What Wonderful Responses!
Hi, Everyone,
I am rather pleased to see the advice and debate (and even criticism) my ad has generated. I would have joined in sooner if I'd know how to navigate this site better. I used to do eBay all the time back in the day, but this format is new to me.
The overwhelming consensus seems to be that I am asking too much for this camera/outfit. I concede this may be true. I would reduce the price, if I could figure out how to, but I've searched FAQ and gone into the add and just can't seem to change it. I have been made a few offers via private message and have had a number of inquiries, but I'm not quite where I think this camera should really be. I know cameras quite well, in general, but of antique cameras, only what I've learned from recent research.
It would indeed seem the s2 market has calmed down compared to its high point. I'm not terribly surprised considering how many s2's Nikon made. But this is an outfit, not just a camera and a case, or camera and a bag, or a camera and a lens. I have in all my searches found nothing quite like it.
I'm not a hard-nosed salesperson or cynic. I'm a former broadcast and print journalist/photographer/videographer (yeah, really, I wore all those hats and it was awesome) and current part-time photographer. My goal here is a sincere one, to sell a good camera at a reasonable price. I may not get it -- I certainly don't expect $1350.00 at this point -- but just to have sparked and enlivened this thread is pretty satisfactory on its own.
Peace Out!
Dan
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
Dan,
Glad to see you return. To edit your ad, just find your ad in classifieds, look for the button at the upper right corner of your ad that says "product options", click that for the drop down menu which will list, among other things, "edit ad" under "admin" ( that's you).
DansArtRealm
Newbie
Thank you! It's been driving me nuts!
Are you intentionally posting the set in the Auction section? If not, you can edit the ad to change the category its listed in. 35mm Full Frame and Smaller Format would be the logical section to list it in.
DansArtRealm
Newbie
And thank you, too!
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