Highway 61
Revisited
Awesome. The S2, with its Art-Deco design and logo both directly inherited from the Contax II is the prettiest Nikon RF no doubt.
It would look even better with a Hello Kitty sticker and a few strategically attached soda bottle caps and vitamin pill canisters
Highway 61
Revisited
Yes, no doubt, and don't forget to glue this Nikon F2 advance lever plastic tip on that pristine S2 original wind lever.It would look even better with a Hello Kitty sticker and a few strategically attached soda bottle caps and vitamin pill canisters
:angel:kuzano
Veteran
Cheaper, perhaps better alternative.....
Cheaper, perhaps better alternative.....
Since the Nikon RF is a knockoff of the Contax II, get a Contax II. It should also be noted that Nikon cut the base leg of the range finder triangle to almost half of the Contax II.
Going one more step, get a fine example (early) version of a Kiev FSU camera (perhaps recently serviced). You stand a chance of getting a Kiev assembled from actual Contax parts, that were obtained as "spoils of war" during the Rape, Pillage and Sacking of Berlin.
The Kiev also uses the longer base triangle and focuses faster, or more accurately than the Nikon RF.
That's been my experience. My Kiev shutter is also quieter than the Nikon S or S2. Ergonomically, it's a cheaper way to get the feel of the Nikon camera. My Jupiter 8 50mm f2 lens is also a fine example and shoots wonderful images.
Cheaper, perhaps better alternative.....
Since the Nikon RF is a knockoff of the Contax II, get a Contax II. It should also be noted that Nikon cut the base leg of the range finder triangle to almost half of the Contax II.
Going one more step, get a fine example (early) version of a Kiev FSU camera (perhaps recently serviced). You stand a chance of getting a Kiev assembled from actual Contax parts, that were obtained as "spoils of war" during the Rape, Pillage and Sacking of Berlin.
The Kiev also uses the longer base triangle and focuses faster, or more accurately than the Nikon RF.
That's been my experience. My Kiev shutter is also quieter than the Nikon S or S2. Ergonomically, it's a cheaper way to get the feel of the Nikon camera. My Jupiter 8 50mm f2 lens is also a fine example and shoots wonderful images.
MC JC86
Negative Nancy.
Nothing wrong with a Kiev or Contax, but it's actually very difficult to beat the economy or reliability of the Nikon S2. Also, if you want to use those excellent Nikon rangefinder lenses 50mm and over, which have recently become affordable, the Nikon is your only choice. Yes I know some have a "c" on the side....
DanOnRoute66
I now live in Des Moines
The shutter mechanism of Contax (and its knockoff, the Kiev) is much more complicated, in terms of the number of parts, than the shutter of the S2. In the dozen years or so that I owned Kievs (IIa and 4A) and the Nikon S2, the Nikon has been much more reliable. I have sold all the FSU stuff; I still have the Nikon RF gear.
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
Heresy, but there is some truth to it
Heresy, but there is some truth to it
With the exception of the really superior viewfinder on the S2, I have to say there's a lot of truth to this comment. A good early Kiev 2 is a really solid camera, and costs FAR less than the Nikons.
Cheers,
Dez
Heresy, but there is some truth to it
With the exception of the really superior viewfinder on the S2, I have to say there's a lot of truth to this comment. A good early Kiev 2 is a really solid camera, and costs FAR less than the Nikons.
Cheers,
Dez
bowieknife
Established
I have a Nikon S2, and it feels much better made than either my Contaxes or my Kiev.
Some notable people used the S2: Che Guevara, Edward Steichen, Russ C. Hamilton !
Some notable people used the S2: Che Guevara, Edward Steichen, Russ C. Hamilton !
Highway 61
Revisited
I have several nice Contax cameras, either prewar or postwar models, all fully serviced and working. They are beautiful cameras, both being nice tributes to the German Bauhaus design style, etc - no doubt.
During the last three years I have travelled abroad a little bit and decided to take my... Nikon rangefinders, including a quite rugged cosmetics S2.
When you're 6500 km far from home in a place you are not likely to visit twice in your life, you don't want to have to face sudden and totally unpredictible shutter ribbons failure or cantankerous high speeds shutter blanking.
Let's just be a little serious there, gentlemen.
During the last three years I have travelled abroad a little bit and decided to take my... Nikon rangefinders, including a quite rugged cosmetics S2.
When you're 6500 km far from home in a place you are not likely to visit twice in your life, you don't want to have to face sudden and totally unpredictible shutter ribbons failure or cantankerous high speeds shutter blanking.
Let's just be a little serious there, gentlemen.