confession

Tom A said:
Timmyjoe, the Nikpn cassettes, just like the Leica IXMOO cassettes have an advantage that it opens "wide" - much less chance for scratching the film. They also last forever - snap cap or any other felt trapped cassettes tend to collect crap and ultimately scratch the film.Both the Nikon and IXMOO reload able are bit scarce now - but worth the effort in the long run. The Nikon cassettes also have a major advantage - they also works in Nikon F's.
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Hey Tom,

Picked up a Nikon cassette, I can now see why you like them. Very well made, very simple design. The little instruction sheet that came with mine (thank goodness, otherwise I wouldn't have known how to work it), says only that it fits the Nikon F. Will it also work on a Nikon S2 if I someday can afford one?

Best,
-Tim
 
Timmyjoe said:
Hey Tom,
Will it also work on a Nikon S2 if I someday can afford one?

Best,
-Tim
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Not Tom but yes all the rangefinders take that cassette and the origibnal SLR the F does as well, it doesn't work on the F2, the F2 has it's own variant and they are very clearly marked (an aside: unlike the Leica variants IXMOO and FILCA which are easily confused, especially by sellers ;) ) Nikon F2 AM-1.
 
Personally I have absolutely nothing against espresso machines and bicycles and cameras …
;-)

On my still ongoing addictive development in regards to Nikon RF gear I have tried to source some of the caps - it turns out to be an monumentally impossible task and probably only time and patience will turn up the odd cap.

The local shops had exactly … ZERO Zeiss Contax/ Nikon S rear caps - not even close to anything fitting.
So my 35/1.8 Nikkor is still without a proper rear cap, making the use of other lenses questionable (I do not want to rattle this precious gem around in a bag without caps).

But … on other news, I found a nice and very clean user copy of a late v2 105/2.5 in S mount ;-)

… guess what, this lens also came without the hard to find rear cap but I did find a solution with a soft plastic push on cap that slips over the outer chrome S mount ring with infinity lock and works perfectly fine to protect the lens in a bag.

So…

| … | 35/1.8 | 50/1.4 | … | 105/2.5 | … |

are secure - I am thinking of finding a nice late v2 85mm (either f2 or f1.5 (and maybe sell my LTM mount copy for it).
After shooting a few rolls with the SP I don't think I ever want to use the 28mm but might want something a little wider to use with external finder if a wide angle is needed.

Obvious choices are the Voigtlander 21/4 and the 25/4 Nikkor.
I am tending towards the 25/4 Nikkor if I can find a nice one down the road - I absolutely looooooooove symmetrical wide angle lenses like the Hologon, Super Angulon - I don't mind the falloff but love the low distortion and the look, the falloff provides with leading the eye to the image center.

Any comments regarding caps/ DIY, tips, tricks and alternatives and of course comments and sample photographs of 21/4 CV and 25/4 Nikkor ?
Would the 25/4 Nikkor feel out of place with the modern coated millennium lenses or even the 105mm ?
How is the focussing of the 25/4 with the focus wheel on the body only? I feel the loooong focus throw would be rather inconvenient opposed to a quick flick of a focus dial on the lens body as with the 35mm.

I am looking forward to your comments ;-)

PS: I forgot:
My 105/2.5 came with the usual aged dried out lube in the focus mount feels about right for being the original factory lube (I am very happy though that the glass is clean apart a few cleaning marks up front without haze and that it is the very only vintage Nikkor lens I have ever encountered to have absolutely clean, unused and dry aperture blades and yet a very nice aperture action).
I have not yet opened any Nikkor S mount lenses (but do regularly work on vintage Leica mount lenses).
Any tips on finding my way into the focus mount of the 105/2.5?
 
Always so many questions :D

The head bartender lists Voigtlander SC rear caps and body caps for $25 a piece (discontinued but in stock). They're the best bet IMO if you don't mind non-original caps on your external S-mount Nikkors/Nikon SP.

The W-Nikkor 25/4... such a tiny lens! It should focus easily using the camera's focus wheel. Easy one handed operation!

7471195902_23e7139b7d_b.jpg
 

G451 #7 Neon display by T&T and Mr B Abrahamsson, on Flickr

The Nikkor 25mm f4.0 is amazingly good for a 60+ year old design. This is the Vancouver Museum's "Neon Sign" display. I use it to establish flare sensitivity in various lenses. The one caveat with the Nikkor 25f4 is the aperture blades. They are very thin and if you are not careful, they can easily jam. The "wheel only" focus is not a big deal - works fine. The original finder is not great, so I simply use a Voigtlander 21/25 finder.
The Color Skopar 25mm f4.0 is a better lens technically, less vignetting and a "normal" aperture ring (the Nikkor 25 involves a lot of poking about in the front lens cavity). The Skopar is also considerably cheaper. Accessories for the Nikkor 25 are scarce and expensive (hood, caps and case).
 
menos said:
On my still ongoing addictive development in regards to Nikon RF gear I have tried to source some of the caps - it turns out to be an monumentally impossible task and probably only time and patience will turn up the odd cap.
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It is neither monumentally nor impossible. You've got all the proper data you needed to know. Yes patience and a bit of time are required. But what aren't they required for ? ;)
 
Erik van Straten said:
You can order them here:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Contax-Nikon...-Sonnar-50-Nikkor-50-Jupiter-8M-/301949825870
(only for the 50mm lenses)

Erik.
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Yes, Erik, I have seen this for 50mm lenses. Incidentally the 50/1.4 I bought came with one of these, so I am covered for the 50mm.

Shac said:
Or from here
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/5-x-Rear-Lens-Cap-Deep-for-Nikon-S-Contax-Wide-Kiev/361543181898?_trksid=p2046732.c100040.m2060&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160516100611%26meid%3Dccf2cb469c084baa963e1a8b9b5a3f84%26pid%3D100040%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D361543181898

He also has the shallow rear caps
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/5-x-Rear-Len...cd579da&pid=100040&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=201590129555
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Thanks a lot Shac! I have bought a few different caps from the seller and await his response re. shipping fees. This matches exactly what I needed (cheap, expendable caps for using and protecting the lenses).

Of course I found more caps once I learned to search for Zeiss Icon Contax caps instead of "Nikon S" caps now :rolleyes:

jonmanjiro said:
Always so many questions :D

The head bartender lists Voigtlander SC rear caps and body caps for $25 a piece (discontinued but in stock). They're the best bet IMO if you don't mind non-original caps on your external S-mount Nikkors/Nikon SP.

The W-Nikkor 25/4... such a tiny lens! It should focus easily using the camera's focus wheel. Easy one handed operation!

7471195902_23e7139b7d_b.jpg
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Haha - Jon, yes - I just ask, if I don't know something and think later. No need to swallow a question and regret not asking :D

This illustrates perfectly how tiny the 25mm really is :eek:
It looks like a very interesting lens - I will keep my eyes open for one.

Tom A said:

G451 #7 Neon display by T&T and Mr B Abrahamsson, on Flickr

The Nikkor 25mm f4.0 is amazingly good for a 60+ year old design. This is the Vancouver Museum's "Neon Sign" display. I use it to establish flare sensitivity in various lenses. The one caveat with the Nikkor 25f4 is the aperture blades. They are very thin and if you are not careful, they can easily jam. The "wheel only" focus is not a big deal - works fine. The original finder is not great, so I simply use a Voigtlander 21/25 finder.
The Color Skopar 25mm f4.0 is a better lens technically, less vignetting and a "normal" aperture ring (the Nikkor 25 involves a lot of poking about in the front lens cavity). The Skopar is also considerably cheaper. Accessories for the Nikkor 25 are scarce and expensive (hood, caps and case).
Click to expand...

Wow Tom, that shot really shows an amazing lens for such an age - I take it it was not wide open and a very clean sample?

I don't fear the aperture tab inside the lens as I am more of an aperture priority type of person, so I set my apertures like I set my ISO and just set shutter speed as the light changes. I mostly only change aperture when I run out of shutter speed.

Please keep 25/4 Nikkor (and 21/4 CV) pictures coming guys!

Is the 21/4 CV more of a sharp, contrasty and modern lens job or would it fit with old designs as the vintage Nikkor lenses without standing out too much?

Highway 61 said:
It is neither monumentally nor impossible. You've got all the proper data you needed to know. Yes patience and a bit of time are required. But what aren't they required for ? ;)
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Yes Nicolas, I know better now ;-)
Patience is the very one virtue I definitely do not possess, especially as this whole Nikon RF thing came in such a flurry.
 
A few shots from the first two rolls - I wasted some long outdated color film for checking focus and my new camera clumsiness factor - surprisingly focus calibration with the camera is absolutely spot on - this is something I am not used to as every single Leica body I ever bought new was off so far and the stories I have read that the Nikon S bodies are as fragile as having them get out of alignment by simply tipping them over on a table had me worried.
If something survives Chinese domestic shipping and is still within good calibration it is damn tough in my book, so no worries for the future with the Nikon RF gear ;-)


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr

I really like that the 2005 issue of the 35/1.8 is just EXACTLY like the old LTM W-Nikkor I have used on the Leica bodies. The improved coating does not show in this low contrast color film - I don't do slide film and will have to see how it compares with the film I like most (did not develop any of the BW rolls yet)
 
Nice test pics! I think the main improvement with the reissue W-Nikkor 35/1.8 and its multi coating is improved flare resistance. Not that the vintage lens is a slouch in that regard though. I really wish Nikon would release an LTM or M-mount version of the reissue 35/1.8 that focuses down to 0.70m. What an amazing lens that would be.

Here's a few pics taken with my (now sold) W-Nikkor 25/4. It vignettes noticeably but I never had any complaints regarding distortion or sharpness.

This building is the Nikon 101 building where all the vintage Nikon rangefinder bodies and lenses were made. Its still standing but will be demolished soon.

29304936315_189f587ac2_b.jpg


These two shots were taken at Minato Mirai in Yokohama. From memory the film is Velvia 50.

29226247211_d6818dfdf1_b.jpg


28682536074_8e1f5bd4d4_b.jpg
 
very nice pictures. i like the colours - looks a lot like the kodak color 200 that i got when they ran out of lucky... (hihihi)

btw., the rear cap i have left over is for non-50mm lenses. sorry for previous wrong info.

cheers,
sebastian
 
jonmanjiro said:
Nice test pics! I think the main improvement with the reissue W-Nikkor 35/1.8 and its multi coating is improved flare resistance. Not that the vintage lens is a slouch in that regard though. I really wish Nikon would release an LTM or M-mount version of the reissue 35/1.8 that focuses down to 0.70m. What an amazing lens that would be.

Here's a few pics taken with my (now sold) W-Nikkor 25/4. It vignettes noticeably but I never had any complaints regarding distortion or sharpness.

This building is the Nikon 101 building where all the vintage Nikon rangefinder bodies and lenses were made. Its still standing but will be demolished soon.
…
These two shots were taken at Minato Mirai in Yokohama. From memory the film is Velvia 50.
…
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Thanks Jon - it is very true about the flare resistance - I didn't see any flare at all in the test pics I did so far. The W-Nikkor in LTM (and particularly the UC-Hex, which is based on the W-Nikkor design) does flare in certain conditions (very strong light hitting the front element at a steep angle).

I don't use a lens hood with these 35mm lenses, but rather use either a 007 B+W XS filter for color or a B+W yellow filter for black and white only to keep those beautifully small lenses - small ;-)

It is very sad to hear that such a historic building (Nikon's history was made there) has to be demolished, but it is a business after all and buildings as much as we are sentimental about them are part of the assets that come and go as economics dictate. It would have been great if it could have been preserved though …

sebastel said:
very nice pictures. i like the colours - looks a lot like the Kodak color 200 that i got when they ran out of Lucky... (hihihi)

btw., the rear cap i have left over is for non-50mm lenses. sorry for previous wrong info.

cheers,
sebastian
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The 50mm I will pick up later this year will have already one of the metal replacement rear caps … and it will have a nice Amedeo adapter attached and a Leica MM as a rear cap if all else fails - maybe that will be the lens that reignites my like for this digital (worst photographic gear decision I ever made was to give my trusty, MM1 away for a new MM, … which ultimately lead to the Nikon RF drug, so all things considered … :D )

Sebastian, the film was outdated Portra 400, pushed to ISO 800, quick scan in a Minolta 5400 + VueScan and contrast + colors a bit pushed in Lightroom. What you see is not what you get in this case ;-)

Here is a focus test shot with the 35/1.8 - same quick scan and treatment - I am not a color guy by any stretch, much prefer black and white (and looking forward to the big pile of film to develop I have accumulated over the last few months).


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr


Nikon SP + 3.5cm f1.8 W-Nikkor - first shots by Dirk Steffen, on Flickr

Especially in the last shot (wide open f1.8 and some slow shutter speed maybe 1/30s) I see something that really amazes me about this vintage W-Nikkor design.
Look at the highlights in the outer corners - these would look MUCH worse with the much later announced pre-ASPH Leitz Summilux.
I always considered the W-Nikkor a lens only overtaken by Leitz technology of the 1990s with the ASPHERICAL Summilux and later ASPH.
Until then there simply was no equal fast lens to match the W-Nikkor.

This lens in a Leica mount with some tuning as seen in the UC-Hex to further tame the batwings in the outer corners and the wild bokeh would be an instant favorite and a lens I would buy unseen (hence my favorite Leica lens being the UC-Hex).

PS:
@ Jon, I forgot to mention - thanks for your 25/4 Nikkor samples - it is amazing how modern these shots look! The light fall off is something I personally find very beautiful!
It seems to behave quite nice in heavy contrasty light too. For such an old and tiny design it looks absolutely amazing!
 
Menos - the seller I mentioned will combine items to reduce shipping costs. I've found him very accommodating
David
 
slowly i get the colours. this film is better than the ultra cheap kodak kolor 200. thanks for the new pics.
you really seem to get along well with the nikon.

cheers to everyone,
s.
 
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