Did the Nikon S3 Olympic exist before 632 0001

[blacksaphier]

This Nikon S3 with serial number 631 2208 appears at first glance to be a standard black S3. A closer look, however, raises doubts:
The distance measurement is in meters, not feet. It has a titanium foil curtain, not cloth.
The self-release levers and winder are Nikon F-style. his is a Nikon S3 Olympic, or what do the experts say?
I also have serial number 631 2212 (adjacent serial number - last pic) in my collection.
This camera also has the titanium foil curtain, the distance markings in meters, and the Nikon F-style self-release lever and winder. It's a Nikon S3 Olympic!!!
S/N 631 2208 bought in Wien, Austria, 631 2212 in Osaka, Japan.
Whenever I told someone this, I always heard: "It was changed afterwards"; "It was rebuilt"; "It's a fake" "S3 Olympic starts at 632 0001"
I spoke with a technician who has been repairing and adjusting rangefinder cameras for many years. A pro!
He says it's technically impossible to retrofit the cloth shutter in an S3 with a titanium foil shutter.
He said, literally: "Unfortunately, converting from a cloth shutter to a titanium shutter isn't possible on the Nikon S3. The technology behind it is apparently completely different,
and the body won't be compatible."
Let's take a look at the S4. No one is surprised that there are over 200 S4s with the S3 topplate, because of the missing self-release lever..
I'm sure S3 Olympic exists before serial number 632 0001. I have two of these cameras.
All books need to be rewritten? They're all wrong?

 

[NIKON KIU]

It is possible that NK used those leftover black top plates , they fall within the correct batch for black bodies.
Do both of these camera have the correct back? It should say made in Japan.
Did any of these two cameras come with the new 50?

Kiu

 

[blacksaphier]

It is possible that NK used those leftover black top plates , they fall within the correct batch for black bodies.
Do both of these camera have the correct back? It should say made in Japan.

Kiu

Yes both show so.

 

[blacksaphier]

It is possible that NK used those leftover black top plates , they fall within the correct batch for black bodies.
Do both of these camera have the correct back? It should say made in Japan.
Did any of these two cameras come with the new 50?

Kiu

Sorry, the 2208 was later repainted, but original black.

 

[blacksaphier]

It is possible that NK used those leftover black top plates , they fall within the correct batch for black bodies.
Do both of these camera have the correct back? It should say made in Japan.
Did any of these two cameras come with the new 50?

Kiu

I had to take a look. Neither of them came with the new 50s.

 

[NIKON KIU]

Obviously Olympic S3s

But a handful doesn’t change the fact that other 2500 are in the new batch of serial numbers. So, these two are uncommon compared to the other 2500 with common numbers.

Kiu

 

[blacksaphier]

Obviously Olympic S3s

But a handful doesn’t change the fact that other 2500 are in the new batch of serial numbers. So, these two are uncommon compared to the other 2500 with common numbers.

Kiu

I have a few collector friends who didn't even know they had an S3 Olympic. Only when I pointed it out to them did they realize their S3 was an Olympic. I'm discussing this with Robert. I've already sent him an email. Best regards.

 

[NIKON KIU]

Sorry, the 2208 was later repainted, but original black.

Rotoloni lists 6312208 as original black body. It is in the black body list.

Kiu

 

[blacksaphier]

Obviously Olympic S3s

But a handful doesn’t change the fact that other 2500 are in the new batch of serial numbers. So, these two are uncommon compared to the other 2500 with common numbers.

Kiu

By the way, you wanted to ask me something about lenses? The best way to do that is via Facebook.

 

[blacksaphier]

Rotoloni lists 6312208 as original black body. It is in the black body list.

Kiu

Sorry , that's wrong! I hold this camera in my hands. The only origin is the topplate.
The topplates are matching to the different bodies. The mechanics are completely different.
So the bodies are different. This could only have happened during production.
The technician confirmed this to me.
It would be crazy to do this later.
It's the same as we see with the S4.

 

[NIKON KIU]

There is a confirmed batch of Black S3 cameras 6312102~6312302
Approximately 200 units.
43 of those 200 units are confirmed.

This doesn’t mean 6312208 is not Olympic, all it means is that it’s a confirmed black camera.

It is very interesting that now we know 2 of the cameras within the above batch are Olympic cameras.

Kiu

 

[NIKON KIU]

please note 6312212 is not on the black body list, if you own the camera, send pictures to Bob Rotoloni for confirmation and registration.

6312214 is on the list.

Kiu

 

[blacksaphier]

please note 6312212 is not on the black body list, if you own the camera, send pictures to Bob Rotoloni for confirmation and registration.

6312214 is on the list.

Kiu

Thanx Kiu I‘ll do. Beste Regards

 

[jonmanjiro]

I spoke with a technician who has been repairing and adjusting rangefinder cameras for many years. A pro!
He says it's technically impossible to retrofit the cloth shutter in an S3 with a titanium foil shutter.
He said, literally: "Unfortunately, converting from a cloth shutter to a titanium shutter isn't possible on the Nikon S3. The technology behind it is apparently completely different,

Hmm that's an interesting comment. Is this technician a Nikon specialist? I don't know about the serial numbers or whether your S3 cameras are genuine "Olympic S3" cameras or not so cannot comment about that, but I do know that Kiitos Camera Repair (which is run by ex Nikon staff) retrofit titanium shutters into Nikon rangefinders with cloth shutters on a regular basis. I've personally seen Nikon S, S2, S3 and SP cameras with titanium shutters that originally had cloth shutters. Kiitos uses new old-stock Nikon F3 shutter curtains trimmed down to the correct size. I also know of other technicians in Tokyo who have installed titanium shutter curtains. I expect Kanto Camera can do it too.

 

[NIKON KIU]

All books need to be rewritten? They're all wrong?

Blacksaphire!

The serial number blocks were assigned by Nippon Kogaku.
Collectors and historians can find variations but can’t change history, we can discover details but we can’t change assigned serial number blocks from 70 years ago.

It’s like saying the S4 started earlier than 65xxxxx
We know there are hundreds of S4 with S3 top plates but it doesn’t change the fact that the serial number assigned to the camera start with 65xxxxx

Your discovery of 2 Olympic Cameras within the last known batch of collected black S3 numbers is a very interesting variation and does show that there are endless opportunities of finding new variants and unique items.

Kiu

 

[CameraQuest]

"I spoke with a technician who has been repairing and adjusting rangefinder cameras for many years. A pro!
He says it's technically impossible to retrofit the cloth shutter in an S3 with a titanium foil shutter."

NOT TRUE.

My Nikon Rangefinder tech replaced titanium curtains with cloth, or cloth with titanium, as needed.

Some owners wanted the other type of curtains.
Or sometimes cloth curtains were used because Titanium curtains were harder to source.

I just got off the phone with that now retired tech,

confirming either type of curtain could be installed as needed into the SP / S3 / S4 bodies.

Stephen

 

[NIKON KIU]

If memory serves me right…Late Tom A. Had a Nikon S4 with titanium curtains painted in black by Shintaro.

Ahhh, the good old times.

Kiu

 

[bucs]

SP Price! [MINT] Nikon S3 Olympic Type Black Film Camera Body Only From JAPAN | eBay

Both the appearance and optics are in good condition. Above condition is based on my own opinion. The double image is faint. No problem in the view. Serial Number;. Shutter speed is accurate from low speed to high speed.

ebay.us

Here’s a live listing. Don’t know if it’s a real olympic version. S/N is 630xxxx

 

[NIKON KIU]

It’s not.
Very questionable piece.

Kiu

 

[nsp9107]

SP Price! [MINT] Nikon S3 Olympic Type Black Film Camera Body Only From JAPAN | eBay

Both the appearance and optics are in good condition. Above condition is based on my own opinion. The double image is faint. No problem in the view. Serial Number;. Shutter speed is accurate from low speed to high speed.

ebay.us

Here’s a live listing. Don’t know if it’s a real olympic version. S/N is 630xxxx

repainted black, not originally a black camera