Finally bought one!

Fraser said:
The problem in the uk is getting hold of lenses and bodies plenty of leica stuff but until I had bought my camera the only other Nikon I had handled was an s, I don't think they were very popular in the uk at all when they were new in the 50s and 60s.
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The s3 Olympic is the last of the s3 line .
Did you buy the one peter had listed in the uk ?
If so the price was very attractive for the condition .
Sooner or later you will find the 1.8 35 nikkor .
They vary all over the place as far as price is concerned .
Look for separation in the rear element group along the edges ,
Also small spots in the second group in the front .
Check for marks on the glass .
 
Tom A said:
Fraser, keep in mind the March as a Nikon Rangefinder month too. The 35f3.5 is not a bad lens - the later black barrel works fine - on par with a Leica Summaron 35mm f3.5 - and it is very small and compact too. Stock up on film and get ready for March.
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Good idea. As I just finished a roll of Tri-X on my Pentax MX I will now swsitch to a Nikon RF.
I still have a brand new S3 black paint kit with the 50 1.4 that I don't even dare using !
 
goodtimes said:
I still have a brand new S3 black paint kit with the 50 1.4 that I don't even dare using !
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I think that all the collectors have what they want in that kit, like Leica the future demand will be for heavily brassed and used or mint with "no man's land" in between. Your choice :angel:
 
enasniearth said:
The s3 Olympic is the last of the s3 line .
Did you buy the one peter had listed in the uk ?
If so the price was very attractive for the condition .
Sooner or later you will find the 1.8 35 nikkor .
They vary all over the place as far as price is concerned .
Look for separation in the rear element group along the edges ,
Also small spots in the second group in the front .
Check for marks on the glass .
Click to expand...

cheers i will keep looking
 
Unfortunately, Nikon RF's are highly addictive. You start with one body/one lens - and suddenly you have this urge for another one and then one more etc. The S3 with the 35f1.8 is fine - but you have two more frames in the camera so you start looking for a 50mm and of course the 105f2.5. Oh well, you have been warned!
 
I'd like to pose a question if I could. I have some funds opening up soon and would like to buy an SP or S3 but I'm not sure which one. I've had an S since 1972 and have been using Leica M for 25 years but I really want another Nikon. I wear glasses, would that affect using either SP or S3? I'd like to get the 28 f3.5 and the 35 f2.5. Thanks. Joe
 
Livesteamer said:
I'd like to pose a question if I could. I have some funds opening up soon and would like to buy an SP or S3 but I'm not sure which one. I've had an S since 1972 and have been using Leica M for 25 years but I really want another Nikon. I wear glasses, would that affect using either SP or S3? I'd like to get the 28 f3.5 and the 35 f2.5. Thanks. Joe
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I've only had my s3 for a week or so and its the only Nikon rf I've ever used so I'm no authority, the 35mm frame lines are much nearer the edge of the viewfinder than my m2 and a couple of times I've almost used the 50mm frame by mistake. I think if I was wearing glasses it could be a struggle.
 
It is a strugle with glasses.
I have the S3 milenium and can't see the 50mm framelines with glasses.
As much as i like the look and feel of the Nikon rf i much prefer to use my M6
 
Thanks. I appreciate the input. I am leaning towards an S3 as many of the Sp's I see on e bay seem to have finder problems. I have about $1,500 coming in and may just try to get the nicest S3 and 50 1.4 I can find. I'm mostly a 50 shooter anyway. Joe
 
SPs are not all that hard to find at good prices. I just got one with a 50/2 for a little over 4 bills. A ding on the front plate over the Nikon logo, and broken viewfinder front window glass. Everything else in fine shape. Super quiet shutter, all speeds fine, bright view, strong contrasty aligned RF patch. Clean lens, no scratches, haze, or fungus. Aperture is smooth and easy, some oil on the blades but it's meaningless.

Don't care about the ding (flattened most of it out with a drill press.) Front window glass replacement will be about $20 from Edmund Optics, with some DIY cutting.
 
Will do, as soon as it's done. :)

Having separate viewfinders for 28/35 and a life-size finder for the other frames is like having a built-in Voigt minifinder. Another reason to spend some time finding the right SP!
 
Livesteamer said:
I wear glasses, would that affect using either SP or S3? I'd like to get the 28 f3.5 and the 35 f2.5. Thanks. Joe
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When I wear glasses it's easy to see the entire 28/35 viewfinder.

It's challenging to see outside the 50mm frames in the main viewfinder with glasses, but you can see all the framed area.
 
Livesteamer said:
I'd like to pose a question if I could. I have some funds opening up soon and would like to buy an SP or S3 but I'm not sure which one. I've had an S since 1972 and have been using Leica M for 25 years but I really want another Nikon. I wear glasses, would that affect using either SP or S3? I'd like to get the 28 f3.5 and the 35 f2.5. Thanks. Joe
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If you are going to be using the 28/35 combination I would go for the SP as you would not need an aux. finder for that (they fall off and are pricey). I wear glasses and use the S# with the 35 - after a while you learn to "sweep" across the finder for framing - and as it is a rangefinder - precise framing is not critical. Better a bit more and crop - than to little. Not even PS5 can add to the image!
 
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