Huss
Veteran
Got this last week and just finished the first roll through it:
Seeing that it was on the market at the same time as Leica's M3, I thought I'd give a little comparison even though I've only used the S2 for one roll (and counting!).
Much has been made about the S2's 100% vf vs the M3's 91%.
Thing is, the etched frames lines on the S2 are rougher and not as distinct as the M3's. They pretty much fill up the frame and so I can only see them in their entirety if I mash up my eyeball into the vf. Will not be able to see them with glasses on. This is reflected by how hard they were to photograph. I'm using my phone and just push the lens up agains the VF. With the Leica it easily captures the frames, with the Nikon it barely is able to. So, extrapolate that to then putting on glasses!
The S2's vf has an overall green/gold tint, the M3 is neutral:
S2:
M3:
Sound of the shutters? Now that I am using them side by side, the S2 is a little louder but lower toned while the M3 is quieter but a sharper click sound. So I don't think it makes any difference in the real world.
What is noticeable is the film winding action. The S2 is super smooth and does not change in feel along its entire stroke. The M3 - like all my Ms - has a final extra bit of resistance and the end of the stroke where it then makes a click, whereas the S2 is silent.
So.. one has a louder shutter, the other has a louder film wind!
The S2 has easier film loading, and a quicker rewind crank. The Leica has a much better shutter speed dial where all the speeds are on one dial, the speeds do not rotate as the shutter is cocked, and the dial does not need to be lifted to be turned.
The S2 has a manual set film counter (like the cheapened version of the M3 - the M2), the M3 has an auto reset counter that is easier to read under it's magnifying glass bubble.
The M3's shutter release button is in a much better position ergonomically. It's where your finger would naturally rest. The S2 requires you to reach back to use it - just like the Nikon F - and the fact than Nikon moved it forward on the F2 shows they realized this haptic error.
The M3 allows for a dedicated light meter (MR4) to synchronize with the shutter speed dial, nothing like that for the S2 (AFAIK). This bit doesnt matter to me as I don't use these lumps w meters anyway.
I've left the best for last.. the one thing that actually effects speed and convenience in shooting is the aperture dial. On the S2 it rotates with the focus, on the Leica it stays put as nature and man intended. This is a big deal in many ways
- 1. if you frame/focus and then decide to change aperture you will need to refocus.
and - b with the lens on my S2 (nikkor 50 1.4) just looking down on it the aperture index mark is very small and I have to rotate the camera and/or turn the focus ring to see where it is set.
These things don't effect the quality if the final image, but slow things down. I really have no idea why Nikon adopted this Contax style system, including the serated focus wheel which I never use as it is uncomfortable (literally) and far too slow to use.
So yeah, I get why Leica owned/owns the rf world. But they were/are far far more expensive so they should. As for the S2, I flippin love it still and am excited to get my film back and pump some more through it. The winding action is soo sooo nice, I'm just sitting here firing off blank shots just to feel it!
As an aside, the S2 - because of it's quirks I've mentioned - kills any desire for me to have an S3 or SP because the improvements on those cameras do not address the biggest issue for me with the aperture ring/focus. All the other stuff is incidental (especially as I normally shoot wearing contact lenses). So why pay more?!
Seeing that it was on the market at the same time as Leica's M3, I thought I'd give a little comparison even though I've only used the S2 for one roll (and counting!).
Much has been made about the S2's 100% vf vs the M3's 91%.
Thing is, the etched frames lines on the S2 are rougher and not as distinct as the M3's. They pretty much fill up the frame and so I can only see them in their entirety if I mash up my eyeball into the vf. Will not be able to see them with glasses on. This is reflected by how hard they were to photograph. I'm using my phone and just push the lens up agains the VF. With the Leica it easily captures the frames, with the Nikon it barely is able to. So, extrapolate that to then putting on glasses!
The S2's vf has an overall green/gold tint, the M3 is neutral:
S2:
M3:
Sound of the shutters? Now that I am using them side by side, the S2 is a little louder but lower toned while the M3 is quieter but a sharper click sound. So I don't think it makes any difference in the real world.
What is noticeable is the film winding action. The S2 is super smooth and does not change in feel along its entire stroke. The M3 - like all my Ms - has a final extra bit of resistance and the end of the stroke where it then makes a click, whereas the S2 is silent.
So.. one has a louder shutter, the other has a louder film wind!
The S2 has easier film loading, and a quicker rewind crank. The Leica has a much better shutter speed dial where all the speeds are on one dial, the speeds do not rotate as the shutter is cocked, and the dial does not need to be lifted to be turned.
The S2 has a manual set film counter (like the cheapened version of the M3 - the M2), the M3 has an auto reset counter that is easier to read under it's magnifying glass bubble.
The M3's shutter release button is in a much better position ergonomically. It's where your finger would naturally rest. The S2 requires you to reach back to use it - just like the Nikon F - and the fact than Nikon moved it forward on the F2 shows they realized this haptic error.
The M3 allows for a dedicated light meter (MR4) to synchronize with the shutter speed dial, nothing like that for the S2 (AFAIK). This bit doesnt matter to me as I don't use these lumps w meters anyway.
I've left the best for last.. the one thing that actually effects speed and convenience in shooting is the aperture dial. On the S2 it rotates with the focus, on the Leica it stays put as nature and man intended. This is a big deal in many ways
- 1. if you frame/focus and then decide to change aperture you will need to refocus.
and - b with the lens on my S2 (nikkor 50 1.4) just looking down on it the aperture index mark is very small and I have to rotate the camera and/or turn the focus ring to see where it is set.
These things don't effect the quality if the final image, but slow things down. I really have no idea why Nikon adopted this Contax style system, including the serated focus wheel which I never use as it is uncomfortable (literally) and far too slow to use.
So yeah, I get why Leica owned/owns the rf world. But they were/are far far more expensive so they should. As for the S2, I flippin love it still and am excited to get my film back and pump some more through it. The winding action is soo sooo nice, I'm just sitting here firing off blank shots just to feel it!
As an aside, the S2 - because of it's quirks I've mentioned - kills any desire for me to have an S3 or SP because the improvements on those cameras do not address the biggest issue for me with the aperture ring/focus. All the other stuff is incidental (especially as I normally shoot wearing contact lenses). So why pay more?!
