First impressions of the S2 vs M3

[Huss]

A great lens for the S2 is the S Skopar 50mm f/2.5. This lens is in my opinion the best 50mm lens for the Nikon rangefinders. It is small and I love the shade. It can be had quite cheap.


Erik.

Gorgeous camera! Ya I've been looking at that lens, but seeing I already have the 50 1.4 (like already having a 50 is an excuse for not getting another!) I'm thinking of maybe getting a wide instead.
The CV 50 3.5 is another option, and I absolutely loved the results from the one I briefly had. But I just cannot get over the looks of the thing. I know that seems shallow but the S2 is so beautiful while that lens is, umm, not. 😱

 

[Timmyjoe]

The CV 50 3.5 is another option, and I absolutely loved the results from the one I briefly had. But I just cannot get over the looks of the thing. I know that seems shallow but the S2 is so beautiful while that lens is, umm, not. 😱

I agree with you that lens is butt-ugly, but man I love the way it renders. And the head bartender had them at a REALLY GOOD price, so I picked one up. It doesn't regularly live on the S2, and probably gets more use on the Z6, but when it's on the S2, WOW!

Best,
-Tim

 

[Huss]

Nice review Huss. I think, being how old these cameras are, individual camera condition comes into play. My S2 was overhauled by DAG and is a joy to shoot. My M3 finder is a bit brighter, but I like the slight green tint on the S2, and mine has a slight orange tint on the rangefinder, so focusing is really simple. And with lenses 5cm and wider, that little knurled focus wheel is a delight. It gives me the sensation (and results) of super accurate focus.

Totally agree on the super smooth film advance, and do wish the frame counter was automated (been caught out on that a number of times), and I wish it also had the shutter speed dial like the later S3 & SP, as the spinning Barnack style dial seems pretty antiquated.

Hope you get as much joy out of using yours as I do mine.

Best,
-Tim

Thanks Tim.
Nothing wrong with the condition of mine, I think I got lucky! The vf and rf patch is super clean and bright, everything feels nice n smooth n tight. Pretty remarkable given the age of this lump.
The design of the camera clearly shows that it was intended to be better than any existing LTM kamera, with Nikon getting blindsided by the M3 which took 35mm RF design onto a new plateau.

 

[Huss]

I agree with you that lens is butt-ugly, but man I love the way it renders. And the head bartender had them at a REALLY GOOD price, so I picked one up. It doesn't regularly live on the S2, and probably gets more use on the Z6, but when it's on the S2, WOW!

Best,
-Tim

I know! The lens is incredible butt why make it look like that?!!

 

[css9450]

None of my LTM lenses' aperture rings rotate with focus. I know that the CV 50.35's does.

I think all of my LTM lenses have aperture rings that rotate; the exception being my CV 21mm which of course is a modern lens not vintage. Actually, the aperture ring on my Jupiter-12 doesn't rotate either, but its in its own special class of user unfriendliness. A very nice shooter though.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Gorgeous camera! Ya I've been looking at that lens, but seeing I already have the 50 1.4 (like already having a 50 is an excuse for not getting another!) I'm thinking of maybe getting a wide instead.
The CV 50 3.5 is another option, and I absolutely loved the results from the one I briefly had. But I just cannot get over the looks of the thing. I know that seems shallow but the S2 is so beautiful while that lens is, umm, not. 😱

Thank you Huss; I bought this lens for EUR 75 ... It looks really beautiful on an S2, chrome or black. Optically it is a jewel too.


Erik.

 

[Huss]

Thank you Huss; I bought this lens for EUR 75 ... It looks really beautiful on an S2, chrome or black. Optically it is a jewel too.


Erik.

75 euros?!!! wow lucky you!

 

[helen.HH]

I have only tried the S2 of the nikon rf's... something quite sexy about a Nikon RF ... moreso once You get used to turning lens in opposite direction, 😛
sometimes I might prefer it to an M.
I get stopped all the time with my leica M's which I now find embarrassing.


the only lens i know is the 50 f2 which has a Beautiful rendering in both sharpness and bokeh...love it





sitting Pretty... by Helen Hill, on Flickr

 

[helen.HH]

another with the 50 f2 on S2




shooting the shooter by Helen Hill, on Flickr

 

[Huss]

Great shots Helen! I’m getting my first roll back
tonight...

 

[Huss]

Success! Film spacing perfect, shutter timing ok, focus dead on. Here's two pics showing the opposite end of the scale (same roll, same visit to the Getty)

1/500 f11 Fuji C200 with the S2 and 50 1.4:



1/30 f 1.4 showing the glow at 1.4:



If I had a slower lens instead of the 1.4 I would have had to use a tripod, which is verboten at the Getty.

Film scanned with digicam, negativelabpro.com

 

[Huss]

Nikon S2, 5cm 50 1.4-S, Fuji C200, Nikon Z7 scan, negativelabpro.com

 

[benlees]

Success! Film spacing perfect, shutter timing ok, focus dead on. Here's two pics showing the opposite end of the scale (same roll, same visit to the Getty)

1/500 f11 Fuji C200 with the S2 and 50 1.4:



1/30 f 1.4 showing the glow at 1.4:



If I had a slower lens instead of the 1.4 I would have had to use a tripod, which is verboten at the Getty.

Film scanned with digicam, negativelabpro.com

Old cameras and colour film looking good. You did ok, as well.😎

 

[Huss]

Nikon S2, Nikkor 5cm S 1.4, Fuji C200, Z7 scan, negativelabpro.com

 

[Erik van Straten]

Nikon S2, S Skopar 50mm f/2.5, 400-2TMY, printed on Adox MCC 110.

I love the combination of the S2 and the S Skopar.

Erik.

 

[steveyork]

S2 + Nikkor 50/2 + Foma 100 in HC-110

Don't have them anymore, but fun to use when I did.

Breakfast Time (Nikon S2, 1956) by Steve, on Flickr

 

[steveyork]

I liked the contrast in the Leica M viewfinder better, but the Nikon S2 was a nice change of pace. And what a distinctive shutter sound. The light and compact dimensions plus the 1.0x viewfinder magnification were very addicting.

S2 + 50mm Nikkor f/2 + Fomapan 100 in HC-110

Master Lock (Nikon S2) by Steve, on Flickr

 

[steveyork]

And also the sheer availability of modern optics (e.g., Voigtlander, Zeiss) pushed me back into the M mount fold, although recognizing that there are a few modern S mount lenses, like the one below (very compact)

S2 + CV 50mm f/2.5 + Kentmere 100 in Rodinal

Strawn Citrus Packing House #3 by Steve, on Flickr

 

[Erik van Straten]

This one I did with the "All black 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor", an early (1953) lightweight professional lens in black paint that was probably made for a series of black S-cameras that never was made because the S2 was already on its way. In those years otherwise only chrome Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 were made.

Nikon S2, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, 400-2TMY.

Erik.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Another one with the S2 and the All Black Nikkor. Doesn't look very sharp but this shot is at full aperture (Bokeh test). Focusing was on the nearest table.

Nikon S2, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, 400-2TMY.

Erik.