Frame spacing in old Nikon RFs

[Dez]

I have a nice old Nikon S: a bit clunky, but it still works well. This fine old beast uses the intermediate Nikon 24 x 34mm frame size, but the thing that makes absolutely no sense to me is that it also uses a standard frame spacing of 8 sprocket holes, which is enough for standard 24 x 36mm frames. Why on earth would they go to a 24 x 34 frame and then waste film by spacing them farther apart?

Did the older Nikon RFs, the Nikon 1 and M, which are outside my price range, and which have a 24 x 32mm frame, also space them 8 holes apart, or did they pack the frames closer together???

Cheers,
Dez

 

[jonmanjiro]

It was a stop gap measure.

The developing and printing machines of the day were built to match the Leica spacing standard. Films shot with the earlier Nikon One couldn't be developed and printed on these machines due to the film spacing difference (yes, the shots are packed closer together). Films shot with an M and S can be, but you get smaller negs than those from a Leica. All rectified in the S2.

 

[wes loder]

Please note that only the first Nikon camera used the 24X32 format. The Nikon M (modified) used the 24x34 format, as did the Nikon S. Going to a standard advance was an easy fix, a matter of changing gears, but going to 24X36 with the original body casting was impossible. Not enough room between the curtain rollers. The S2 used standard format, but that was an entirely new body casting.
One thing to note: Nikons have a reputation for extremely uniform spacing between frames. I had another photographer looking at some of my negs one day. "Wow. Your frames are so even. You must be using a Nikon." "Yeah," I replied. "A Nikon SP."
Cheers, WES

 

[VinceC]

That makes much sense. Back in the days of manual printing it was common to simply crop out one side of the frame or the other to fit the standard paper sizes. But the automated processes, specifically Kodachrome, would have been thrown off by this unexpected frame spacing.

It's really been the hard-core RF lovers who also prefer full-frame shooting.