March, Nikon RF Month!

[B-9]

Hello all!

Respected members Bob K. And Tom A. Have declared March Nikon rangefinder month!
Let's get out there are shoot a few rolls through our favourite Nikon starting March 1st.

Please feel free to use this thread to:
Post photos taken in March with your Nikon RF
Post what gear/film you'll be shooting
Discuss the joys of using these gorgeous cameras!

Please do post Camera/Lens/Film/Exposure with your photos!
Thanks for posting, now get to shooting!

NRF Greenhorn
-Devin

 

[farlymac]

Hanging my head in shame
I just committed to buying a Canon P next month
PF

 

[pjmacd]

I'm in, I hope!

I'm in, I hope!

I just got my hands on a lovely Nikon S3 about ten days ago, so I'll do my best to participate. 🙂

 

[news shooter]

New/old nikon s3

New/old nikon s3

Realized a dream. Have to say been interested in nikon rf's for quite some time. Recently trade d some gear for an S2 w/5cm 1.4. Then, one of the dream rf's became available and traded s2 and other gear for an s3.
Am one happy shooter. Haven't run film through it yet.
Did however look at viewfinder through a loupe and noticed a bit of dust and haze. Anyway, removed front plate and cleaned vf glass & rangefinder window as well. That made a huge difference. The only thing I'm reluctant to do is go all the way and clean the prism/mirror.
Any advice?
Can't wait to run a test roll through and join the march nikon madness.
Ross

 

[marcr1230]

I'm in - will be shooting w/NIkon SP and S2, and a mix of 50's 35's and 85's

 

[Timestep]

My S2 with 21mm. Color-Skopar has just been re-loaded with Ektar 100; the first color through it in two decades. All color for this year.

Hope to have something to show from it before the end of March.

 

[Tom A]

Just finished up loading another 18 Nikon cassettes with Legacy Pro 400 and dug up a variety of 100 iso films. All in all it looks like at least 55 - 60 rolls for the Nikon Rf months. Also mixed up some fresh wetting agent for the dark room. Kodak's sheet only gives instructions for 100 litter batches! Used a syringe to get 0,17 ml for a 1000 ml of water!

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Let the fun begin. Actually it already did but i guess that was unofficial fun 🙂
Trying to get an idea about the ideal f stop on the 10.5cm, i have a lot of back focus at 2.5

 

[Range-rover]

Sounds great to me as well, Getting my S3 loaded with some film and have some fun,

Range

 

[B-9]

Let the fun begin. Actually it already did but i guess that was unofficial fun 🙂
Trying to get an idea about the ideal f stop on the 10.5cm, i have a lot of back focus at 2.5

Your lens wouldn't happen to have a 'C' on the barrel?
That would be the simple explanation, its meant for Contax bodies.

Ok guys, officially 24 hours until NRF Month!
Best do a few stretches, crack your knuckles, and grab a fresh roll!

 

[Jan Pedersen]

No 'C' on the barrel, i am assuming it is the normal Sonnar focus shift. Did some test shots on a ruler last night and will soon know at what f stop it was optimized.

 

[jonmanjiro]

No 'C' on the barrel, i am assuming it is the normal Sonnar focus shift. Did some test shots on a ruler last night and will soon know at what f stop it was optimized.

Jan, I don't remember the Sonnar focus shift ever being much of a problem with the 10.5cm Nikkors I've owned. Since the lens is back focusing, my first guess would be that the lens was disassembled and reassembled with a shim left out. A lot can happen to a lens in 50 plus years so you never know. So the first thing I would check is sharpness at infinity (distant buildings etc.), preferably with the camera on a tripod. If that yields you acceptably sharp results, at least you can be sure that the optical cell is shimmed correctly with respect to the film plane and the problem is elsewhere.

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Good advice thank you. Will try that tomorrow and see where it goes.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

I shot some in February but won't develop it until March. Is that in the "rules" ?

More to shoot so not a concern, just hopeful of some shots that are better than my usual efforts from those rolls.
Probably a triumph of hope over experience though. 😉
Down to one body at the moment as the other two are receiving attention for 1) shutter capping (at 500th, but I am a perfectionist) and 2) viewfinder clean, with luck they will be back before month end as I'm fed up mixing cameras that don't agree about focus direction.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

The "new" 3.5cm f1.8 was sporting a 50mm hood I had to hand with 43mm thread and I did get some vignetting so off E-bay, as recommended on Rff so cheap it is silly, the new hood. This looks fine, of course a test roll is indicated. Luckily it is Nikon rangefinder month 😀

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Looks good on that fine lens. I have 3 coming next week.
Raining and close to freezing here so no photos today.

 

[gb hill]

No Nikon rf for me. Only a Nikon P&S, but look forward to seeing your photos.

 

[gb hill]

Can regular film canisters be loaded or do you have to have those Nikon canisters for loading film?

 

[Dan]

Can regular film canisters be loaded or do you have to have those Nikon canisters for loading film?

My S2 takes regular canisters (don't know if other models differ).

 

[B-9]

The "new" 3.5cm f1.8 was sporting a 50mm hood I had to hand with 43mm thread and I did get some vignetting so off E-bay, as recommended on Rff so cheap it is silly, the new hood. This looks fine, of course a test roll is indicated. Luckily it is Nikon rangefinder month 😀

Chris, I see you got your order in! That hood sure looks nice 🙂