newspaperguy
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Easy to use... and the best storm camera a newsie ever had!
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Go forth and fear no weather.
Mint Nikonos V - too much hassle for land-only use?
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Nokton48
Veteran
I was a fairly avid scuba diver thirty years ago, and found a Nikonos II and 35mm F2.5 lens for about $75 at the time, at the local pro camera shop. I couldn't resist, and I used it (above and below) without any problems. Quite fun to pop flashbulbs underwater (I carried them in an onion sack).
After a short wringing out, it's use becomes intuitive and I never missed a beat with mine.
After a short wringing out, it's use becomes intuitive and I never missed a beat with mine.
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
@Scott,
Given the age of the camera and its years of non-use, a CLA might be a good idea. If you shoot 2-3 test rolls and they show no problems, maybe just use it as is.
Regarding the seals and grease, all the hoopla is only necessary if you are going to dive with the camera. For above water use, the greasing the seals ritual is not necessary. The Nikonos V is a great camera - I have one that I use as my extreme conditions camera. The 35mm f/2.5 lens is very well regarded in terms of image quality based on all I have read.
My recommendation is to keep your Nikonos V, use it and enjoy it.
Given the age of the camera and its years of non-use, a CLA might be a good idea. If you shoot 2-3 test rolls and they show no problems, maybe just use it as is.
Regarding the seals and grease, all the hoopla is only necessary if you are going to dive with the camera. For above water use, the greasing the seals ritual is not necessary. The Nikonos V is a great camera - I have one that I use as my extreme conditions camera. The 35mm f/2.5 lens is very well regarded in terms of image quality based on all I have read.
My recommendation is to keep your Nikonos V, use it and enjoy it.
ssmc
Well-known
Wow - thanks for all the replies guys! It seems I've probably been worrying a bit too much about the issue of seals for land use, though I may get it CLA'd at least once. But putting a roll or three through it to check sounds like a good idea.
I did put batteries in it and the meter/shutter speeds seem to work okay but with nothing slower than 1/30 it's kind of hard to tell if they're accurate; then again with an electronic shutter I'd expect it to either work, or not (but my Minoltas have electronic shutters and they both eventualy needed their capacitors replaced due to a dragging second curtain, so what do I know?) The quietness mentioned by JSU is remarkable, as is the lack of vibration (OT but that STTOS quote is one of the truest things ever said, on TV or elsewhere)
I am really leaning toward keeping it and using it when I feel like something "different", especially since it has the "amphibious" 35mm lens. I was not aware the distace scale was for underwater use - I thought just the AOV got narrower. I'll have to check this out on the test roll. Except for the lens mount (which has a very beefy o-ring) the controls don't really reel any stiffer than I'd expect for such an old, unused camera. The lens control knobs turn freely.
Thanks again for all the advice and links! As far as a possible CLA to service the inaccessible o-rings, anyone have any personal experience with Southern Nikonos? Anywhere else worth trying, or is the Nikonos too specialized for regular Nikon techs?
Regards,
Scott
I did put batteries in it and the meter/shutter speeds seem to work okay but with nothing slower than 1/30 it's kind of hard to tell if they're accurate; then again with an electronic shutter I'd expect it to either work, or not (but my Minoltas have electronic shutters and they both eventualy needed their capacitors replaced due to a dragging second curtain, so what do I know?) The quietness mentioned by JSU is remarkable, as is the lack of vibration (OT but that STTOS quote is one of the truest things ever said, on TV or elsewhere)
I am really leaning toward keeping it and using it when I feel like something "different", especially since it has the "amphibious" 35mm lens. I was not aware the distace scale was for underwater use - I thought just the AOV got narrower. I'll have to check this out on the test roll. Except for the lens mount (which has a very beefy o-ring) the controls don't really reel any stiffer than I'd expect for such an old, unused camera. The lens control knobs turn freely.
Thanks again for all the advice and links! As far as a possible CLA to service the inaccessible o-rings, anyone have any personal experience with Southern Nikonos? Anywhere else worth trying, or is the Nikonos too specialized for regular Nikon techs?
Regards,
Scott
pgk
Well-known
Scott
Try posting at www.wetpixel.com to find out where to get your Nikonos serviced. I'd use a specialist repairer (I do in the UK) if you can because the resealed camera will require a pressure test and only specialists can usually do this.
Try posting at www.wetpixel.com to find out where to get your Nikonos serviced. I'd use a specialist repairer (I do in the UK) if you can because the resealed camera will require a pressure test and only specialists can usually do this.
ssmc
Well-known
GaryLH
Veteran
Bob Michaels
nobody special
I have dealt with Southern Nikonos and found them to be very good. They are not cheap and do not do any half *ssed jobs, but they seem to do everything right.
And, I think they bought all the Nikonos parts from Nikon when Nikon stopped servicing Nikonos, so there really is no place else to go.
ssmc
Well-known
Thanks for that info. I'll shoot a couple of test rolls but will probably end up sending it to them anyway - it looks like new, I might as well get it working like new too (even if I don't dive!)
Regards,
Scott
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