xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
NIKON KIU said:
perhaps make them out leather .
Most Famous Nikon RF Photog Contest
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perhaps make them out leather .
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
imagine,.. a tough textured bull leather cup, with a strong yet soft and pliable rawhide drawstring used to fasten this leather rear lens cap to protect the backside element of your valuable Nikkor 5cm lens. ... imagine.
"Che Guevara's Nikon Rangefinder"
"Che Guevara's Nikon Rangefinder"
"Che Guevara's Nikon Rangefinder"
The camera's serial number is 6195473, which would make it a late black dial Nikon S2 rangefinder. The lens on the camera is a 50/1.1 with serial no. 120155.
Apparently Che purchased the camera not long after arriving in Havana after the rebel forces defeated Batista's troops. But due to not having much time to use it, he ended up giving it to his friend Doctor Oscar Fernandez Mel, who now keeps the camera in Che's old headquarters (and now museum dedicated to Che) in the La Cabana fortress just across the bay from old Havana.
The camera and lens is stored in a plastic showcase in the museum. The showcase isn't climate controlled and the lens appears to have some cloudy spots in it. No doubt some type of fungal growth caused by the hot humid tropical climate.
The story goes .... Doctor Oscar Fernandez Mel gave Che his Kiev, to which Che responded a few days later by giving Doctor Oscar Fernandez Mel his Nikon.
"Che Guevara's Nikon Rangefinder"
"Che Guevara's Nikon Rangefinder"
The camera's serial number is 6195473, which would make it a late black dial Nikon S2 rangefinder. The lens on the camera is a 50/1.1 with serial no. 120155.
Apparently Che purchased the camera not long after arriving in Havana after the rebel forces defeated Batista's troops. But due to not having much time to use it, he ended up giving it to his friend Doctor Oscar Fernandez Mel, who now keeps the camera in Che's old headquarters (and now museum dedicated to Che) in the La Cabana fortress just across the bay from old Havana.
The camera and lens is stored in a plastic showcase in the museum. The showcase isn't climate controlled and the lens appears to have some cloudy spots in it. No doubt some type of fungal growth caused by the hot humid tropical climate.
The story goes .... Doctor Oscar Fernandez Mel gave Che his Kiev, to which Che responded a few days later by giving Doctor Oscar Fernandez Mel his Nikon.
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Sonnar2
Well-known
A Nikon RF?
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Here's a photo 🙂
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xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Che went for the super speed lens.
thanks for the Che S2 picture.
thanks for the Che S2 picture.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I think I see an endorsement there. 😎jonmanjiro said:
Kiev: El Che's choice 😀
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
I was in Havana in 2002 with a friend of mine. Chris knew Raoul Corallles and one afternoon we went to see him. He very gracefully signed a book of his pictures that I had picked up. In it there are several shots of Che with the S2/50 f1,1. The shots are taken on a fishing trip on Hemngways boat. It was interesting talking to Raoul about photography in Cuba . Castro was very aware of the impact pictures would have and supported photography as the means to promote his political platform. Unfortunately we never got to meet with Korda as he was going away, but Chris had met him on a previous visit. Among the photographers we met in Havana the opinion was that Raoul Coralles was the better photographer, but Korda took the iconic shot of Che and got the fame, if not the fortune.
I also did pick up a copy of Burt Glinns "Havana". This is the book documenting Fidels arrival in Havana in 1959. There is a wonderful shot of Glinn, draped with three Nikon RF's. A chrome SP with a 50/1,4, a black SP with a 35/1,8 and what looks like another SP or possibly S3 in black with the 21/4,5 Biogon. In typical Nikon tradition, none of the lenses had hoods on them as they probably fell off during the melee of covering a revolution. He is hoisting a rifle up above his head and has a cigar in his mouth ( Monte Christo?). The book was published by Phototeca de Cuba ( a photographic co-operative in Havana). I cant find a ISBN number on it, but the title is " Havana, el momento revolucionario" by Burt Glinn.
The picture of Che's old bd S2 and 50/1,1 is wonderful and the fact that is has survived for all these years. We tried asking about it in both 2000 and 2002, but at that time nowbody knew anything.
I also did pick up a copy of Burt Glinns "Havana". This is the book documenting Fidels arrival in Havana in 1959. There is a wonderful shot of Glinn, draped with three Nikon RF's. A chrome SP with a 50/1,4, a black SP with a 35/1,8 and what looks like another SP or possibly S3 in black with the 21/4,5 Biogon. In typical Nikon tradition, none of the lenses had hoods on them as they probably fell off during the melee of covering a revolution. He is hoisting a rifle up above his head and has a cigar in his mouth ( Monte Christo?). The book was published by Phototeca de Cuba ( a photographic co-operative in Havana). I cant find a ISBN number on it, but the title is " Havana, el momento revolucionario" by Burt Glinn.
The picture of Che's old bd S2 and 50/1,1 is wonderful and the fact that is has survived for all these years. We tried asking about it in both 2000 and 2002, but at that time nowbody knew anything.
VinceC
Veteran
>>In typical Nikon tradition, none of the lenses had hoods on them as they probably fell off during the melee of covering a revolution.<<
None of those lenses particularly needs a hood. Lots of photojournalists live without them, especially when carrying multiple cameras. The hoods just get in the way and make small lenses big and bulky. The 50/1.4 appreciates having a hood. The other two lenses do just fine without one.
None of those lenses particularly needs a hood. Lots of photojournalists live without them, especially when carrying multiple cameras. The hoods just get in the way and make small lenses big and bulky. The 50/1.4 appreciates having a hood. The other two lenses do just fine without one.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
has anyone got a pic of Sammy Davis Jr. with the black Nikon SP?
it had to be in his the Rat Pack days.
it had to be in his the Rat Pack days.
nikola
Well-known
jsuominen
Well-known
Tom A said:
Maybe it was the same book as this one "Havana : The Revolutionary Moment" by Burt Glinn; ISBN-10: 1899235191; Publisher: Gardners Books or Dewi Lewis Publishing (May 1, 2002). Amazon UK seems to have it in stock...
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
nikola said:
Mr. Broz had good tastes in 35mm cameras.
b_en
User
che's 5cm 1.1
che's 5cm 1.1
thanks for posting the pics of che's nikon-pretty sweet!
che's 5cm 1.1
thanks for posting the pics of che's nikon-pretty sweet!
ronniejay
Newbie
xayraa33 said:
Years back, I saw a double-page spread of Sammy. He was surrounded by one of every Hasselblad, Nikon, all of their lenses, etc. I think it was in Ebony, not sure, though. It gave his aka for photos as David Samuels. Tried several times over the years on Google with no luck. I will email Ebony tomorrow.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku?
Welcome aboard!!!ronniejay said:
Kiu
Harry Lime
Practitioner
Isn't there also a picture of Che with an M3?
(running for cover)
;-)
Harry
(running for cover)
;-)
Harry
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