Musings about using Nikon Rf's

Tom A

Tom A

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On July 1 I started what I thought would be 30 days of shooting only with Nikon Rf's. The idea was to use all my Rf bodies (15!!!!) and compatible lenses (47 - and dont ask!).

Like any project it took longer than anticipated and consumed 500 ft of film (100 ft APX 400, 200 ft Tri X and 200 ft of Arista Premium 400). Multitude of developers were tried, from Rodinal/HC 110/Beutler/FX37/Stoeckler and more.

I did not expect to find anything conclusive about the shoot - just what worked well and what didn't. Two bodies have issues, a S4 decided that exposures are not necessary and resolutely decided to cap the shutter at all speed, a S2 has shown a bit of a light-leak, either the back door or the mount.

Interestingly enough, I did not have to reject a single negative due to inferior performance of lenses and considering that the lenses ranged from a 1931 Zeiss Tessar 50 to the latest C-Sonnar 50f1.5 and the SP 2005's 35f1.8 somehow proves that even the old lenses are good. Also, we are always fretting about the condition of lenses. A couple used were less than pristine, a 35f2.5 looks like it has been used as a skating rink, one 85f2 looks like a minor jungle inside!

As all of the lenses did what they were supposed to, picking favorites is difficult, but a couple of them performed beyond the "call of duty".
A venerable Zeiss Planar 35f3.5 is astonishing in its tonality - and of course built like a brick outhouse!

The VC 50f2.5 Color Skopar is stunning, great contrast, very sharp and good handling. It is also very compact.

Of course, the Nikkor 50f1.4's all work well (all 8 of them!). Some are slightly less contrasty (earlier ones) - but the later ones rivals anything from Leica and Zeiss - even today.

I also found out that I really like the S3's. usually Nikoholics extol the virtue of the SP as the holy grail and though they have a place (28/85 frames) - the S3 were my favorites. I did add a black S3 Olympic to the "stash" at the beginning of the test - and somehow, it became my favored camera, followed by the Millennium black S3 (still the smoothest rangefinder I own - even compared to Leica's and Canon's).

From a practical point of view - all rangefinders stayed in place and shutter speeds were within tolerances - though with 400 iso bl/w that is not super critical.

One lens that keeps surprising me is the Nikkor 35f2.5 - even with some fogging (1), some scratches (another one) and 2 that are nice and clean - it is a very good lens, compact and sharp.

If you are slightly masochistic - you can go to our Flickr site, click on the "July Nikon Rf Month" set and put it in "slide show mode" and see all 778 pictures ( edited down from about 3000 shots). If nothing else, it will show what I did in July and parts of August and probably make you fall asleep.

Of course you miss some stuff - I forgot about my 135f3.5's - but I save those for another Nikon Rf Month!
Tom
 
Wow, fascinating report. 15 bodies and 47 lenses. Double wow.

Interesting to hear you say the S3 was your favourite, over the virtues of the SP, with its parallax-compensating viewfinder. I don't find a lot of difference in usability between the S3 and SP.

regards
Vick
 
great article Tom - thank you for that. I've always been fascinated with Nikon rangefinders, being a pre-curser to my beloved old F, after my M2, of course.
 
helenhill said:
hehehe
its NOW Bitten YOU tooooooo !!!
Click to expand...

i was bit a while ago...

442480049_b99c3894f3_z.jpg
 
Tom, nice report !! Personally, I found that it takes some time to get used to Nikon RF cameras but it is rewarding. The SP is my favorite, 1:1 VF for 50mm (and longer, with selectable frame lines) and a separate VF for 35mm and 28mm. It is like having an M3 and a 0.58x M combined in one camera. :)

Helen, if possible you should try before you buy ... ;)
 
I used to use M Leicas but once my older brother starting telling me about all the Nikon rangefinders he had back in the 60's and early 70's that stirred my curiosity and so a few ago I bought my first Nikon a vintage S3 and even though the rangefinder patch is not as bright and crisp as that of a Leica I have had no problems adjusting myself to using it and have not missed using Leica M rangefinders and only the other day I was fortunate enough to purchase an SP from jonmanjiro and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival :)
 
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