Newbie RF Questions

[snegron]

One possible theory, in hopes of putting your mind at ease: during times of high volume, packages will appear as 'out for delivery' when in fact they've gone back to the hub when the driver's shift is over. Or, in some cases, the driver will pass off some packages to another driver who's load is a bit lighter, but even then the package can still go back.. It's happened to me on numerous occasions, and only in December. In fact, with one package in particular, it went back twice! It's doubtful that you'd p.o. a driver so bad that something malicious would occur, but you might want to consider making nice and having a conversation w/him about it.

One other thing: i've found that UPS phone reps usually can't find their a** with both hands - they're worlds away from your package and generally only have access to the same info that you're seeing. I've had them tell me things that turned out to be patently untrue (as in, 'your package is lost', when it wasn't). Believe me, i feel your pain, but these things do work out more often than they don't. Get some rest.. chances are still good that it'll show up, but probably not tonight.

--c--

Thanks! 🙂

 

[Cale Arthur]

Any 'package progress' updates, snegron? Has the Eagle landed?

--c--

 

[snegron]

Any 'package progress' updates, snegron? Has the Eagle landed?

--c--

Nope. No luck yet. All the UPS tracking info has been deleted except for the first entry they made when they recieved the package from KEH back on 12/02/07. All the other info with the times and dates that showed where the package was has been deleted! All it says now in the stautus section is "Exception". Luckily I saved copies of all the tracking info before they deleted it.

I contacted KEH last Thursday and spoke with a rather helpful person. He told me that a tracer would be initiated by KEH and that I should contact them on Monday.

I called today and spoke with another person at KEH. I feel this guy was rather curt. He did not sound too helpful and told me that UPS has between 8 to 10 days to find the package. I asked him what would happen if the package was not found. He told me that I needed to be patient and that I would either get another outfit or a refund after UPS paid them. It was more in the way that he said it that seemed not as nice as the other person I spoke with last Thursday.

I am very dissapointed with this whole ordeal. I have spent several thousand dollars at KEH over the past few years and I would think that they would at least have the courtesy of calling me back to say that they are dealing with the issue. Maybe show a bit more concern than what the guy showed today. Also, I spent $900.00 on this outfit. My credit card has been charged for it. This was to be a camera that I was getting myself for the holidays/my birthday. Now I will have to wait probably several months before KEH gets the money back from UPS then refunds my account. In the meantime I am paying interest on those $900.00 and I have absolutely nothing to show for it.

I think that KEH should recognize that I have been a very good client for the past few years and I constantly spend lots of money there. They should do the right thing and refund my money in the next couple of weeks then get the money from UPS as a customer service. I understand that it was probably not their fault that UPS lost the package, but they have a responsibility to the client as well. They have enough money at KEH to refund my purchase and then wait for UPS to reinburse them. After all, I am probably more likely to use the money to get something else from them anyway. However, if the whole thing leaves a bad impression in me I will simply spend my money elsewhere in the future.

At this time it is a waiting game. As soon as my credit card bill comes in I plan to dispute the charge. I refuse to pay for something I did not receive. In the meantime I can't spend anymore money on any gear although I would love to. This really sucks. Great holiday/birthday gift I got myself; a $900.00 payment for absolutely nothing.

 

[snegron]

Update:

It's here!!! 😀


This morning I left for work and when I was about a block away from my house, I remembered that I left something home. I returned to my house and I noticed a small box near my front door. Yes, it was my lost package!! I finally got it (six days late, but here nontheless). I spoke with another gentleman at KEH and advised him that I received the package. He told me that he would attempt to get a refund for my two day shipping from UPS because they delivered it six days late, but I won't hold my breath. I am just happy that my S2 was not lost forever!

FWIW, two out of the three people I spoke with at KEH seemed very helpful. As far as the whole UPS thing goes, I went back and edited my rants about UPS. I wanted to get this thread back on the original topic of questions about the S2.

So, back to the business of rangefinders. Is the aperture ring supposed to turn when I turn the focusing ring? When I try to set the aperture, both the aperture ring and the focusing ring turn at the same time. Am I doing something wrong? I am not sure if I mounted the lens correctly or not. I have so much to learn!!

The S2 is so much lighter and smaller than I expected, much lighter than my F! This is an image of my new to me S2:

 

[Cale Arthur]

All's well that ends well! Sometimes it just takes a little extra faith, however trying it may be.

Is the aperture ring supposed to turn when I turn the focusing ring? When I try to set the aperture, both the aperture ring and the focusing ring turn at the same time. Am I doing something wrong? I am not sure if I mounted the lens correctly or not.

The whole lens rotates, so yes, this is normal. Takes a little getting used to. If the little 'tab' on the lens with the red dot is locked into the catch on the helical, you've got yourself a correctly mounted lens.

It's a lovely lookin' S2 you've got there.. The only thing left to do is to buy a pile of film and shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot!

--c--

 

[Cale Arthur]

The S2 is so much lighter and smaller than I expected, much lighter than my F!

Coming from an F as my daily user, i had the exact same experience. I still use my F's fairly frequently, but the diminutive nature of the S2 is a real dream in use - it almost takes on a 'transparent' quality, if you will.

--c--

 

[snegron]

All's well that ends well! Sometimes it just takes a little extra faith, however trying it may be.


The whole lens rotates, so yes, this is normal. Takes a little getting used to. If the little 'tab' on the lens with the red dot is locked into the catch on the helical, you've got yourself a correctly mounted lens.

It's a lovely lookin' S2 you've got there.. The only thing left to do is to buy a pile of film and shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot!

--c--

Thanks! These past few days were not the happiest, but you are definitely right about having a little extra faith!

This was the first time I have ever mounted a lens on a rangefinder and I was not real sure I was doing it right. It seems to take a stronger twist in order to get it to latch. I was afraid I might break the camera!

I was looking at getting a bulk film pack of TriX and a few reusable metal 35mm film canisters. I can't wait to go out shooting!

 

[Cale Arthur]

I was looking at getting a bulk film pack of TriX and a few reusable metal 35mm film canisters. I can't wait to go out shooting!

You should consider building a collection of actual Nikon reloadable cassettes. KEH always has some, and the examples marked as 'bgn' that i've purchased from them have been just fine. They won't scratch your film, they'll last a lifetime, and will work in your S2 and F.. a little tricky to load in the darkroom (scissors in the dark = fun), but you'll get used to it after the first 20 or so. More info on the Nikon cassettes in this thread: (link).

--c--

 

[jonmanjiro]

Is the aperture ring supposed to turn when I turn the focusing ring? When I try to set the aperture, both the aperture ring and the focusing ring turn at the same time. Am I doing something wrong? I am not sure if I mounted the lens correctly or not. I have so much to learn!!

When changing the aperture on the lens, one trick to prevent the lens from rotating is to place a finger on your right hand on the body's focus wheel. That way the lens can't rotate!

Glad it worked out for you. Looks like a nice clean S2, and even has an EP mark on the rewind crank 🙂

 

[Cale Arthur]

When changing the aperture on the lens, one trick to prevent the lens from rotating is to place a finger on your right hand on the body's focus wheel. That way the lens can't rotate!

I've often wondered if this was a safe practice.. i've been afraid of stripping out some crucial part, somewhere in the belly of the beast.

I'm glad this has come up, though, as i'm always interested to hear other folks' insights on & techniques for working quickly with an S2..

--c--

 

[snegron]

You should consider building a collection of actual Nikon reloadable cassettes. KEH always has some, and the examples marked as 'bgn' that i've purchased from them have been just fine. They won't scratch your film, they'll last a lifetime, and will work in your S2 and F.. a little tricky to load in the darkroom (scissors in the dark = fun), but you'll get used to it after the first 20 or so. More info on the Nikon cassettes in this thread: (link).

--c--

Thanks for the link! I remember many years ago when I used the reloadable metal cartridges they were sometimes tricky. Some of the seemed to be tighter near the edges on the slit where the film came out and had to be opened up a bit to prmit film to travelo smoothly in and out of the cartridge. Does this happen to the Nikons as well?

With bulk film I had it down to a science back then! In a totally dark room I loaded the film cartridges. My measuring devive was stretching the film from my shoulder to my finger tips. That would give me a roll of 36 exposures!

 

[snegron]

When changing the aperture on the lens, one trick to prevent the lens from rotating is to place a finger on your right hand on the body's focus wheel. That way the lens can't rotate!

Glad it worked out for you. Looks like a nice clean S2, and even has an EP mark on the rewind crank 🙂

Thanks! I understand that the EP mark on the winder indicates a camera that was over stock merchandice that was mostly sent to the U.S.?

 

[Cale Arthur]

Some of the seemed to be tighter near the edges on the slit where the film came out and had to be opened up a bit to prmit film to travelo smoothly in and out of the cartridge. Does this happen to the Nikons as well?

Nope! They're a 2-piece design (not including the spool, of course) that opens in the camera via the lock on the bottom of the cam back. The inner casing rotates inside the outer casing, and it leaves a fairly wide opening for the film to travel.. i'm doing a pretty poor job of describing the scenario, but suffice it to say that they're pretty much problem free on all fronts. Occasionally you'll get one that doesn't want to open once it's in the camera, but i've found that if you twist the key ever so slightly towards the locked position and then load the cassette/back, it then seems to open fine.

One other thing: you'll find the cassettes in both black 'crinkle' finish and a plain brass finish; on several occasions, i've found that the different finishes of the inner and outer casings do not play nicely together and will refuse to properly load into the camera if you mix & match (easy to do in the dark). I have no idea why this happens, as it makes no sense, but it's best to figure out a way to load them separately (i usually do mine in 2 different runs).

Hopefully Tom A will weigh in on this - he's the undisputed reload master with loads of good tips and tricks!

--c--

 

[BillBingham2]

Excellent!!!

Excellent!!!

Update:

It's here!!! 😀

Wonderful news! It is a very slippery slope you have just started down, beware. I moved from years with Leica and then Bessa bodies to a Nikon S3 and love it. If it were not for my love of the 105 lens I probably would have stayed with the S2. I used to use my ring finger on my right hand for focusing my 35 'Cron, now I can use my middle finger on my 25, 35 and 50mm lenses!

Congrats and go burn some film!

B2 (;->

 

[snegron]

Wonderful news! It is a very slippery slope you have just started down, beware. I moved from years with Leica and then Bessa bodies to a Nikon S3 and love it. If it were not for my love of the 105 lens I probably would have stayed with the S2. I used to use my ring finger on my right hand for focusing my 35 'Cron, now I can use my middle finger on my 25, 35 and 50mm lenses!

Congrats and go burn some film!

B2 (;->

Thanks! I got a kick out of the little focusing wheel on the S2! It is fun to use. 🙂 I also like the focusing mechanism in general of the rangefinder. I find it amaizingly helpful to line up the subject by turning left or right. Even after many years of using SLR's I found that when I tried focusing a subject I would never remember if I had to rotate the lens left or right. With the rangefinder it seems so much easier! I wonder why Nikon or Canon didn't stick with this method? Maybe it's just that I am excited about my new S2, but I find that the viewfinder is much brighter and sharper than my SLR's and DSLR's and it is much easier to focus.