Nikon M Questions

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Mackinaw

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Abybody own a Nikon M? I stumbled across one at a local antique show yesterday and, of course, bought it. While not perfect and in need of a CLA, this is one very interesting camera. Extremely well made with silky smooth controls, a very high quality camera to say the least. Plus I find the 34mm X 24mm film aperture an interesting size too.

Any other M owners out there?

Jim Bielecki
 
I also stumbled across a Nikon M unsync at an antique shop not long ago. COuld also use a CLA. The Nikon S also used a 34mm by 24mm frame, but spacing is compatible with 36mm by 24mm.

The M came in two basic version, no-sync and sync. The break came in Dec 1950, when sync was added. The book "Nikon Rangefinder" by Rotoloni has the production dates for the M unsync by Serial Number. If you PM your SN to me i can look it up.

They are quite valuable. I saw a "For Parts" Nikon M Sync go for $1600 and M unsyncs typically pull in $3K.
 
I think some Ms were also privately modified for flash sync (it's actually not complicated). I don't know what that does to their value.
 
Glad to see this thread resurrected (being I started it back in 2005). The M (synch model) I bought turned out to need a lot of work. The shutter was sticky, the lens was very cloudy and the camera was missing the rear eyepiece making focusing/viewing problematic. I ended up buying a Nikon S parts camera off eBay, took off the necessary parts, and sent the whole shebang of to Stephen Gandy's repair tech for a CLA. It came back like new. I use it on ocassion (Leica MP is my main camera) but mostly I just admire the way it looks and operates. I've thought about selling the M and buying an M8 or some other fool camera I don't really need, but so far I haven't. I just like the idea of having a Nikon rangefinder in the house.

BTW, the Nikon S parts camera I bought I ended up selling at a considerable profit on eBay. Even with several key parts missing, people wanted this camera. Nikon collectors/users are truly fanatical.

Jim Bielecki
 
Actually, all I took off the S was the rear eyepiece and the two flash connectors. Everything else on my M is stock. The shutter mechanism was badly gummed up, but the curtains, brakes, etc. were in fine shape. Once it was cleaned, it worked great. My biggest worry was the lens, which had a very cloudy interior element. That too, cleaned up nicely.

BTW, the lens is a rigid "Tokyo" 50/2. The camera also came with the original (but tattered) case and the original factory inspection sheet that was signed by the quality control inspector.

I wish you hadn't told me that the camera could be worth $3,000. I figured maybe a thousand.

Jim Bielecki
 
Mackinaw said:
Actually, all I took off the S was the rear eyepiece and the two flash connectors. ..

BTW, the lens is a rigid "Tokyo" 50/2. The camera also came with the original (but tattered) case and the original factory inspection sheet that was signed by the quality control inspector.

I wish you hadn't told me that the camera could be worth $3,000. I figured maybe a thousand.

Jim Bielecki
Click to expand...
There you said it...flash connectors.
Unsynch M's with collapsible lenses do around $3000, your Synch M with 5008xxxx series lens is about $1000

Kiu
 
Thanks Kiu, a thousand is what I originally figured. But I remember reading elsewhere that having the original factory inspection letter (signed by the QC person) can add considerable value to an early Nikon rangefinder. Any truth to that?

Actually, for now, I have no intention on selling the camera. I just wonder what its true worth is.

Jim Bielecki
 
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