Nikon RF Lens

john341

john341

camera user
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Jul 11, 2008
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I would like to get a w/a lens for my S2 and Contax IIIa..all I can find is a
New USA Voigtlander 35/2.5 SC Nikon Contax Rangefinder

Is this lens worth the price? I'd like something more economical if possible but what do you think?? Thanks for any comments. Greetings from a very wet and floody Brisbane
 
Vintage nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 and 3.5cm f3.5 can be found in the US$200-300 range. Chrome ones are cheaper than black ones if you're looking for economy.

Nothing wrong with the Voigtlander option. If you like new its your only option.
 
At what price? Some people sell them used for higher prices than new, but Stephen Gandy/Cameraquest (the site operator here) still seems to have some of the Skopar SC range new - don't pay any more than that.

Nothing wrong with it - it is considered a very good lens (its 24 and 28mm relatives are perhaps a trace more excellent, but slower), and (apart from the two Nikon memorial re-issues, which were officially only marketed with camera) the CV lenses are the only multi-coated Contax/Nikon RF mount lenses ever.

And it is about as economical as it gets - it is about on the same price level as 35/2.5 Nikkors (or 35/2.8 Opton Biogons in ugly shape), and all other Nikon S/Contax wide angles are either even more expensive, or (Jena Biogon/Jupiter-12) won't fit the IIa/IIIa and Nikons.
 
J-12 is the cheapest option but you need to file down the outer aluminum ring of the lens mount otherwise you might badly scratch the front-plate of your Nikon RF camera. Since they are Kiev-mount (Contax clones), short distance focus might be slightly off however I had no problems.
 
The J12

The J12

maddoc said:
J-12 is the cheapest option but you need to file down the outer aluminum ring of the lens mount otherwise you might badly scratch the front-plate of your Nikon RF camera. Since they are Kiev-mount (Contax clones), short distance focus might be slightly off however I had no problems.
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is a good choice but having one, then trying it on the S2, I realised what you are referring to...pity the J12 is a beaut lens..then again, it won't fit my Contax IIIa so I'm back to the Nikkor...photography can be frustrating at times :rolleyes:
 
sevo said:
Jena Biogon/Jupiter-12 won't fit the IIa/IIIa and Nikons.
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They won't fit the Contax IIa/IIIa but they will fit the Nikons.

maddoc said:
J-12 is the cheapest option but you need to file down the outer aluminum ring of the lens mount otherwise you might badly scratch the front-plate of your Nikon RF camera.
Click to expand...
The outer ring that must be filed down is chrome plated brass not aluminum. ;)
 
sevo said:
Well, we can probably agree that they can be made to fit. But out of the box they don't.
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Out of the box they do (sample pictures here) but sometimes (depending on their machining tolerance and their production year) they can scratch the Nikon RF camera body front plate because their rear mount outer collar is a bit thicker than the ones of the Nikkors. Yet the filing is easy to perform at home, it takes a few minutes, and since those lenses can be grabbed for $25 it's worth the effort if you don't have the cash for something more expensive. A good 1950's J-12 is quite as good as anything else you can find in this mount (but for the W-Nikkor-C 35/1.8 and the postwar Biogon).

This is a different matter than re. the Contax IIa and IIIa cameras, on which they will never fit because of how the shutter curtains housing is made inside those cameras lenses chambers.
 
James24 said:
Vintage nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 and 3.5cm f3.5 can be found in the US$200-300 range. Chrome ones are cheaper than black ones if you're looking for economy.

Nothing wrong with the Voigtlander option. If you like new its your only option.
Click to expand...

I agree with James. There's nothing wrong with the Voigtlander option (its a great lens), but you're probably going to want a Nikkor eventually. Go for a Nikkor 3.5cm f/2.5 if you can find one.
 
sevo said:
Well, we can probably agree that they can be made to fit. But out of the box they don't.
Click to expand...

Well, unfortunately, we can't. The J12 will foul the shutter housing of a Contax IIa/IIIa. I do agree that filing down the outer ring of the lensmount is a good idea before putting a J12, or any other Russkii external mount lens on a Nikon.
It's very easy to do, and you don't need to remove much metal. Just undo the three screws, then rub the ring on a piece of fine sandpaper held on a hard flat surface. You probably don't want to take a file to the ring while it is still attached to the lens.

Cheers,
Dez
 
Thanks

Thanks

for the replies. I found early that my J12 won't fit the S2 but of course in won't fit into the Contax IIIa either..I'll keep looking for a Nikkor...they seem to come up from time to time. Cheers from Oz
 
I have the 25mmf4 and it's a great lens nice and sharp and good
built quality, I also have the 35mmf2.5 Nikkor in chrome built like
a brick and great as well.

Range
 
To address your original question, I have J12 and W-Nikkor 35/2.5, the J12 is a slightly better performer (mine is from 1989, late batch with quite good coatings). But I also have the CV 35/2.5 PII (same optical unit as the CV 35/2.5 SC ?) and that lens is really good, too. Also the CV 28/3.5 SC (had one but sold) and the 21/4 SC are really good. I think you can`t go wrong with either of the CV lenses or the W-Nikkor. :)
 
john341 said:
for the replies. I found early that my J12 won't fit the S2 but of course in won't fit into the Contax IIIa either..I'll keep looking for a Nikkor...they seem to come up from time to time. Cheers from Oz
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I like my Nikkor 2.5 a lot, but it's REALLY contrasty. Be aware.
 
Re: the 35mm Skopars from CameraQuest and their price, they're a pretty good deal – note that they're listed as a sell-out and are $60 cheaper than the same lenss in M mount.

I was initially drawn back to Nikon RF for the vintage look achieved by the 50 Nikkor. When I tried a couple of S-mount CVs, I found they produced quite modern-looking images.

Nothing wrong with the Skopars. But if you feel the same vintage attraction, I'd look for a 28 &/or 35 Nikkor instead. For S2-3, IMO 28 & 50 combination works best. The 28s aren't very expensive, and then you might wait patiently for 35 f1.8.
 
Thanks

Thanks

for all the comments - appreciated. I have decided to go with an f2.5 3.5cm Nikkor which I picked up this morning and will watch the contrast. It will be great on the S2 as well as the IIIa.Cheers from Oz
 
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