gb hill
Veteran
While you guys are out this month with your Nikons, slip over to Barnes & Noble and check out a new book that just came out called Photos of Sammy Davis Jr. He was a good photographer and the author stated he had a huge collection of Nikon cameras. You gotta check out his self portraits holding a Nikon rangefinder and Kim Novak snapping away with a Nikon rangefinder. It's great!
VinceC
Veteran
For wide-angle shooters, the CV minifinder is a good addition to the S2. I have an SP and two S3s, so my S2 doesn't get a lot of use. But the CV finder has framelines for 28 and 35mm lenses, and its entire field of view is close to 25mm. In that respect, its better for wide-angle lenses than the wide-angle finder on the Nikon SP. The SP's winde-angle image is about 1/4 lifesize whereas the CV minifinder's image is 1/2 lifesize.
Tom A., thanks for the info on 35mm lenses. I've only used the f/2.5 and f/1.8 Nikkors, never the f/3.5. The only thing I know about the f/3.5 is that Life photographer David Douglas Duncan considered it the least capable of the Nikkors he tested back in 1950.
Tom A., thanks for the info on 35mm lenses. I've only used the f/2.5 and f/1.8 Nikkors, never the f/3.5. The only thing I know about the f/3.5 is that Life photographer David Douglas Duncan considered it the least capable of the Nikkors he tested back in 1950.
rover said:Find a good deal on a user S2 and when you are ready for the prime time new kit sell the old dog to me.
Not for nothing, but it appears from a glance across the internets that mos Nikon RFs go for more than M-series Leicas.
Someone pls. tell me I'm wrong bout this...
Add in the cost of an F1.4 lens and you'll find the price of non-mint Nikon RF's is less than a similar Leica. A good EX to EX+ Nikon S3 with 5cm F1.4 lens will run under $1,400. A good user SP with 5cm f1.4 lens will run ~$1,500. An S2 with 5cm F1.4 will go for ~$700.I have noticed prices going up over the last year.
I figured out why the '84 and '85 Helios-103's would not fit the Nikon RF's when they did fit the Contax: Construction changed, light baffle was extended, and the flange's on the internal bayonet mount were wider and deeper. The 1981 Helios-103 and Menopta fit perfectly. I filed the flanges and baffle down on the '84 and '85 Helios' to make them fit. They are New-Old-Stock, and glass like crystal. They still mount on the Kiev and Contax. I unscrewed the optics modules by 1/2 turn to get the lenses to focus wide-open and close-up.
Test roll goes in today. Menopta, 50mm F1.4 Millenium Nikkor (S3-2000), 1981 Helios-103, 1985 Helios-103. I will post some pictures. IF this test is a success, would others of you be interested in a Planar formula lens for your Nikon RF's? Well, one that does not cost over $1,000. Although, that Millenium Nikkor is the sharpest 50/1.4 that Nikon has ever produced!
I figured out why the '84 and '85 Helios-103's would not fit the Nikon RF's when they did fit the Contax: Construction changed, light baffle was extended, and the flange's on the internal bayonet mount were wider and deeper. The 1981 Helios-103 and Menopta fit perfectly. I filed the flanges and baffle down on the '84 and '85 Helios' to make them fit. They are New-Old-Stock, and glass like crystal. They still mount on the Kiev and Contax. I unscrewed the optics modules by 1/2 turn to get the lenses to focus wide-open and close-up.
Test roll goes in today. Menopta, 50mm F1.4 Millenium Nikkor (S3-2000), 1981 Helios-103, 1985 Helios-103. I will post some pictures. IF this test is a success, would others of you be interested in a Planar formula lens for your Nikon RF's? Well, one that does not cost over $1,000. Although, that Millenium Nikkor is the sharpest 50/1.4 that Nikon has ever produced!
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xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
caffeineshutter said:
yes, most do go for more money than Leica M series , but most of the Nikon rf faithful here will tell you all kinds of personal stories about the super low priced deals they got on SP's S3's and lenses.
I suppose some good deals show up if you are at the right place and at the right time.
one has to admit though, that an Nikon S or an S2 with the 50/1.4 Nikkor lens is generally priced lower than most early Leica M3's with a Summarit lens .
VinceC
Veteran
Also, look for the closing prices of auctions, not the asking prices. A lot of stuff gets listed at a ridiculous price and is never bid upon or never makes reserve.
Nikon prices are more volatile than Leica prices. There is relatively limited supply and changeable demand compared to the much larger Leica market.
No cheap flea-market discoveries here. I paid fair-market value for all of my gear, most of it bought in 1989-91, when prices were about the same as now (but, with inflation, the real cost was higher than today).
The one deal I missed was a heart-stopper, but I don't dwell on it. I was at a Fotoboerse flea market in Germany, looking for a 20mm SLR lens on behalf of a friend. I found a 21mm f/4 RF Nikkor mislabeled as an SLR lens and priced accordingly in the $300-$400 range. The table was unattended, and I had just recently bought my first Nikon RF, an S2, and so knew almost nothing about Nikon lenses and cameras. I had no idea of the astronomical rarity of the lens. So I went about shopping and, a couple of hours later, thumbed through a McKewens price guide at a book dealer's stall, read entry on Nikon RF lenses, realized the 21mm /4 is rare beyond belief, and went back to the table that had it. But, of course, it was gone.
Nikon prices are more volatile than Leica prices. There is relatively limited supply and changeable demand compared to the much larger Leica market.
No cheap flea-market discoveries here. I paid fair-market value for all of my gear, most of it bought in 1989-91, when prices were about the same as now (but, with inflation, the real cost was higher than today).
The one deal I missed was a heart-stopper, but I don't dwell on it. I was at a Fotoboerse flea market in Germany, looking for a 20mm SLR lens on behalf of a friend. I found a 21mm f/4 RF Nikkor mislabeled as an SLR lens and priced accordingly in the $300-$400 range. The table was unattended, and I had just recently bought my first Nikon RF, an S2, and so knew almost nothing about Nikon lenses and cameras. I had no idea of the astronomical rarity of the lens. So I went about shopping and, a couple of hours later, thumbed through a McKewens price guide at a book dealer's stall, read entry on Nikon RF lenses, realized the 21mm /4 is rare beyond belief, and went back to the table that had it. But, of course, it was gone.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
back alley said:thanks bob.
i'm thinking of the cv 35/1.2 again though...or maybe a 35 biogon for the lla.
of course there is the ricoh grd...or a new laptop
I am in enviable position to count Mr Kobayashi of Voigtlander fame as friend. A couple of years ago we discussed the 35/1.2 and I suggested to him that a Nikon mount 35/1,2 would be nice lens. Well, Mr Kobayashi, who is a collectore/shooter as well as running Voigtlander found the idea interesting. He made one and on my next visit to Japan I played with it (and drooled heavily!). A while later I got a package from him and there it was! There were a couple more of these made,but I suspct that there are only 2 or 3 around. I have the M-mount 35/1,2 and it is a land mark lens on its own. The added precision of the Nikon focus helps to nail it. Even a 35 at 1.2 has limited depth of field! I usually use it as a dedictad low light lens on a S2 with the Nikon bright line finder on top. The 35/1,2 is a big lens and does intrud in to the remarkable S2 finder. I took it to Vienna for the NHS meeting last summer. It was on a S3 with prototype Rapidwinder and there was some heavy breathing and drooling among the Nikonistas.
back alley
IMAGES
i can hear the heavy breathing from here still...
i need to find an easier process to determine/evaluate my needs and wants when it comes to gear related purchases. that cv 35/1.2 is calling rather loudly on it's own to me but then i wonder about the soon to appear 21/4.5 zeiss lens and think it might be a better fit with my other gear than adding another 35 would be.
thankfully i'm in no rush for any decisions.
joe
i need to find an easier process to determine/evaluate my needs and wants when it comes to gear related purchases. that cv 35/1.2 is calling rather loudly on it's own to me but then i wonder about the soon to appear 21/4.5 zeiss lens and think it might be a better fit with my other gear than adding another 35 would be.
thankfully i'm in no rush for any decisions.
joe
I'd buy one at the right price...and how loud/quiet are the shutters?
I'd buy one at the right price...and how loud/quiet are the shutters?
That's good news to hear.
And BTW, how loud/quiet are the Nikon shutters? Do they sound like a Nikon SLR with the mirror locked up?
Since the Nikon RFs seem to be an "F" model without the mirror box, I'd gather the durability of these cameras is quite good.
Also--do the Nikon RFs use a proprietary lens mount? Or a copy of the Contax RF mount?
I'd buy one at the right price...and how loud/quiet are the shutters?
xayraa33 said:
That's good news to hear.
And BTW, how loud/quiet are the Nikon shutters? Do they sound like a Nikon SLR with the mirror locked up?
Since the Nikon RFs seem to be an "F" model without the mirror box, I'd gather the durability of these cameras is quite good.
Also--do the Nikon RFs use a proprietary lens mount? Or a copy of the Contax RF mount?
Sonnar2
Well-known
The S2 is said to be the loudest RF camera but my S2 is quieter and less intrusive than any of my SLRs or Bessa RF. Not exactly as quiet as a Leica but level with Canon 7/P.
Shutter-wise, the SP is improved over the S2 (travels faster) and similar to the F-shutter.
The mount is the same like Contax RF but the gradient of the rangefinder coupling isn't, probably because Nikon at first made lenses due to Leica specification which definition wasn't exactly the focal length as Zeiss used. Therefore telephotos and fast 50mm lenses aren't coupling to the rangefinder exactly if brands (Nikon/ Zeiss) changed.
Shutter-wise, the SP is improved over the S2 (travels faster) and similar to the F-shutter.
The mount is the same like Contax RF but the gradient of the rangefinder coupling isn't, probably because Nikon at first made lenses due to Leica specification which definition wasn't exactly the focal length as Zeiss used. Therefore telephotos and fast 50mm lenses aren't coupling to the rangefinder exactly if brands (Nikon/ Zeiss) changed.
VinceC
Veteran
Nikon SP and S3 sound very much like an F with the mirror locked up.
The FSU lenses can be adjusted to the Nikon S-Mount, giving a source of cheaper lenses. This is much like adjusting the FSU LTM lenses for use on a Leica standard camera.
I modified one Nikon S2 to focus properly with Contax lenses. The focus would normally be behind what the RF indicates.
These are with the 'C'ontax version of the 13.5cm F3.5 lens on the S2, Wide-Open at F3.5:
I modified one Nikon S2 to focus properly with Contax lenses. The focus would normally be behind what the RF indicates.
These are with the 'C'ontax version of the 13.5cm F3.5 lens on the S2, Wide-Open at F3.5:
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T
tedwhite
Guest
Wonder why Canon doesn't do what Nikon did: Introduce a new version of their original (and best) RF camera and keep it in LTM mount. God knows there are a ton of lenses that would fit. And, gee, they could even make some new ones. Think of the panache.
Ted
Ted
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Hi!
I dont know if this is going to work as I am somewhat clueless as to how this computer stuff works...
Attached should be two pictures of my "February is Nikon RF Month Kit".
The S3 has the 35/1,2 Nokton and the 2nd prototype Rapidwinder on it and the black SP has a SP 2005 35/1,8 whilst the black S2 has an older 50/1,4 on it.
The film in both of them is Neopan 400 - they are after all Japanese cameras!
I dont know if this is going to work as I am somewhat clueless as to how this computer stuff works...
Attached should be two pictures of my "February is Nikon RF Month Kit".
The S3 has the 35/1,2 Nokton and the 2nd prototype Rapidwinder on it and the black SP has a SP 2005 35/1,8 whilst the black S2 has an older 50/1,4 on it.
The film in both of them is Neopan 400 - they are after all Japanese cameras!
Attachments
Very, very Nice.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
That RW prototype is certainly thin, Tom!
Well, I'm going to take the "low road".
I have the first roll in from this combination, a Menopta 53/1.8 Shimmed to the S-Mount. It looks like an export version of the Helios-103. Nicer machining and much smoother aperture. Used the "millenium Nikkor 50/1.4" from my S3-2000 for the comparison. Should have results back this weekend, will scan.
I have the first roll in from this combination, a Menopta 53/1.8 Shimmed to the S-Mount. It looks like an export version of the Helios-103. Nicer machining and much smoother aperture. Used the "millenium Nikkor 50/1.4" from my S3-2000 for the comparison. Should have results back this weekend, will scan.
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NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
Kiu, get out your Nikon E series and take SOME PICTURES OF THEM!
I used the Nikon E3 for my shot.
I used the Nikon E3 for my shot.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
I wish I could do that but I can't have Sherman tank in my office, it's just too small of an office
Kiu
Kiu