Nikon S3 2000 prices April 2016

I sold a perfect, unblemished S3 2000 with a Leicatime half case here around a year ago for $650, so there are deals out there.
Somebody here sold a complete S3 2000 kit with the millennium nikkor 50 for around $1200 or so, which was an even better deal. I think I will go drink a bottle of Southern Comfort now to help me forget the fact I didn't buy that when I had the chance.
 
I bought my S3 Milllenium (inc. 50mm lens) from Japan for $1250, but it came without the box. I love it even more than my M3 (which had a complete overhaul). As someone earlier said - it is the long focus throw which makes it easier to focus. The lens is superb.

The knurled knob for focusing is rough on the fingers, so I usually turn the whole lens with my left hand.
 
I was bitten by the Nikon Rf bug when I went to Japan last year.
Came home with a chrome SP/50mm f1.4 and a S3 2000/50mm f1.4.

Ended up selling the SP and lens and the S3 2000 body only as I manage to purchase a black SP 2005 in a trade + $$.

So now I have a black SP 2005 and its 35mm f1.8 lens and also the millennium nikkor 50mm f1.4. Such a beautiful kit if I may say so myself!

Having said all that.....i am still having some trouble getting used to it though. Changing the aperture is tricky as the lens/focus spins with it. Definitely more comfortable shooting with my Leica M's

Now i don't know whether to keep the nikon and continue to persist with trying to use it or sell it........ as beautiful as the camera is, I am finding hard to justify keeping it as a trophy :(

First world problem.... I know
 
I paid £825 for my S3 2000 in 2014. It came with a non-kit Nikkor-S. Seems a lot now but back in 2014 it seemed reasonable.
 
I was bitten by the Nikon Rf bug when I went to Japan last year.
Came home with a chrome SP/50mm f1.4 and a S3 2000/50mm f1.4.

Ended up selling the SP and lens and the S3 2000 body only as I manage to purchase a black SP 2005 in a trade + $$.

So now I have a black SP 2005 and its 35mm f1.8 lens and also the millennium nikkor 50mm f1.4. Such a beautiful kit if I may say so myself!

Having said all that.....i am still having some trouble getting used to it though. Changing the aperture is tricky as the lens/focus spins with it. Definitely more comfortable shooting with my Leica M's

Now i don't know whether to keep the nikon and continue to persist with trying to use it or sell it........ as beautiful as the camera is, I am finding hard to justify keeping it as a trophy :(

First world problem.... I know

Change the aperture by holding the focus wheel with your right index finger and changing the aperture with you left hand.
 
A mint S3 2000 with lens and boxes just went by auction on Ebay for $1125 US. I was watching the seconds tick off the auction, with my finger on the bid button, but I couldn't will myself to bid, already having too much gear. Hope it is used. Prices have gone down indeed.
 
Thats insane Steve - used or not in any way or form this is an absolute steal.

Just thinking about for how much really trashed Leica M6 bodies go these days (shaking my head) and seeing a kit that was made new in the early 2000's with the quality of the 50/1.4 millennium …

It is almost like getting a free S3 body at that price. Thinking about how really ratty 50/1.4 pre ASPH Summiluxes are selling and how the lens of this kit + an Amedeo adapter is at lower cost makes me shake my head.
 
I love the way the black S3 and SP re-issues look. But after handling one, I could not stand the rangefinder patch compared to the defined rectangle of a Leica, Bessa R3a, Zeiss Ikon ZM or Minolta CLE. Killed it for me.
 
There is one on ebay with an aftermarket lens:

s-l1600.jpg

http://www.ebay.com/itm/152612327937

I am wondering about today's price...

This thread is over a year old, may be time for a new one?
 
I always wanted an sp reissue, but at these prices, I'll grab an s3. Hoping they do an f reissue, but I'm not sure that'd be that popular (maybe f titanium?)
 
Why buy an F reissue, when excellent original Fs are dirt cheap and last forever!

Cheers,
Dez
 
I always wanted an sp reissue, but at these prices, I'll grab an s3. Hoping they do an f reissue, but I'm not sure that'd be that popular (maybe f titanium?)

If you really want an SP there is nothing speaking against finding a nice original SP, have it serviced and use it for the rest of your life.

If you do not really need the SP finder frames and can live without parallax correction an S3 is every bit as good as the SP and at current prices for silver chrome S3 re-issue kits it is a no-brainer to pick one of these up (especially as they come with one of the nicest 50mm lenses ever made).

I much prefer to use the S3 over the SP as of the 35mm frame in the main finder - if a 35mm is your mainly used lens, the S3 is a better choice.
If a 50mm is your most used lens the SP is much nicer.
 
You know, we always make note of the bargain priced units, it's not really fair.
One has to look at the whole market, it's true that there was a black one with a ding the other day, it sold for under $1200 including the case but there is also this chrome example that sold for $1700 plus shipping:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182655942996
s-l1600.jpg

UNUSED Nikon S3 2000 Limited Edition with Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 from japan

Just thought we need to be fair.

Kiu
 
Eight years ago a forum member bought a re-issue S3, then 11 days later sold it to another forum member, who sold it to me for $2000. Neither of these guys could get comfortable with its ergonomics, and eventually I agreed, though a handsome camera. I had it for 2.5 years and then sold it to yet another RFF member for the same amount, as a credit on his $6000 M9... :) ...which I sold on eBay for $4800, shortly before the sensor corrosion issue became well-known.
 
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