historicist
Well-known
I just picked up a S3 2000 kit and thought I would give my first impressions for anyone who's interested. The only Nikon rf I've had before was a S2 and I've used the 50mm f2 (s mount) and f1.4 (l39) Nikkors. I've only used it for a day or two.
At first, I was not so impressed. The focus helical has a bit of play (when you turn the focus dial, there is a bit of slop before it moves the lens) and the framelines are very busy. The RF patch seemed to be relatively dim as well.
But after a couple of days the camera has grown on me. The 35mm frameline is not really visible unless you really press your eye to the glass. I wear glasses but not while shooting so I don't really notice it. The 105mm framelines are a bit annoying but you don't notice them too much - I think because I am most used to a 0.72 Leica M finder (M4) I notice them more tan I would otherwise, because they are in a fairly similar position to the 50mm frames on a 0.74 M.
Parallax - so far no film processed yet so I've no idea how problematic this will be but with the S2 which also has no parallax correction I didn't notice it to be a problem at all.
RF patch - now I think it is actually quite bright, probably brighter than any M I have used (bear in mind my Leicas are in user condition and I haven;t had the chance to make a direct comparison). What makes it seem relatively dim is that the finder itself is very bright. The RF patch edges are a bit fuzzy - I think the Leica staight edges are better, especially when one has to focus and recompose a bit. The S2 finder I found a bit better, to be honest, it had a really nice tint which was like looking through nice sunglasses. I don't really use lenses other than 50mm so the other framelines are a bit wasted on me. But the S3 2000 is brighter...
Build quality - excellent. The only thing that annoys me is the stand off on the advance lever, after an exposure it sticks out a bit (about 15 degrees) and needs to be pushed back in if you want if flush with the body. Pushing it in feels a bit rougher than I would expect on a camera of this class, but it's not a big deal.
Shutter - much quieter than my S2. A big difference, comparable to a Leica M. i would say the Leica is subjectively a bit quiteter, because the sound is spread over a relatiely long period - with the S3 2000 it is a very short sound, even with longer shutter speeds. But they are basically very similar.
Lens - no film back, so no impression of optical quality, but mechanical quality is up with the best. Focus slop is slight and not a problem in use. The focus throw is rather long though and not so suited to very quick focussing. Lens blocks a bit of the finder but only a tiny bit. With the supplied hood attached it blocks rather a lot of the finder.
Regards, A.
At first, I was not so impressed. The focus helical has a bit of play (when you turn the focus dial, there is a bit of slop before it moves the lens) and the framelines are very busy. The RF patch seemed to be relatively dim as well.
But after a couple of days the camera has grown on me. The 35mm frameline is not really visible unless you really press your eye to the glass. I wear glasses but not while shooting so I don't really notice it. The 105mm framelines are a bit annoying but you don't notice them too much - I think because I am most used to a 0.72 Leica M finder (M4) I notice them more tan I would otherwise, because they are in a fairly similar position to the 50mm frames on a 0.74 M.
Parallax - so far no film processed yet so I've no idea how problematic this will be but with the S2 which also has no parallax correction I didn't notice it to be a problem at all.
RF patch - now I think it is actually quite bright, probably brighter than any M I have used (bear in mind my Leicas are in user condition and I haven;t had the chance to make a direct comparison). What makes it seem relatively dim is that the finder itself is very bright. The RF patch edges are a bit fuzzy - I think the Leica staight edges are better, especially when one has to focus and recompose a bit. The S2 finder I found a bit better, to be honest, it had a really nice tint which was like looking through nice sunglasses. I don't really use lenses other than 50mm so the other framelines are a bit wasted on me. But the S3 2000 is brighter...
Build quality - excellent. The only thing that annoys me is the stand off on the advance lever, after an exposure it sticks out a bit (about 15 degrees) and needs to be pushed back in if you want if flush with the body. Pushing it in feels a bit rougher than I would expect on a camera of this class, but it's not a big deal.
Shutter - much quieter than my S2. A big difference, comparable to a Leica M. i would say the Leica is subjectively a bit quiteter, because the sound is spread over a relatiely long period - with the S3 2000 it is a very short sound, even with longer shutter speeds. But they are basically very similar.
Lens - no film back, so no impression of optical quality, but mechanical quality is up with the best. Focus slop is slight and not a problem in use. The focus throw is rather long though and not so suited to very quick focussing. Lens blocks a bit of the finder but only a tiny bit. With the supplied hood attached it blocks rather a lot of the finder.
Regards, A.
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Stefcuoz
Established
how can you do
how can you do
Please, satisfy my curiosity, how did you do to use a 50 mm l39 nikkors on a S2 Nikon Body?
how can you do
Please, satisfy my curiosity, how did you do to use a 50 mm l39 nikkors on a S2 Nikon Body?
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
If you use your left eye, the lever will probably stab you in the eye. I know it does on my Olympus cameras, so I push the lever in on them.
historicist
Well-known
No idea! I used it on a Leica...
Habit/preference, I guess. I don't use my left eye so it doesn't poke me but I just prefer the camera lines to be flush - and I don't shoot very fast so rapid winding is wasted on me.
BillBingham2
Registered User
I having grown up on a Nikkormat FTn, I always push it back in. Perhaps if my childhood were not so barren, like if I had an Nikon FTn, I would not care.
I love my S3, move from an S2 and a couple of Ms it grew on me really quick. It's my only interchangeable RF in field work now and I'm very happy with it.
Great to hear you enjoy yours too. Did you happen to get the new 50 with her also? While I am not as happy with the size of it, compared to the older 50/1.4, I LOVE the optics. I could not afford one at first so I picked mine up later.
B2 (;->
I love my S3, move from an S2 and a couple of Ms it grew on me really quick. It's my only interchangeable RF in field work now and I'm very happy with it.
Great to hear you enjoy yours too. Did you happen to get the new 50 with her also? While I am not as happy with the size of it, compared to the older 50/1.4, I LOVE the optics. I could not afford one at first so I picked mine up later.
B2 (;->
Thanks for posting your first impressions of your S3 2000, Aodhan. I always enjoy reading what other Nikon RF users think of their cameras!
Just a few comments...
As with your S2, it shouldn't be a problem.
I agree with you here. The patch is fine, but the finder itself is a little too bright and tends to wash out the focus patch somewhat. As I mentioned the other day, a color filter over the viewfinder window makes a big improvement. After trying various filters, I found that the Fujifilm Blue 20 color filter offered the best compromise between improving focus patch contrast without darkening the finder too much.
I've noticed the same roughness when returning the advance lever on several S3 2000 bodies. This will become smoother with use, though.
The lens is an absolute gem. I'm confident you'll like the results
Just a few comments...
As with your S2, it shouldn't be a problem.
I agree with you here. The patch is fine, but the finder itself is a little too bright and tends to wash out the focus patch somewhat. As I mentioned the other day, a color filter over the viewfinder window makes a big improvement. After trying various filters, I found that the Fujifilm Blue 20 color filter offered the best compromise between improving focus patch contrast without darkening the finder too much.
I've noticed the same roughness when returning the advance lever on several S3 2000 bodies. This will become smoother with use, though.
The lens is an absolute gem. I'm confident you'll like the results
historicist
Well-known
Just to update, after a week or so of use the advance lever is no longer a bit rough to push in from the stand off position.
Jon also kindly sold me the appropriate case and although i'm not usually a fan of every ready cases, this one is particularly nice, very well made and a nice grey/blue/brownish leather.
Jon also kindly sold me the appropriate case and although i'm not usually a fan of every ready cases, this one is particularly nice, very well made and a nice grey/blue/brownish leather.
VinceC
Veteran
Thanks for the original posting and the updates.
With Nikon RF cameras, a lot of little things are different compared to Leica. Not better or worse, necessarily, just different. And so that makes for a different shooting experience.
I'm a big, big fan of thd S3 and S3-2000 finder. It demonstrates to you that parallax is not that hard to deal with. The 105mm framlines work nicely as "rule of thirds" focal points (and remind you to get a 105/2.5, one of the best lenses ever made and usually very affordable in Nikon RF mount). I like the very very big size of the finder, which allows 1:1 lifesize viewing with a 35mm lens and can be used to frame a 28mm lens lifesize with some practice.
With Nikon RF cameras, a lot of little things are different compared to Leica. Not better or worse, necessarily, just different. And so that makes for a different shooting experience.
I'm a big, big fan of thd S3 and S3-2000 finder. It demonstrates to you that parallax is not that hard to deal with. The 105mm framlines work nicely as "rule of thirds" focal points (and remind you to get a 105/2.5, one of the best lenses ever made and usually very affordable in Nikon RF mount). I like the very very big size of the finder, which allows 1:1 lifesize viewing with a 35mm lens and can be used to frame a 28mm lens lifesize with some practice.
historicist
Well-known
Sooo, the first problem with the camera has arisen:
Last Saturday after using the camera the whole day without problems in
the evening at home I went to take a picture, and the focus was really
rough, made really loud screeching noises, and was very difficult to
turn. I'm at a loss as to why - it was fine all day, and nothing
happened to it after putting it back in my bag before going home, nor
is it very likely that anything could have happened without me
noticing.
Now it is better, at least no screeching, but is distinctly rough,
certainly rougher than it was or should be. Exercising it from
infinity to minimum focus a few times makes it smoother, but to be
honest it is still not as smooth as it should be. And until it's been
exercisied a few times it's virtually impossible to use the focus
wheel, it's just too stiff.
Probably it's had 20 rolls through it, always been in the half case, in a padded bag, or on the shelf.
I vaguely remember reading a thread about this kind of problem with the helicals on the Nikon RF reissues, but can't find it right now. Anyone have any similar experiences or advice?
Last Saturday after using the camera the whole day without problems in
the evening at home I went to take a picture, and the focus was really
rough, made really loud screeching noises, and was very difficult to
turn. I'm at a loss as to why - it was fine all day, and nothing
happened to it after putting it back in my bag before going home, nor
is it very likely that anything could have happened without me
noticing.
Now it is better, at least no screeching, but is distinctly rough,
certainly rougher than it was or should be. Exercising it from
infinity to minimum focus a few times makes it smoother, but to be
honest it is still not as smooth as it should be. And until it's been
exercisied a few times it's virtually impossible to use the focus
wheel, it's just too stiff.
Probably it's had 20 rolls through it, always been in the half case, in a padded bag, or on the shelf.
I vaguely remember reading a thread about this kind of problem with the helicals on the Nikon RF reissues, but can't find it right now. Anyone have any similar experiences or advice?
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
I enjoyed your review. Thanks. I would only add my Leica glass experience no focus slop.
"Now it is better, at least no screeching, but is distinctly rough, certainly rougher." Is this puppy under warranty?
Regards,
Paul
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
On my chrome S3 2000 the helicoil had a bit of a "schreech" to it - particularly when used with an internal mount lens (50f1.4's and f2's). It has abated a bit with use. I suspect that it is the front plate rubbing against the helicoil. The lube should be OK - and I remember reading somewhere that that helicoil should not be lubricated anyway!
On my black S3 2000 it is perfect - not a squeek out of it. I have a couple of S2's with similar "noise", but to a lesser degree.
It almost sounds like the interlock is not releasing properly.
On my black S3 2000 it is perfect - not a squeek out of it. I have a couple of S2's with similar "noise", but to a lesser degree.
It almost sounds like the interlock is not releasing properly.
historicist
Well-known
I have to say I've had quite a few problems with Leica stuff as well, but it's fair to say the 2000 reissue doesn't give quite the same impression of sturdiness as vintage ones I've used, especially re the focus helical.
At the time of sale it was left a bit ambiguous as to what the warranty was, I've sent an email off to the shop to see what they say. In purely legal terms its fairly unlikely they can wash their hands of it, but hopefully it won't come to that.
At the time of sale it was left a bit ambiguous as to what the warranty was, I've sent an email off to the shop to see what they say. In purely legal terms its fairly unlikely they can wash their hands of it, but hopefully it won't come to that.
Having owned quite a few (getting close to 40!) of the reissue Nikon RFs, I think I've experienced just about everything that can go wrong. I've had Nikon replace the helicoid on several for the exact reason you describe.
Having pulled apart and compared a reissue SP helicoid to a vintage SP helicoid, I think the problem is that the tolerances are much tighter on the reissue part. Consequently, if any dust etc. gets in there, it can create a problem. The helicoid is meant to run dry (no lubrication) but in practice a little light grade grease isn't a problem. It makes the focus wheel a little harder to rotate, but will completely remove sqeaks and make the helicoid action smoother.
Ok regarding the repair, first of all you're in the right country! If you have a validated international warranty card I recommend you take your camera in to the Nikon Service Center in Osaka directly. They'll have your camera repaired and ready to pick up in about 4-5 working days.
If you don't have a validated warranty card, drop me a PM and I'll help you sort something out!
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Details of the Nikon Service Center in Osaka are:
Address:
13F Hilton Plaza West Office Tower
2-2-2 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka City
Business hours:
11:00 - 19:00
Tel: 0570-02-8060
Fax: (06) 6348-9722
This is the building (just near Osaka Station).
Address:
13F Hilton Plaza West Office Tower
2-2-2 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka City
Business hours:
11:00 - 19:00
Tel: 0570-02-8060
Fax: (06) 6348-9722
This is the building (just near Osaka Station).
historicist
Well-known
Update: The problem has disappeared, seemingly of its own accord, the helical is now back to normal.
I can only speculate that there was some dust of something stuck in there, which then fell out of its own accord.
btw, the shop I purchased it from offered to repair it when i returned to the UK, but I don't think that's necessary now.
I can only speculate that there was some dust of something stuck in there, which then fell out of its own accord.
btw, the shop I purchased it from offered to repair it when i returned to the UK, but I don't think that's necessary now.