Nikon S4 w 35mm lens

[weihsuan]

Dear all,

I'm fair new to the RF world (only bought my first this year - an M2) but soon went on a craze and bought the M3 and Nikon S2. Very recently, I got myself a Nikon S4 with the 35mm f1.8 lens on the bay. It was all done in a very short time and perhaps a lack of research.

Now, while the camera set is on its way to me, I researched the S4 and realise it shares the same viewfinder as the S3 but doesn't have 35mm frameline.

So I would like to ask if the 35mm can be used with the S4 by using edge of the viewfinder, or do I have to fork out a bomb to get the Nikon 35mm viewfinder?

Awaiting your kind inputs!

Thanks so much!

Rgds
Wei

 

[Highway 61]

The S4 also misses the selftimer. Actually I do think that the three only differences between the S3 and the S4 are the 35mm framelines, the automatic frames counter, and the selftimer.

Interesting to note that this budget model now demands a much higher price than its predecessor because of that darn collector factor...

 

[weihsuan]

Thanks so much to Jonmanjiro and Highway_61 for your kind inputs! Greetings from Singapore!

The one I bought is in user condition, so perhaps lacks the collector factor (and hence a modest price).

Also, I'm wondering if the back is inter-changable with a Nikon S2 (cuz mine's kinda ugly and perhaps an S2 back is cheaper)? or even the Nikon F (lol) cuz they kinda look similar.

Rgds
Wei

 

[weihsuan]

Wow, thanks!

Interesting that the switching of backs doesn't work both ways. Perhaps I should just stick to the original one since its already in user condition.

I searched a little and found expensive nikon 35mm viewfinders and their equally expensive counterparts in varifocal ones. I need to think a little .. =)

 

[Highway 61]

You can find the basic (chrome, conic shape, no etched framelines) Nikon 3.5cm viewfinder for about $80, average. It's a good finder enough, yet not as nice as the modern Cosina-Voigtländer 35mm finder.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Just use the entire frame to view for the 35mm lens.

Among other trivial differences- the S4 does not have the lug for the S36 motor drive. The latter is extremely rare and expensive, so no real loss.

Also- the S4 was never equipped with titanium shutter curtains, always had cloth. The later SP and S3 went to titanium.

 

[VinceC]

The viewfinder window on the S3/4 is very large -- in practice, I find the whole window to be close to a 25mm field of view. If you wear glasses, you really have roll your eyeball around to see everything. Shooting the 50mm frame "very loose" should get you in the ballpark. The size of the viewfinder window makes these cameras a real deslight to shoot, in my opinion.

 

[weihsuan]

Thanks for all the input.

I haven't have any experience with an external viewfinder. However, I do have a 35mm viewfinder from Canon coming in (together with a canon LTM set).

Will that be good on a Nikon body? I'm thinking in terms of parallax error due to the different height of camera.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Highway 61]

If the Canon 35mm viewfinder you are getting is the vintage, conic shape, chrome one, basically it's fully identical to the Nikon vintage, conic shape, chome one, with the same parallax correction ring located behind the eyepiece, and the same parallax correction tilt, so they're fully interchangeable. So you don't need another external 35mm finder to use on your Nikon RF bodies but for absolutely wanting something marked Nikon 😉.

Only minus would regard the later Canon black 35mm finder (tubular shape, mirorred, with etched framelines) which has an automatic parallax built-in device (a pinpoint ball in the viewfinder shoe) designed to be coupled with the automatic parallax leader installed in the accessories shoe of some Canon LTM cameras. Yet you could use that finder with no problem on your Nikon RF camera - not correcting the parallax is not a problem with a 35mm lens.

 

[weihsuan]

Thanks for the reply =)

I think the viewfinder I'm getting is the vintage one?

Here.

If so, I just saved myself a little money. cheers

 

[Highway 61]

Yes this is the one I was thinking of. Seems that you'll have to clean it and tilt the front black mask so that its rectangle gets horizontal again.

It's easy - just unscrew the main front cover and you get access to the inside of the viewfinder. A good opportunity to clean the internal optical elements with some Windex and a Q-tip.

 

[weihsuan]

Yes this is the one I was thinking of. Seems that you'll have to clean it and tilt the front black mask so that its rectangle gets horizontal again.

It's easy - just unscrew the main front cover and you get access to the inside of the viewfinder. A good opportunity to clean the internal optical elements with some Windex and a Q-tip.

Ah great! woah i didn't notice the tilted window though. thanks for the observation and advice.

Windex for the glass? will it accidentally kill some lens cement or of sort?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Thanks for the reply =)

I think the viewfinder I'm getting is the vintage one?

Here.

If so, I just saved myself a little money. cheers

Looks to me like the entire external finder is sitting on the camera at an angle, rather than actually slotted in to the cold shoe. It'll probably be fine.

 

[Highway 61]

Looks to me like the entire external finder is sitting on the camera at an angle, rather than actually slotted in to the cold shoe. It'll probably be fine.

This is what I may think as well.

Windex won't uncement the glass elements (yes the front element of that viewfinder is a cemented doublet) : Canada balsam gets dissolved with acetone or TCE, not Windex 😉

This finder, when dirty inside, may be quite disappointing at first eyesight through it. When cleaned off its haze and dirt, it's a very nice finder.

The trick is to clean the elements with Windex, then immediatly swab the fluid with a dry Q-tip then give a final swab with another clean Q-tip after having left some natural condensation with your mouth so that there are no residues on the optical surfaces. Home trademarked process, works very well. 😉

 

[weihsuan]

Dear all,

I've finally received my S4.

To my delight, it has the 35mm frameline just as Jonmanjiro noted. So I guess i got lucky =)

Thanks all for your kind inputs.

 

[huntjump]

looks nice, congrats

 

[David Murphy]

Highway 61, you probably know this already, but there's no need to use an expensive Nikon rangefinder brand external 35mm finder. Any 35mm finder will work well, and there are scores to chose from starting at about $35 for the plastic (bodied), but quite functional ones sold out of the Ukraine and Russia. Even models without parallax correction work for most purposes since parallax is usually a negligible consideration for wide angle work.

 

[Highway 61]

Highway 61, you probably know this already, but there's no need to use an expensive Nikon rangefinder brand external 35mm finder. Any 35mm finder will work well, and there are scores to chose from starting at about $35 for the plastic (bodied), but quite functional ones sold out of the Ukraine and Russia. Even models without parallax correction work for most purposes since parallax is usually a negligible consideration for wide angle work.

Well this is exactly what I advised weihsuan to do, were it for the finder type or the parallax correction matter, so what's your point here ???

Anyway using an Ukrainian finder on a nice Nikon RF camera when you can find the Canon or Nikon old school finder for just a few bucks would just be stupid IMO. I have used the Ukrainian finder already : it's capable and functional but huge and ugly.

 

[David Murphy]

Well this is exactly what I advised weihsuan to do, were it for the finder type or the parallax correction matter, so what's your point here ???

Anyway using an Ukrainian finder on a nice Nikon RF camera when you can find the Canon or Nikon old school finder for just a few bucks would just be stupid IMO. I have used the Ukrainian finder already : it's capable and functional but huge and ugly.

Sorry, the message was misaddressed to you Highway 61, it was meant for weihsuan (although there's no need for you to be so rude - this is a public forum and you are not the only one allowed an opinion). And by the way, if you can find a Canon or Nikon old school finder "for just a few bucks" congratulations to you. Most start at about $60.

 

[Highway 61]

Sorry, the message was misaddressed to you Highway 61, it was meant for weihsuan (although there's no need for you to be so rude - this is a public forum and you are not the only one allowed an opinion). And by the way, if you can find a Canon or Nikon old school finder "for just a few bucks" congratulations to you. Most start at about $60.

I can't get where and how I was "rude" in this thread, nor where I didn't use this forum as a public forum where everyone is allowed an opinion.

My opinion here was that buying & using the KMZ finder on a Nikon RF camera wouldn't be a good idea given that the classic Nikon or Canon finders can be bought for not very higher a price than the Ukrainian one, while being quite more enjoyable at use.

I got my classic Nikon external 35mm finder for $65 some years ago and IMO this is "a few bucks" actually, unless you want the definition of "a few" limited to something under 10.

Anyway the S4 weihsuan got was one with the 35mm framelines and he also got the Canon finder. So...