menos
Veteran
I know this has been mentioned a few times here on the forum already often with several advices.
I also know that the vintage bodies, produced in the 40's - 60's are quite different in this respect to the re-issue S3 and SP bodies.
Now here is my conundrum:
I have bought a year ago NOS SP 2005 and a S3 2000 kits.
The SP has seen most of the use from these two over the last year and a slight squeaking of the focus helicoid turned into a helicoid that even without a lens attached could barely be focussed back to infinity with the focus wheel.
It did not feel like being seized up but just having grown friction over time (what started as a slight squeak).
The body has been treated very nicely and has probably only seen ~20-50 rolls in my use (no use at all for a Nikon RF).
The Nikon S3 2000 has seen much less use over all by me and still focusses ok but I bet to be able to feel a similar issue starting at some point.
Now here comes where all the issues started for me:
I was very lucky to have received an incredible original Nikon SP kit a little while ago with a Nikon SP in very nice cosmetic condition.
Among others the body has received a complete overhaul by the masters at Kiitos in Japan and I can only say - it is absolutely FLAWLESS in every way.
The focussing on this vintage SP feels completely effortless.
This focus feel is what I would love to have with both of my reissue bodies as well.
As the SP 2005 focus helicoid has become too tight for proper use, I disassembled and cleaned the helicoid today.
I have followed instructions as of keeping it dry as well as having experimented with the very lightest lens helicoid Lithium grease available.
Both just didn't work out to my liking.
Dry focus helicoid on the SP 2005 resulted in squeaky focussing (and probably after a few months of normal use again with seizing up).
The thinnest film on the female helicoid and subsequent light wiping (to further reduce the lubrication film) resulted in what I would feel is a very nicely damped yet light focussing feel compared to how most of my faster Leica lenses work but it is worlds apart from the vintage SP with it's completely effortless focussing.
What is the secret here?
What did the factory do (obviously whatever they did in the early 2000', did not hold up with my NOS re-issue SP after just 1 year of light use)?
Is it a fact that the re-issue S3 and SP bodies are inferior to the vintage Nikon RF bodies and to be expected not to perform as perfectly?
I also know that the vintage bodies, produced in the 40's - 60's are quite different in this respect to the re-issue S3 and SP bodies.
Now here is my conundrum:
I have bought a year ago NOS SP 2005 and a S3 2000 kits.
The SP has seen most of the use from these two over the last year and a slight squeaking of the focus helicoid turned into a helicoid that even without a lens attached could barely be focussed back to infinity with the focus wheel.
It did not feel like being seized up but just having grown friction over time (what started as a slight squeak).
The body has been treated very nicely and has probably only seen ~20-50 rolls in my use (no use at all for a Nikon RF).
The Nikon S3 2000 has seen much less use over all by me and still focusses ok but I bet to be able to feel a similar issue starting at some point.
Now here comes where all the issues started for me:
I was very lucky to have received an incredible original Nikon SP kit a little while ago with a Nikon SP in very nice cosmetic condition.
Among others the body has received a complete overhaul by the masters at Kiitos in Japan and I can only say - it is absolutely FLAWLESS in every way.
The focussing on this vintage SP feels completely effortless.
This focus feel is what I would love to have with both of my reissue bodies as well.
As the SP 2005 focus helicoid has become too tight for proper use, I disassembled and cleaned the helicoid today.
I have followed instructions as of keeping it dry as well as having experimented with the very lightest lens helicoid Lithium grease available.
Both just didn't work out to my liking.
Dry focus helicoid on the SP 2005 resulted in squeaky focussing (and probably after a few months of normal use again with seizing up).
The thinnest film on the female helicoid and subsequent light wiping (to further reduce the lubrication film) resulted in what I would feel is a very nicely damped yet light focussing feel compared to how most of my faster Leica lenses work but it is worlds apart from the vintage SP with it's completely effortless focussing.
What is the secret here?
What did the factory do (obviously whatever they did in the early 2000', did not hold up with my NOS re-issue SP after just 1 year of light use)?
Is it a fact that the re-issue S3 and SP bodies are inferior to the vintage Nikon RF bodies and to be expected not to perform as perfectly?