S3 2000

One of my brothers just got back from a 6 month stay in Japan, I'm going to ask him to have one of his aquaintences there see what they can do about hooking up an S3 or an SP for me at those good in country prices.

And one of the people he met and spent some time with is one of the Princess's...wonder what kinda pull she'd have :D
 
prices will fall until buyers and sellers are in balance. At the moment "real" collectors are satisfied with S3-2000's although dealers have them stocked. Now they move trying to sell them not only to the strongbox but to the casual collectors/ casual users like me.

And as I said earlier, when they are down to 1500EUR (incl. tax) I can imagine buying one...
 
I think the quality of the Millenneum Nikkor will hold S3-2000 kit prices above $1,000. A lot does depend on how many more years film remains an affordable consumer commodity. For now, consumer demand -- though reduced -- is strong enough to keep it that way. U.S. discount stores also stock Kokak B&W C41 film, which sells at a premium price for what it is ... about $10 for a three-roll pack, which is more than twice the cost per roll of Fuji 400.

I, for one, like the continued convenience and affordability of film. If it becomes an inconvenient, expensive specialty product, I'll probably stop using it.

I also don't think we're going to see any heavily used S3-2000s enter the market. My guess is that the few S3-2000s actually getting regular use are being babied by their owners. You're not going to see the well-broken-in cameras of professional photographers or the primary daily-use camera of advanced amateurs. Everything I've seen indicates that my S3-2000 is among the most used out there, and I'm shooting an average of a roll a week and not banging it against a second camera body. It's accumulating some dirt and a few small scratches, but I'm simply not treating it the way I used to treat more disposable Fs and Nikkormats.
 
Last edited:
xayraa33 said:
some great prices here at Yahoo Japan.
still around $1300 for a new S3 kit, will go higher I am sure.

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k38522428

... what percentage does the service "Auctionservicejapan" charge to buy for you, as these sales are not for overseas buyers?
Click to expand...



That S3 2000 sold for 162,000 yen :eek:

Today at http//www.xe.com/ucc/ that's ...

162,000.00 JPY = 1,375.73 USD !!!



As for auction services....

these guys charge 8% plus some other charges.

http://www.japanauctioncenter.com/our_fees.php
 
The S3 has never been that popular as a collector camera. Fred, the Nikon Webmaster, doesn't have much respect for it. Lots of people don't. They think of it as poor cousin to the SP. Few were made back in the late '50s and were hard to sell. The S3-2000 is in the same situation only moreso, because many more were made compared to the potential market. Back in the late '50s, the potential marrket was for serious amaterus and 2nd body for pro users. When the S3-2000 came out, those folks were buying DSLRs, not ancient rangefinders.

I've always been a little bit offbeat, so I've always really liked the S3, my old one and my new one. It's been my grab-and-go camera for a long time now.
 
I think Fred said something awhile back about how my kids would never want to use an S3. So I couldn't resist.

Picture of an original S3, taken with an S3-2000 and 85/2.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • mli-s3-jan07.jpg
    mli-s3-jan07.jpg
    81.2 KB · Views: 0
The big finder on the S3 is one of my favorite things about it (I was just out last evening riding bikes with my girls and shooting my 28mm lens by loosely framing through the S3), so I'm intrigued by that picture of the prototype SP with the huge finder. I never heard that it had a lifesize 28mm frame. Now THAT would have been a great camera.
 
Last edited:
What to do with Nikon back when off camera and loading

What to do with Nikon back when off camera and loading

I have long used the Nikon back storage technique I learned at a Nikon School back in the Sixties. You simply place the back's right-hand leading edge in the camera's left side slot and proceed to load. Works for me, and I never have to remember where I put the back, or retrieve it from some place less than clean. When the film is firmly in place, lift the back out of the slot and lock on. WES
 
>>What to do with Nikon back when off camera and loading <<

Here's how I handle the back on a Nikon S-series camera.
I haven't lost one yet. The back is held between the little finger and ring finger while the camera is securely cradled.

attachment.php
 
But the one-handed shot wasn't much to write home about. Mainly a result of "papa, papa, can you hold our coats? PLEASE?"

However, careful observers will see a convergence between Nikki and my daughters.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • 700186-R1-08-9A_009.jpg
    700186-R1-08-9A_009.jpg
    55.2 KB · Views: 0
Arrrrgh....

Arrrrgh....

NIKON KIU said:
OK, all you lucky Canadian members, Henry's is selling a Black S3 limited for under $2000 USD!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-S3-RANGEFINDER-LIMITED-EDITION-BLACK-RARE-USED_W0QQitemZ280095580287QQcategoryZ30099QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I hope the USA dealers are paying attention.

Kiu
Click to expand...


.....Lordy I wish you hadn't posted that....just got word yesterday from my accountant that I'm $5000 short on my Uncle's upcoming BIG DAY, so there go the emergency funds.....hmmmm I wonder if I could withdraw some savings...nah better not...penalties, maybe file an extention.....no....interest charges would offset any savings......OH the AGONY......:bang: :bang: :bang:
 
NIKON KIU said:
OK, all you lucky Canadian members, Henry's is selling a Black S3 limited for under $2000 USD!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-S3-RANGEFINDER-LIMITED-EDITION-BLACK-RARE-USED_W0QQitemZ280095580287QQcategoryZ30099QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I hope the USA dealers are paying attention.

Kiu
Click to expand...

If the USA dealers aren't paying attention, it looks like the NZ dealers are paying even less attention!

Check out this link (scroll to the bottom of the page)!

http://www.wps.net.nz/deluxe.asp

$13,999 kiwi dollars will get you a mint S3 2000!!! :eek::eek::eek:
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=228362&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

Fred, I think B&H's $2300 price tag is for a chrome S3, so $2000 for a used black S3 Limited is still a pretty good deal. It'll be interesting to see what the bidding ends at.

Fujiya Camera recently sold a mint used black S3 Limited for 210,000 yen ($1,800) but they sold it within two days and before I could get in there to check it out.

Fujiya Camera also still has a few new black S3 Limiteds with full one year Nikon warranty for 279,800 yen ($2,400).
 
Yes, the $500 to $600 premium for black cameras is a little absurd. I bougfht a chrome camera plus an 88-cent roll of black tape.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom