S3 2000

To get a black one easily and for less money you could whip out a Sharpie and start coloring...

I've been pondering whether to apply gun blueing to the chromed parts of the face of my S2, I personally don't like altering originals but I do like black cameras better than chromed ones......
 
For my three original Nikon RFs -- an S2, SP and S3 -- I painted the front plates with black furnace paint about 16 years ago.
 
>>How'd the furnace paint hold up?<<


I recall having baked it in my oven for awhile ... having grown up watch television adds about "baked-on automotive enamel" for $39.99

The SP in my avatar photo shows the results after a lot of years of regular use. Instead of brassing, it's "chromed" around all the edges, plus a bit of wear on the frontplate, under the focus wheel, where I tend to hold the camera. For a camera with light and infrequent use, like, my S2, it has held up extremey well.

Overall, the two well-used cameras have a kind of grungy look that I prefer. Makes people stop worrying that they might be in the presence of a very expensive camera. I was using the well-worn S3 to take some pictures at my daughter's Girl Scout cookie sales booth. The mom in charge -- a well-to-do-lady with expensive tastes -- saw the camera and craned her neck to get a better look, asking if it was a Leica. This happens every now and then. My standard response is, "No, it's just an old Nikon from the 1950s." To which she showed visible relief and immediately stopped obsessing about the camera.
 
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I called them last week to see if they had a black one and the guy said they only had chrome, but they had three of them.
 
Run on S3's at B&H

Run on S3's at B&H

I'm partially responsible for that...I bought two of them. 🙂 Inasmuch as I use a 50 almost exclusively (and the 50/1.4 Nikkor is a gem) and I use Acros and TRI-X almost exclusively (sometimes APX 100 and APX 400), having two of them just made sense to me. Together, they cost far less than one Noctilux at the current going B&H price of $5,495. 😱
 
That is me! Thanks for the kudos. I'm a bit behind in posting on it, but not because I lack more opinions. 🙂

I'm glad that there is still a strong group of Nikon RF lovers out there. This is a great group.
 
Ok you all,
With Mr. Smith on board,clearing-up B&H stock, you better not wait a lot longer, grab them at a good price NOW....I hate to say it but all the yap,yap here and elswhere has caused a little price increase...I see clean(not mint) S2's breaking the $700 barrier on the 'bay.

Kiu
 
>>The vast majority of new SPs were purchased by guys that do not have any real interest in them, not collectors or users. They will own the camera for a few years then wonder why they bought a range-finder with no meter, and no new lenses, when what they "wanted" was MP. <<

It is interesting the number of Leica-type people who seem to stumble into the Sp-2005 and, to a lesser extent, the S3-2000, attracted largely by the price, with no real understanding of the cameras' strengths and weaknesses. They bring an entirely different personality to their camera ownership.
 
I didn't have my first Nikon RF until about 5 years ago. With so few having been made (compared to Leica) and with collectors coveting them for shelves rather than shooting, they just weren't cost effective when a Leica M4-2 was much cheaper. What made an aficionado of the Nikon RF is perhaps the least-talked-about feature...the marvelous 50/1.4 lens. I was able to get a mint LTM version of one a few months ago. It is truly a fine piece of glass. To simplify my life, I am pretty much carrying only that lens despite having the CV 28, 35, and 50/1.5.

Both of the Nikon S2's I picked up had light leaks in the shutter. I had both replaced with titanium shutters, and they are like new.
 
Jeffrey,
You'll see a lot of fans of the Nikkor 5cm/1.4 on this forum.

I think the collector craziness is largely over with. And I'm glad. These cameras and lenses are too good to sit on shelves. And the outrageous prices have always been for the minty stuff and the really exotic lenses. User lenses, especially in Nikon mount have always been affordable. The Nikkors in LTM command a bit more of a premium.
 
I got rid of my Summarit in the 1970s and replaced it with an LTM 50mm Nikkor.
I was pleased with the NK glass.
 
Also welcome, Jeffery.

Nice first-look review of the S3-2000 on your blog. I've been using mine regularly for a year now, and I've been shooting Nikon rangefinders as daily users for about 18 years now.

You mentioned the infinity lack and rotating front element. It takes awhile to build the habits of working with a Nikon/Contax infinity lock. It does greatly simplify removing the 50mm lens, and it is only an issue with 50mm lenses.

Also, the rotating front element is not considered a big deal by users. It is what allows the 50mm Nikkor lenses to be so small. You can use the focus wheel to hold the focus in place while changing f/stops. Polarizers are inherently difficult with rangefinder cameras ... with an Nikon RF, you just have to focus first, then set the polarizer.

Glad to have another S3-2000 shooter among us. Post some pictures when you get a chance.
 
jonmanjiro said:
Ok, who's the lucky guy/gal ??? 😀
Click to expand...

I hope they are an RFF member, I am glad someone snaged it as I cannot justify spending 2800 canadian dollars on it right now.
 
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