S3 2000

I'm new to Nikon rangefinder cameras but I shoot witha Leica MP .85 and the ragefinder white out has been vitually eliminate . by adding another lens in the rangefinder light path. I think that it is now standard in all the M cameras.
 
>>The part about buying two used SPs to find out how they were made... gezz. Shades of 1949.<<

I think the same thing would happen if, say, GM decided to remake the '57 Chevy or Zenith reintroduced a TV from the mid-1950s. There may or may not be blueprints around, which may or may not accurately reflect what happened on the production line. But it would probably be easier to just find some collectors with existing models and reverse engineer them. The assembly line is utterly different, as are the old parts suppliers.
 
VinceC said:
I think the same thing would happen if, say, GM decided to remake the '57 Chevy .....
Click to expand...

Ford went through that process a few years ago when they made some brand-new Model Ts. The original drawings had long ago crumbled, so they had to obtain critical old parts and X-ray them to make the new tooling.
 
Next year is the 100th annivesary of the Model T.
It would probably be impossible for Ford to resell a reverse-engineered Model T to consumers today (Model T-Centennial?) There is no way it would pass modern auto safety standards. The brakes were a suggestion; the headlamps a glimmer; the crank start an arm-breaker; bumpers nonexistant. Imagine how it would do in a modern crash test, especially at its top speed of 40mph.
 
I agree it would have been interesting if Nikon had put some creativity into its 2000 and 2005 RFs. The original 1957-58 designs were truly innovative.
 
They could have kept the styling of the SP frontplate.

Many mid-priced point and shoots have zooming finders, so it probably would have been cheaper than trying to recreate the SP finder.

Still, I understand why Nikon recreated its classic camera. But it may also have really inspired the market if, alongside the SP, they had created an innovative new RF camera.
 
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Nikon would have probably made the zoom finder rf camera as a production camera if the SLR Nikon F was not the runaway success that it was from 1959 onwards.
 
I've read about this prototype. Looks wise I'm glad they went no further than the SP. I don't like the look of the Nikkormat-like rewind lever. The new controls give it a too modern, fluid, "soft" image. I like the originals much better.
 
>>But my point is when they built the first SP Nikon had a hundred thousand focus mounts under their belt, not less than 1000. Buying a New SP is kind of like buying a Nikon I.<<

Fred,
Nikon had just made 10,000 cameras (the S3-2000) before tackling the SP-2005. So, using your own reasoning, the SP is a very mature product off of a disciplined, experienced production line. I assume fewer people were involved in the reissues compared to 50 years ago, so that by the middle of the S3-2000, you had a very experienced top-notch production line going.
 
>>Vince
But CV did 2x and they did not sell that well?
Noel<<

That's true. I came close to buying one myself but didn't. The extra features ... built-in metering, flash sync, 1/2000 shutter speed, weren't enough to convince me. The short RF base-length is a serious consideration considering I shoot 50s, 85s, 105s and 135s wide open. ... One of the beauties of the Nikon RF systems is its telephotos.

I think Cosina discovered that Nikon RF shooters pretty much believe they already have one of world's best RF cameras, so it's hard to convince them to get something else. The CV S-mount Bessa is the price of a user S2 and not much cheaper than a user S3. So it's not the same as Leica, where people can impulse purchase a Bessa with the expectation of perhaps using it as a stepping stone to a Leica M system one day.
 
Fred

I've only bought two Nikons brand new...my Nikon F in July 1967 and my D200 last fall. Everything else has been used.

Funny that after almost 40 years (a lot of film) the "edge" is still there everytime I pick up that F and shoot some film. I sometimes hold it out and look at it and say to myself "Wow, a Nikon F" just like I did years ago.

Sadly the "edge" with the D200 was initially only so-so and remains as such...but I continue to be very much impressed with the results I get from it.
 
Hi Jon,
I can pay you buy relieving you of your obligation to post great deals on yahoo.jp auctions. 🙂
You will no longer have the burden of reminding us about low prices on the S3-2000 or SP 2005.
More importantly for me, my wife will sleep better and she may remove the hold on my bank account.
 
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