Show Off Your Nikon RF

[maddoc]

My Nikon S2 BD with attached Zeiss Biogon 1:4.5 f=21 mm and matching finder. First two test rolls finished ... now I am nosey. The late type half case looks quite massive, but protects the body well.

Best wishes,
Walter

It looks great ! I had no idea that the 2.1cm Biogon fits on the S2 !🙂

 

[Walter Ulreich]

Hallo Gabor,

found that thrilling combination several times on the net, so tested it. It seems to work, the shutter of the S2 keeps untouched. I ordered a postwar Zeiss Biogon 2.8/35 lately that should fit also both my Contax IIa(s) and the Nikon S2.

With kind regards from the south of Styria,
Walter

 

[maddoc]

Hallo Gabor,

found that thrilling combination several times on the net, so tested it. It seems to work, the shutter of the S2 keeps untouched. I ordered a postwar Zeiss Biogon 2.8/35 lately that should fit also both my Contax IIa(s) and the Nikon S2.

With kind regards from the south of Styria,
Walter

Walter,

Thanks a lot for the info on that !

Beste Grüße in die Steiermark aus Japan,

Gabor

 

[Tom A]

Gabor, the old Biogon works very well on the Nikon. Only problem is that the users in the 50's had much better eyesight! Miniscule engravings, usually tine numbers in black on bright chrome background so most of the time you have no idea what f-stop you are on! The supposedly was some black ones made with white lettering - much easier to read.
Also, having had multiple "vintage" Biogons - I never found a hood for it. I dont even know if they made one. The Contarex SLR version of the Biogon had a hood - but it is big and would block the viewfinder of the Rf.
Apart from that it is a great lens, sharp, virtually no distorsion, surprisingly flare resistant for a 50's lens - but it is heavy.
Some of the Zeiss lenses (pre-war and post war) are still very good. Apart from the 21f4.5, my favorite is the small 35f3.5 Planar - amazing image quality - a bit soft edge at f3.5, but rivals anything else around from f5.6 on.

 

[kdemas]

This thread is forcing me to take out the SP this weekend. These things are SO addictive!

 

[Walter Ulreich]

Hallo Tom,

neither Hans-Jürgen Kuc (Auf den Spuren der Contax) nor John Keesing (Contax Rangefinder Lenses 1932-1962) gives any hint on lens hoods for the Biogons. All my Contax original literature and some net research too gives no evidence, so I assume there were no lens hoods provided. The Biogon 4.5/21 was only made in one version, no variations, black numbers on chrome have all these lenses. Same with the late West Germany made Biogons 3.5/35 and 2.8/35. Only those will fit on RF Nikons, the pre war versions and post war Jena versions are longer, will not fit even the Contax IIa/IIIa.

With kind regards,
Walter

 

[bobkonos]

Nikon S2 kit with goodies

Nikon S2 kit with goodies

Here's a little display as it is about time I contributed to this thread.

 

[mynikonf2]

John, is that a F2 film advance lever on your SP? Looks like the plastic tip prevents it from laying flush against the camera body.

 

[_tom]

 

[RObert Budding]

You guys are evil. Now I want a Nikon S2 or an SP . . .

 

[steveyork]

I inherited this equipment from my grandfather. It is a very good set. I have the exposure meter and booster, cable release, film cassette, model BC IV pocket flash unit, various filters, boxes for everything, leather cases, user manual, inspection tags, and other odds and ends. My grandfather did not go any further stating he did not need it. The lever was fast enough for him so he never bought the motordrive. Never needed anything beyond 135mm so I don't have any of the big long lenses.

The camera was bought in 1958. When my great grand parents went to Japan he had them buy the camera equipment. It was his favorite camera. No body could touch it. He used it right up to about 1982 (I found a roll of film with the date on it in the body). We found everything in a bowling ball bag. The 50mm f/1.1 has been to the factory once in 1969 for repair.

The SP (with 85mm f/1.5) was my main camera for most of 1994 until I bought a black motordriven F. I used the SP for special assignments when natural light and stealth were important. My favorite picture was taken with the SP.

All orginal

I love these stories. My brother inherited my grandmother's old M3. She was a world traveler who took a boat load of slides. And then he sold it. Ahhggg!

 

[mynikonf2]

Well that does it, I'll just have to get a titanium shutter SP. 😉
How about the S3, can this mod be done to a S3? 😕

 

[rbsinto]

One can easily add Apollo-type plastic tips to S3 or SP advance levers regardless of their style, by removing the tips from F2 levers and modifying them to fit with a Dremmel tool. Then some epoxy to secure them in place and you're done.
(I've done this to my two S3s and my SP (all vintage chrome beaters.))
Of course you'll bring the wrath of the collectors down on your head, but if like me you only consider the cameras to be tools, you won't care about that anyway.

 

[mynikonf2]

One can easily add Apollo-type plastic tips to S3 or SP advance levers regardless of their style, by removing the tips from F2 levers and modifying them to fit with a Dremmel tool. Then some epoxy to secure them in place and you're done.
(I've done this to my two S3s and my SP (all vintage chrome beaters.))
Of course you'll bring the wrath of the collectors down on your head, but if like me you only consider the cameras to be tools, you won't care about that anyway.

That is a very good solution & the only thing negative about it is if the "banker" sees this solution & changes their vote on the new titanium SP purchase. 😱 😀

 

[Tom A]

One of my M2's - probably the nicest I have - and one of the cleanest I have ever seen. Even the baseplate is unscratched!!! Oh, well - need to put some more film through it to season it a bit.
OK, as stated, a freudian slip - it is a Nikon S2 - NOT a Leica M2!

 

[goliathus]

Here they come!! 😱

Nikon SP Original / Nikkor-N.C 5cm F1.1 Internal mount.
Nikon SP 2005 / Nikkor-N 50mm F1.1 External mount.

 

[Moriturii]

One of my M2's...

Really tom? 😉 Freudian slip isn't it.

 

[wkkato]

The two lens here, the 50/1.1 and 85/1.5, are bit of closet queens because the 50 has sticky diaphragm blades and the 85 has slight haze. I usually use the R2S with Voigtlander 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5, 50/1.5, and 85/3.5.

 

[RanceEric]

The two lens here, the 50/1.1 and 85/1.5, are bit of closet queens because the 50 has sticky diaphragm blades and the 85 has slight haze. I usually use the R2S with Voigtlander 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5, 50/1.5, and 85/3.5.

That's a shame.. I would love to take them off your hands 😉 haha

 

[KHW]

50/1.1 in LTM

50/1.1 in LTM

Very rare and very good condition. Will test it ASAP.