Show Off Your Nikon RF

[enasniearth]

Nikon sp story

Nikon sp story

I sold this camera to keh at one of their buying events perhaps 5 years ago ,
they tried to sell at auction several times , and kept reducing the price on their website , finally it was gone .
I struck up a friendship with another rff member in Pittsburg who lived near my father there , he had bought the camera from keh .
he later agreed to trade it , the sp body , for an s3 olympic black body and a close to mint Nikon sp chrome body.

its my basic shooting kit now with the 5cm f1.4 , and 2.8cm f3.5 . I have an old Leica mr meter I carry also .

only here on rff could something like this happen

 

[marcr1230]

Very nice!

I sold this camera to keh at one of their buying events perhaps 5 years ago ,
they tried to sell at auction several times , and kept reducing the price on their website , finally it was gone .
I struck up a friendship with another rff member in Pittsburg who lived near my father there , he had bought the camera from keh .
he later agreed to trade it , the sp body , for an s3 olympic black body and a close to mint Nikon sp chrome body.

its my basic shooting kit now with the 5cm f1.4 , and 2.8cm f3.5 . I have an old Leica mr meter I carry also .

only here on rff could something like this happen

 

[menos]

This SP is a real beauty, now never let it go again ;-)

 

[jonmanjiro]

The 3.5cm W-Nikkors by Jon, on Flickr

 

[menos]

That size difference was never displayed that dramatic ;-)
Beautiful Jon!

Does it only look like it or is the f3.5 and f2.5 Nikkor identical in external dimensions?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Show Off Your Nikon RF

Hey Dirk, yep the external dimensions of the f2.5 and f3.5 lenses are pretty much identical. The only clear difference is the weight - the f2.5 lens weights in at 15 grams heavier than the f3.5 lens.No doubt due to the extra glass.

 

[music_healing]

my only Nikon RF

S3 with 3.5cm 2.5 and 5cm 1.4

I love them

Nikon S3 and 3.5cm 2.5 along with Seiko Tuna PADI by William Jusuf, on Flickr

Sincerely
William Jusuf

 

[bayernfan]

Hey Dirk, yep the external dimensions of the f2.5 and f3.5 lenses are pretty much identical. The only clear difference is the weight - the f2.5 lens weights in at 15 grams heavier than the f3.5 lens.No doubt due to the extra glass.

i would love to own the f/2.5 and f/3.5 variants of the Nikkor 3.5cm. very nice collection.

 

[menos]

I came across this S3 2000 at a local camera shop a few months ago and had an instant urge to hold it in my hands. I haven't let go ever since. Hunting around for a nice S2 now!

Arron, did you find your S2 ?
If not, you may want to look into finding a nice SP instead - it pairs sooooo beautifully with the S3 - identical controls and making up for a great two body kit (one with a 3.5cm the other with a 5cm or 8.5cm = perfection!

my only Nikon RF

S3 with 3.5cm 2.5 and 5cm 1.4

I love them

Nikon S3 and 3.5cm 2.5 along with Seiko Tuna PADI by William Jusuf, on Flickr

Sincerely
William Jusuf

Gorgeous looking kit William!
That's the type of camera kit everyone needs and not a bit more ;-) Beautiful!

 

[Tveljus]

I'm still breaking in my S3 + EP-marked Micro-Nikkor 5cm f3.5 combo, still not developed any of the photos so all I have is digital samples with the Sony A7. Can't wait to see the results though...!

 

[Timmyjoe]

I truly love this little S2 and the 3.5cm lens. If it had a light meter, it would probably be the only camera I used. On second thought, if they put a light meter in it, it would probably screw the whole thing up.

It's perfect, just the way it is.



Best,
-Tim

 

[Alex1416]

So many great cameras on this thread!
I'm used to shooting Leica for the past year, but recently learned of the cult following and legendary durability of vintage Nikon Rangefinders! So I had to try one for myself !
Here is my new (to me) S2. It's in near mint condition. It was only hard getting used to loading film how the cover slides off. But I've ran 2 rolls through it already and started a third... So I'm enjoying the user experience immensely!!!
Also I'm now waiting for the Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8!!! I think it's the modern remake. Do those have more modern coatings as well?

 

[Alex1416]

And here is my S2 with the 3.5cm f1.8. From the markings and the research I've done, this seems to be the modern remake from the early 2000's. And even though it looks well used, its still clicks and focuses smoothly. Cant wait to develop this roll and see how it performs!

PS.
This combo with the SBLOO finder just seems right to me lol
What do you guys think?
Im in love with combo.
Im using the Nikon more and more than my other cameras haha

Hope you're all enjoying your Rangefinders as well

Regards,
Alex.

 

[James24]

And here is my S2 with the 3.5cm f1.8. From the markings and the research I've done, this seems to be the modern remake from the early 2000's. And even though it looks well used, its still clicks and focuses smoothly. Cant wait to develop this roll and see how it performs!

Welcome to Nikon rangefinders!

Your 3.5/1.8 is an original one, not a reissue. The reissue was made in a limited number with serials 0001 to 2500 and was all black.

 

[Alex1416]

Welcome to Nikon rangefinders!

Your 3.5/1.8 is an original one, not a reissue. The reissue was made in a limited number with serials 0001 to 2500 and was all black.

Wow no way???!!! That makes it even more special to me now!
Thank you for the correction. I must have understood the article wrong, or they were wrong themselves. Now to enjoy the lens and take care of this vintage beauty!

 

[mynikonf2]

Untitled by mike blache', on Flickr
Here's my SP with a later model of the 2.8cm/3.5. In the foreground are the 3.5cm/1.8 together with the
3.5cm/2.5 which has an original hood mounted on it.[/COLOR]

Save​

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

I often miss my S3, I should not be in this thread. The patch on my s3 was so dim. Would an SP or S2 be a better option for a brighter rangefinder?

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I often miss my S3, I should not be in this thread. The patch on my s3 was so dim. Would an SP or S2 be a better option for a brighter rangefinder?

My old S2, and my old SP both have brighter viewfinders than my reissue S3 did. That's not a lot of experience, one of each, but based on that, I'd say yes. I know some others have found S2s to be brighter than S3s. FWIW.

 

[mynikonf2]

I often miss my S3, I should not be in this thread. The patch on my s3 was so dim. Would an SP or S2 be a better option for a brighter rangefinder?

Unfortunately Nikon RF's have adequate RF patches at best, just not their strongest point IMHO. However, you can find some that are quite workable and their reliability is very note worthy. I have cameras, that if exercised regularly, have gone many years without the need of a cla.

It's kinda like the difference between a Porsche and a Honda, the Porsche needs frequent maintenance to perform at it's optimum performance level, it's engineering is just that precise. On the other hand, the Honda's engineering is as precise, but focused more on endurance, i.e. less need of maintenance to maintain its designed level of performance, again IMHO.

 

[Range-rover]

I have a S3 and it's a nice little rangefinder camera, built like a tank. the rangefinder
patch isn't to bad, I did when I first received the camera took the top plate off and
cleaned the rangefinder out which made a better. I still need to replace the rangefinder
window the smaller one is a bit worn looking but usable none the less.