So, I bought an S3

[Highway 61]

A few years ago when I was actively collecting cameras I liked to buy clean but cheap Zeiss Contax and Kiev collectibles, this range of cameras always fascinated me. I ended up with a lot of Sonnars but a few 35mm as well: postwar Jena Biogon (2! I did not even remember I had 2), Orthometar, Planar and an Orion 28. I never seriously used them because I was never at ease with the squinty RF and the external VF, both having the habit of scratching my glasses.

The very good point is that the S3, contrary to the postwar Contax bodies, will accept all of your vintage 35mm Zeiss lenses using the external bayonet system BUT anything having the "prewar" design (even if immediate postwar manufactured) will leave circular scratches all over the chrome finish of the S3 front plate.

The solution is either to cleanly file down the rear surface of the lenses bayonets and chrome rings to remove a layer of material of about 1mm, which can be done with no regrets with, say, a Jupiter-12 or even an Orion 28, but you will for sure think twice about it with collectible Zeiss lenses like a Jena T Biogon or an Orthometar.

So my advice would be that you use the postwar 35mm Planar with the Nikon S3, et voilà. 😉

PS : a thin felt ring over the Contax II eyepiece will protect your glasses ; and take notice that the Nikon S3 eyepiece is made of metal too, so you may think of either fitting some felt at it as well or switching to genuine mineral prescription glasses, which won't get scratched by something made of soft metal. 😉

 

[S.H.]

The very good point is that the S3, contrary to the postwar Contax bodies, will accept all of your vintage 35mm Zeiss lenses using the external bayonet system BUT anything having the "prewar" design (even if immediate postwar manufactured) will leave circular scratches all over the chrome finish of the S3 front plate.

The solution is either to cleanly file down the rear surface of the lenses bayonets and chrome rings to remove a layer of material of about 1mm, which can be done with no regrets with, say, a Jupiter-12 or even an Orion 28, but you will for sure think twice about it with collectible Zeiss lenses like a Jena T Biogon or an Orthometar.

So my advice would be that you use the postwar 35mm Planar with the Nikon S3, et voilà. 😉

Argh, I thought only the J12 had this problem, not the Zeiss. Looks like the Biogons will stay on the shelf...

edit: Or trade a Jena Biogon for a West German one... the neverending quest will continue!

 

[S.H.]

It has arrived! Looks good so far, I'll test it in the following weeks.



The VF is obviously less good than a M4, but somehow very bright and contrasty (as much as my Leicas). A bit quirky but it will be a pleasure to use.

 

[keytarjunkie]

The VF is obviously less good than a M4, but somehow very bright and contrasty (as much as my Leicas). A bit quirky but it will be a pleasure to use.

The biggest advantage of the viewfinder is that it’s life size, so you can keep both eyes open while composing. Really nice with the 35mm bright lines! I’d love to see some photos with that Planar. I’m considering picking up either the 35mm Planar or Biogon for my own S3.

 

[Highway 61]

Congrats ! Looks very nice and to be very clean ! 🙂

Good that you have at least one postwar-designed Zeiss 35. It would have been a pity to immediatly etch a large bright circle in the S3 front plate finish with something made in Jena or Krasnogorsk, wouldn't it... 😉

 

[splitimageview]

35mm frames at life size is grand. 🙂

 

[S.H.]

Congrats ! Looks very nice and to be very clean ! 🙂

Good that you have at least one postwar-designed Zeiss 35. It would have been a pity to immediatly etch a large bright circle in the S3 front plate finish with something made in Jena or Krasnogorsk, wouldn't it... 😉

Indeed! And FYI, the Kilfitt mirror boxes have the same problem than the prewar wides even it they are made for postwar IIa/IIIa, so I won't use my Leitz Telyt 200 on the S3. It is much easier to shoot with on the F or even on the Exakta anyway 😀.

I sure have a tendency to complicate things, using Leitz or Zeiss glass on Nikon bodies, Zeiss or Nikon on Leicas, etc.

 

[S.H.]

The biggest advantage of the viewfinder is that it’s life size, so you can keep both eyes open while composing. Really nice with the 35mm bright lines! I’d love to see some photos with that Planar. I’m considering picking up either the 35mm Planar or Biogon for my own S3.

Sure! Keep an eye on this thread in the next few weeks/months, I'll post pictures if I can.

 

[Range-rover]

It has arrived! Looks good so far, I'll test it in the following weeks.



The VF is obviously less good than a M4, but somehow very bright and contrasty (as much as my Leicas). A bit quirky but it will be a pleasure to use.

Look's great, when I had the S3 the rangefinder patch was hard to see
compared to the S2. Now with the SP I have it's really good I think even
better that the Leica M2 I had, it is a bit different to use but once you get
used to the different feel and operation there great.

 

[S.H.]

Look's great, when I had the S3 the rangefinder patch was hard to see
compared to the S2. Now with the SP I have it's really good I think even
better that the Leica M2 I had, it is a bit different to use but once you get
used to the different feel and operation there great.

The biggest difference for me is in the RF patch boundaries: clearly delimited in the Ms, blurry in the S3. Must get used to.

 

[campagnolo]

The biggest difference for me is in the RF patch boundaries: clearly delimited in the Ms, blurry in the S3. Must get used to.

How are you adapting so far? For me I've been having trouble with the RF patch so I am waiting for a gel filter to come in and make the switch! I opened up the front plate and removed the window per instructions in another thread and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Hoping the light blue filter I picked out helps me focus easier!

 

[largedrink]

Congrats ! Looks very nice and to be very clean ! 🙂

Good that you have at least one postwar-designed Zeiss 35. It would have been a pity to immediatly etch a large bright circle in the S3 front plate finish with something made in Jena or Krasnogorsk, wouldn't it... 😉

What is the compatibility of post-war Contax lenses with the various Nikon rangefinder camera models?

 

[helen.HH]

freakin Cool, Congrats, Enjoy !
I personally Love the S2, but all Nikon RF's rock !!
the 50 f2 nikkor lens is Superb

If I was not immersed in having 'leica' gear < Nikon RF film cameras and the Digi Hassy X1D would be my choices ...some day , no more buying for me unless I sell and change systems 😉

 

[Range-rover]

The biggest difference for me is in the RF patch boundaries: clearly delimited in the Ms, blurry in the S3. Must get used to.

Did you clean the finder glass, it alway's helps a bit.

 

[Range-rover]

What is the compatibility of post-war Contax lenses with the various Nikon rangefinder camera models?

I think you could use wide angle lenses, there's seem to be a problem
with standard and Tele's.

 

[splitimageview]

Contax lenses will fit but won't focus correctly. Some will even scratch the front of the camera. Wide angles *can* work and be usable, but I wouldn't use any except the 21 Biogon as the DOF is so great even wide open.

 

[S.H.]

I'm back with my first roll. Covid did not help because I don't have access to my shared darkroom... So I "scanned" the film using a D800. Which is still new to me (I just bought a used one, it is a beast 😱), the DSLR/scanning method is too, I would need some proper backlight so if there are some lighting inconsistencies it is from my process...

Taken at 3.5, because not much light:












Some aggressive crop: Focus is ok!



A test shot with a Prominent Ultron 50 f2, on a Contax adapter, at f2: focus is where it should be, I'll test it against a Nikkor 50/2 at some point.



Other pictures will probably follow...


My first impressions : finder is very flarey but also very contrasty. And wides are very useable at around f4. YMMV using 50s... It will make a very good system with a pair of "slow" lenses!

 

[S.H.]

How are you adapting so far? For me I've been having trouble with the RF patch so I am waiting for a gel filter to come in and make the switch! I opened up the front plate and removed the window per instructions in another thread and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Hoping the light blue filter I picked out helps me focus easier!

I would say it is slightly harder to focus than a Leica patch, for me. But mine was probably cleaned or well cared for, so no need to fiddle with a filter.

 

[charjohncarter]

I use masking tape (I don't what they call it in France), and form it around the eyepiece. It has solved the eyeglass scratching problem for me.

Nice photos from everyone.

 

[S.H.]

Of course I could not avoid adding a 50 (a HC 50 f2), and I played with it in low light @ 1600 iso.