So what is the perfect Nikon RF kit, lens-wise?

[Vickko]

So what is the perfect Nikon RF kit, lens-wise?

The 3.5cm f1.8 with the 10.5cm f2.5?

Or 3.5cm f1.8 with 8.5cm f2?

What about a 5cm? Or wider than 3.5cm?

 

[maitani]

imo

25/4 nikkor
28/3.5 nikkor
35/1.8 nikkor
50/1.4 millenium nikkor

the 85 and 105 are superb too, but i prefer those FL on SRL, oh the 21 if you can find one

 

[Rodchenko]

I'd be made up with the 3.5/1.8 and 8.5/2

 

[marcr1230]

I'd say the classic set: 35/1.8 50/1.4 millenium and 85/2.0

 

[Erik van Straten]

35mm f/1.8 or 35mm f/2.5.

50mm f/1.4 (Sonnar type) or 50mm f/2.

Nikon S2 (black) and 35mm brightline finder.

Waltz shade for 50mm f/1.4.

Black Nikon two piece 50mm & 35mm shade for 35mm.

Lower piece of 85mm two piece Nikon shade for 35mm f/1.8 (in combination with upper part of black Nikon two piece 50mm & 35mm shade).

Plastic screw in shade for the Nikkorex 50mm f/2.5 lens fits the 50mm f/2 perfectly.

That's all I need.

Erik.

 

[MaxElmar]

Erik -

I just found my first Nikon RF kit - a chrome S2 and a very well used 35/1.8 (body worn but great glass). Looking for a 50 - about your last comment - aren't all the 50s Sonnar types? Is the Olympic different?

Thanks.

 

[sebastel]

maybe an SP for the shelf, and an M4-P or M6 for the shooting?

(running for cover)

 

[Tom A]

I use a S2 and the 21f4 Nikin F lens (Cosina adapter) as my wide.
Either 28f3.5 or 25f4 as medium wide (usually on a SP).
35f2.5 on a S3
50f1.5 Zeiss ZM Sonnar
Cosina 85f3.5 S mount as a lightweight tele - or if not too much walking involved black 85f2 Nikkor
For portraits or landscape - the 105f2.5.

For a "walk about kit" usually a S3 with the 50f1,4 Nikkor and a second S3 with either a 35f1.8 or 35f2.5 - depending on the light level.

 

[Tom A]

This is a kit that would pretty much do it all. A bit heavy, but optical quality is pretty well perfect, even today.

 

[sebastel]

very lovely, tom.
allow me one question: what refill/cartridges are those?

cheers,
sebastian

 

[Frontman]

maybe an SP for the shelf, and an M4-P or M6 for the shooting?

(running for cover)

I wish my Leica M cameras had the one-to-one viewfinder that my Nikon rangefinders have, then they might sit on the shelf less often.


As for the right kit, I like the SP or S3 with the 35/1.8, or 50/1.4. I don't use the longer lenses, so these two suit me fine. The older Sonnar lenses are quite nice, the Millenium Nikkor is a great lens, but I like the character of the older lenses.

 

[sebastel]

I wish my Leica M cameras had the one-to-one viewfinder that my Nikon rangefinders have, then they might sit on the shelf less often.

well. maybe not so obvious, my comment referred to the fantastical selection of lenses available for leica, and was meant tongue-in-cheek.

while i definitively like nikon RF for quite a number of reasons, there is one deal breaker for me - i am too much used to leica's orientations (infinity left, aperture open right) to switch to nikon (all the other way).
however, this is a different discussion, and does not belong into this thread.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I think a Nikon SP with 3.5cm f/1.8 is the starting point. After that, I think the 5cm f/1.4 is such a special lens (and relatively inexpensive) that it has to be included in a kit, though not necessarily carried. I liked to carry the 21mm f/4 CV Skopar and the 5cm f/1.4. When I had a full kit from 2.1cm up to 13.5cm, (except the 8.5cm) I would carry the 21 or 2.8cm and 5cm OR 3.5cm and 10.5cm. Or just 3.5cm and be done with it.

allow me one question: what refill/cartridges are those?

Those are the Nikon reloadable cassettes for the rangefinders and the F camera. The F2 uses a different cassette which looks similar but won't fit the F or the rangefinders.
The early type reloadable cassettes are some of my favorite bits of photographica and I personally buy all the ones I find and can afford.

Phil Forrest

 

[Vincent.G]

This is a kit that would pretty much do it all. A bit heavy, but optical quality is pretty well perfect, even today.

Tom, these are mouth-watering!😱

Is that a contax mount zeiss biogon 21/4.5 at the back?

 

[rhl-oregon]

Looking for a 50 - about your last comment - aren't all the 50s Sonnar types?

The 5cm 1.4 is the Sonnar.

 

[maitani]

Looking for a 50 - about your last comment - aren't all the 50s Sonnar types? Is the Olympic different?

the 5cm 1.4 is classic 'sonnar type'
the 'vintage olympic' and 'millenium re-edition' are double-gauss design

maitani

 

[sebastel]

Those are the Nikon reloadable cassettes for the rangefinders and the F camera. The F2 uses a different cassette which looks similar but won't fit the F or the rangefinders.
The early type reloadable cassettes are some of my favorite bits of photographica and I personally buy all the ones I find and can afford.

thank you.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

very lovely, tom.
allow me one question: what refill/cartridges are those?

cheers,
sebastian

Not Tom, but I'm always looking for them 🙂
Nikon Cassettes, very similar to the Leica FILCA/IXMOO.
Care needed because one type fits the rangefinders and the SLR "F" but not the F2 which has its own cassette. F3 SLR and onwards no Nikon refillable cassette fits. (there is also a 250 exp. cassette for those backs)
Several editions made, usually identified by the film speed reminder on the base, as the years roll by the speed of the film increases.

 

[Tom A]

Tom, these are mouth-watering!😱

Is that a contax mount zeiss biogon 21/4.5 at the back?

It is indeed a Contax mount 21f4.5 Bogon. Best of the bunch in the 50's and 60's. Heavy - very heavy - and all the aperure numbers are engraved in black (small) on a chrome back ground. Still one of the straightest rendering 21's around (only surpassed by the newer ZM 21f4.5 Biogon in M-mount).

 

[Tom A]

very lovely, tom.
allow me one question: what refill/cartridges are those?

cheers,
sebastian

As Chris stated: They are Nikon Rf cassettes - a bit difficult to find, but easy to load. Much easier than the FILCA/IXMOO for Leicas. A bit more fragile though. Easy to dislodge the locking disc on the top. One major advantage is that they can be used on the Nikon F camera too.