SP or S2 if i only shoot 50mm

[maddoc]

From a practical point of view, a S2 is more like a Barnack (screwmount) Leica but with film-advance lever and 50mm frame-lines, while the SP is more like the Leica M4-P, full frame-line set and possibility to use a motor-drive.

I have only used a S, S2, S3, and SP and while I really liked the S2 and SP, the S and especially the S3 are less than optimal, IMO. Also, the SP is the only alternative when using any focal length shorter than 50mm and not an external VF...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The viewfinder on the S3 and S4 cover the FOV with a 35mm lens, but it is cramped if you wear glasses.

Of course the 1x viewfinder of the S2 combines the Viewfinder and Rangefinder functions, unlike the Leica LTM cameras.

The later SP's, SN above ~6212000 for Titanium Foil Shutters, will cost 3 times as much as a comparable condition S2.

 

[VinceC]

Placing a Cosina minifinder on top of the S2 makes it every bit as effective for wide-angles as the SP. Better than an SP, in some respects, in that the CV minifinder has 0.50 magnification, whereas the SP has about 0.25 magnification for the 28 and 35 framelines.

 

[Highway 61]

Yes, this is what I did on one of my two SP on which the 28-35 secondary viewfinder was broken inside (I eventually removed it all and blanked out its eyepieces with strong black paper, making it a clean "SP2").

Only problem is that the Voigtländer 28-35 minifinder (excellent by all means) has been discontinued and is getting hard to find...

 

[Tom A]

The Cosina Mini-finder is a great accessory - unfortunately it is truly "mini" and mine has ben lost. Keep looking for it in the faint hope that it will surface one day! I do have the Bright Line 35 Nikon finder - very good, very bright and rather large.
The S2 also has the problem that it is very easy to "touch" the rotating speed dial and scramble the exposure. You soon learn to keep your finger off it!

 

[back alley]

if one wanted to use a nikon rf lens on one of these bodies...would a 35 or 50 be cheaper?
i assume that a 50/2 would be better priced than a similar 35?

 

[Highway 61]

There is no 35/2 in the Nikon RF lenses world, only a 35/2.5 and a 35/1.8 if you leave the 35/3.5 aside.

The 35/2.5 is every bit as sharp as the 35/1.8 and can be found for $250 average.

Nikon RF stuff prices are on the downside now but the 35/1.8 remains expensive.

My terrific black 50/2 was purchased here from Rover for less than $100 including shipping.

 

[back alley]

these nikon rf threads just tug away at me...i think the nikon rangefinders are the best looking cameras ever made, evrything about them is attractive...makes me sort of regret selling my s2 years ago.
i keep having these crazy thoughts about getting another along with a 35 or 50 and have it for those times i want old and metal in my hands.

for good or bad, i'm not in a position to do anything about it right now...so i guess i'm safe for awhile yet.

 

[jonmanjiro]

The S2 is nice, but the SP is my favourite Nikon RF for a 50 because:

* There's more room in the finder to see outside the 50mm frameline
* The frameline area of coverage on the SP is closer to 50mm, whereas the frameline area of coverage on the S2 is closer to 55mm.
* The SP has parallex correction.

Small differences, but enough that I prefer my SPs and hardly ever use my S2.

 

[Highway 61]

The S2 is nice, but the SP is my favourite Nikon RF for a 50 because:

* There's more room in the finder to see outside the 50mm frameline

Yes, true, and if you don't wear glasses (or have them sit on your forehead just for the time while you are taking your picture) you can very easily use the main viewfinder of the SP to shoot with a 35mm lens by framing with 100% of what you see (what I sometimes do on my "SP2" which is missing its 28-35 secondary viewfinder, and it works perfect).

 

[enasniearth]

nikon s2 sp

nikon s2 sp

i started out with the s2 many years ago . it is still my favorite nikon camera .

the disadvantages you get used to .
rotateing shutter dial - you hold the camera to not touch it while shooting sounds like a pain however quite easy .
no parrellex compensation - the finder is set for the veiw at about 10 feet and it does not have the moveing frame line coupled to the focus mount like the sp .
louder - the s2 has a different shutter mechanism that is not as quiet as the sp

advantages i like
finder - the finder is lifesize ( so is the sp) however it works better for shooting both eyes open . the finder is simpler than the sp with less glass and reflective surfaces so is brighter with a brighter rf spot . one caution any 60 year old finder needs a cleaning to be its best and the small prism is difficult to access and clean the angled reflective surface so it gets skipped on a standard serviceing .buy the brightest rf spot camera you can locate .
weight - the nikon s2 is the lightest nikon rf camera and with a late black barrel lens is nice .
simplicity - the finder is simpler - less glass less parts less mechanisms . you reset the counter manually . the rewind is a straight shaft to the top of the film cassette no offset gear sets and remote shafts like the sp to stripout .
other lenses - if you mainlyuse lenses 50mm and less this is the camera - with an external veiwfinder ( brightline type with no wheels or adjustments) you can frame quickly and accurately . the brightline finders have a second dotted brightline to show parrelex at close distance . the best shooter camera with wide angles and a separate brightline .

if i do use telephotos i use an old nikon fe . on most rf cameras any lens beyond 90 or 85 is a pain to use .

 

[jonmanjiro]

The 35/2.5 is every bit as sharp as the 35/1.8 and can be found for $250 average.

There's one at a decent price (for this lens) currently listed in the RFF classifieds here.

 

[wlewisiii]

43k yen is a decent price? Now I remember why I stick to my IIIf 😀

 

[jonmanjiro]

43k yen is a decent price? Now I remember why I stick to my IIIf 😀

Yes, very decent! If you were to buy the LTM version of this lens for your IIIf, you'd need to pay at least three times this price 😛

 

[wlewisiii]

Hah! Point taken 🙂 If I'm lucky I'll find me a cheap 35/3.5 Summaron someday and leave the LTM Nikkors to you folks.

 

[Highway 61]

Yes, very decent! If you were to buy the LTM version of this lens for your IIIf, you'd need to pay at least three times this price 😛

Yup, more than decent ! It's about half what I paid for mine (in absolutely like new condition, though) two years ago (Nikon RF mount).

 

[barnwulf]

I have both an SP and a S3. The SP is certainly a great camera with all the viewfinder frame options. It's great with the 50 and longer lenses but I am less excited about using a separate VF window for the 35 and 28. I use mainly 35mm and 50mm lenses and I really like the S3 for these. If you have to wear glasses the 35mm frame is a problem. The S3 is an excellent camera and you can find a nice user at a reasonable price. I certainly won't give up my SP though because of the additional viewfinder options. - Jim

 

[Timestep]

Definitely the S2 for 50mm. Absolute simplicity.
I use one regularly, usually with the 50mm.
Or 35mm with shoe mounted viewfinder.
105mm is problematic, better an SLR for this focal length, although my rangefinder 105 was my introduction to the focal length, and I still own it.