Strange Nikon SP(?) Rangefinder

Engraving is missing, film reminder on bottom plate missing, strange wind lever. Looks really odd
 
Having ripped up a fingertip on two on Contax focusing wheels, I can see why someone might remove that. But I'd sooner buy a camera in a dark alley than that one.
 
That's got to be the ugliest SP I've ever seen! And what's with all the gunk on/in the lens and finder??? :eek::eek::eek:

Sold for $907.11 .... dumbfounded :confused::confused::confused:
 
Ah, the good old "I know nuffin' about what I'm selling" trick at its best.

"I'm selling this collection for a friend of mine. It belonged to his Father who is no longer with us. He has no use for the items so he's asking me to sell it for him. I have no Camera knowledge so please feel free to email. I have not tested any of the items so they will be sold as is unless stated otherwise."

:p :D
dexdog said:
Engraving is missing, film reminder on bottom plate missing, strange wind lever. Looks really odd
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Engravings are hidden under the thick black epoxy paint. Oven baked ? If yes... :eek:.

The bottom plate is covered with a piece of leatherette.
Wind lever is from a Nikon F Apollo.
Might have been inspired by this (sensitive minds, pass your way as well :p) :

http://www.naturfotograf.com/nikon_S3_rev_03.html#s3_rev_top3

Ugliest hack is that early Leica M5 "two lugs" style for the neck strap. As the bottom plate had probably to get drilled out for this, the buyer will need a spare back to restore that SP if buying for restoring was the gamble (removing the black paint after a total strip down should be possible because the chrome was probably left in place before that funky painting game).
 
Makes one wonder what the buyer was after. The $900 is a bit high for the lens alone, even assuming that it is in good shape, which given the condition of the camera is iffy. Maybe someone wanted the lens and needed a parts camera, too.

Ugly, ugly camera.
 
If there were no holes drilled in the camera casting, and no damage caused to the viewfinders optics during the painting session, this can be restored to a perfect looking chrome Nikon SP thanks to a lot of patience and the proper use of the good chemicals.

The W-Nikkor-C 35/1.8 looks dusty but it may very well be very nice...

It would be interesting to see the final result if the buyer has the skills to restore the camera into its original shape - a solid Nikon F wind lever might be the only part to locate.

Akihiro Asahi can supply some leatherette having a very similar pattern as the original vinyle covering of the Nikon SP.

I once bought an all taken apart Contax IIa for $78, it came as an awful lot of parts in several plastic bags but eventually turned out to be a very nice camera (close to mint) when reassembled and brought back to mechanical life.

Yet with this SP the main problems are the gone focus wheel - one from a Kiev would work - and the missing infinity lock arm if the buyer's target is to restore the camera 100%.

Depends on how the focus wheel window in the front plate has been filled in, too (I'd bid for epoxy - easy to remove).

I think the buyer is not an absolute beginner re. camera repair :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250236898257

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120254164391

Funniest thing (Fred should read this) is that I myself bought several racing bicycles parts from "meinrad" five years ago - in particular, a Columbus chrome finish fork with a 1" threaded steerer... ;)

It's a small world.
 
"There should be an international law against altering or defiling any Nikon rangefinder"

Why?
Not everyone buys them just to look at. I have two S3's and I've added "Apollo" type plastic tips to both advance levers because it makes them easier for me to cock the shutters when I use them to take photographs. And I'll likely change the film rewind cranks to F-types because the rotating ends make them easier to use. No big deal in my world.
 
rbsinto said:
"There should be an international law against altering or defiling any Nikon rangefinder"

Why?
Not everyone buys them just to look at. I have two S3's and I've added "Apollo" type plastic tips to both advance levers because it makes them easier for me to cock the shutters when I use them to take photographs. And I'll likely change the film rewind cranks to F-types because the rotating ends make them easier to use. No big deal in my world.
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IMHO, a Nikon rangefinder is a Nikon rangefinder. They were designed a a specific way for a purpose. They are the jewels of Nikon heritage. There are so many other rangefinders out there that can be altered or customized, like the ton of Leicas out there or the Bessa-whatevers, but Nikon rangefinders are few and precoius. Yes, they are great picture-takers (as someone might say that a 1969 Ferrari is a great car to get from point "A" to point "B"), but by altering these classics we are doing a disservice to future generations. I mean, why bother messing with a classic camera like a Nikon rangefinder when there are so many other less desireable cameras out there to modify?

Again, my humble opinion. I can't help it. I simply admire old Nikon rangefinders and respect the engineering that went into them. :)


It is like painting antique furniture. Why not just get new furniture that matches your color scheme? In the world of antiques and collectibles, original factory condition is always worth more than modified.
 
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A camera is a camera. If you can make a change to it that makes it work better for you, then go for it. While I'd prefer people don't do it to especially rare or, worse, unique cameras, I've certainly hacked a few cameras - http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61119 shows my most recent attempt & I can only wish that, say, a Contaflex thumb lever would fit on it too.

This camera doesn't look all that nice to my eyes, but then I _like_ chrome on my cameras. It does look functional, however, and that's all that really matters in the end. Can it still do it's job as a light tight box & lens cap? If so, good to go.

;)

William
 
I also replaced the rewind crank on my longtime-user SP. And painted it black with furnace paint. It's the camera in my avatar and it took a whole lot of photographs for me, and I really appreciated have a rewind crank that didn't blister my fingers when I was changing film in a hurry.

I sort of understand the person who went to remove the focus wheel. It really takes several months of regular usage to develop the instincts and reflexes in your fingers so that the focus lock is an asset, not a hinderance.
 
I have no concerns about hacking a camera, either, as far as it's well done - yet on this very SP, it looks like a miserable butchery job.

I too replaced the rewind crank and wind lever of my original S3 by Nikon F ones, and as a result the camera has better ergonomics (and dare I say, a better look, too).
 
"IMHO, a Nikon rangefinder is a Nikon rangefinder. They were designed a a specific way for a purpose. They are the jewels of Nikon heritage. There are so many other rangefinders out there that can be altered or customized, like the ton of Leicas out there or the Bessa-whatevers, but Nikon rangefinders are few and precoius. Yes, they are great picture-takers (as someone might say that a 1969 Ferrari is a great car to get from point "A" to point "B"), but by altering these classics we are doing a disservice to future generations. I mean, why bother messing with a classic camera like a Nikon rangefinder when there are so many other less desireable cameras out there to modify?

Again, my humble opinion. I can't help it. I simply admire old Nikon rangefinders and respect the engineering that went into them. :)


It is like painting antique furniture. Why not just get new furniture that matches your color scheme? In the world of antiques and collectibles, original factory condition is always worth more than modified."

Snegron,
I believe the purpose they were designed for that you alluded to was to take photographs.
However, Nikon rangefinders are not perfect and in fact, historical quaintness aside, they suffer from any number of design faults.
Besides, for the most part, the really pristine examples are already in the hands of those individuals whose lofty motives are undoubtedly limited to nothing more than preserving them intact for future generations, by squirreling them away in bank vaults and display cabinets.
So, based on my needs, and the condition of my cameras I see nothing wrong with doing what I can to improve on the shortcomings in the way they were designed and manufactered, if it helps me to better use them for their intended purpose.
I'd give you a full accounting of the modifications I've made to my SLR's as well, but I fear that would immediately result in my home being surrounded by a SWAT team from the International Camera Police.
 
I just saw it. Looks like a pretty substantial customization.

I myself have an "SP Apollo", with the plastic wind lever and plastic tipped self timer. And it has 2 gruesome engravings from a previous life, apparently the art department of an NY university, so I painted it black. And I use it to shoot with, not to show off to others. Some of you have seen it if you were in Vancouver's NHS convention.

Vick
 
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