Topped up my kit

[rbsinto]

After shooting with nothing but manual focus Nikon SLR gear for almost 30 years I finally took the rangefinder plunge and got my vintage S3 back in December.
It came with a Jupiter 8 50mm f2 which was ok to get me going, but since then I've been busy acquiring the lenses I felt I needed for a good street-shooting kit.
I got a CV 21 f4, a Nikkor 85 f2, and just today a CV 35 f2.5.
That's it. Stick a fork in me. I'm done like dinner.
All the rangefinder lenses God meant for a shooting man to have.
However......once my wallet has regained some turgor, I'll probably let my Nikon repair Guru here in Toronto turn one of my F36 motor drives into an S36 for the S3, 'cause I hate shooting without motors on my cameras.

 

[VinceC]

Welcome to the RF world.

You might want to look for a good Nikkor 50/2 or 50/1.4. The Jupiter doesn't focus properly unless you stop it down to f/5.6 (because of the dread difference between Contax and Nikon-S focus mounts).

 

[rbsinto]

Fred,
Although you and I have had this discussion before over at Nikonhs, I'm just unclear on one thing you mentioned in your post. Beside cutting down and installing a motor plate from an F, is there anything else internal (in the bottom of the camera) that must be modified? Specifically, the "new slot" that you referred to, is this something in addition to the motor plate? While I'm not overly concerned because Mr. Fung at Winball here in Toronto could probably do this in his sleep, I'm interested for my own benefit to know.
Please and thank you.

 

[Xmas]

Tom A will do a rapid winder?

Noel

 

[rbsinto]

Vince,
Shims m'boy, shims.
0.5 mm brass shim stock cut to shape and fitted inside the Jupiter as per Brian Sweeny's instructions, and everything should be right in the world.
I'll letcha know how it works out after I've done the deed.

 

[VinceC]

>>Fred,
Have you done this conversion? Given the price difference between an S-36 and an F-36, I'm surprised not more have been done.<<

I think there's a bit of a cottage industry for this in Japan.

 

[rbsinto]

Brian
I would assume that not more of these have been made because as collectibles they'd have no value (unless of course you had a Marty Forscher do-over from the early 1960's or whenever) and for we users, the conversion cost is likely great enough to make most think twice. Besides, I think one of the selling points of the rangefinder camera is it's size and weight, and the addition of a motor drive negates those features.
Without discussing this at great length, Mr. Fung talked in terms of a few hundred dollars, and he's always been as good as his word in the ten years he's been doing all my Nikon manual focus gear maintenence and repairs, so I have no reason to doubt him. Again, if and when I take the plunge, I'll keep you all advised and apprised. I know at least one collector-seller who is very interested if indeed it is done for that kind of money.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

When I first got my F3HP it didn't come with the MD4. Lusting for a motor drive (as I had never had a motorized Nikon - never had a motor for my F) I found a nice MD-4 on that auction site and bought it. I used it on my F3 for about six months until I realized that the very smooth film advance, lighter weight sans MD-4, and that very relaxing moment of thought before I push the shutter were part of the experience that was now lacking. The MD-4 now sits in my closet....so now when I have that rare need for a motor, or when I feel the urge for that "clak, clak, clak"...I dig out the F4s and fire away.

I have my motorless rangefinder cameras for the convenience and style of what to me is rangefinder photography.....take anywhere, prepared to shoot anywhere, within the quiet and thought provoking mood of a moment in time....when a particular time and place makes me want to look through the viewfinder and capture whatever I perceive as unique ...to have a second look ...later.

Although I have to admit the last time I used my F4s was at my 3 year old Grandson's birthday party. I was really just taking snaps for others to enjoy.....it would have been close to impossible with an S2 or similar.....what no motor, no autofocus, no rapid recycle SB-25...give me a break....this is 2007, not 1957...I dunno how they did it....no hot flashbulbs please.