Used SP or new S3?

[VinceC]

The S2s have always had the brightest, most contrasty rangefinder patches.

My S3 is one of the 1950s versions. Its rangefinder isn't quite as bright as the S2's, but it's still workable. It in no way can be compared to an M-series Leica. But I've never had trouble with low-light focusing ... the 1:1 viewfinder and the longer focus throw generally make it quite accurate for low-light work.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You might want to check the optical path and have another Nikon RF user look at it. I found a sync wire in the optical path of my oldest Nikon S2. Stranger things have happened. You might have a misaligned/bad prism or some other problem.

The S2 finder is (slightly) color coded like the Contax, has higher contrast. The S3 finder is not. The patches on my original S3's are not as good as the Leica M3, but compare well with the Canon 7.

I noticed you were looking for lenses in another thread. Did you buy just a body?

 

[Rayt]

Maybe I am just not familiar with it yet. Didn't mean to be so rough on it. I'll just have to use it and see what happens. Looks and feels like the Nikon F which go me into this whole photography thing.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Nikon finders were never as good as the Leica M3. The SP finder compares well with the Canon 7; kind of hard to rationalize spending 10x as much on a near mint Nikon SP as I did on a Canon 7. But that's why I was a Psychology major for two years before going into computers. Came in handy for buying old cameras!

 

[furcafe]

Welcome to 1958! 😛

I have an S3 2000 & an S2 (CLAed/repaired to move a wire out of the way of the optical path like Brian's). As Brian noted, the main reason the S3's RF patch doesn't stand out as much is that the rest of the finder isn't tinted like that in an S2 or Contax. So what you gain in overall VF brightness, you lose in RF patch contrast; now you can see the design tradeoff in going w/1 approach as opposed to the other. As Vince & Brian have pointed out, none of the Nikon RF VFs are as nice as a Leica M, but they should still be plenty useable in lowlight. I have no problem using my S3 2000, but was already somewhat familiar w/similar RF VFs like that on the Canon P.

I just got a S3 2000 in black and frankly am a bit disappointed with the finder. The viewfinder is nice and big and bright but the rangefinder patch is low in contrast and a bit dim. I could hardly focus it in low light. It was extremely difficult to focus on a busy pattern like tree branches etc. I borrowed a friend's S2 before making my purchase decision and while the viewfinder on the S2 is smaller and darker the RF patch is higher in contrast and much easier to focus. Even my IIa's rf is better than the S3's. So is the S3 2000 for collectors only? I am not even comparing it to the M6 finder but it bites big time.

 

[umana]

Hi. If YOUR S3's view/rangefinder is disappointingly poor, and not so contrasty, I am afraid that it is a problem of YOUR camera. If, as I suppose, you bought it new, I suggest you to contact your Nikon dealer, or any Official Nikon Repair Service, and pretend it perfectly revised, and fixed. They will probably fix for free even a used Millennium S3...

I had more that TEN of the S3 2000 set cameras, and all of them were terrific, with a marvelous, bright and very contrasty view/rangefinder.

Best wishes, Luigi

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

The rangefinder patch on my S32000 which i purchased brand new is also bright and contrasty
not always easy to focus quickly in poor light but the 1.1 viewfinder compensates for this in eye relief. I used an M6 .85 before and found the S3 more relaxing when holding up to the eye for a long period time. Granted it's no match for the M3's viewfinder but it certainly delivers the goods.
Simon

 

[awilder]

I've not seen the S3 2000 but have seen an SP 2005. The RF patch is what I expected, not as bright & contrasty as an M but as good as any other RF design from the 50's that doesn't use the M style rangefinder design. The SP compensates nicely with it's 1:1 viewfinder mag. and long focus throw to give pinpoint accurate focus. The viewfinder arrangement also allow easy viewing of the 28/35 framelines even for eyeglass wearers, something not possible on most M's except the .58 mag. but then you loose focus accuracy.

 

[VinceC]

The S3/SP finders also make it very comfortable and natural to use longer telephotos ... 105 and 135mm. There's no reduction in magnification, so it's easy to focus and precise to frame.