User Nikon SP... Vintage or Re-Issue

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P. Lynn Miller

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What is the consensus...

A vintage SP or 2005 re-issue, which one makes the better user? I am only concerned with making sure I get the best usable finder. Also is there anyone that is refurbishing Nikon RF finders similar to Luton in the UK does for Leica M's?

Thanks,
 
I reach for my SP 2005 over my vintage SPs nine times out of ten.

In terms of condition of the finder, vintage SPs are hit and miss (mostly miss in my experience). I have two vintage SPs with great finders, but it took a lot of patience and searching to find them. To be sure you'll get the best possible finder with the least amount of hassle, the SP 2005 is the way to go.

I know of no one who offers a finder repair service for Nikon RF similar to Luton's repair service for Leica cameras.

Just my two yen ...
 
The viewfinder is supposed to be a mechanical and optical replica. That said, I've read that the reissue used better testing tools and finer tolerances to render the viewfinder more flare resistant.
 
Saw the cheapest SP 2005 body complete with reissue 3.5cm f1.8 lens I've ever seen in Tokyo last Tuesday night. It had some brassing, but was still in great shape.

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My comment is the same as Jon's (except that I will use my original SP). I got lucky on my original SP - its finder is the same as the new SP-2005. But since buying it, I have seen many many dim SP finders.

If you don't want to engage in a hit-and-miss search for an SP, buy a new SP-2005. The black finish is simply stunning.

By the way, I did paint my original SP black, over the chrome, and also added an F2 style self timer and film advance lever. It makes the camera much more comfortable to use, and I like the looks of it.

I may consider selling my SP-2005, but, it would take some encouragement. :)


Vick
 
The only thing the vintage has over the new is Titanium shutter curtains. Find an F that has good curtains and set her aside for a transplant some day if you burn a hole in them.

B2 (;->
 
BillBingham2 said:
The only thing the vintage has over the new is Titanium shutter curtains. Find an F that has good curtains and set her aside for a transplant some day if you burn a hole in them.

B2 (;->
Click to expand...

For the record, only about 9,000 of the 23,000 or so vintage SPs came with titanium shutter curtains. For titanium shutter curtains, look for an SP with a serial no. later than 6214000.
 
Ah, yes, of course. My classic has the titanium curtains too. Only issue with my classic, is that this camera must have been part of the Art Dept of UNY, because they engraved both the bottom plate, and the top deck, with their department name. All the more reason to have repainted it :)
 
I have a few vintage SPs with great finders and RF patches that I will be posting for sale soon, if you want a user. I know when I had my SP 2005, it was so nice I was afraid of using it and marring that beautiful finish.
 
If I'm shooting in low light, I also favor my SP 2005. For daylight shooting, I'll go w/1 of my 2 vintage SPs, because the slightly dimmer VFs are less of a hindrance & to get the added protection of the titanium shutters. Like Jon, after some searching I was eventually fortunate enough to get 2 original SPs w/good VFs (1 from a RFF member) & they're only slightly worse than the SP 2005, but still noticeably so.

jonmanjiro said:
I reach for my SP 2005 over my vintage SPs nine times out of ten.

In terms of condition of the finder, vintage SPs are hit and miss (mostly miss in my experience). I have two vintage SPs with great finders, but it took a lot of patience and searching to find them. To be sure you'll get the best possible finder with the least amount of hassle, the SP 2005 is the way to go.

I know of no one who offers a finder repair service for Nikon RF similar to Luton's repair service for Leica cameras.

Just my two yen ...
Click to expand...
 
So the SP-2005 has cloth shutter curtains? I assumed that Nikon would have re-issued the SP with titanium curtains. I do have a few Nikon F's that could become parts donors.

I will be equally happy with either a classic or re-issue... I simply want to be sure I get a good user... and black paint would be a nice bonus!
 
Jon, did that SP reissue already sell? That sure is a deal! I'd almost rather have another SP Reissue than an original black SP.

I like my S2s better than my SP, but the SP is more usable for lenses other than 50mm. I just picked up a vintage SP, but it's not here yet. It was supposed to have a great finder; hopefully it does. The S2 would be nicer with parallax correction.
 
P. Lynn Miller said:
So the SP-2005 has cloth shutter curtains? I assumed that Nikon would have re-issued the SP with titanium curtains. I do have a few Nikon F's that could become parts donors.

I will be equally happy with either a classic or re-issue... I simply want to be sure I get a good user... and black paint would be a nice bonus!
Click to expand...

Yes, cloth curtains. I like them better than titanium curtains because they're quieter.
 
Mister E said:
Jon, did that SP reissue already sell? That sure is a deal! I'd almost rather have another SP Reissue than an original black SP.

I like my S2s better than my SP, but the SP is more usable for lenses other than 50mm. I just picked up a vintage SP, but it's not here yet. It was supposed to have a great finder; hopefully it does. The S2 would be nicer with parallax correction.
Click to expand...

Not sure, Nate. I saw it at Kitamura in Shinjuku. I can't find it on their website, but couldn't the day I saw it either.
 
I have three SP's - all "vintage". On two the finders are are good, really good and on one the rangefinder patch is a bit weak. It works fine in contrasty light though. One reason to get the SP 2005 is for the 35f1.8 lens. This is about as good a 35 that you can find. I dont have the 2005 SP body, but I do have that 35!!!
If you can find a vintage SP with a clean and contrasty finder - go for it. The price difference between a re-issue body and a vintage user will get you a lot of film or a couple of interesting lenses (28/85 or 105). Money no object, yes a 2005 looks good, but maybe two vintage users is a better idea!
 
I have three vintage SP's, all late issue with titanium curtains. The finders are in as good condition as a re-issue that I handled. I had an earlier cloth-curtain SP that did not hold up as well. If you get a chance to handle it, worth a shot. The titanium curtains are louder, but unique.
 
Three SP's, Three S3's, An S+M+MS, Five S2's (one is a BD, one modified for Contax lenses), but only one S4...
 
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