User Nikon SP... Vintage or Re-Issue

rbsinto said:
Jon,
The $2,565.00 that I referred to was for all three cameras, so I'm curious as to where new S3s are available for roughly $850.00 each. I'm no expert, but I've never seen them offered anywhere even close to that price. Perhaps things are different in Japan.
Of course the point is moot. I've got as many bodies as I need and other than some filters, a lens and body cap or two, and perhaps the CV 25, my needs are met.
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I'm not talking about new S3 2000 bodies (as in they come with a full one year international factory warranty), Robert. Unused maybe, but not new. I've sold a couple of unused/lightly used S3 2000 bodies in the classifieds here for around the $900 - $1,000 mark.
 
P. Lynn Miller said:
......Grappling with focusing rings and aperture rings that rotate in opposing directions is causing me to not even bother with my RF's. But switching to a Nikon RF cures all that angst.
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Welcome to the club. When I realized that I needed an SLR to reach out to some things I started liking my Leica Ms less and less. Moving to an S2 solved that for me.

You are not crazy, the difference even switching to an OM system didn't fix it and drove me bonkers. I do a lot of adjustment to the camera as I raise it to my eye and having to think which camera I was using broke my concentration. The tool should disappear into the task at hand.

Another option was switching to Leica SL/SL2s but I love the nikkor glass too much.

P. Lynn Miller said:
.I will shooting a 50mm most of the time, although I definitely want to have a 35/1.8 to use when I want.

So maybe I need to take a hard look at the S2 as well...
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OR an S3-2000. Often comes with the best 50 ever made (if not then close to it) and prices are not too bad these days. Finder might be a bit cluttered as it has 105/50/35 frame lines all the time.

When I go back to film it will be with a good S2 with a 28/50 kit. I found that the full viewfinder of the S2 was close enough to the 28. I had the 25/4 CV at the time so I used an external finder. Starting over, while I love the CV 25/4, it will be a 28 and 50 kit. I will use my Nikkormat or Nikon for the 85/1.8 and 300/4.5 ED-IF.

Just a few thoughts.

B2 (;->
 
So how much does a user (cosmetically challenged would be ok) S2 & 50 go for these days?

William
 
$500 would buy you a user S2 and a 50, probably a f2. In that price range I would expect it to need a service, either speeds or finder cleaning. The Nikon Rf's are extremely rugged - usually better than similar aged M's in my experience. Only problem is trying to get a dim finder or focussing patch fixed.
$600 -650 would get you a clean S2 and probably a 50f1.4 - and with some luck, it would be good enough not to need service.
Above $650 - you are looking at clean to mintish black dial S2's with 50f1.4's in similar shape. You are also getting into used S3 Millennium territory here - and these are later cameras with most likely less film having gone through them and less "age" related fading of finders. You can pick up 50f1.4's from $150 and up, depending on if you want chrome or black lenses, hoods etc.
One advantage of the S3/S4/SP is that the internals are basically Nikon F and there are a lot of these around as donor parts cameras (not for finders though).
It is interesting to see the S3 dropping in value - but the S2 is holding up quite well and if current trend persists, we will soon see them at the same level.
The 50 finder in the S3 is good, easy to work with and as a bonus you get a 35/105 finder too (though they are all in there at the same time. Takes a couple of rolls to figure it out, but once you get it - it works). The 35 is a tight fit, with glasses you have to do a slight "scan" to get left/right frame - but again, after a while it works fine. The key here is the 105 frame. This is one of the best lenses Nikon ever made for the Rf's in its f2.5 version. It might not be the choice at the beginning - but at some time you will have this inexplicable desire for it - and you would have the frame to go with it!!!
For the last couple of weeks I have been shooting with various Nikon Rf's. I had 17 rolls of APX 400 in Nikon reloadable cassettes so 5 were assigned to an original S3 and the 35f2.5, 5 for a titanium shuttered SP (Thanks Jon) and an early 35f1.8 and currently I am finishing of 5 rolls in a black S3 Millennium with a SP 2005 35f1.8. The two left over rolls will be combined with some Tri X in other Nikon Rf bodies, possibly with the VC Skopar 35f2.5.
The SP's 35 finder is nice, but I found that I have no trouble with the 35 on the S3 - and we all know that shooting with a rangefinder is not an exact science anyway.
My advice is to get the S2/50 combo now and see what desires this will bring on as to other focal lengths and bodies. Your timing is good, prices are down - dont know if they have bottomed out but sometimes it is worth the time/money to get it now rather than trying to save a few bucks and watch summer slip by.
 
Thank you for this answer, Tom. That's the kind of information I find very helpful. I doubt I will be able to get one anytime soon. I do have my very good IIIf & Summitar that I carry daily so it's not like I lack a good camera. Still there has always been a part of me that would like to ty a Nikon someday.

I'll hide this information away in case I get a surprise bit of toy money someday.

Thanks again,

William
 
Nikon rf

Nikon rf

I have been photographing with the nikon rf series since 1974, mostly with the black dial s2 with 5cm 1.4 and 2.8cm f3.5. Nikkors.
The nikon sp was purchased by many professional photographers and many are in challenged condition . Given the choice I would purchase the reissue 2005 sp set . There is one on ebay now at $3700 buy it now .
Most vintage nikon sp.'s have some finder deterioration perhaps two out of three . Most are heavily used . If you are buying vintage look for the nicest camera you can afford . Budget in for a $300 service to put it in top shape
So you will be at $1800 or so then .
I prefer the s2 as it was my first nikon , however the new sp is your best choice 40 years later -if you can afford it .
I use the leitz type bright line finders with the nikkors -they are better than most of the nppon kogaku finders , one exception is the nikon 3.5 cm bright line finder .
The nikon sp has the 6 focal lengths built in . Since the 2005 reissue is a 40 year newer camera and is built to a high standard it would be the best choice.
 
BillBingham2 said:
When I go back to film it will be with a good S2 with a 28/50 kit. I found that the full viewfinder of the S2 was close enough to the 28. I had the 25/4 CV at the time so I used an external finder. Starting over, while I love the CV 25/4, it will be a 28 and 50 kit. I will use my Nikkormat or Nikon for the 85/1.8 and 300/4.5 ED-IF.
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Bill,

This scarily similar to the set-up that I am working toward. S2/SP with 28 & 50, and a Nikon F/Nikkormat FTn with a 20/3.5, 105/2.5, 180/2.8 and I do have a 300 that I used once in a great while. Although I just picked up and early Nikkor-S 5.8cm f1.4, same year production as my '60 Nikon F, and quite like the combination.

I have been hesitating to migrate from M-mount to Nikon RF because there are 3 lens that I really like the negatives from... 28/3.5, 35/1.2, 90/3.5... I realised the other day that only the 35/1.2 is not available in S-mount, which I can live with. So all my M-mount gear has just hit the market.

So only matter of time till there is Nikon RF of some description hanging off my shoulder.
 
jonmanjiro said:
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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Last Friday, I called the store and asked them to hold the SP 2005 kit until Sunday, but when I went in there on Sunday, the store had already sold it to another foreigner who they thought was me 😱

So who was the lucky guy who bought the camera? 🙄
 
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