What lenses will fit the S3 2000?

[dave lackey]

Sorry for the question, but I have not been able to pick up on the cumulative wisdom about which lenses will fit the S3 2000...🙄

Nor which lenses are desirable for fitting on the S3 2000. Would really appreciate the education...thanks in advance! 🙂

 

[migtex]

Nikon rangefinder cameras use a bayonet mount, called S mount because the cameras were the S series (hence the F mount for the F series).
It's similar to Contax mount but not the same.

more info at
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Category:Nikon_S_mount
http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?Lens-CS.html~mainFrame

Beware there is no turning back after you get a S camera.....

Answering your question directly, any S mount lens! Specially a 50 Milliennium....

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The S3-2000 is a Nikon S-Mount camera, and will focus correctly with any of the lenses made for the 1950s Nikon RF cameras. These include Nikon, Tanar, and modern Cosina-Voigtlander "SC" S-Mount lenses. The Cosina wide-angle lenses are exceptional bargains compared with a vintage 28mm or 21mm lens. The 3.5cm F2.5 Nikkor wide-angle lens is a fine performer, and a good bargain. The 8.5cm f2 and 10.5cm F2.5 are exceptional performers, and not over-priced. The 5cm F2 and 5cm F1.4 are fine lenses. The 13.5cm F3.5 is a good performer, and can be found for under $100.

Zeiss lenses will fit on the S3-2000, but will not focus correctly with it. The DOF of Zeiss wide-angle lenses will cover the error.

FSU Kiev Mount lenses will work with some coaxing- filing down the mount. I use them on a "beater" S2. They will scratch up the Nikon Bezel if not filed down.

It is possible to adjust the Shim and Focal Length of the Zeiss lenses to work with a Nikon S-Mount cameras. The Nikon is made for a 51.6mm standard, the Contax is ~52.3mm. So you can move the rear elements in a little closer to the front elements and then shim the lens for the Nikon.

I enjoy "making" 50mm lenses for the Nikon camera. The internal helical means that once the lens is shimmed into the new mount, it is RF coupled without problems.

 

[kjoosten]

Hey, Dave -

If you want the "vintage" look, the Nikkors 35/2.5, 50/1.4 and 85/2 are good lenses and are all available pretty inexpensively. See gallery for examples.

 

[furcafe]

You might want to browse Mr. Gandy's collection of Nikon rangefinder articles on the Classic Camera Profiles part of his Cameraquest site:

http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm

In the Millenium 50/1.4 that came w/your camera, you already have 1 of the best 50mm lenses ever made.

 

[splitimageview]

I'd suggest the 105/2.5 as the S3 has framelines for that focal length. It's a legendary lens and not expensive.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The 10.5cm F2.5 has "the edge" over the 8.5cm f2. But both are first rate lenses. The finder lines for the 10.5cm on the S3 allow some margin for the 8.5. You can frame "tight" and have margin. I end up using both lenses.

SO: 3.5cm F2.5, 8.5cm F2, and 10.5cm F2.5 and change back from your $1,000 bill. Probaly enough change for a 13.5cm F3.5.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Hi Dave,

There’s already plenty of good advice in this thread, so I’ll just add if it were me, I’d go for a 105mm and 35mm lens to match the frame lines of the S3 2000.

The 105mm choice is easy, because there’s only one choice – a vintage Nikkor-P 10.5cm f2.5. Luckily it’s one of the best RF lenses!

IMO the 35mm choice is the following five lenses. There are other options, such as the Russian Jupiter lenses designed for the old Contax mount, but personally I wouldn’t go for one of them over any of the lenses below.

-Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8 (reissue)
-Nikkor 3.5cm f1.8 (vintage)
-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 (vintage)
-Nikkor 3.5cm f3.5 (vintage)
-Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 (modern)

The most desirable of these is probably the multicoated 3.5cm f1.8 reissue lens, but they’re almost impossible to find and $$$$. If you want to shoot colour, the Voigtlander is a fine lens and offers a LOT of bang for the buck. I shot with one and was VERY impressed. The vintage lenses are pretty much priced according to their speed i.e. faster = more expensive and more desirable/ better performer.

 

[MikeL]

Jon, I think that's one SP too many. Ya know, maybe send it overseas or something.......😉

 

[migtex]

one of these days I'll get an beaten (but full working) SP... oh yes I will!

 

[Stefcuoz]

A big couple.....

A big couple.....

Dave i have and i shot photos with many RF Nikon lens, but a big couple for shot with an S3 is menopta 53 mm F 1,8 and CV 21 mm F4.
I don't want to offend Nikon Lens but photo shooted with Menopta 53 mm is many many beauty than 50 mm millenium shooted too.
Menopta 53 mm and CV 21mm are both incisive and very simple in focusing, expecially the CV, i think S3 2000 is simply perfect, and a good company, for shoting with this couple of lens.

I have just this couple of lens new and on sell😉 😉 😉
Let me know.😀

 

[jonmanjiro]

Stefcuoz, is your Menopta 53/1.8 shimmed to focus correctly on Nikon RF's at minimum distance and wide apertures like the Menopta's shimmed by Brian Sweeney? I tried to fit a Menopta on my SP once, but that particular lens wouldn't rotate all the way to the chrome latch. Maybe something needed to be filed down 😕😕😕

 

[bobkonos]

I have gotten wonderful results from the Cosina Voigtlander 85 f3.5 Apo-Lanthar in S-mount. It is VERY sharp and light. I do agree about the 105 f2.5 Nikkor-it is legendary. In the wider angles, I really like my C/V 21 f4 and 25 f4 lenses. These wider angle lenses are certainly not for everybody, but I like wide lenses on RF cameras. Anyway, getting a 35 and 105 as suggested is a sound decision, but that C/V 85 is stunning.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Menopta's that I've worked with "usually" fit the Nikon's. The 1981 and 1982 Helios-103's also worked well. I've had the biggest problems with the 1984 and 1985 Helios-103's. PLaces to file: The lock pin is thicker than the Nikkors, and the rear light baffle on the '84 and '85 lenses are somewhat longer. Sometimes it takes a little fir and then file on the stubborn ones.


1982 Helios-103. Lens fit onto the S2 without filing. Rear group moved in 0.4mm. The earlier Helios-103 has a secondary shim to control stand-off on the rear module, this effectively reduced the focal lenght to the Nikon standard. Main shim is NOT adjusted. Wide-open and close-up. Got this lens in a trade for four rolls of film.

 

[BillBingham2]

Dave,

My kit is CV on the wides, 25/4 & 35/2.5 and Nikkor for the 50/1.4 M and 105/2.5. There was a 35/1.8 here last week that I wanted to go for but missed it. I would have sold both CVs to fund it.

The 25 is a hold over from my S2 kit, 25/50/105. After I got the S3-2000 I picked up a 35 because of the built in frame lines. Rumor has it that full frame on the S3 is really close to a 28. I love the 25, the LTM version I had was my carry every where one lens kit.

I've sold all my Leica stuff and am quite happy with only having my S3-2000. I had lusted after an SP, but as I really love a 25/50/105 kit, I'm very very happy with this.

I would say away from FSU lenses. I have heard that some will put ugly scratches on the front of you camera.

B2 (;->

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Millenium Nikkor 50mm F1.4, at F1.8:

Tight Crop:

Menopta 53/1.8, Shimmed for the Nikon RF by moving the optics out 0.5mm, wide-open at F1.8:

Tight Crop:

I'll have to dig out some shots with the Industar 61L/D in S-Mount.

I have the 3.5cm f1.8 and the 3.5cm F2.5- both are equally sharp, The 1 F-stop in speed will run about double the cost.

J-12's and other external mount lenses (J-9, J-11) WILL scratch up your Nikon Bezel unless you file down the collar on the lens. Fine for my beater S2, not my S3-2000.

 

[wlewisiii]

Just for my own knowledge & future reference, does the Jupiter 12 in Contax mount fit and focus correctly on the S-3? I'd like to get a S-3 (new or old) someday but my lens budget will be pretty nonexistant for sometime after that purchase.

Thanks!

William

 

[Stefcuoz]

Jon, forgot a partycular, obviusly, i use menopta 53 mm for field photos and never for short distance. But i don't know if my menopta lens is partycular, my photo are quite good also at short distance.
Are we shure that focusing problem with contax/kiew/menopta lens is evident also with internal mount lens too?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I am positive that the Menopta, Helios-103, J-8, and J-3 must be shimmed to work properly on a Nikon RF at close distances. Same with the Zeiss-opton 50mm F1.5 and Zeiss-Opton 50mm F2.

I've shimmed them all for the Nikons using a 15x loupe to check focus at the film gate. I've shimmed about a dozen lenses in this fashion.

 

[VinceC]

Jupiter-12 will usually scratch the frontplate of a Nikon S3 or S3-2000 unless you file down the rear of the Jupiter.

The "full frame" of the huge S3 finder actually matches the field of view of my 21mm Leica finder if you roll your eyes around edge to edge. Without glasses, the full field is close to 25mm. In practice, it's easier to compose 21 and 25mm lenses with an external finder. I wear glasses and find it very easy to compose the 28mm Nikkor ... I use the 35mm framelines and shoot "loose" with very satisfying results.

Agree with the others. ... the 105 is a classic lens, and there's a good choice of 35s out there.