csxcnj
Well-known
JonR said:OK - many thanks to you all for the comments on choosing a Nikon RF - I have now taken my first pictures today and sent it in for processing!! Overall the photograhing experience was great - the 1:1 viewfinder was much better than expected even if the focusing will take time to get used to.
Now - may I ask for some more advice so that I understand the options going forward:
LENSES:
If I am going to complement the 5 cm lens with a wideangel lens or a short tele lens what do you suggest as good starting points to look for ?
I would prefer to stick with Nikon but are there really good other brands to look for as well ? I guess what I would primarily look for is something like 28-35 mm or so and maybe later something around 100-135 mm.
VIEWFINDER:
Also - what combinations of lens and viewfinder should I be looking for ? Are there Nikon originals that are still bright and work well and/or alternatives ?
LIGHT METER:
Are there light meeters that one can put on the clip (where you put the flash) ? If so are there Nikon originals (but I guess they do not work well today) or more modern alternatives ?
I would really apreciate you comments - it will help me and hopefully others will also read and benefit from it!!
Jon
The answer to all of the above for me - apart from Nikkors in 105 and 135 - has been Cosina Voigtlander, or is it Voigtlander Cosina, products. Affordable and working out for me nicely. I'm new to Nikon rangefinders, so others may point out the faults in CV stuff that I'm unaware of at this point in time, but I'm happy....
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
I like the new Avatar Jon.
Kiu
Kiu
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
hej Jon, aa a starting kit I would suggest a Nikkor 35/2,5 - it is comparable to a Summicron from the 60's and usually reasonably priced. The original 35 finder from Nikon is less than stunning! The Cosina/Voigtlander dedicated 35 finder is a huge improvement over it. There is a "bright-line" Nikon 35 finder, but is quite rare and thus expensive (and also 45+ years old with subsequent dimming). The 35/1,8 is a nice lens, but it is expensive and apart from the added stop, the 35/2,5 is just as good.
The 2nd lens to get is the all time favourite of the Nikkors, the 105/2,5. It is big and quite heavy, but it is still a formidable piece of glass. One of the great portrait lenses of all times and will substitute for the 85 and 135. be sure to get the hood for it too as they are somewhat flare-prone without it. Try to find the bright line finder to go with this lens, although in a pinch, the cheaper Canon 100mm finder will do.
I would also snap up one of the 21/4 Voigtlander S-lenses while they are still available. The 21/35/50/105 kit will cover most everything you want to shoot. without breaking your back or bank-account.
Later, when you start looking for the 2nd body, the S3 will give you the 35/105 as well as the 50 frame and you can dedicate the S2 as a 21/4 body.
The trick is to spend more on film than on lenses for the first couple of month, just to get used to the camera.
The Nikon Clip-on meter is a nice decorative touch, but most are less than exact as the cell tends to have died in them. The Voiglander VC II meter can be adapted to the Nikon Rf body by shifting the 'shoe" slightly. The holes are already there, just unscrew the hold down screws and shift the foot so that it clears the speed dial.
Have fun in the "long day" summer in Stockholm. I lived there in the late 60's and you can shoot from 4am to 11-12 pm, handheld. Great light too! On the other hand, winters require fast lenses and fast film as there is damned little light anytime!
The 2nd lens to get is the all time favourite of the Nikkors, the 105/2,5. It is big and quite heavy, but it is still a formidable piece of glass. One of the great portrait lenses of all times and will substitute for the 85 and 135. be sure to get the hood for it too as they are somewhat flare-prone without it. Try to find the bright line finder to go with this lens, although in a pinch, the cheaper Canon 100mm finder will do.
I would also snap up one of the 21/4 Voigtlander S-lenses while they are still available. The 21/35/50/105 kit will cover most everything you want to shoot. without breaking your back or bank-account.
Later, when you start looking for the 2nd body, the S3 will give you the 35/105 as well as the 50 frame and you can dedicate the S2 as a 21/4 body.
The trick is to spend more on film than on lenses for the first couple of month, just to get used to the camera.
The Nikon Clip-on meter is a nice decorative touch, but most are less than exact as the cell tends to have died in them. The Voiglander VC II meter can be adapted to the Nikon Rf body by shifting the 'shoe" slightly. The holes are already there, just unscrew the hold down screws and shift the foot so that it clears the speed dial.
Have fun in the "long day" summer in Stockholm. I lived there in the late 60's and you can shoot from 4am to 11-12 pm, handheld. Great light too! On the other hand, winters require fast lenses and fast film as there is damned little light anytime!
JonR
Well-known
Thanks
Sounds as if the most obvious options are Nikkor 35/2,5 or Voighlander S 21/4 with a modern Voightlander viewfinder then !?
/jon
Sounds as if the most obvious options are Nikkor 35/2,5 or Voighlander S 21/4 with a modern Voightlander viewfinder then !?
/jon
michaelging
Established
I have and use the 35mm 2.5 nikkor, on my S2 with the nikon vario finder, which find works very well for me. I also have a contax biogon 35mm 2.8 which is also a great lens which I can use on my Contax II, or IIIa , but it sells for more than the nikkor. I have a old Kodak Kodalux ,slip in light meter that works fine outdoors, or I use the sunny 16 rule. I would probably get a 21 CV lens , but I have a contax G2 with the 21mm biogon that is the best Wide angle lens I have ever owned and can't justify in my mind having 2 lenses.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
JonR said:
You know you need both
and I know you got the S2 cheap For a start,you can try to use the entire viewfinder of the S2 for an approximate 35mm frame line!
Kiu
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JonR said:
Hi Jon,
Congratulations on your S2, and welcome to the Nikon RF world
Just wanted to second Tom A's recommendation of the Voigtlander II meter. I have one and find it very accurate and really easy to use. Highly recommended!
Here's a photo of my newly acquired S2 with Voightlander II meter attached. I recently joined the S2 club too
Jon
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MikeL
Go Fish
jonmanjiro said:Here's a photo of my newly acquired S2 with Voightlander II meter attached. I recently joined the S2 club too
Jon
Hey, that's my set up! (minus the meter, and black dials)
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
Who needs a freaking light-meter?jonmanjiro said:Just wanted to second Tom A's recommendation of the Voigtlander II meter. I have one and find it very accurate and really easy to use. Highly recommended!
Not Jon!!!
Kiu
NIKON KIU said:
Hello NIKON KIU :angel:
If you can shoot slide film and get accurate exposures each time, you're a better man than me
Anyway, which Jon are you referring to??? We have Jon in Sweden and Jon in Yokohama now
Jon
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
Both!!!jonmanjiro said:Hello NIKON KIU :angel:
If you can shoot slide film and get accurate exposures each time, you're a better man than me
Anyway, which Jon are you referring to??? We have Jon in Sweden and Jon in Yokohama now
Jon
And I cheat,I use print film!!!!
Kiu
JonR
Well-known
Kiu, you wrote: "You know you need both and I know you got the S2 cheap For a start,you can try to use the entire viewfinder of the S2 for an approximate 35mm frame line!" ---- does that mean that you feel that if I go for the 35 instead of the 21 I can skip an extra viewfinder alltogether !??
/J
and I know you got the S2 cheap For a start,you can try to use the entire viewfinder of the S2 for an approximate 35mm frame line!" ---- does that mean that you feel that if I go for the 35 instead of the 21 I can skip an extra viewfinder alltogether !??/J
VinceC
Veteran
Yes, you can generally frame at 35mm lens with a 50mm viewfinder (I always recommend people get an S3, not S2, because upon the camera's arrival, everyone starts talking about the next lens after the 50, and suddenly the S2 gets really inflexible).
105mm lens is, in my opinion, a pain to use with an external viewfinder.
With experience, you can estimate the coverage of an 85mm lens using the 50mm frameline of an S2.
21mm Voigtander lens is highly regarded. I love my 25mm Voigtlaender.
Don't overlook the excellent Nikkor 28/3.5.
I'd strongly recommend learning to use a handheld light meter. Parking the light meter on top of the camera is inexact, clumsy, inteligant, and makes for difficult meter readings. A good handheld, with incident ability, will free you from the tyranny of in-camera metering. Since 1960, all developments in light meter -- ALL OF THEM -- have been aimed at trying to use advanced technology to mimck the accuracy of a handheld incident reading.
Also, separate finders plus a clip-on light meter instantly get you into a dilema.
105mm lens is, in my opinion, a pain to use with an external viewfinder.
With experience, you can estimate the coverage of an 85mm lens using the 50mm frameline of an S2.
21mm Voigtander lens is highly regarded. I love my 25mm Voigtlaender.
Don't overlook the excellent Nikkor 28/3.5.
I'd strongly recommend learning to use a handheld light meter. Parking the light meter on top of the camera is inexact, clumsy, inteligant, and makes for difficult meter readings. A good handheld, with incident ability, will free you from the tyranny of in-camera metering. Since 1960, all developments in light meter -- ALL OF THEM -- have been aimed at trying to use advanced technology to mimck the accuracy of a handheld incident reading.
Also, separate finders plus a clip-on light meter instantly get you into a dilema.
JonR said:OK - many thanks to you all for the comments on choosing a Nikon RF - I have now taken my first pictures today and sent it in for processing!! Overall the photograhing experience was great - the 1:1 viewfinder was much better than expected even if the focusing will take time to get used to.
Now - may I ask for some more advice so that I understand the options going forward:
LENSES:
If I am going to complement the 5 cm lens with a wideangel lens or a short tele lens what do you suggest as good starting points to look for ?
I would prefer to stick with Nikon but are there really good other brands to look for as well ? I guess what I would primarily look for is something like 28-35 mm or so and maybe later something around 100-135 mm.
VIEWFINDER:
Also - what combinations of lens and viewfinder should I be looking for ? Are there Nikon originals that are still bright and work well and/or alternatives ?
LIGHT METER:
Are there light meeters that one can put on the clip (where you put the flash) ? If so are there Nikon originals (but I guess they do not work well today) or more modern alternatives ?
I would really apreciate you comments - it will help me and hopefully others will also read and benefit from it!!
Jon
Jon, I'm the first to admit I'm a gearhead (like most everyone here!!!) and don't practice what I preach, but here's an idea for you :angel:
How about holding off the extra gear purchases until you've had a few months shooting time with your S2 & 5cm f1.4 combination?!
Doh, crazy idea
I can't believe I wrote that Jon in Yokohama
JonR
Well-known
I will!
I will!
I will friends - I will use it a lot and not rush into more "stuff" (as I have done with most of my other cameras by the way)! But at the same time I want to learn as much as possible about the options and eventually I am sure I will get some more lenses!
By the way -- RFF is a great place since you can learn so much by reading all the discussions and asking questions (and everyone is so friendly which makes it fun) - it definately makes the hobby so much more fun! In the "old" days when you could only join a local photo-club you were so limited - now it is a global community!
By the way Jon - great name!! Here in Sweden Jon and John is actually pronounced differently but is your Jon just another spelling of John or a separate name.... Har to explain here in writing but Jon in Swedish is pronounced a little bit like "joan" in English....
/Jon
I will!
I will friends - I will use it a lot and not rush into more "stuff" (as I have done with most of my other cameras by the way)! But at the same time I want to learn as much as possible about the options and eventually I am sure I will get some more lenses!
By the way -- RFF is a great place since you can learn so much by reading all the discussions and asking questions (and everyone is so friendly which makes it fun) - it definately makes the hobby so much more fun! In the "old" days when you could only join a local photo-club you were so limited - now it is a global community!
By the way Jon - great name!! Here in Sweden Jon and John is actually pronounced differently but is your Jon just another spelling of John or a separate name.... Har to explain here in writing but Jon in Swedish is pronounced a little bit like "joan" in English....
/Jon
JonR said:
Nah, my name is pronounced the same as the regular "John". My mother is to blame for dropping the "h". Dunno why she did that .....
Jon
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
Hi J,JonR said:
Yes as Vince mentioned, the viewfinder for the S2 is big enough to approximarte a 35mm viewfinder,as a matter of fact if you look at the edges,it's even wider than a 35mm frame-line.
Here's a lens you can't use without a viewfinder
Kiu
PS...I emailed you back
Attachments
michaelging
Established
Looking at that 135mm lens with my 30 magenta sunglasses on, makes it look like shiny chrome.
