My First Nikon Rangefinder

[cyoungnashville]

as a long time Leica collector, I'm amazed that these early nikons still exist in this condition, and for this price. my m bodies are nervous. anyway, this is my first post here, my first Nikon Rangefinder , and I just wanted to share it with folks who might appreciate its beauty!

 

[ic-racer]

Very nice!
I like the early mechanical Nikons. I'm no fan of rangefinders, but have been looking at obtaining one of these just because they are so cool.

 

[IpseLux]

That’s a lovely, lovely camera! Congratulations C.
I’m a huge fan of the Nippon Kogaku lenses for SLR. I shoot them both in period correct Nikons and in a modern Digital, a Df.
But with regards to Nikon rangefinders, I love my Nikonos.
It’s not as elegant, or versatile as your S, but it does quite well.
I think the lenses, although very different from yours and your camera, are somehow derivative of them.
Rangefinders are great cameras. If you are not familiar with the Nikonos V, or perhaps others reading this post, have a look at them. Mud proof, water proof, dust and dirt proof. Your camera is a lovely, vintage race car. Beautiful. Historical. And a joy to shoot I imagine. The Nikonos is like an old truck. Take it out when the weather turns bad, and you choose to leave your beautiful camera safe and sound.
Enjoy your Nikon!
Kind regards.

 

[cyoungnashville]

Very nice!
I like the early mechanical Nikons. I'm no fan of rangefinders, but have been looking at obtaining one of these just because they are so cool.

I know what you mean about rangefinders in general. there are not many situations they excel in, but the few in which they do... man, it's hard to be without one. I've also been making my way through the Nikon F's as well, and it's shockingly hard to find a bad one (though I've managed!). I'm grateful we still have such cheap and easy access to these timeless classics. I'm finding it harder and harder to work up much excitement for digital anything these days.

 

[cyoungnashville]

That’s a lovely, lovely camera! Congratulations C.
I’m a huge fan of the Nippon Kogaku lenses for SLR. I shoot them both in period correct Nikons and in a modern Digital, a Df.
But with regards to Nikon rangefinders, I love my Nikonos.
It’s not as elegant, or versatile as your S, but it does quite well.
I think the lenses, although very different from yours and your camera, are somehow derivative of them.
Rangefinders are great cameras. If you are not familiar with the Nikonos V, or perhaps others reading this post, have a look at them. Mud proof, water proof, dust and dirt proof. Your camera is a lovely, vintage race car. Beautiful. Historical. And a joy to shoot I imagine. The Nikonos is like an old truck. Take it out when the weather turns bad, and you choose to leave your beautiful camera safe and sound.
Enjoy your Nikon!
Kind regards.

I've been seeing the nikonos pop up here and there and was kinda wondering what they were all about. I don't scuba dive, but based on your old truck description, I will definitely pay more attention to them. thanks!

 

[Andrew H]

Gorgeous! Congratulations on your find.

 

[Paul Howell]

I always wanted a Nikon SP with motor winder, but even in the 60s and early 70s they were so expensive. A photographer at the local paper I freelanced at in the late 60s had a Sp with motor drive which he used quite a bit along with a Nikon F with standard finder with a 135 or 200, his bread an butter. I did buy a Leica IIIG and Canon 7s, still there was something about the SP I really liked.

 

[cyoungnashville]

I always wanted a Nikon SP with motor winder, but even in the 60s and early 70s they were so expensive. A photographer at the local paper I freelanced at in the late 60s had a Sp with motor drive which he used quite a bit along with a Nikon F with standard finder with a 135 or 200, his bread an butter. I did buy a Leica IIIG and Canon 7s, still there was something about the SP I really liked.

the sp design still boggles my mind. in 1957 they were able to natively accommodate 6 focal length frameline sets on that beast. when did Leica finally get there, 1990?

 

[Oldwino]

the sp design still boggles my mind. in 1957 they were able to natively accommodate 6 focal length frameline sets on that beast. when did Leica finally get there, 1990?

1980. Leica M-4P. Leica’s solution is more elegant, but they did have 23 years to work on it…

 

[cyoungnashville]

1980. Leica M-4P. Leica’s solution is more elegant, but they did have 23 years to work on it…

haha. noted, and granted.

 

[Paul Howell]

the sp design still boggles my mind. in 1957 they were able to natively accommodate 6 focal length frameline sets on that beast. when did Leica finally get there, 1990?

The Kodak Retina S, did have 6 FL, but had 4, the S used the lens mount as the Retinaflex with a tab that automatically changed the frame view to match the lens. The 28mm needed a separate viewfinder as the did the 200, but the 200 did not couple to the rangefinder.

 

[IpseLux]

I've been seeing the nikonos pop up here and there and was kinda wondering what they were all about. I don't scuba dive, but based on your old truck description, I will definitely pay more attention to them. thanks!

The IV-A is an aperture priority model. You can bracket by tweaking the ISO setting.
The V is a legitimate shutter/aperture, light meter camera. It also has an Auto setting.
Both have one mechanical shutter speed, which should last you until the ends of time.
35mm and 28mm lenses work above water. (And below, there’s a bit of correction factor, so a 35mm looks a bit like a 50mm.)
They are heavy. Solid aluminum.
And focusing is by estimation. There’s no rangefinder focusing on them to assist you. Stop down to f:8.0 and use a hyper focal chart, and you’ll be good.
Your vintage rangefinder should do all better, and with much grace.
But if you ever need a tank to travel with, or need to get dirty or wet, these are the best kept secret out there.
They are dirt cheap too.
Just have it serviced before you scuba, if you ever decide to learn.
Happy shooting!

 

[Tel]

Beautiful to look at and wonderful to shoot

 

[cliveh]

the sp design still boggles my mind. in 1957 they were able to natively accommodate 6 focal length frameline sets on that beast. when did Leica finally get there, 1990?

Have you thought there might be a reason for that?