Any Nikon Rangefinder Users?

copake_ham said:

The ultimate irony is that Zeiss introduced a line of F-mount lenses about two years ago after the F-mount patent expired. I'm sure they had real business reasons for doing so. But maybe also, it was a kind of a way of reminding Nikon that some "hard feelings" remained?

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That is a very interesting observation! I wonder if the new Zeiss F mount lenses were made to exceed Nikon lenses in terms of quality as well? For some time now I have tossing around the idea of getting one of those new Zeiss lenses (particularly the 35mm), but there seem to be mixed reviews and feelings about them. While Zeiss is a trusted, tradtional name, Cosina seems to be considered by many as makers of inexpensive equipment. If I had the chance to actually see one of these lenses in person (instead of ordering one and returning it if I don't like it) I would find it easier to either purchase one or not.

As for the S mount, I think I would be more willing to buy one of the Cosina- made Voigtlanders based on specs alone mostly because they are much less expensive alternatives to original Nikkor S lenses and are more readily available.

snegron said:

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As for the S mount, I think I would be more willing to buy one of the Cosina- made Voigtlanders based on specs alone mostly beacuse they are much less expensive alternatives to original Nikkor S lenses and are more readily available.

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I agree on this depending on which lens you are talking about. The original Nikkor 3.5cm* (I think it was a 3.5f/l) was a "dog". The later 2.5 was a very good lens and, if you can find one, is worth it.

However, I decided to go with the Cosina at 85mm; because the Nikkor 8.5cm/85mm are scarce and very expensive if you can find one - and then it is a 50 y.o. lens!

*Note: most Nikon (i.e. Nikkor) RF lenses used the centimeters nomenclature except for the latter ones that used millimeters. I've never known why the industry changed from "cm" to "mm" - but it did - sometime in the late 1950's.

Any opinions on the Nikon RF version .5cm 1.4 S-C, chrome version?

copake_ham said:

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SU "Contax" cameras were built in the Ukraine as "Kievs". Someone else here will know the name of the Leica-likes that use screw mounts (the name escapes me right now).

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On the 26th of October, 1932, 3 hand made copies of the Leica 1a were assembled by at the FED Working Commune by the staff of Felix Edmundovich Dzerjinski Working Commune Communards, many of whom were girls and boys between the ages of 13 and 17 years, Also Known as Young Orphans of The Revolution.

Production of the first Ukrainian 39mm screw thread camera (the FED-1) started in January, 1934. The FED-1 cameras were built at the FED Working Commune by the staff of Felix Edmundovich Dzerjinski Communards.

FED comes from Felix Edmundovich Dzerjinski (founder of the Tcheka - the Soviet Secret Police).

39mm screw thread mount FED cameras were still being made late into the 1990s. Other FSU 39mm screw thread mount cameras were the FED Zorkis and the KMZ Zorkis.

Source: Made in USSR by Jean Loup Princelle. A Hove Foto Book, 1995

snegron said:

Any opinions on the Nikon RF version .5cm 1.4 S-C, chrome version?

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I think you mean 5.0cm (cm's are BIGGER than mm's).

The 5.0cm/1.4 was the standard "kit" lens sold with the S2.

They are plentiful and they are legendary. This was the lens that the Life magazine photographer took to Korea with the S2 body. Legend has it that when he sent the first photos to his editor he was asked how he was able to get such clear shots with a MF camera! His reply that they were taken using a Japanese 35mm camera with a "normal" lens.*

The rest is history as Nikon became the camera of choice for PJ's - and also the S2/5.0cm/1.4 became the "kit" that many US GIs based in Japan bought at the PX before returning home.

* Legend also has it that the Life PJ was offered his "pick of the lot" from a line of 5.0/1.4 lenses to see if there was a difference (at the time, there was concern that Japanese QC was inconsistent) and he couldn't find a flaw in any lens he tried.

If you didn't get a 5.0/1.4 with your S2 - I'm surprised.

EDIT: At this point, I really think you should check in at the Nikon Historical Society:

Dead Link Removed

I am, I mean, was a Nikon rangefinder shooter. I have my S3 2000 on ebay this week.
-rob

snegron said:

I'm curious to know if anyone here uses Nikon rangefinders? It seems that there is much talk about every other brand, but very little (if any) about Nikon rangefinders.

How do Nikon Rangefinders (particularly the S2) compare in terms of ease of use and reliability to Leica M3's, Canons, Contax's, etc?

I started another thread on this forum about using a modern film canister in an S2, but I didn't get too many responses. That made me do some research here and I found very little threads about Nikon rangefinders. Any particular reason why Nikons are hardly mentioned? Again, just curious.

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The S2 is the only rangefinder I can think of with a 1:1 viewfinder
Mark

Mackinaw said:

Roger's been spending a lot of time over at the Rangefinder Forum the past several days. I suspect he'll come back here eventually.

Jim B.

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He doesn't like Contaxes

I guess it was never meant to be.



I ordered an S2 with a 50mm 1.4 from KEH last week and it was supposed to be delivered yesterday.



It was never delivered.



I checked with UPS and they advised me that they lost my package!!! The tracking info advised that it made it all the way from KEH to the hub in my city. It then states that it was in the truck. That was the last entry. THE UPS DRIVER LOST MY CAMERA!!!!



I contacted KEH today and they were both sympathetic and helpful. Problem is that the S2 in EX condition that I ordered was their last one.



I came so close to owning the S2 of my dreams. What a pitty that we have such dishonest people on this planet. I blame the UPS driver entirely for this. I wish there were someone I can complain to about him. Unfortunately that won't bring my S2 back to me, but at least it would prevent this guy from ruining other people's holidays.





p.s., I have ample reason to suspect the driver took it because of the following:



1. I work two blocks away from my home and I once had to have a word with the UPS driver because he was blasting his music very loudly from his truck at the place I work. I asked him politely first, but then he copped an attitude and I told him he needed to lower the music or leave. (yess, it was that loud).



2. A couple of months passed by since that incident and I thought all was ok with him afterwords. Yesterday when I was supposed to recieve my package I noticed he went to my workplace first. I asked him if he happened to have the package on his truck so I could save him the trip, but he said that he wasn't the driver who delivered on my street and that the driver had not brought his cellphone that day, so he couldn't contact him.



3. The tracking info indicated that it had left the warehouse/hub and was in route to my residence; the package was on a UPS truck.



4, Mysteriously my package never shows up! Coincidence? I think not.


UPS really sucks.

The whole thing sucks. I just hope you get all of your money back.

Mackinaw said:

The whole thing sucks. I just hope you get all of your money back.

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Thanks. I am really pissed off at UPS now. It's not so much about the money, it's more about the mean-spirited jerk driver who "lost" my package. It's about the fact that this camera in the condition I ordered is extremely difficult to find. One way or another, the money will go back into my credit card. I will dispute this charge until I breathe my last breath.