Closer focus distance with Nikon S3 ?

[rknewcomb]

Hi,
I've seen a close focus device, Nikon brand, for a Nikon S2. Via a goggle and a plus diopter It allows you to focus closer than the normal 1 meter. Do you think that this would also work on a S3 ? Or, is there a S3 specific one that I would look for?
I've also seen cheap off brand Auto-up kits.
Any thoughts/information would be appreciated. Ya'll know a lot more about this than I do so thanks.
Robert

 

[__Brian]

Nikon made a close-up kit for the S3 generation- probably expensive collector's items.

I have one of the third-party kits, uses a close-up lens screwed into the filter mount. You lose quality.

The 13.5cm F3.5 will focus to 5ft, with 2.7x magnification compared with the 5cm: better quality, and "equivalent" closer than 2ft. Get a third party viewfinder with Parallax correction.

The S-Mount and Leica mount versions of the 13.5cm F3.5 Nikkor have the same close-focus. I have both, just checked.

https://cameraderie.org/threads/nikkor-qc-13-5cm-f3-5-in-leica-thread-mount-mioj.39088/

Some example shots with my Leica version.

 

[rknewcomb]

So you're saying a 135mm lens at its normal minimum focus distance of 5 feet gets you a field of view that will look like a 50mm with the close-up rig?

 

[rknewcomb]

I have seen the Nikon close-up lens set for a S2 more often than I have seen the one for a S3 which is why i was asking if the S2 version would work on a S3.
I don't know if the range/view finders are too different or not. The asking prices seem to be in the $300 range when you do find them. I have not bought either camera yet so I'm trying to figure it all out. I'm not trying to do a lot of close work with a rf camera, but it would at times be nice to focus closer than the normal 3 feet of so.
Maybe a Leica M with a dual range summicron might be a better thought - don't know.
thanks for the help.
Robert

 

[__Brian]

So you're saying a 135mm lens at its normal minimum focus distance of 5 feet gets you a field of view that will look like a 50mm with the close-up rig?

Yes- that is correct. The 10.5cm F2.5 will focus to 4ft, 2x magnification; the 13.5cm F3.5 can be had for $60 or so.

A dual range Summicron 5cm F2 will run $700 or so. Using a standard lens: The M3 will RF couple to 1M, unless modified. The others M series focus to 0.65m. You can buy a Leica Mount Nikkor 5cm F2 and modify it for RF coupled focus to 0.65m on an M-Mount camera. The lens will run ~$150.

I modified a late version Jupiter-8 for 0.65m RF coupled focus on a Leica:
https://cameraderie.org/threads/jupiter-8-50-2-late-version-modified-for-close-focus.38784/
If you can live with 2ft, no need for the dual-range lens. If you want close- an SLR is better equipped.