Nikon S2 Assessment Help Needed

[Eagle Blue]

Today a friend placde a Nikon S2 in my hands asking for help assessing or pricing it. I was of little help, and googling just went to show me I need quite a bit of study to know what I'm talking about. So I'll start with the specs and observations. He's the second owner of 50+ years, so much of the history is known. My own examination showed strong evidence that it has never been tampered with or repaired, and is in excellent pre-CLA condition. The shutter only operates at 1 speed regardless of where the dial is set. It is apparently not a "black dial" model. It is hard to focus, among other typical age-related issues, but nothing is outrightly broken, and is unusable at this time due to need of CLA. It was last known to be working many years ago before storage. The body is #6170012, and the lens is a Zeiss Sonnar
50mm/2.0 #1725911. How a Zeiss lens got on a Nikon, I haven't a clue, but he claims he was always happy with the pics from it. So, this is about all I know about it and turn it over to the floor for replies and help. Thank you.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Some info on the S2 if you've not already seen it:

https://www.cameraquest.com/nfs2al50.htm

Good news if there are no signs of tampering or damage. It seems well worth the effort to have it cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted.

Offhand, I don't know any specialists who work on them, but KEH may have the expertise - that's where I bought mine.

 

[Eagle Blue]

Thank you Theo Sulfate. Since my computer availability is infrequent, I jump back in while I have one here to try to steer the conversation, and check back another time. I'm particularly concerned with why a lens that I believe to belong on a Contax camera is sitting on the front of this Nikon. And if that presents compatibility issues. Only secondarily is my concern that the shutter only works at 1 speed, wherever the knobs are set. BTW that speed seems to be in the higher range, say 1/125 or 250th from the sound of it. On that I ignorantly chalk it up to age and lack of use, since I know it was last known to be working when it was stashed in a drawer and forgotten for eons.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

In this thread,

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-24641.html

I see that Zeiss as well as other lenses can be used on the S2. News to me.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Thank you Theo Sulfate. Since my computer availability is infrequent, I jump back in while I have one here to try to steer the conversation, and check back another time. I'm particularly concerned with why a lens that I believe to belong on a Contax camera is sitting on the front of this Nikon. And if that presents compatibility issues. Only secondarily is my concern that the shutter only works at 1 speed, wherever the knobs are set. BTW that speed seems to be in the higher range, say 1/125 or 250th from the sound of it. On that I ignorantly chalk it up to age and lack of use, since I know it was last known to be working when it was stashed in a drawer and forgotten for eons.

The Zeiss Sonnar is from a Contax II or III, serial # dates it to 1936. It should be collapsible and uncoated.
The shutter, does it actually open? You can't judge the speeds of a focal plane shutter by the sound, on this camera the shutter will sound the same from 1/60 to 1/1000 (or whatever the highest speed is). Take the back off and look.
As for lens compatibility, the mount is the same, but the helicoid (incorporated in the mount for the 50mm lenses) is slightly different, wide angle lenses work well, the 50 OK~, and the longer lenses not very well at all. Nikon actually made lenses 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm specifically for the Contax mount, I have a 135 that's excellent.
I don't know dollar amounts, but if the camera is intact and unmolested it is well worth an overhaul ( not a CLA, a complete overhaul). The original lens (Nikkor H-C 50/2) is actually better than the Zeiss Sonnar due to it's being coated, but the Sonnar with an efficient hood is pretty damn good.

 

[Eagle Blue]

Thank you for these answers. The camera belongs to a friend and is not in my possession. But I don't remember any collapsibility of the lens. And as for the shutter speed, it indeed does open and close, but at only one speed which is very fast. At least 1/250 or more from the best I can tell. You can't really judge by eye, but after operating as many FP shutters as have in my day, you know fast when you see it. Something I'm not clear on is this bit about the helicoid.
Not having it here, I can't speak on that subject. But do I take it that since it is different from the correct Nikkor lens, wouldn't that mean that it is not properly in calibration with the rangefinder? And if Nikon modeled their invention of the S2 and used Contax's lens mount, why would they not have just gone all the way and made it fully interchangeable with Contax? The gist of what I'm getting here is that a Zeiss on a Nikon works reasonably well on a Nikon, up to about 50mm, where depth of field kicks in on longer lenses and throws it too far out of sync with the rangefinder. Speculation on my part. So my conclusion is that the 50mm Zeiss lens on this Nikon is not a recipe for accuracy.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Your helicoid speculation is correct, the helicoid is sllightly different. That Sonnar is actually 52.4mm, and I think the Nikkor was to the Leica standard, 51.6mm. Ok at infinity, not so good close up. The focussing mount for 50mm lenses is part of the camera, all other focal lengths have an integral helicoid and the one on the camera acts as a driver to the rangefinder. The innards of the camera are pretty straightforward, any competent tech. can handle an overhaul. The slow speed ascapement is probably too gummy to engage.
If the lens is extended, turn it slightly CCW and then it should slide inward. I have Nr. 1827814, which is original to a Contax II. from the third quarter of 1936, Nr. B32??? and is collapsible.

 

[Eagle Blue]

I'm really grateful for the help I've received here on this camera and am reticent to continue presuming on people's good nature. But I discovered something that boggles my mind. Once again, a friend of mine asked me to gather whatever information about his S2 to help him make a decision whether or not to sell it. I've perused the ebay listings and have seen prices of 2,3, or 400 dollars on these bodies. I've always used ebay or other similar methods of buying cameras because I don't mind buying cameras that have problems. Half the reason I do it is because I like fixing them up. I've never bought from KEH, but have heard about it here, so I thought I'd check it out on this camera. Imagine my surprise when I saw a KEH listing on a bargain grade Nikon S2 for $3799. WHAT? That's crazy. But here's the link to the listing. Is there something I'm not getting?
Dead Link Removed

 

[E. von Hoegh]

It's black.

 

[blockend]

It's black.

Yup. If they all came in black the chrome ones would attract mad prices. Destined for a glass case and a quiet life.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

From KEH I bought my EX condition S2 for $380 and its EX condition 50/1.4 for $270.

Functioning of camera and lens is perfect. The viewfinder is clear and the rangefinder patch is distinct. The only flaw is a slight lifting on the right edge of the top plate, which doesn't affect viewing, focusing, or other functions.

Normally I buy as close to Mint as I can get, but back in June 2016 I wasn't seeing any coming in higher than EX.