Odd Nikon half frame slr

John_A · Dec 1, 2014

I didnt know that this even existed

http://m.ebay.com/itm/141445442124?nav=SEARCH

I wonder what the price was since its apparently assembled by hand?

Cybertrash · Dec 1, 2014

Cameraquest has some info on the camera here. Apparently it was a special order made by the Norwegian police. Super-rare apparently.

blockend · Dec 1, 2014

$4k for an FM2 with a smaller shutter...?

benjiboy · Dec 1, 2014

It's another one for anal retentive collectors.

darkosaric · Dec 1, 2014

Still cheaper than Leica M4-P Half Frame .

AgX · Dec 1, 2014

I don't think that such is that odd.
I guess many types of 24x36 SLRs were modified for Police use. Either by the manufacturer or a workshop. There are for instance several Praktica and Exa modifications of that kind known.

ciniframe · Dec 1, 2014

If you just got to shoot your Nikkor lenses on half frame then get a Olympus Pen F or FT, a Nikon F mount adapter and pocket the other $3,700

I figure $150 for the body and $150 for the adapter.

John_A · Dec 1, 2014

It makes you wonder why the police need to use the 1/2 35 mm format? Saving money on less film roll usage is not likely the reason.

AgX · Dec 1, 2014

The cost factor for sure counts. But more important is the doubling of exposures without need to acquire an expensive and troublesome bulk magazine.

darkosaric · Dec 2, 2014

I think there was a time in the past when film prices went very high - at that time they introduced many different smaller film formats in try to make it more available to the customers. Somebody maybe know more about this?

fotch · Dec 2, 2014

It is fun to dream about its worth, now to see the reality if someone is willing to buy it for that.

Jim Jones · Dec 2, 2014

darkosaric said:
I think there was a time in the past when film prices went very high - at that time they introduced many different smaller film formats in try to make it more available to the customers. Somebody maybe know more about this?

In the depressed economy of the 1930s, half-frame cameras were more popular. Univex introduced the Mercury model CC with a rotating focal plane shutter (speeds up to 1/1000) and interchangeable lenses in 1938. That simple shutter was more accurate and perhaps more reliable than those in Leitz and Zeiss cameras of the time. Unfortunately, the bulk of the rotary shutter made including a rangefinder difficult. The camera used a proprietary 35mm film system that makes them impractical to use now. Another reason for that inconvenient film system was so Univex had a monopoly on what films could be used. An improved Mercury II that used standard 35mm film became available after WWII. As the economy recovered and as newer cameras became available, interest in half-frame cameras without rangefinders faded. The reliability and robust construction of the Mercury II weren't enough to save it. I was glad to replace my second-hand Mercury II with a Leica iiiF in 1953, even though the Leica cost seven times as much.

darkosaric · Dec 2, 2014

Thanks Jim .

Shootar401 · Dec 3, 2014

Sadly this camera, if it sells, will end up in Japan in someones collection never to be seen again.

blockend · Dec 3, 2014

Shootar401 said:
Sadly this camera, if it sells, will end up in Japan in someones collection never to be seen again.

You'd really need the completist gene to pay that kind of money. The camera isn't historically significant, and is only rare by virtue of one aspect, the shutter size. Otherwise it's a simple variation on a useful if bog standard Nikon of which there are many.

I can see it has quirky value, but there must be a number of similar camera owners out there waiting to see what it sells for, potentially depressing the market by dumping them on ebay. I think $4k is a little ambitious, but it'll be worth what it's worth!

Shootar401 · Dec 3, 2014

blockend said:
You'd really need the completist gene to pay that kind of money. The camera isn't historically significant, and is only rare by virtue of one aspect, the shutter size. Otherwise it's a simple variation on a useful if bog standard Nikon of which there are many.

I can see it has quirky value, but there must be a number of similar camera owners out there waiting to see what it sells for, potentially depressing the market by dumping them on ebay. I think $4k is a little ambitious, but it'll be worth what it's worth!

Me, being a shooter not a collector would not pay more than maybe $50-$100 over the price of the similar full frame FM2. I have no need for a half frame camera, it might be cool to shoot one a few times, but I see no value in it for me. Then again I only buy cameras that I intend to use, I don't collect or have shelf queens.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 3, 2014

Shootar401 said:
Sadly this camera, if it sells, will end up in Japan in someones collection never to be seen again.

Why is that sad? Who cares? There's so many "normal" working FM2 cameras out there do we really need to see this again for some reason?

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 3, 2014

Shootar401 said:
Me, being a shooter not a collector would not pay more than maybe $50-$100 over the price of the similar full frame FM2. I have no need for a half frame camera, it might be cool to shoot one a few times, but I see no value in it for me. Then again I only buy cameras that I intend to use, I don't collect or have shelf queens.

There's a "make offer" button!

dreamingartemis · Dec 4, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
There's a "make offer" button!

What offer would you make? I say USD100 - for me to take it!!

benjiboy · Dec 4, 2014

Thinks are worth what you can get for them and it depends on how desperate the sellers are for the money and how long they can wait to sell it , a second hand Rolls Royce may have a book value of £25,000, but if the most anyone is willing to pay for it is £5000 that's what it's worth.

benveniste · Dec 4, 2014

I'd probably pay $1500 for one, but as a collector's piece.

eddie · Dec 4, 2014

blockend said:
...there must be a number of similar camera owners out there waiting to see what it sells for, potentially depressing the market by dumping them on ebay.

According to the listing, that number would be, at best, 38. I think a production run of 39, from a collectible manufacturer, will garner interest. I can easily see them getting their asking price. Not something I would buy, as much as I like half frame.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 5, 2014

It's like a limited edition Porsche in which they put a VW bus engine under the hood (bonnet) instead. ;-)

Les Sarile · Dec 5, 2014

If someone just wants to use their Nikon lenses on half frame camera, you can get a Nikon to Olympus Pen F mount adapter for the Olympus Pen . . .

Shootar401 · Dec 5, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
There's a "make offer" button!

I offered him $250. He didn't take it.

I have a hard enough time shooting 12 frames in my TLR (too picky on my shots), It would take me a month to go through 72 frames.

Odd Nikon half frame slr

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