Thinking about getting a Nikon S2

jimjm · Jan 21, 2022

Paul Howell said:
So, S2 vs SP, in college wanted a SP, that was in the 60s when PJs were still shooting the SP, a few had the motor drive model, what would a S2 have over a SP?

S2 is lighter, simpler and much cheaper. That's about it.
The SP was probably one of the only RFs of the 50s-60s to come close to the overall features of the M-series Leicas, and even beat Leica in some ways. Supposedly the VF and RF patch were still not as bright as Leica M, but whose is?
The SP has switchable framelines for 28, 35, 50, 85, 105 & 135mm lenses. The 28 & 35 framelines are seen in a separate VF window which makes them easier to see with glasses on.
Titanium shutter curtains were introduced during the latter part of SP production. Prices on used SPs seem to be close to what you'd pay for an M2 or M3 these days.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 21, 2022

Huss said:
Nope. I had the Kiev and the handling is a world apart too. Do not have to hold the camera all weird so to prevent blocking the rf patch. Has a film advance lever vs a dial. Setting shutter speeds is much easier, quicker and more accurate. Rewinding the film is so much easier and simpler. Removing the back is so much easier.
And we're not even talking about shutter reliability!

The only thing the Kiev has is it's cheaper. I'd do whatever I could to save up the money for an S2, it is that much better.

Thanks for feeding my GAS for the S2 Huss. Now I'm wondering if I would like the S2

Huss · Jan 21, 2022

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Thanks for feeding my GAS for the S2 Huss. Now I'm wondering if I would like the S2

If you are happy using 50mm lenses (and why not?), the S2 is the bargain in the 35mm rangefinder world. Next up would be the Canon LTMs, but the Nikons are still nicer.

Let's be honest here, if Nikon adopted Leica's M mount, instead of the super goofy contax-like mount (doesn't work properly with Contax lenses!), Nikon S series cameras would be worth 2-3 times the amount they are now.

Steve York · Jan 26, 2022

Loved the several Nikon S2 I've owned and used in the past, except for the metal viewfinder scraping eyeglasses. By far the best rangefinder patch of all the Nikons, and that 1.0x viewfinder is intoxicating. Cool, weird shutter sound too. I always thought it sounded like someone coughing. Such iconic looks, and like all Nikon rangefinders, small, compact and light. More of a 35mm shooter now though, so the S2's. M3's ect of the world no longer much of a interest.

ColdEye · Jan 27, 2022

Well it just arrived. It astounds me how fast stuff from Japan gets delivered. Had to clean the 5cm f1.4 a bit, thank goodness its super easy to disassemble. So far I like it. The wheel focusing is super smooth with the 5cm and just has a tiny bit of resistance with the 25mm. Viewfinder is actually nice, I was expecting it to be bad but its not. Definitely cured the rangefinder itch. I'll take some pictures this weekend.

Sirius Glass · Jan 27, 2022

Enjoy!

darinwc · Jan 28, 2022

Nice! Cannot wait to see the results!

David Lindquist · Jan 28, 2022

The late Steve Shapiro (just read his obituary in today's New York Times) used Nikon rangefinders back in the 60's, the S, S2 and S3. Referred to them as "three finger" cameras." See: https://www.amateurphotographer.co....ng-for-rights-steve-schapiro-interview-107491

David

wjlapier · Jan 29, 2022

Very nice. My S2 is a black dial too.

__Brian · Feb 3, 2022

Huss said:
If you are happy using 50mm lenses (and why not?), the S2 is the bargain in the 35mm rangefinder world. Next up would be the Canon LTMs, but the Nikons are still nicer.

Let's be honest here, if Nikon adopted Leica's M mount, instead of the super goofy contax-like mount (doesn't work properly with Contax lenses!), Nikon S series cameras would be worth 2-3 times the amount they are now.

Nikon made Two prototype cameras in LTM. Canon, Nicca, Leotax, Tanack, and others made LTM cameras. The S2 would have been much like a Canon P. The latter- you can get for $150 or so, the Canon 7- about the same.

These days- you pay as much for a Nikkor 5cm F1.4 in LTM as you do a Nikon S2 with the same lens.

MY Nikon S2 works properly with Contax lenses. I shimmed the helical and adjusted the rangefinder.

Post-War 50mm Zeiss Opton 50mm F1.5, wide-open on the Nikon S2. I've also used the 13.5cm lenses with it.

Huss · Feb 3, 2022

__Brian said:
Nikon made Two prototype cameras in LTM. Canon, Nicca, Leotax, Tanack, and others made LTM cameras. The S2 would have been much like a Canon P. The latter- you can get for $150 or so, the Canon 7- about the same.

.

I had the Canon P, the Nikon S2 is a much nicer camera to use. Feels better in hand, better VF, nicer film wind on and rewind.
The P is an excellent value.

__Brian · Feb 4, 2022

Both have 1x finder, the Canon P has auto-parallax compensation. The Canon P has steel curtains. The Canon P compares more with a Nikon S3. The S2 viewfinder has better contrast than the S3.

The Nikon S2 without a Contax style bayonet would have been a very different camera.

ColdEye · Feb 4, 2022

Finally developed my test roll, but it seems I botched the development times (IR 400 in Pyrocat HD), BUT, the s2 with the 5cm/1.4 is fun to use. Glad I went with this over the IIIF. Rangefinder seems to be correct.

Huss · Feb 4, 2022

__Brian said:
Both have 1x finder, the Canon P has auto-parallax compensation. The Canon P has steel curtains. The Canon P compares more with a Nikon S3. The S2 viewfinder has better contrast than the S3.

The Nikon S2 without a Contax style bayonet would have been a very different camera.

Had both at the same time. In actual use, the Nikon is much nicer. Feels much better in hand. Viewfinder is better. Wind on is better. Rewind is better. Feels more solid. P is better for having the LTM mount, and the shutter speed dial was better on the P.

A Nikon S2 without the Contax style bayonet would be a very different camera just because if it had the Leica M mount, it would have had access to the incredible range of M mount lenses made by lots of diff mfgs.

You shimmed/adjusted your S2 to use with Contax lenses. That is something the avg person would not be able to do. Plus the range of lenses is still very limited compared to M mount. Does it focus correctly with the Nikon S mount lenses after you shimmed it for the Contax lenses?

__Brian · Feb 4, 2022

No the particular Nikon S2 is set for Contax only. When received, the helical was loose and it was missing the washer type shims under one of the screws that holds the helical in place. It was from a collector, who obviously never used it. I found that a "mws2" precision washer fit perfectly, and used those to shim for the Sonnar. This was almost 20 years ago. My other 4 Nikon S2's had the proper shims- so I am covered. The S2 is my favorite for using with 50mm lenses. I also shimmed Menopta/Helios-103's for the Nikons, and a pair of Jupiter-3's. One S2 has a 5005 series 5cm F1.4 on it, found with a Nikon M for $30,

GRHazelton · Feb 4, 2022

I have a chrome dial S2 with the f1.4.lens. A nice shooter! I got used to the focus wheel and its lock, and I find the general control layout very user-friendly. My S2 has a few scars and minor dents, as if it had come away from service in the Korean war. After I bought it I succumbed to a Contax IIa with the f1.5 Sonnar, and then....the compatible Voigtlander 25mm f2.5 and the Voigtlander 21mm. Then of course the Bessa Contax/Nikon compatible box. I'd imatgine that the S2 and the Contax will outlast the Bessa, just based on their respecdtive "feels."
I also have a Canon P with the LTM 35mm f1.8 Canon, 50mm f1.8 and the 100mm f2. The Canon is a pleasant machine. The parallax corrected viewfinder is good, although the 100mm frame is pretty small. The stainless steel shutter is immune to "sunspotting" - my S2 has a cloth shutter and could be holed by the sun. My P has wrinkles in the shutter curtain, a common though not disabling occurence. My P could use a CLA, the slow speeds tend to "hang."
I have the feeling that the S2 will probably be going strong longer than I will with little more than reasonably careful use, that is to say, don't drop it and don't use it as a weapon....

__Brian · Feb 4, 2022

Several years ago my family and I were in Old Town Occoquan, I had my S2 with the Nikkor. Nice, Sunny Sunday Afternoon. An older gentleman wearing a cap identifying himself as a Korean War Vet walked up and asked if I would like him to take a picture of us with my Camera. Did not offer to do the same for anyone else in the Park. He knew how to use an S2.

Huss · Feb 5, 2022

__Brian said:
Several years ago my family and I were in Old Town Occoquan, I had my S2 with the Nikkor. Nice, Sunny Sunday Afternoon. An older gentleman wearing a cap identifying himself as a Korean War Vet walked up and asked if I would like him to take a picture of us with my Camera. Did not offer to do the same for anyone else in the Park. He knew how to use an S2.

Love it! Sometimes it's a problem with the attention these wonderful 'old' cameras attract! But in a good way as they can be ice-breakers.

GRHazelton · Feb 25, 2022

ColdEye said:
I think I will give it a try. Any opinions between the the 5cm 1.4 vs f2? I am eyeing a black dial (is that just purely cosmetic?) Nikon S2. And from my research, I can use the contax mount lenses but only the 5cm FL will focus correctly?

Due to a difference in the two mounts, lenses for Contax longer than 50mm will not focus properly on the Nikon S2; I presume that the reverse is true. Note that there are several excellent Voigtlander lenses available that will co-exist on the Nikon S2 and the Contax IIa. These include a 21mm, among others. Cameraquest.com has lots of info on the Nikon S2, S3, SP, etc.,compatibility issues, and the Voigtlander lenses. Bring your wallet, however! The V's ain't cheap.

GRHazelton · Feb 26, 2022

I should have added that some consider the f1.4 better than the f2. The "classic" S2 sports the f1.4. BTW, you could have a dual Nikon S2 and Contax IIa outfit, the two cameras could share wide angle optics. Again, Camera Quest will show the way. BTW, Cosina made the Bessa, which is a Contax lens mount rangefinder with a good viewfinder and through the lens metering.

Huss · Feb 27, 2022

GRHazelton said:
I should have added that some consider the f1.4 better than the f2. The "classic" S2 sports the f1.4. BTW, you could have a dual Nikon S2 and Contax IIa outfit, the two cameras could share wide angle optics. Again, Camera Quest will show the way. BTW, Cosina made the Bessa, which is a Contax lens mount rangefinder with a good viewfinder and through the lens metering.

I found the original 50 1.4 on my S2 a poor performer unless stopped down. I posted samples demonstrating this.
I know some people here have an allergic reaction to Rockwell, but his experiences with it are exactly what I found.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/rangefinder/5cm-f14.htm

Its optics are inferior to modern lenses at large apertures (f/1.4) due to all the veiling caused by spherical aberration, but stopped down (f/5.6 and smaller) its performance is decent for 99% of things you'd shoot with it, but still not as good as 1970s 50mm f/1.4 SLR lenses.

I was actually surprised - you can of course still make wonderful pics with it because the subject matter is the most important thing, but I was expecting more from a prime lens, especially given that this lens was meant to rival Leica's Summilux which it clearly does not. The 'new' 50 1.4 that was released with the S3 2000 is a whole different thing.

p.s. The Bessa that Cosina made has the Nikon specced lens mount, not the Contax one. A Bessa will not focus accurately with Contax RF lenses wide open.

Arthurwg · Feb 27, 2022

Can't blame you for wanting this camera. I want one as well but can't possibly justify it.

outwest · Feb 27, 2022

I use Nikon lenses on my Canon VI. Great combination!

__Brian · Mar 3, 2022

Nikon S3 with 5cm F1.4 Nikkor-SC, wide-open.

The Nikkor 5cm F1.4 was introduced in 1950, competed with the Summarit 5cm F1.5. The Summilux came out years afterwards, closer to the Double-Gauss "Olympic" Nikkor 50mm F1.4 brought out in 1963.

__Brian · Mar 4, 2022

The first version Nikkor 5cm F1.4, wide-open. LTM version.

Ken Rockwell- he needs to learn how to calibrate a rangefinder camera and pair it with a lens.

Thinking about getting a Nikon S2

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