Another report on the Nikon S2 rangefinder

JDMvW · June 26, 2013

Nikon S2 1954-1958 (the Nikon SP was released in 1957) Kadlubek Nr. NIN1110 Made by Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha (日本光学工業株式会社 "Japan Optical Industries Co., Ltd.") Nikkō (日光) = 'light' German cameras dominated the world of serious photography. Even Kodak had many cameras built in Germany for import into the USA. The best 35mm rangefinders were widely acknowledged to be the Leica and the Contax. Both before WWII and especially after (when German designs were made freely available to all as a war reparation) many Japanese (as well as American, British, etc.) companies made more-or-less direct copies of the Leica especially. Before the war, the more complicated Contax models were copied in appearance, but rarely technically. Here is a "simulated" Contax II in the 'rare' all-black form -- which Zeiss mostly neglected to make --

JDMvW · June 26, 2013

Nikon could have reproduced the Contax exactly, if they had desired to do so:

JDMvW · June 26, 2013

In actual fact, however, they tinkered with the design considerably. The earliest versions of the Nikon rangefinder 'clone' had odd frame sizes, and although the Contax RF mount was copied exactly, Nikon - for reasons best known to themselves - made the lens to film register just different enough, that lenses made for the Contaxes would not quite focus correctly. As we shall see, there is enough depth-of-field in wide-angle lenses to allow use of Contax-mount lenses without any real problem, but telephotos and normal lenses, not. In addition, in a move that is often praised, Nikon chose to copy (as it is often stated, anyhow) not the vertical metal shutter of the Contaxes, but rather the horizontal cloth shutter of the Leicas. Nowadays, vertical metal shutters dominate the world of SLRs, at least, but it is true that the original Contax shutter was widely considered its Achilles' heel. I will only note that the Soviet production of the original shutter seems to work pretty well, but labor costs were not much involved in the concepts of socialist production. Outside Japan, at any rate, the odd frame sizes of the earlier Nikon RFs was a marketing problem- just try shooting Kodachrome slides that were 24×32mm (I) or 24×34 mm (S), for example. Also, after competing with its own earlier designs as production recovered from the war, Leitz announced the Leica M3 in April 1954 - a sensation. which shook up both Canon and Nikon engineers, and probably the rest as well. Nikon's response: "Our technical staff stimulated by that, completed the Nikon S2 with some modification to the original specifications." So what was the Nikon S2, Nikon's answer to the M3? <div>

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JDMvW · June 26, 2013

The S2: The picture size was standardized to the Kodachome slide, 24x36mm, a very important, if obvious improvement. As for the other specifications: Body- Aluminum die-cast Viewfinder- Albada 1.0 x finder, frame coverage 90 % Film winding-Lever (fractional winding possible) Shutter type- Horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter (still) Shutter- curtain-Rubberized cloth curtain ("Habutae" silk) Rewinding- Rewinding knob with crank with A-R ring Shutter speed- T, B, 1 ~ 1/1,000 sec. Sync contact- JIS B type, single synch socket type, FP~X Weight (apx.)- 700 g (with NIKKOR S.C 5cm f/1.4) There are two variants of the camera:

<ul>

<li>The standard where most everything is chrome, which is what I have.</li>

<li>A second form, called "black dial" because of the color of the dials ;)</li>

</ul>

Rare black bodies exist, but are rare and expensive. Th S2 doesn't really sound like an M3 beater, does it?. And you can conclude that, like Canon, the real answer to Leica was not a competive rangefinder, but the new concept of the SLR. Nonetheless, I was surprised when I got my S2 and a couple of lenses for it. There is an intangible something called "feel" and the S2 definitely has it. Now I like the 'feel' of the Nikon F and F2 very well, and I have used M39 Leicas in the past, but the S2 simply feels even more solid than anything else I've used. While many of you know of my affection for old DDR cameras, I assure you that these are not the basis of my comparison. When using the S2, the settings, the wind lever, the lenses and mounts work extremely smoothly. It's not so different in function from a Kiev and mine, shown above, are exceptionally smooth for their kind, but there is a night-and-day difference in the Nikon S2 in this regard. However, there were a couple of disappointments for me. There are two very tiny pin-holes in the shutter curtain. Other than that, the curtain fabric looks excellent, so I am thinking of trying a fabric pigment solution. What do you think? <div></div>

JDMvW · June 26, 2013

In addition, it wasn't until I got out in the wide-open spaces that I realized that the rangefinder is a bit off at infinity. Shooting Fuji ISO 400 film, not a problem with the depth of field. Of course, if you look closely at the picture of the camera, you will also notice that some extraordinarily insensitive alpha-hotel has crudely engraved some characters on the front plate of the camera. That was not a disappointment, because that was responsible for a substantial savings, and the Nikkor-S 5cm f/1.4 black and chrome lens is superb. The vandalism is not particularly noticeable in use, but I am looking without urgency for a replacement front plate. Even with that cost and the cost of a rangefinder repair, I would still be OK, I think given the overall condition. Here are a few snapshots with the camera. I have spoken often of the "inland hurricane" -now the type specimen for the Weather Service's new category of "Super Derecho" - that hit here in 2009. Most of the damage in the campus lake woods has been cleared up, but a few skeletons remain (on the left, below), and many trees have been replanted with some attrition from natural causes (on the left).<div>

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JDMvW · June 26, 2013

Here is the view of the dorms that revealed to me that the rangefinder was a little off.<div>

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JDMvW · June 26, 2013

For reasons that I understand, but regret, we no longer can swim in the campus lake. The bath house is torn down and the workmen are building a boardwalk in the area. <div>

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JDMvW · June 26, 2013

Finally, a little 'easter egg'- The Nikon S2 was apparently Che Guevara's camera of choice in the early days. ( http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lraog6DC0B1qfet8co1_400.jpg ). Later, like a good Communist, of course, he seems to have moved on to a East German Pentacon 6 ( http://www.film-head.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/tumblr_m4frix6NMy1rslu90o1_500.jpg ) and a Soviet Start ( http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4a6l7q9oE1rssxuyo1_1280.jpg ) as also seen here at http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00b3P9 and elsewhere). That's all folks. I'll be back in a day or so with some pictures taken with other lenses and with a close-up accessory I also picked up.

steven_p · June 26, 2013

Thanks, JDM. You are making me feel that my lowly Nikon S is an outdated slug. I also need to break out my sewing kit to mend it's "never ready" case.

Is there a software download to upgrade my version to an S2?

(humor)

john_shriver · June 26, 2013

The un-enviable complexity of the Contax shutter was due to having to avoid Leica's patents. Since those patents were voided outside of Germany after WW-II as a reparation, Nikon wisely chose to put the much more practical Leica shutter in their cameras. The Leica design is the essence of elegance. The Contax shutter is the epitome of German over-engineering.

carbon_dragon · June 26, 2013

Yes, that voiding probably allowed Nikon to make a better camera than Contax, but Leica trumped this with the Leica M.

It's hard to believe that at one time Leica was actually state of the art.

JDMvW · June 26, 2013

Regardless of the virtues of the S2, I'd love to have an S model, and an SP and........ :|

Will my CCA helper please call me to talk me down?

john_shriver · June 26, 2013

The SP was really Nikon's last attempt to respond to the M3 with a rangefinder camera. Similarly, Canon responded with the Canon 7 and 7s.

But Leica had a fresh patent on the M-mount, which gave them a monopoly on that mount until that patent expired.

rick_drawbridge · June 26, 2013

A fascinating blend of fact and creativity. Thanks, JDM.

Lou_Meluso · June 26, 2013

Ahh! Summertime and rangefinder lust is in the air. I have always admired the Nikon RF's from afar having thrown in my lot with the Canon versions. Certainly, a beautiful photography instrument with a storied history. Nice high speed Nikkor you got here. The 1x finder should make shooting with both eyes open easier should you wish that approach.

I have a couple of those Contaxesqe Kiev RF's including an early one supposedly made with some original Contax parts. They work well enough, such as they are, but can't match the precision assembly of German and Japanese cameras. That may be some of the quality "feel" you are experiencing.

tony_lockerbie · June 26, 2013

JDM, a cold shower really helps...very cold! They look great in black don't they, may have to buy a can of black enamel!

The S2 has one major advantage over the SP, and that is the viewfinder. I really like the 1:1 view, just great for the 50mm lens. Similar to the Leica M series, I prefer the uncluttered view in the VF of my M2 to the crowded one in the M6 .

rod_larson · June 27, 2013

A very handsome camera. Too bad about the shutter curtain but shouldn't be too hard to

fix.

Now if I can just resist the urge.......

carbon_dragon · June 27, 2013

When faced with the Leica M3, Nikon responded with the Nikon F right? It makes you wonder if perhaps Sony's NEX-7

(and some of the other more advanced mirrorless cameras) are in danger of doing the same thing to the SLR. Maybe

we'll regard the SLR in the same way as we regard the rangefinder today. Don't get me wrong, I love my rangefinders but

they're no longer in the mainstream. EVIL (Electronic viewfinder Interchangeable lenses) may do the same thing to the

SLR as the SLR did to the rangefinder.

It's funny too because the NEX-7 reminds me a lot of my Leica Ms.

JDMvW · June 27, 2013

Well, for the shutter pin holes, I took the leap. Found a matte fabric paint not requiring a heated setting at my local craft store. Used a tiny, tiny drop of it on the two holes, and it is now drying -- it says dry in 4 hours, but washable after 72 hours, so I think I'll do the longer wait, just in case.<div>

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JDMvW · June 27, 2013

On reflection I realize that I have been incredibly lucky. With all the old fabric focal plane shutters I have this is the very first time I have ever encountered a hole in a shutter.

At this rate, if the fabric paint doesn't dry up in the bottle, the 114 mL of it should last me until early in the 22nd century.

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Another report on the Nikon S2 rangefinder

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