New Nikon S2 Owner

Range-rover · 05-19-2012

Hi all,
I'm a new guy here on this site, just joined this great group, really
impressed with everything here. so I've been bad, I purchased on ebay
at a but it now a Nikon S2 seemed to be in great condition no lens
but the prices with lenses are kinda high, so i'm hoping this works out
good. I'm not new to rangefinders having owned a few Leica's in the
past the last was a M4 which for some mysterious reason the shutter
died, sold it I did

and the 35mm lens as well, but I'm back with
a Nikon S2 now. I have to decide on lenses either a 50mm f2 or 35mm
f3.5 (2.5 cost might be a factor in that) what would your experience
be with those two lenses, when camera arrives will add pictures.

Thanks to all

Rover

James24 · 05-19-2012

Welcome!

The S2 is a great camera. I'm sure you'll be pleased with it.

As for lenses....a 50mm is perfect on it. There are no distracting framelines, and generally the focus patch is strong and clear. If you want to go with a 35mm you'll either need to get an auxilliary finder or do some guesswork. As far as I can see, f2.5 and f3.5 versions of the 35mm are similarly priced with condition probably dictating the price more than the f stop.

Range-rover · 05-19-2012

If i get a 35mm it would not be a problem I kept my 35mm viewfinder from the
Leica.

Thanks

robklurfield · 05-19-2012

Welcome here.

I just got an S2 yesterday myself. What a treat to use. Enjoy yours.

Range-rover · 05-19-2012

That's a great looking camera you got, and the other's look good to boot!

Rover

robklurfield · 05-19-2012

Rover, thanks.

I've been a Leica M user for 30 years. After 24 hours with the S2, I have to say that I already love it, too. The focus wheel is really natural, though focusing from the lens barrel (going the opposite direction of what I'm used to doing) is slightly disorienting. The VF on the S2 is just great and the camera feels perfect in my hands. Enjoy yours. Can't wait to pull the first roll of film out of mine. I'll keep using my M2, etc., but the S2 is a keeper. The similarities are enough to make it easy to use and the differences are enough to keep things interesting.

alfredian · 05-19-2012

Excellent move - the S2 is the best of the Nikon rangefinders - uncluttered viewfinder and great handling. The original Nikon glass is great, but the recent Cosina-S lenses are really nice. The 50/2.5 is compact & has a dome-hood. The 50/1.5 S-Nokton is a bit of a chore ot focus with the wheel, but is an amazing lens, some say better than the Nokton 50/1.5 in the Leica mount. The original W-Nikkors are fantastic - I can speak only for the f3.5 both early & late types and with an accessory vf are optically superb (both BW and Ektar) and easy to use. Enjoy.

Erik van Straten · 05-20-2012

I use the focusing wheel only to "stop" the focusing movement of the lens, for changing the f-stop as an example.

Erik.

ray*j*gun · 05-20-2012

I have used the CV lenses for years on my S3 and they are tops for the money!

Welcome to the forum!!

Timestep · 05-20-2012

Welcome to the S2 club.
I've used one since 1956.
I would recommend a 50mm ( F/2 is fine ) as the most readily usable lens on the S2. As for 35mm. the F/2.5 is choice— this lens had a long life after Nikon RF's on the Nikonos cameras. I'm constantly amazed by the results from mine. And you still have the leica viewfinder for that focal length. ( I still use a Zeiss Contax finder for mine.)
I also use a Voightlander 21mm, purchased a few years ago. Cameraquest might still have some stock on this special edition Nikon S mount series.

Range-rover · 05-21-2012

Hi all,
The Nikon S2 came today by UPS, opened it up and it looks nice
it's not mint, but at least excellent+ condition, there's a few dings
here and there and other things, but the shutter seems to work
fine, and the advance lever is smooth and slaps back nicely, the
rangefinder is very clean but! it's off a little the two images line
up but are off (ones higher that the other) also it's not that clear
to me like the dioptic is off a little but I'm surprised how big the finder
is and with glasses I can still see the framelines does anyone wearing
glasses have a problem with the clarity or is it me but this should
work at great I hope.

Range

alfredian · 05-21-2012

I had a similar situation with one of my S2's - the vertical alignment of the RF was off a bit - to my eye (thick glasses). My tuner/repairman said it had been right-on "to his eyes" but he'd give it another go. It does seem to respond - slightly - to shifting your POV up/down.

Regarding jonmanjiro's remark re: the Nokton 50/1.5 - I use the lens-ring to focus the 50 external mount, also the 85 & 105. The Nokton is smooth enough you can almost use the wheel - at the expense of your finger-tread! The external-mount 35's are light enough for the Wheel. I love the f3.5s but want an f2.5 next.

Range-rover · 05-21-2012

When I look thru the viewfinder and it's at a distant it's really clear like at 5 feet and
beyond but closer than 5 feet it's slightly out of focus, it might be my glasses I have
new ones now I'm nearsighted and can't use them up close anymore so it could be
that. I did a little cleaning tonight, clean the glass, top plate and removed the advance
lever cover and tighten the three screws underneath and it tighten up nicely. I'm looking
at lenses so I can use this guy and still trying to load pictures but everytime I do it
they say there to large of a attachment. Finally down loaded some pictures.

Range

robklurfield · 05-21-2012

Range, nice! Enjoy!

After two rolls of film, I'm already in love with mine.

As satisfying to shoot with as my M's, BUT different.

Get a lens and start shooting!

Range-rover · 05-23-2012

Cleaning day today I took my S2 apart remove the top cover and blew out the dust
clean out the prisms and it was dark green before but now it's a light green and I adjust
the rangefinder seem to focus better, besides the was a little fungus here and there on some metal parts and there's no setting screw on the shutter dial will have to find
something for that otherwise it's going good.

Range

Steve Bellayr · 05-23-2012

FYI: The 50mm f1.4 is a Sonnar lens. The difficulty is obtaining a shade for any older lens.

furcafe · 05-23-2012

The 50/2 Nikkor-H also is a Sonnar. 40.5mm & 43mm hoods are easy to find on eBay (from vendors like heavystar).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Bellayr

FYI: The 50mm f1.4 is a Sonnar lens. The difficulty is obtaining a shade for any older lens.

SolaresLarrave · 05-23-2012

I got a Nikon S2 about two years ago... and it took me some additional stuff (my falling in love with Leica M5 bodies) to leave it.

Considering the VF in the Nikon S2, I'd get a 50mm f1.4 lens. If you look for them in KEH they're reasonably priced. Even though I've been lusting for a 35mm lens for a Nikon S body, I just came to realize that the S2 and a 50 are the best combination there is... comparable to using a Leica M3 with a Summicron 50.

Since you're handy with tools, you probably will enjoy it more. I like mine a lot, and liked it even better after Don Goldberg fixed the RF alignment (it was a bit off in one dimension, but photos still came out well and sharp). Enjoy your shopping for a Nikon S lens!

Range-rover · 05-24-2012

Went to B&H Photo yesterday to check out what they had in used but nothing in the
rangefinder lenses, but they had a few Canon ones and Leica of course, and the had
tons of 35mm SLR cameras and looked like tons of Canon eos1 digital cameras, I
guess when that new model appears they get that and trade in the old ones, but
thanks for the well wishes in looking for a lens I'll find that right one.

range

Range-rover · 05-31-2012

Hi all,
The lens came today, my 35mm f2.5. It's in real nice shape glass looks good as well,
from the rear looking thru the lens I see lite scratches but from the front there not seen,
it goes on the camera smooth enough, but focusing with the wheel is a little hard but
focusing the lens it shelf is real smooth. Well let's go take some pictures.

Range