I've gone and done it

[Phil_F_NM]

...at least I've made up my mind; resigned myself to the fact that I'm a film shooter.
After a few years of using digital rangefinders, first an RD1, then a pair of RD1s, then an M8, then an M8 and M9, then just an M9, I realize that all I want to do is get back to shooting film. The whole uphill upgrade path has only led me to more and more expensive digital cameras that I thought would be more like film and help with work but they only seem to act like similar camera with the shutter button in a similar location, is all. I've been wanting a digital camera that makes film images which is just the wrong way to go. So shuffling off the M9 and getting back to my beloved HC110 and D76 is my goal. I have one of the best scanners a mortal can own and I need to use it.

NOTE: This is not meant to be a digital vs film thread, it's more a "how I made up my mind to go with an SP over the other Nikons" thread.

I recently fell in love with the Nikon rangefinder lenses (2.8cm, 3.5cm f/2.5 and 5cm f/1.4) and the fact that they offer equal performance to their Leica or other contemporaries but at a much lower cost these days. Granted, I got a few good deals on those three lenses but I've NEVER bought a Leica lens for what I paid for any of the aforementioned three, aside from a user 5cm Elmar.

All that said...

I'm going back to film and I'm gunning for a Nikon SP with titanium curtains. if I can't find one, I have access to a few parted out Nikon F bodies with good curtains and I'll just keep one around for good measure and a possible future swap.

I've spent WAY too many hours looking at this screen, reading opinions on which Nikon RF to move into. S2? SP? S3?

I may get an S2 as well to use as a rear cap for my near mint 5cm f/1.4 lens (better rear cap than a Kodak film canister cap held on with a rubber band, if you ask me.) The big difference for me, and the main deciding factor, is the fact that the SP has parallax corrected framelines. If any other body had them, I'd go for that. The S3 and S2 are fantastic tools but I do a fair amount of close to medium shooting and don't really want to think about which corner I should be composing for when I'd rather be thinking about the scene itself.
So that's it.

Saying goodbye to digital once again, though I'm sure work and deadlines (when they come) will pull me back. Until then, I'm reloading my own canisters with Kodak Double-X and burning through the last two bricks of Plus-X in the mid-Atlantic region.
Good to be back.

Thanks for the film body GAS! It helped relieve the digital bloat.

Phil Forrest

[paulfish4570]

there's a man with a made-up mind. looking forward to yer work ...

[robklurfield]

After 30+ years shooting with M's, I have to admit to loving my S2 which I've had for about two months now. Go for it. As to which one, I think folks like Tom A. can point you in the right direction which I think depends on what lenses you think you'll be using most. With a 50, the S2 could be any more perfect.

[goodtimes]

I've done that years ago already and I'm soooo happy.
My M8-2 bought 3 years ago shall have around 500 actuations only. I still don't know what to do with it. I have not used it for more than a year...
I have so many film cameras now that I struggle on choosing which one to use.
The're all so good: Nikon F, Leica of all sorts, Nikon RF, Pentax spotmatic.
I prefer using that variety of film gear than spending my life behind a computer screen processing electronic files.

[johannielscom]

Godspeed, Phil!

It's good to have a focused mind and uncluttered view, no matter what decision led to that!

Looking forward to seeing your shots!

[FrankS]

Another soul saved! Good for you, Phil.

[Range-rover]

I to went back to rangefinders, I pick up a S2 and 35mm f2.5 lens.
I really like them even after using Leica's for twenty years, I'm
enjoying rangefinders again. So go for it and enjoy rangefinders
and film!

Range

[loquax ludens]

Congratulations, Phil. Enjoy the peace that comes of having a settled mind.

The Nikon SP would be a sweet camera. You're talking about going for an original, I take it, or were you thinking of the 2005 reproduction?

[Phil_F_NM]

Originally Posted by loquax ludens

You're talking about going for an original, I take it, or were you thinking of the 2005 reproduction?

Original, I couldn't afford the 2005 version unless I traded my M9 straight across for it and still ponied up some cash on my side. No, original SP it is.

Phil Forrest

[RanceEric]

Yes! Welcome to the club. My SP is my baby. It goes literally everywhere with me..

I believe there's still an SP with titanium shutter on Keh.. Little pricey though.

[Godfrey]

It's good to make up your mind and just "Do It." There is a relief and release associated with the simplification that comes from having made a decision.

Enjoy your SP. I had an S2 once upon a time and found it a wonderful camera. I wouldn't go with film again as my only choice, i like working in digital capture too much. Besides the fact that my kit is now based around M-bayonet lens mount and I have a lot of lenses that I like a lot.

I've been simplifying for over a year now, and sadly it's led to more and more equipment. Which leads to more and more decision making, less and less relief, etc. I don't like this ... so I'm on my way to a decision too.

Godfrey - http://godfreydigiorgi.posterous.com

[migtex]

Glad you come back to enjoy Film and the Nikon's!
Yes, you will have more than one, resistance is futile.

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by goodtimes

I prefer using that variety of film gear than spending my life behind a computer screen processing electronic files.

I wonder how you got 2000+ pictures up on your flickr stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8487951@N05/

Prints and snail mail?

[clayne]

Originally Posted by Speedfreak

I wonder how you got 2000+ pictures up on your flickr stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8487951@N05/

Prints and snail mail?

As opposed to your Flickr stream, which is where? Yep, that's right.

[Phil_F_NM]

C'mon folks. No need to argue.

Phil Forrest

[maddoc]

Two years ago I started looking into the Nikon RF system, owned a SP (original but modified with titanium curtains, black-paint), 50/1.4, 35/1.8, CV 28/3.5, 105/2.5 (bargain find but most excellent performing), ZM 50/1.5, briefly a S and then S2 (and also had a S3 2000 borrowed). I sold all of that except for the S2 and added a 50/2.0 HC later.

From my experience with the Leica M system, the S2 is the best "user camera". Only one frame-line for 50mm (no parallax compensation) but 1:1 finder and a RF patch with good contrast. The RF patch of the SP was OK but not really suitable for low-light. The S3 with the complete set of frame-lines permanently visible was annoying after some time.

I think prices for Nikon RF have come down a little since then so you might find some nice glass for reasonable prices, especially compared to the total over-priced Leica glass.

[Range-rover]

That's what I did on my S2 as well, When when I first got the camera I
was really disappointed with the finder, but when I cleaned all the glass
surfaces it really got brighter and the focusing improved.

Range

[Phil_F_NM]

The 1:1 finder is another reason I want to shoot a Nikon RF. I've had opportunities to shoot with them on occasions and a few months ago, I shot with an S2 for a day. Thought I wasn't going to ever get into Nikon rangefinders after that because getting used to Nikon lenses vs. Leica lenses I've used for years. So now I've switched to Nikon lenses with all but my Super Angulon (which will reside on my M4) and I can't wait to get into a camera with a 1:1 finder. I have a problem with squinting to see the finder in low magnification viewfinders. Keeping both eyes open is going to be like a breath of fresh air be it through an SP or an S2.

Phil Forrest

[maitani]

I was also heavily bitten by the Nikon RF worm less than 2 years ago, striked by their beauty and their mechanical ‘CLA-immunity’

before knowing better, I always thought of them like something quirky and collectible only, but I found the to be great shooters once you adapt to the longer focusing action of most lenses. Focusing is extremely accurate therefore imo.

It started for me with a pricewise completely underrated SP2005 set which I bought off a collector who didn’t have any use for it (probably never had run a roll thru it…) he had just switched to an M9 deluxe set with all aspherical lenses and such
then I added quickly some of the cheaper lenses (105, and voigtlander S-mounts) selling over the half of my until now favourite OM system collection, just keeping a couple of personal highlights from there. In the meanwhile the previous owner called me to know if I’m willing to sell the SP back to him.
but it was too late.

I then added a S3 2000 set which I had bought for the millennium Nikkor alone, Then I added an S2 and recently an S4 which was not planned at all, but price was too good to be true, also it was great looking in and out.

I like them so much, smoothness (all cloth shutters) 1:1 finder, looks, lenses, that I decided to stay with the Nikon RF’s for film for good (selling off my M6, Bessas and Konica RF) the lenses for the Nikon are on the affordable side compared to leitz offerings, also some of the wide contaxes are great. and from my experience of similar or same quality depending on FL.

the M8 I bought recently has changed the way I see digital a little, so I’m getting back to about 50:50 again (film/digital) but a 28 and a 35 are all I’m keeping in the digital M-system. Also I can
use some of the s-mount lenses like the 50ies and longer per amadeo adapter on the M8.

I’m loudly thinking of a Fullframe Digital Nikon SP rangefinder, but it probably will never happen, If so, I’m the first to qeue for it.

I wanted to sell my S3 but couldn’t do it at the end, those Nikons are such beauties, and the S3 the only one with 35 framelines (not that it’s that big of a deal, but it’s there anyway)

The SP is my favourite ‘go to’ camera due to the finder polyvalence, and I prefer using it for wides and with external viewfinders too, about on par I like the S2 best with the 50 1.4 millenium or the tiny 5 cm f2.0 h.c. attached
The S4 is the only silver Nikon I have, it’s a beauty, and feels like something between a S3 and S2. Less cluttered viewfinder than S3 and no self-timer too (which I’ve never, ever used)

I was also impressed that the much ‘beaten’ focusing patch of the S3 was superior and more visible than the one in the Bessa R3 (which also sports a lifesize VF, but it didn’t reach the level of the old BessaR viewfinder for me (which is superb Btw.)

so the 35 1.8 is permanently glued on the S3 now. Usually I carry 2 bodys, one loaded with colour slidefilm, and one loaded with bw.

enjoy your freshly taken decision, it’s the right one imo.

Here my latest Addition, the S4

[Range-rover]

That's a great looking camera and lens, these Nikon's are
something special.

Range

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by clayne

As opposed to your Flickr stream, which is where? Yep, that's right.

I am not on flickr. But even if I was, totally irrelevant to the discussion.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...6&postcount=13

[FrankS]

Off topic posts will be deleted if this continues. Either work out your differences by PM's, or ignore each other.

[Phil_F_NM]

Today I sold the M9 in a partial trade for a Nikon SP with a titanium shutter curtain. The camera appears to be in perfect working order, as far as I can tell. all the frames snap nicely into view and the 13.5cm frame is nicely colored red. The finder is quite nice and nothing at all like a Barnack as I've heard a few say. The 28/35 finder has decent eye relief and a small chunk of dirt in it but that isn't much of a concern since for my 28mm I use a Zeiss finder.
Pressure plate is gorgeous and appears to have little to no wear. I've put more wear on my M4 pressure plate in the last 9 years than this 50+ year old camera has.
I'll be posting photos soon, I just need to find an SD card! All my high capacity cards went out with the M9.
The camera is a wonderful tool and I can't wait tog get shooting with it.
Thanks all!

Phil Forrest

[Range-rover]

Hi Phil,
Enjoy your new Nikon SP, That's a first for me to here someone traded a
Leica M9 for a Nikon SP.

Range

[Lauffray]

Speaking of S2, when I was in NY I saw a man with TWO S2s slung over his shoulder, they looked in amazing condition.