Isn't it always the way...

[Vickko]

I need to sell a Nikon S2.

The black dial one that I want to keep, doesn't have as good an RF as the chrome dial one, that I want to sell.

And I don't think one can transplant the black focus ring onto the chrome dial body.

I wish I could just win the lottery, so I can keep both.

Vick

[enasniearth]

Vick

The black focus ring is a trim piece , you could switch the black dials to the other camera .
The chrome camera would still have the smaller pressure plate , unless it is a late one .
Well the black dial s2 is still my favorite Nikon .

[thompsonks]

All things being equal, I can understand having a color preference; but why would a photographer choose to keep the one with the worse RF??

[Highway 61]

Transplanting black parts from a S2 BD onto a S2 CD would make two Frankenstein cameras because the serials won't match any of them then - plus, the S2 BD features something special : the flash won't fire if you depress the shutter button while the shutter is uncocked (it will on a S2 CD).

I wouldn't do any transplant. Cleaning the RF prism of the camera you want to keep would be the first thing to do.

[Range-rover]

True, they are easy to clean, when I got my S2 I was disappointed
in the Rangefinder as well, but when I cleaned it out it's much
better now.

Range

[ellisson]

Originally Posted by Range-rover

True, they are easy to clean, when I got my S2 I was disappointed
in the Rangefinder as well, but when I cleaned it out it's much
better now.

Range

Is this a difficult procedure? Can it be done with minimal dissassembly?

[Range-rover]

You have remove all the top components and front and top covers to get
at it. The only thing that gave me a little problem was the shutter button
collar you need one of those special tools to remove it, but I Dremeled
a old pair of scissors to two narrow points to to loosen it, plus you need
small screw drivers for those little screws.

Range

[Vickko]

Thanks all

I'll try cleaning the prism first.

.... when the weather turns and I have to spend more time indoors....

:-)

[Range-rover]

There are a few websites on taking the S series camera's apart I have to go
searching for it let you know.

Range

[Vickko]

Oh, yeah, my black dial camera came with an ugly back. The back paint is good, but the bottom plate chrome has been painted over with silver, and from what I can tell, I bet much of the chrome was sanded away.

Maybe this camera is going to become a black paint project.

[Range-rover]

My bottom plate is banged up as well, but I went into the city on Saturday
got asked about it three times from people just walking on the street, on the
upper East side of NYC. I would just leave it unless you can do a good job on
it.

Range

[Vickko]

I had a chance to look at the base plate. Boy is it ugly.

The ASA dial is black - in accordance with the camera being a black dial model.

The pressure plate is the long version. And there is silver overspray into the areas of the back that should be flat black.

Yeah, this will be a bit of a cleanup and restoration project. Black paint probably.

And I would like to improve the RF spot. It is barely usable in dim room light.

[Range-rover]

Cleaning out the rangefinder is a great idea, I did mine
and it really improves it.

Range