S2 Nikon Rangefinder for $675 - Reasonable?

ornate_wrasse · 12-13-2009

I was looking at the Craigslist offerings in my city and happened to notice an S2 Nikon Rangefinder with a 50 1.4 lens offered for $675.

If truth be told, I am not looking for a Nikon Rangefinder having just bought a Leica M6 a couple of months ago. However, I am in the market for a fast 50mm lens for my Leica. So far, I only have the 35mm Summicron that came with the Leica. In my possibly twisted logic, I figured that $675 for a camera plus a fast 50mm lens would be probably equal to or less than any 50mm fast lens (1.5 or faster) that I would purchase for the Leica. That way, I reasoned in my mind, I'd be able to have my fast 50mm lens!

I did look at the big auction site and it appeared that this camera and lens goes for far more than $675.

I also don't know if buying this camera and lens is as good an investment as, say buying a Leica. Do the Nikon S2 rangefinders hold their value? Are they a camera that is enjoyable to use? Is the lens a good one? I am aware that I would need to get a meter to use with this camera.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? Keep looking for a fast 50 lens for the Leica or buy this rangefinder with the lens?

Thanks.

Ellen

xayraa33 · 12-13-2009

You will need a 275 dollar adapter to use the 50mm Nikkor lens from the Nikon S2 to the Leica M.

The S2 is a great user Nikon RF and it more than holds its value.
The Nikkor 50 f1.4 was one of the best 50mm lenses of the 1950s and it holds its own even today.
For less money you can try to get this Nikkor classic lens in LTM and use it with a thirty dollar M adapter on your M6, this makes more sense as you might appreciate the crispness and clarity of the modern Leica M viewfinder than the one on the Nikon S2.

All these fine classic lenses and cameras more than hold their resale value should you covert them back to cash if they are in good shape.

elshaneo · 12-13-2009

Recently I saw an auction on Ebay ending around 500 USD for a user condition Nikon S2 rangefinder camera including the Nikkor S.C 5cm f/1.4 lens.

James24 · 12-13-2009

Ellen, I don't think $675 is a great buy, unless it's in really good condition, or perhaps has a black dial. I have seen several S2 + 50/1.4 combinations go for $450-$500 on eBay in recent weeks. I suppose you need to ask yourself if you want another brand of camera.

Would a 50mm Summicron be fast enough for you? I think thta's what I'd opt for, in your position.

David Murphy · 12-14-2009

It's a great camera and lens (if the condition is good). For that price it should be in clearly better than average condition, possibly with a recent CLA. I think $400-550 is more common a price for an S2+50mm lens in working user condition. One reason a lot of buyers sell on Craigslist is that they are unhappy with the market driven prices found on eBay or hobby sites like this one (i.e. they hope to make more money on Craigslist and usually do not).

Oh yes, I think your logic is OK about lenses, and the Nikon RF system is a real winner. It takes longer to build up a kit of lenses, but they are out there if one is patient. They quality is indeed on a par with Leica.

The S2 finder is pretty good too for its time, and quite reasonable even by today's standards. Not as good as a Leica M, but much better than most other rangefinders from the same era.

Bill58 · 12-14-2009

Get a Canon 50/1.4 LTM lens and save some money. It's a fine lens that's hard to beat. They are freqently offered here in the classifieds.

You'll need and adpter too. Our host, Cameraquest, sells a good one.

Paul T. · 12-14-2009

I think your argument is a tenable one. But I would, having just bought a $500 user from the classifieds - there was another, in very good condition, sold here earlier for $625 I believe. Both would make yours craigslist camera look expensive.

My excuse was that the LTM Nikon lens frequently costs $350; and I like Contaxes and fancy trying another system.

The fact that my argument is not exactly fool-proof is evidenced by my heart palpitations on Saturday night, as my nine year old son, waiting for his bedtime reading session, loudly enquired "Who are you paying five hundred dollars to on PayPal, daddy???"

I think I got away with it. Anybody got an old S2 case they wanna do a deal for?

Edit : I mis-read your post and thought you'd mentioned this was a user camera. If it's in very good condition that could of course be a reasonable price.

Brian Sweeney · 12-14-2009

$675 is a fair price with lens, but condition is everything. If it has the box and is near mint, it would go for over $1000.

Nikon RF's have dropped over the last few years. Do not buy it as an investment, buy it as a nice camera with a good lens.

rbsinto · 12-14-2009

Ellen,
you might also consider one of the Cosina Voigtlander lenses for your Leica.
At Cameraquest (www.cameraquest.com) The 40mm 1.4 as well as the 50 1.5 are selling for $399.00 each (the 50 requires an adapter to work on your camera but it is not expensive).
The CV lenses are excellent (I have two that I use with my Nikon rangefinders) and they produce very nice images.
Excellent lenses at very reasonable prices.

ornate_wrasse · 12-14-2009

I was able to talk to the seller of the S2 and found out some things about the camera.

First of all, he has not used the camera himself. He told me he bought it from someone who owned the camera since the 1950's. He has only owned it for a year and it's been sitting on the shelf, more as a collector's piece than anything. He does not have the box, but does have a case. The camera has not had a CLA since he's been the owner.

I told him I would not be willing to pay his asking price and he said he was flexible on the price. He was selling it to get extra $$$ for Christmas.

The fact that he hasn't used it at all has me a little concerned.

Ellen

jonmanjiro · 12-14-2009

You can buy a fully working camera from a reliable source for less, so considering the "high-ish" price and the fact that the camera has not been used in a long time and may or may not be functioning properly, I'd pass.

I'd rather buy one that has been used and is known to be functioning properly.

ornate_wrasse · 12-14-2009

Thanks for all of your opinions and input. I think I will, as jonmanjiro said, pass.
When he told me he hadn't used it the entire time he had the camera, that big ol' red flag seemed to be waving in front of me :-)

Again, thanks to all.

Ellen

JonR · 12-14-2009

I agree with Jon M - ou can buy a fully working camera from a reliable source for less. At the same time - if you really want one as a Christman gift for yourself and can afford it why not go for it and have some fun with it during the Christmas break!? The S2 is a great camera and that´s where I started my interest in the Nikon rangefinder cameras (and I did pay too much for that one just since I wanted one so much...). :-)
Jon