What's you favourite Nikon RF camera? - Page 3

VinceC · 01-10-2008

Well said. I like to observation about "grit" in the way the lenses handle sharpness. I also know from many portraits that their tones, and layers of tones, are quite pleasing. It's an interesting balance.

MikeL · 01-26-2008

The SP is catching up to the S2. Jarle, was that you?

xayraa33 · 01-26-2008

the SP still has a ways to go to out pace the S2.

VinceC · 01-27-2008

Well, if you add the original SP with the SP 2005 (an exact replica) they surpass the S2, 37 to 35. Go figure.

xayraa33 · 01-27-2008

well , Nikon should have made an S2 2000 also.

MikeL · 01-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by xayraa33

well , Nikon should have made an S2 2000 also.

Yes, but which lens with the S2 2000, the external f1.1 or f2?

jonmanjiro · 01-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

Yes, but which lens with the S2 2000, the external f1.1 or f2?

Nahhhh, the lens for a reissue S2 (black dial of course) would have to be the 50/1.1 internal

NIKON KIU · 01-28-2008

OK,
I have to edit my original post, as many know, this poll had an expiration date, which passed, but now, it's active.

go ahead and vote people...

Kiu

kevin m · 02-09-2008

My favorite Nikon RF is the SP-D. It's got the sensor from the D-300, live view, dual card slots, weather sealing, dedicated iso dial and, best of all, it has the no-longer-patent-protected M-mount. A good deal for $2,395 with USA warranty. The SP-Dx is very nice, too, with its full-frame sensor and 10fps ability, but it's also $4,995. It's nice that Nikon offers a choice.

I voted for the S2.

LeicaM3 · 02-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin m

My favorite Nikon RF is the SP-D. It's got the sensor from the D-300, live view, dual card slots, weather sealing, dedicated iso dial and, best of all, it has the no-longer-patent-protected M-mount. A good deal for $2,395 with USA warranty. The SP-Dx is very nice, too, with its full-frame sensor and 10fps ability, but it's also $4,995. It's nice that Nikon offers a choice.

Hmm.
I prefer the S-D3 with the new sony ff sensor.

Kevin's SP-S sounds like the R-D1

Clark Van Orden · 02-09-2008

S2 for me.

digitalintrigue · 02-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin m

My favorite Nikon RF is the SP-D. It's got the sensor from the D-300, live view, dual card slots, weather sealing, dedicated iso dial and, best of all, it has the no-longer-patent-protected M-mount. A good deal for $2,395 with USA warranty. The SP-Dx is very nice, too, with its full-frame sensor and 10fps ability, but it's also $4,995. It's nice that Nikon offers a choice.

And the available Nikon S-mount to M-mount adapter completes the package nicely.

barbadirame · 03-03-2008

A chrome S2 with Nikkor 50/1.4, 35/1,8 (very sharp!), 135/4 (or Jupiter 11 f.4) and a CV 21/4 is definitively a good set.

cosmonot · 03-03-2008

I've only got one, a plain old 7-digit S + 50/2 that followed me home from a flea market. I've probably run all of 3 rolls of film through it, two color (still awaiting development) and one roll of HP5+. I have to admit, the quality of that 50mm lens really suprised me. First and only Nikon camera I've ever owned, not the easiest to use, but definitely no worse than my dad's LTM leicas.

merlin · 03-03-2008

I punched the S2 button but figured the SP would be the Sentimental Fav. It's that 'look' the S2 has: simple, balanced, perfect, very vintage Contax.

Sonnar2 · 03-26-2008

The S2 is better than a Contax, It is the camera ZEISS-IKON should have made. They didn't and gone to ground. Nikon did. It was the most important camera in their history, a true winner. A small and compact camera, simply a joy to use, the fastest camera to work with then. They didn't rest on their laurels but continued to build better and better cameras, one of them was the SP, another one was the F. To understand why the Japanese took over, you can see it in the S2.

tedwhite · 03-31-2008

I'm sure this is OT, but I just discovered Nikon RF's today when a tourist let me play with his S2 for a few minutes and now I want one. What I immediately noticed is that I didn't have to adopt the claw-like Kiev grip in order to focus the camera (I have a Kiev 4AM) and well, the Nikon just seemed way easier to use.

A couple of questions:

1. Will my Helios 103 fit and work OK on a Nikon RF?

2. Where might be the best place to buy a Nikon RF without going broke?

Forgive my ignorance regarding the Nikon RF series.

MikeL · 03-31-2008

Ted has seen the light!

You might check out KEH and Ritzcam.com, not the cheapest but the return policy is often better than on auction sites. Hopefully someone here with one, who has an extra, will send you a pm. If you don't want another system, you should not pick up and look through a Nikon rangefinder. I've been trying to get RayPa to look through my S2, but he knows what would lie ahead. RayPa, I can see your will is strong, but the time will come.........

jonmanjiro · 03-31-2008

There was a very clean CLA'd Nikon S2 listed in the RFF classifieds here just a week or so ago. Might still be available!

tedwhite · 04-01-2008

Thanks, jonmanjiro, I just PM'd him and sent him a regular email. Apparently he's having trouble receiving PM's.

Still haven't got an answer to Question #1. I have a Helios 103 and a Jupiter 8, both in Contax/Kiev mount.

BillBingham2 · 04-01-2008

Ted,

Having played with several FSU lenses and cameras before I move to Nikon, go with the Nikon or CV glass. You might find a good FSU, but there are issues with many and I look at the FSU space as a sink hole for time and money. I did not have a lot of good luck there, your mileage may be much better. There are some issues with FSU external mount lenses scratching the body of Nikons (the rear is a bit thick).

Take a look for a 25/4 CV lens to go with a Nikkor 50 (either 2 or 1.4) and complete the kit with a 105/2.5, I have a Nikon brightline finder for sale for the 105 if you want to go that way. I loved that kit on my S2. I've moved up to an S3-2000 and have added a 35/2.5 CV to the mix. Welcome to the fun side. Beware of the sucking sound of Nikon SLRs, the old F and the S2/SP/S3/S4 all feel the same.

B2

jonmanjiro · 04-01-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedwhite

Still haven't got an answer to Question #1. I have a Helios 103 and a Jupiter 8, both in Contax/Kiev mount.

Since they're internal mount lenses, your Helios 103 and Jupiter 8 should be fine at infinity on a Nikon RF body, and as long as you stop down to f4 or so should work fine at minimum focus. Resident RFF lens guru, Brian Sweeney, has shimmed several Helios 103 lenses so they focus accurately close up and wide open on Nikon RF bodies.

As Bill pointed out above, you have to be careful with external mount FSU lenses on Nikon bodies, because they may end up scratching the front plate. You can file down the back of the lens mount to "fix" this problem, though.

NIKON KIU · 04-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedwhite

1. Will my Helios 103 fit and work OK on a Nikon RF?

2. Where might be the best place to buy a Nikon RF without going broke?

1)Only if you go 5.6 or beyond!
2) me!!!!

Kiu

VinceC · 04-19-2008

Welcome to Nikon

As stated above, the Helios and other Soviet lenses fit just fine onto the Nikon-S mount, and focus fine at infinity. But as you focus closer, the focus "drifts" slightly.

The real quality of the Nikon RF system is its lenses. I'd look for an S2 with an accompanying 50/1.4 ... that's the classic setup.

jonmanjiro · 06-04-2008

S2 and SP - neck and neck

The story so far ...

51 votes - S2
51 votes - SP (all versions)
31 votes - S3 (all versions)
4 votes - S
1 vote - M
1 vote - S4

(plus 11 votes for all of them)