Second-hand Equipment

With leather Nippon Kogaku (triangle logo) case

This is a cordless folding flash bulb unit with an indirect flash option, flash-ready indicator and bulb ejector. Accepts AG-1, M2 abd M5 flash bulbs, powered by 22.5v battery, c/w leather case

The Nikon S2 who was the first Japanese camera with a film advance lever and the first Nikon camera with international shutter speeds from 1 to 1/1000th sec. Other prominent features including include a rewind crank, 24 x 36mm frame size, a radically improved 1:1 life-size finder, increased range finder scope, synchro speed dial for flash exposures, film type reminder disc on the base of the camera and a single lever to open the back cover. Of the two basic S2 versions, the earlier S2 bodies have chromed exposure counter, shutter speed, synchro speed dials and distance scale. These were changed on the later S2 versions to black faced dials with white numerals.

First production date: December, 1954
Weight: 510g

Type: 24×36mm Rangefinder camera

Shutter speed range: 1 to 1/1000 sec.,

Flash synchronization: Cable and direct contact, electronic flash synchronizes at 1/60 sec.

Motor drive coupling: For S-36 and S-250 motor drives

First production date: 19th September 1957 (last manufactured in  June, 1965)

Weight: 720 g

The SP Achieved Many Firsts:

1) The Nikon SP was the first 35mm Rangefinder with SIX built in frame lines. The combined RF/VF window had projected parallax frames for the 50/85/105/135. To the left of the main window was the wide angle window, showing non parallax corrected views of the 28mm and 35mm. This was in 1957! It took Leica 23 YEARS to equal this feat with the M4P in 1980. The SP has a unique look due to its very large RF/VF window. It stretches across half the camera's face. SP's are instantly recognizable.

Many don't realize that the SP's viewfinder is in some ways superior to that of the M3. The 35mm and 28mm frames are largely useless in the M2/4/5/6 for glasses wearers. In contrast, the SP's 35mm and 28mm frames are easily seen wearing glasses.

The photographer selects the 50mm, 85mm, 105mm or 135mm frame line by rotating the frame line dial which rotating around the rewind crank. Each frame line is colour coded (unlike Leica), and each succeeding frame line coexists with larger frame lines, creating kind of a tunnel effect which can quickly be followed. For example, if you are using the 50mm frame, only the 50mm frame will be visible. Switch to the 85mm, and it appears in addition to the 50mm and so on. The selected frame is thus always the smallest frame line visible.

2) The Nikon SP was the first Japanese camera to have a single, non-rotating shutter speed dial.

3) The Nikon SP had the first reliable professional quality motor drive. This was a really big achievement at the time, and one of the milestones of 35mm Photography.

4) The Nikon SP had the first and we understand the only bright line illuminator (AA battery powered) which illuminated projected frame lines in low light.

5) The Nikon SP was the first 35mm camera with Titanium shutter curtains(over the last half of its production). Though untried at the time, Titanium curtains proved themselves incredibly tough and durable.

6) During its production, SP boasted the longest lens range of any 35mm Rangefinder System, from 21mm f/4 to a 1000mm f/6.3!

7) Nikon was the first (and for many years the only) rangefinder system to offer a macro lens in the 50mm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor. Other interesting and now rare lenses included the 21mm f/4, the 25mm f/4, the 50mm f/1.1, the 85mm f/1.5, the 85mm f/2 black, the 105mm f/2.5, the 105mm f/4, the 180mm f/2. 250mm f/4, 350mm f/4.5, 500mm f/5 and 1000mm f/6.3 5 for use with the reflex housing.

The earlier Nikon RF lenses were all chrome. They match up with the earlier Nikon I/M/S/S2 models. Towards the end of the S2 production, Nikon started switching to lighter weight black lenses. Some lenses were made in both chrome and black, a few were made in black only.

Type: 24×36mm Rangefinder camera

Shutter speed range: 1 to 1/1000 sec.,

Flash synchronization: Cable and direct contact, electronic flash synchronizes at 1/60 sec.

Motor drive coupling: For S-36 and S-250 motor drives

First production date: 19th September 1957 (last manufactured in  June, 1965)

Weight: 720 g

The SP Achieved Many Firsts:

1) The Nikon SP was the first 35mm Rangefinder with SIX built in frame lines. The combined RF/VF window had projected parallax frames for the 50/85/105/135. To the left of the main window was the wide angle window, showing non parallax corrected views of the 28mm and 35mm. This was in 1957! It took Leica 23 YEARS to equal this feat with the M4P in 1980. The SP has a unique look due to its very large RF/VF window. It stretches across half the camera's face. SP's are instantly recognizable.

Many don't realize that the SP's viewfinder is in some ways superior to that of the M3. The 35mm and 28mm frames are largely useless in the M2/4/5/6 for glasses wearers. In contrast, the SP's 35mm and 28mm frames are easily seen wearing glasses.

The photographer selects the 50mm, 85mm, 105mm or 135mm frame line by rotating the frame line dial which rotating around the rewind crank. Each frame line is colour coded (unlike Leica), and each succeeding frame line coexists with larger frame lines, creating kind of a tunnel effect which can quickly be followed. For example, if you are using the 50mm frame, only the 50mm frame will be visible. Switch to the 85mm, and it appears in addition to the 50mm and so on. The selected frame is thus always the smallest frame line visible.

2) The Nikon SP was the first Japanese camera to have a single, non-rotating shutter speed dial.

3) The Nikon SP had the first reliable professional quality motor drive. This was a really big achievement at the time, and one of the milestones of 35mm Photography.

4) The Nikon SP had the first and we understand the only bright line illuminator (AA battery powered) which illuminated projected frame lines in low light.

5) The Nikon SP was the first 35mm camera with Titanium shutter curtains(over the last half of its production). Though untried at the time, Titanium curtains proved themselves incredibly tough and durable.

6) During its production, SP boasted the longest lens range of any 35mm Rangefinder System, from 21mm f/4 to a 1000mm f/6.3!

7) Nikon was the first (and for many years the only) rangefinder system to offer a macro lens in the 50mm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor. Other interesting and now rare lenses included the 21mm f/4, the 25mm f/4, the 50mm f/1.1, the 85mm f/1.5, the 85mm f/2 black, the 105mm f/2.5, the 105mm f/4, the 180mm f/2. 250mm f/4, 350mm f/4.5, 500mm f/5 and 1000mm f/6.3 5 for use with the reflex housing.

The earlier Nikon RF lenses were all chrome. They match up with the earlier Nikon I/M/S/S2 models. Towards the end of the S2 production, Nikon started switching to lighter weight black lenses. Some lenses were made in both chrome and black, a few were made in black only.

The Nikon S3M was released in March 1960. It was the last Rangefinder camera made by Nikon and remains unique in that it is the first, and only, half-frame Nikon camera ever made.

According to Robert Rotoloni in his magnum opus, 'The Complete Nikon Rangefinder System,' only about 100 Nikon S3M 'sets' ever existed (S3M plus motor drive). Not only is the S3M the most unique of all Rangefinder cameras but also the rarest, with a complete set including proper motor even rarer.

In US price lists from 1960, it is described as follows: "An S3M camera, specially adapted for 18x24 single frame photography. Takes 72 pictures on a standard 36-exposure roll. Viewfinder provides correct viewing field for 35mm, 50mm and 105mm lenses. Other features are the same as the Nikon S3. The S3M is equipped with with an (S72) electric motor drive taking single, 2, 3 or burst exposures up to 72 frames at the rate of 4 per second."

The 'M' designation meant that it was designed for motorised use. Only 195 units were produced of which only 50 were made with a chrome finish.

The viewfinder of the S3M is unique to this model. Each etched frame line is keyed individually by sliding the chrome lever on the back of the camera next to the viewfinder. It is click-stopped for each frame line and the focal length is also visible below the frame.

In 1948 Nikon’s very first camera, the Nikon Model One was destined for only a brief production run. Its 24 x 32mm format proved unpopular with the GHQ of the Occupation Forces under General MacArthur, who would not allow the camera to be exported to the USA because the 24 x 32mm format was not compatible with Kodachrome slide mounts. It was replaced by the Nikon M (the M standing for mutatio – Latin for change or alteration). The M used a 24 x 34mm format, but it was still smaller than the 36 x 24mm employed by Leica.
The camera is marked “Made in Occupied Japan”, a sign of the times following the 1945 Armistice. This very fine unsynched example is complete with a 5cm f/2 Nikkor-HC lens, a leather ever-ready case, an instruction manual, a Nikon Accessories leaflet and the original maker’s box. Serial Number M6091994

Apertures: f/1.4 to f/16

Angle of View: 46°

Elements: 7

Focusing Range: 3ft (0.9m) to infinity

Filter Size: 43mm

Weight: 4.7 ounces (137g)

Superlative condition Numbered 279962. Comes with caps. Late model.

The very impressive 5cm f/1.1 Nikkor-N lens was announced in February 1956 and was exhibited in Tokyo. The 5cm f/1.1 was a very radical lens for its time, consisting of nine pieces of glass, some of which were very thin split elements and others containing rare earth components.

This stunning f/1.1 lens would reign supreme as the fastest lens made by the big four 35mm rangefinder camera makers, until the Canon 50mm f/0.95 lens was introduced in the early 1960s.

The 5cm f/1.1 Nikkor-N weighed 12.25 ounces (355gm) and it could be stopped down to f/22 with click stops. It used a 12-blade diaphragm and had an angle of view of 46 degrees and a focusing range of 3ft (0.9m) to infinity.

The first version of this lens had an internal mount the same as that found on their normal slower range of lenses, and is known as the ‘Internal Mount f/1.1’. However, this lens was so heavy, that its weight could distort the camera mount and cause rangefinder error. This engineering problem was overcome in June 1959, when a 5cm f/1.1 lens was released with a redesigned barrel with an external mount, such as those found on the wide-angle and telephoto Nikkor lenses. The optical formula is identical to the internal mount version and both lenses used the same 62mm accessories and only the rear cap differed.

Factory records state that 1,046 internal mount lenses were made (835 in Nikon bayonet mount and 211 in Leica screw mount) and 1,547 of the external mount version. The 5cm f/1.1 stands as one of the most impressive looking lenses made by Nikon and is certainly one of the most sought-after by collectors.

This example is an internal mount version.

The 5cm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor lens for the Nikon rangefinder camera was introduced in May 1956. It has an aperture range of f/3.5 – f/22, an angle of view of 46°, 5 elements in four groups and a focusing range of 3ft (0.9m) to infinity (extended) or 1.5ft (0.45m) – 3ft (collapsed), however,it is not used for general photography in the collapsed mode; the filter size is 34.5mm and it weighs 4.8 ounces (145gm). The total production was 1,188 comprising of 901 in a bayonet mount and 287 in a Leica screw mount. Nikon used the same optical formula four years later for the reflex version of the Micro-Nikkor which is one of Nikon’s finest and most popular lenses, leading to a whole series of lenses right on up to the 200mm f/4 version.

The 5cm /3.5 Micro-Nikkor is available only in a chrome collapsible mount. Being an apochromatic lens it also has a high degree of colour correction, assuring precise focus of all prime colours on the film plane. When mounted on one of the Nikon copy stands, such as the SA or PA, with the lens in its extended position it can be used from 1/20 reduction to life-size. When the lens is collapsed it offers reduction ratios from 1/6 to 1/20.