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Rangefinder
Cameras
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Nikon
produced eight 35mm rangefinder camera models in
12years!
Nikon started producing 35mm rangefinder cameras in
1948 and produced eight models over the
next twelve years, a total in excess of 130,000
Nikon rangefinder cameras being produced. Nikon rangefinder production
ceased a year after the legendary Nikon F SLR went into production. Nikon looked at the best
and most successful Leica and Contax type rangefinder
cameras as a
starting point for a camera and improved it again
and again, hence the eight different designs and
models. The Nikon I used a non standard frame size
of 32x24mm to increase the normal 36 exposures to 40
on a standard 35mm film, this resulted in
standardisation problems and had to be changed after
the first year of production.
It should be noted that Nikon have had several limited production
runs over the years as "anniversary
cameras", these tend not to be used as cameras but
grace the collections of many wealthy camera
collectors. Nikon reproduced S3's in 2000 and SP's in
2005, both were limited production "anniversary"
cameras and were rapidly snapped up by eager
Japanese collectors. |
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1948 - 1949 Nikon I Professional Rangefinder Camera
(738 produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive ? |
Self
timer ? |
32x24mm |
Silk focal plain |
1" to 1/500" |
No |
Yes
S-mount |
No |
No |
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1949 - 1950 Nikon M Professional Rangefinder Camera
(1643 produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive ? |
Self
timer ? |
34x24mm |
Silk focal plain |
1" to 1/500" |
No |
Yes S-mount |
No |
No |
Once the Nikon I
was exported to the USA it was found that most automatic film cutters were
preset
to the standard Leica size, in consequence by
the end of the film frames had been cut in half.
As a quick fix the film drive sprocket ratio was
changed to that of Leica but it was not
possible to increase the frame width to 36mm
with the existing sand cast aluminium body, this
"temporary fix" camera was re-designated
the Nikon M.
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1950 -1954 Nikon S Professional Rangefinder Camera
(36,746 produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync speed |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive |
Self
timer ? |
34x24mm |
Silk focal plain |
1" to 1/500" |
1/60" |
Yes S-mount |
No |
No |
As sales of the Nikon M
increased in America it was soon noted by
photographers that the camera lacked a Flash/PC
socket, Nikon engineers quickly corrected this
minor, but serious, omission and designated the
resultant camera the Nikon S. Unfortunately
Nikon's engineers lacked the necessary time to
re-design the body to a 36x24mm frame size due
to immanent production quota requirements.
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1954 - 1958 Nikon S2 Professional Rangefinder Camera
(56,715 produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync speed |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive ? |
Self
timer ? |
36x24mm |
Silk focal plain |
1" to 1/1000" |
1/60" |
Yes S-mount |
No |
No |
The Nikon S2 finally
introduced the standard 36x34mm frame size,
this was possible due to redesigned
die-cast aluminium body casting, the top shutter
speed was increased to 1/1000". The S2 also
had a brighter viewfinder with higher
magnification making the camera more user
friendly. The film advance knob
was replaced with a lever which was faster to
use and the rewind knob had a folding handle
to speed up film rewinding.
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1957 - 1965 Nikon SP Professional Rangefinder Camera
(22,348 Produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync speed |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive |
Self
timer |
36x24mm |
Titanium or Silk |
1" to 1/1000" |
1/60" |
Yes S-mount |
3 FPS |
10 sec |
The SP was Nikon's best rangefinder,
it's bright line finder is the best and most
comprehensive of the rangefinder
range. Late production SP cameras
featured titanium foil shutter blinds (a world
first) replacing the rubberised
silk blinds, a ten second self timer and an optional 3 FPS electric motor-drive (world
first) could be fitted. Black bodies were
introduced to make press photographers less
obvious in war zones. An anniversary version was
produced in 2005 for the Japanese market.
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1958 - 1959 Nikon S3 Professional Rangefinder Camera
(14,310 produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync speed |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive |
Self
timer |
36x24mm |
Titanium or Silk |
1" to 1/1000" |
1/60" |
Yes S-mount |
3 FPS |
10 sec |
The 1958
Nikon S3 was similar to the SP but had it's
viewfinder significantly simplified to allow
cheaper production of what was a very expensive
camera, this increased the potential customer
base and helped sales to non press users. Like
the Nikon SP early cameras it initially had a rubberised silk
focal plane shutter, later ones were fitted
with a titanium foil focal plane shutter. In
2000 Nikon produced a limited anniversary
version of the S3 for the Japanese market only.
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1959 - 1960 Nikon S4 Professional Rangefinder Camera
(5,898 produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync speed |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive ? |
Self
timer ? |
36x24mm |
Silk
focal plain |
1" to 1/100" |
1/60" |
Yes S-mount |
No |
No |
1959 sore a serious financial depression which had an
adverse affect on camera sales, in order
to maintain profitability a "cut down"
version of the rangefinder camera was produced,
the viewfinder was simplified again, the shutter
went back to rubberised silk, self timer and
motor drive capability were omitted, this proved
to be a wise move as situation soon improved but
other companies had sold their existing
expensive stock
very cheaply - even at a loss!
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1960 Nikon S3M Professional Rangefinder Camera (195
produced)
Frame
size |
Shutter
type |
Shutter speed
range |
PC/Flash
sync speed |
Interchangeable
lenses ? |
Motor
drive |
Self
timer |
18x24mm |
silk focal plain |
1" to 1/1000" |
1/60" |
Yes S-mount |
9 FPS |
10 sec |
By 1960 the Nikon F SLR was replacing rangefinder cameras in most photojournalist's kit,
however the Nikon SM3 half frame camera was already
developed and ready for production but was
soon abandoned in favour of
the legendary Nikon F SLR. The S3M was able to take
72 exposures per film and as only half as much
film needing to be advanced per exposure achieved a remarkable 9 FPS
on specially set up cameras
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Rangefinder
Cameras
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