The "S" heritage

[null]

I have two HK adapters- starts with a Kiev mount,

m8_nikkor5cmF14 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

And I have two early Amedeo adapters and the latest one for internal mount lenses. Amedeo uses a CNC to make the helical from brass, does not start with the Kiev mount anymore.

Test of new Amedeo Adapter by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

[Almass]

Here is his site:

http://www.amedeo.muscelli.net/

It contains references to his 'auctions' 

OK. Thank you

[Bjørn Rørslett]

OK. Thanks for the heads-up, Erik, I'll scuttle straight over and get one of these.

The super adapter now is on its way to my remote corner of the globe. Thanks again, Erik et al., for drawing my attention to this item. The Sony A7 might have a future in my work after all.

[RBSinTo]

Bjorn,
I've been using Nikon film SLRs since 1977, and their rangefinders for about 10 or 12 years, after reading about them while researching a Nikon F.
Since then I gotten three S3s (two vintage and one re-issue), a vintage SP and a CV R2S Bessa, as well as a nice range of CV and Nikon lenses, and an Amedeo F-S adapter that lets me use my 17 and 19mm Vivitar F-mount lenses.
The Nikons are rugged, dependable and their lenses are first rate.
As you mentioned, their only weakness is the rangefinder spot, with is vastly fainter than those of Leicas or the CV Bessas.
Still, wonderful gear and a pleasure to use.
Robert 

[Imagelover]

Around twenty years ago I bought a Nikon/Nikkor lens collection from a photography shop in centre of Oslo, Norway. Among the items 10 Nikon rangefinder cameras, 22 Nippon Kogaku rangefinder lenses and 1 Zunow 5 cm f1.1 lens (No. 5909). I used google in order to get more information about this lens. It has a "C" on the back. On Ebay they have a similar, but older lens for sale. Around 8000 Euro? I've red the history of the Zunow company, but this lens can it be used on the Nikon cameras or only on Contax? Thanks for helping!

[Erik Lund]

Here is a little bit of info,,,:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_S-mount


I would use Zunow 50mm 1.1 on a Nikon Z

[Imagelover]

Thanks, Erik! Yet I don´t have a Nikon mirrorless, but I have the lens. I might go for the D850 first, but I'll see what happens from Nikon this year. Thanks again!

[Birna Rørslett]

The rangefinder lenses in S mount will generally work very well on the Z bodies. One gets pretty inexpensive adapters from RF(S) to Z mount on eBay.

Several of these old-timers are decent performers even by today's standards. The W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 plus its f/3.5 sibling are very good. Same can be said for the legendary 8.5cm f/2 (the lens that made Nikon famous) and the 10.5cm f/2.5. Some much more recent designs by Cosina/Voigtländer exist in RF(S) versions as well, and can be used to their full advantage on the Z6/Z7.

Here is the 8.5cm f/2 RF on my full-spectrum modified Z6.

[Imagelover]

Thanks, Birna! I'll try to get the adapter! Many years ago from a dealer in Skippergata in Oslo I got some Nikkor S-lenses: The W-Nikkor 2.5cm f4 (4045xx), W-Nikkor 2.8cm f3.5 (7197xx), W-Nikkor-C 3.5cm f2.5 (2441xx), W-Nikkor-C 3.5cm f2.5 (2467xx), W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 (2709xx), W-Nikkor-C 3,5cm f3.5 (4287xx), Nikkor-N 5cm f1.1 (1414xx), Nikkor-S-C 5cm f1.4 (3914xx), Nikkor-H-C 5cm f2 (7341xx), Nikkor-P-C 8.5cm f2 (2893xx), Nikkor-P-C 10.5cm f2.5 (9154xx), Nikkor-Q-C 13.5cm f3.5 and Nikkor-Q 25cm f4 (2724xx). Hope I can try some of them in the near future!

[Birna Rørslett]

That's some serious collection of old-timer Nikkors I envy you the 2.5cm/4 and 5cm/1.1, and note in passing you don't have the 3.5cm/1.8 which is a really good performer.

[Imagelover]

Thanks, Birna! Later I may look for the 3.5cm/1.8.

[CameraQuest]

Greetings,

I am very curious to find out the source of 

"Recently I was made aware that my camera was one out of a handful cameras made on order for Associated Press(AP) in UK"

Bob Rotoloni has no AP S3 special order in his Nikon Rangefinder books.

Thanks,

Stephen

[Birna Rørslett]

Actually, I got the info from Mr. Rotoloni himself. He asked me to strip down the camera and give a very detailed report on everything inside; this to ascertain it was a genuinely black S3 and not a later paint job.

[paul hofseth]

Apparently the Nikonos was also adopted by reporters struggling in the wet forests, so I would guess that contributed to Nippon Kogaku's good reputation.

p.

[BruceSD]

What ever happened to Bjorn ?   I have not seen any posts from him in a long time.