Kamerastore Digital Database
35mm manual focus Nikon S mount rangefinder camera made by Nikon introduced in 1957. Has a dual viewfinder with frame lines for 6 different focal lengths. The main viewfinder (50mm, 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm) has a 1x magnification and parallax-corrected frame lines. The second smaller viewfinder (28mm and 35mm) has non-parallax corrected frame lines. When paired with the S-36 motor drive the camera can advance the film with a rate of 3fps. It was the first rangefinder to have a motorized film advance. Has two bayonets for mounting lenses and a pc-sync port. The shutter was originally made of fabric but was changed to titanium in 1959. Metal body available in chrome and black.
Nikon S is the name for the Nikon rangefinder camera system, but it's essentially a modified Contax/Kiev mount. After World War II, both Contax and Leica's designs became available to the public, and many Japanese countries attempted to produce their own rangefinders. Most, like Canon or Leotax, chose to follow Leica's footsteps and use the Leica M39 mount, but Nikon followed Contax. Nikon produced 8 different Contax-pattern rangefinders between 1948 and 1960.
Despite being extremely similar, Nikon S cameras cannot use all Contax lenses. Wide-angle lenses work normally, but slight differences in flange distance make lenses of 50mm and above incompatible.
In the 2000s Nikon released some limited edition fully working replicas of Nikon S3 and SP cameras with lenses. In 2002 Cosina released the Bessa R2S camera and a series of lenses with the Nikon S bayonet mount.
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