Nikon S2 Rangefinder Serial Numbers
Nikon S serial numbers range from 6094001 to 6129600. All four early Nikon cameras share the same layout and can easily be mistaken for each other at a quick glance. See separate profiles: Unsynced M, Synced M, S. The Nikon S2. The Nikon S2 was introduced in 1955, a great advance over the S. It showed Nikon's innovative design. Masterpiece Lens “Serenar 50mm f/1.8″ Although the Serenar lenses for popular cameras began to appear in the market after the war, the shortage of raw materials brought such strange situations that the first post-war Canon camera, the “J II” was supplied with either the “Serenar 50mm f/3.5″.
The Nikon S-mount seen as part of the 1957 Nikon SP. The distance scale is for use with lenses using the internal bayonet. | |
| Type | Internal and External Bayonet |
|---|---|
| External diameter | 36.5 mm (internal bayonet) and 49 mm (external bayonet) |
| Tabs | 3 |
| Flange | 34.85 mm |
The Nikon S-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount used by a series of Nikon35mmrangefinder cameras (Nikon I, Nikon M, Nikon S, Nikon S2, Nikon SP, Nikon S3, Nikon S4). The lenses were sold under the name Nikkor.
The mount was a copy of the Zeiss IkonContax rangefinder mount, however, small differences between the two mean that although Zeiss wide-angle lenses can be used on the Nikon cameras and vice versa, the longer lenses (50 mm and above), if used, will not be able to focus at both close range and infinity.[1][2]
Nikon made a small number of longer focal length lenses specifically designed to focus properly when mounted on a Contax. These were the 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm lenses. Each was marked with a 'C' on the side of the lens barrel. This is not to be confused with a 'C' mark used as a suffix to the serial number. Some early Nikkors used this mark to denote that the lenses were coated.
The mount itself has two bayonets, one inside the camera and another outside. Lenses that use the bayonet inside the camera need have no focusing helicoid built into the lens barrel. As a consequence, the 5 cm f/1.4 lens that was normally sold with the body is extremely small (about the size of a golf ball) since the lens contains the optics only. Focusing of such lenses could be done by rotating the toothed wheel on the top front of the camera body or by rotating the lens barrel itself (the distance scale is on the camera body). The external bayonet is used to mount longer and heavier lenses where the built-in helicoid would not be strong enough to rotate the lens barrel. Such lenses are focused using a focusing ring and distance scale on the lens just like typical SLR lenses (the distance scale on the camera body will be covered by the lens flange and thus not visible).
Nikon produced a very large range of Nikkor lenses for these cameras with focal lengths from 21mm to 1000mm. Several other manufacturers including Fuji (now Fujifilm), Komura and Zunow made S-mount lenses at the time of which the Zunow 5 cm f/1.1 lens is a keenly sought after collectors item. In 2002, Cosina Voigtländer manufactured a camera (the Bessa R2S) as well as several lenses for the Nikon S-mount.
Further reading[edit]
Rotoloni, Robert, Nikon Rangefinder Camera, 1983, Hove, East Sussex, Hove Collectors Books.
References[edit]
- ^Nakamura, Karen. 'Contax and Nikon Rangefinder Bayonet Mount Lenses'. Photoethnography.com.
- ^Gandy, Stephen (November 26, 2003). 'Nikon RF – Contax RF Lens Compatibility'. Stephen Gandy's CameraQuest.
External links[edit]
- W-NIKKOR 3.5cm f/1.8 'NIKKOR Club Quarterly' article about the design of about what was at the time the fastest wide-angle lens in the world.
- Stephen Gandy's site Brief descriptions of Nikon S-mount cameras and Nikkor / Voigtlander lenses in S-mount.
The Pictorial History of Nikon Starts from here.. |
1917,July 25
Three of Japan's leading optical manufacturers merged to form a fully integrated optical company known as Nippon Kogaku K.K. with its head office located in Tokyo, Japan.
1932,
thename 'Nikkor' was first used to identify its lenses.
1935/1937,
The first Nikkor for civil use came with a bayonet mount. The camera, Hansa-Canon, has a special bayonet mount (similar to Nikon-S). Nikon designed lenses were used by Canon, that included the Finder-optics ( Rangefinder) and lens mount of Hansa-Canon also made by Nippon Kogaku.
Nikon 1, 1948Pc line pcl-3000 driver windows 7. |
Questions, issues & Answer(s)
The first Nikon camera featured a focal plane shutter with rangefinder focusing and a smaller picture format of 24mm x 32mm. The first Nikkor for Nikon was a collapsible 50mm/F3.5 designed for this Nikon I. Shutter speed offered only from 1 second to 1/20 sec. & 1/30 sec. to 1/500 sec. with Time and Bulb modes. No flash synchronization. A highly collectible model as the quantity produced were limited (less than a thousand). All were chrome-silver finished except probably a few were made in black-paint. Some protoypes prior to actual production surfaced as well. It has a cloth shutter and most were printed with 'Made in Occupied Japan' (MIOJ) at the base section. According to some references, there are ONLY 738 Nikon 1 being produced (early prodcution bear serial numbers in 4 digits (6091-6095); those after first quarter bear 5 digits numbers 60912-60983); the last quarter from six digits serial numbers from 609158 to 609758 in 1949. Reference: Robert Rotoloni
NEW:- MIR's Nikon (Nippon Kogaku KK) Rangefinder Nikkor lens Resources
NikonM,1950
The second rangefinder focusing camera, while the format has shifted to a slightly larger format of 24mm x 34mm. Has a short run on production. Some Nikon historian stated production was probably began in 1949 but ended in December, 1950. Similar to the Nikon I in appearance (Similar Shutter speed range as well) except the Serial number began with 'M XXXXXXX'. Early version has no flash synchronization but later version has it and some termed them as Nikon M Synchro. Virtually all standard production units were produced in silver-chrome. Some rare black versions were custom-made made for war photographers. A total of 1,643 cameras have been produced. The first from 08.1949 with serial number from 609759-609991 and changed number to 7 digits that begin from 6091098 in 1950; it ended with 6092401 in 12.1950. Reference: Robert Rotoloni. The rare numbers of both the Nikon 1 and Nikon M make both of these Nikon rangefinder models a difficult to source and incredibly expensive.
Nikon M Tokyo Red Sync Model
Early Nikon M unSync Model
NikonS,1951
Still deployed with an old format of 24mm x 34mm but the the Nikon S was the first to incorporate a built-in flash sync contact via accessory shoe at the top panel. Some features were redesigned to improve handling. The 5cm f/1.4 Nikkor was the standard lense - it was also the world's fastest standard lens with f/1.4 during that period. Launched with the camera were addition of new RF-Nikkor optic, the Nikkor-S.C 8.5cm f/1.5 and W.Nikkor.C 25cm f/4. Early versions were still engraved with 'MIOJ' but removed/replaced with 'Made in Japan' at later stage (engraved at the film chamber release lever at the base). Popularity of Nikon began to take off as reflected by good sales of the Nikon S. A few variations were produced in black for photo-journalists. The Nikon S has picked up in production numbers, a total of 36,746 Nikon S were being produced.
Instruction Manual forNikon S
Nikon S 8 digits Model - identical to normal production model except for its 8-digits serial numbers
Questions, issues & Answer(s)
Instruction Manual for Nikon BC-B Flash Unit
Nikon BC-5Nikon BC-7Nikon SB-1
* From the Nikon M, the advance step of the film has been modified to adapt with auto film cutter (which cut film every 8 perforation hole).
The format is modified to 34 x 24 simultaneously, but no space was remained to enhance to standard 36 x 24 -
although Nikon claimed the S was the first to adapt to the standard 36 x 24mm format.
While the subsequent model, the Nikon S2 was a redesigned camera with a true 36 x 24mm format.
* Source: Nikomat Club, Japan.
Nippon Kogaku / Nikon RF- Nikkor lens Resources:- Main Index Page
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Nikon RF lens group(MAIN INDEX PAGE):-
2.1cm f/4.0(21mm)
RF
18cm f/2.5(180mm)
Accessories: Lens
TheRangefinder
SLRs -1959/1979
The Eyes of Nikon:-
Rangefinder RF-Nikkor lenses:- Main Index PageNikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses:-
Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - CircularFull FrameUltrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mmWideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm
Standard Lenses - 45mm50mm58mmTelephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm
Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm400mm500mm600mm800mm1200mm
SpecialApplication lenses:
Micro-NikkorLenses-
PerspectiveControl(PC) - 28mm
DedicatedLenses for Nikon F3AF:
Depthof Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
MedicalNikkor:
Others:Noct Nikkor
MFZoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm28~45mm28~50mm28~85mm35~70mm36~72mm E35~85mm35~105mm35~135mm
35~200mm43~86mm50~135mm50~300mm70~210mm E75~150mm E80~200mm85~250mm
100~300mm180~600mm200~400mm200~600mm360~1200mm1200~1700mm
Tele-Converters:TC-1TC-2TC-200TC-201TC-300TC-301TC-14TC-14ATC-14BTC-14CTC-14E TC-16TC-16ATC-20E
Nikon F
Nikon FM
MIR
NikonF-seriesNikonF2-series NikonF3-series Nikon F4-series
Nikon FM-seriesNikonFE-seriesNikonFA NikonDigitalSLRseries VariousNikonModels NikkorOptic-shared
Others
Apple's
Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html
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