The first from 08.1949 with serial number from 691 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.
(Redirected from Nikon S-Mount)
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 |
Nikon SP of 1957, above, and Nikon S3 of 1958, below
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.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikon_S-mount&oldid=894458333'
Nikon S [1952]
The Nikon was the first camera introduced by the optical manufacturer Nippon Kogaku KK.[1] It is a 35mmrangefinder camera, in retrospect known as the Nikon I.[2] The original design was approved by September 1946, and the camera was released in March 1948. At first, it was sold locally, and it did not come to the attention of the western media until 1950, when photographers from the Life magazine were shown photographs taken with these cameras. The lenses draw special attention, like the Nikkor-P.C 1:2 f=8.5cm. A demand to fit Nikkors to the reporters' Leicas were immediately met at the factory in Tokyo, and soon the word spread about these Japanese lenses which were just as good as, or possibly better than their German counterparts.[3] The camera design was strongly inspired by the German Contax and Leica cameras. After careful studies of these, Nippon Kogaku had decided to base their camera on the Contax, but substitute the complicated shutter design for the cloth focal plane shutter of the Leica, these being considered the best features from either camera.
The original Nikon I, as introduced in 1948,[1] had no flash synchronisation, but was otherwise a fully-fledged up-to-date rangefinder camera. The factory chose the 24 × 32 mm frame size pioneered by the Minolta 35 launched a year earlier by Chiyoda Kogaku, known as the Nippon format, which yielded more frames per length of film, and matched more closely the common paper sizes. However, the camera never caught on, because the US administration in Tokyo did not permit export to the US due to the non standard format, incompatible with the Kodak slide mounts.
In consequence, the Nikon M was introduced in the autumn 1949. This model is recognised by the M preceding the body number. Nippon Kogaku had settled for an intermediate frame format of 24 × 34 mm,[1] hoping to find acceptance on the export market. Why Nippon Kogaku was reluctant to go all the way to the widely accepted standard size, is not fully understood, the camera itself seems prepared to accommodate the full frame size for the vast majority of situations. In fact, a new improved model was planned, retaining the non-standard frame format.
Nikon S with NIKKOR H.C 1:2 f=5cm lens
![Nikon Nikon](http://www.nicovandijk.net/m.jpg)
This was the Nikon S, long overdue when made available early in 1951; it is a Nikon M with flash sync contacts, two sockets at the upper left-hand edge of the body. All cameras sold with this feature are considered a Nikon S by the factory, even if marked M.[1] Despite its shortcomings, the Nikon S sold well, and became the first Nikon on the US market. By chance, a number of Nikon S cameras have one more serial number digit, known as the 8-digit Nikon S. When reaching 6099999 the engraver continued at 60910000, but it was soon realized that the long serial number was impractical, and after some 1200 cameras, the numbering reverted to 6100000. The 609 prefix in the serial number refers to the date the design was approved in September 1946.[4]
Several highly sought-after Nikon models were made available throughout the 1950s, and the first SLR camera from this maker, the Nikon F, shares the basic body configuration of the latest rangefinder models. All Nikon rangefinders are historically significant and considered highly collectible.[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abcdJames M. and Joan C. McKeown (2004). McKeown's price guide to antique classic Cameras, 12th Ed. Centennial Photo Service, Grantsburg. ISBN0-931838-40-1.
- ^Gustavson, Todd (2009). Camera A history of photography from Daguerreotype to Digital. Sterling Signature. ISBN978-1-4027-5656-6.
- ^ abLong, Brian (2006). Nikon - A celebration. The Crowood Press, Ramsbury. ISBN1-86126-831-9.
- ^Rotoloni, Robert (1983). Nikon Rangefinder Camera. Hove Foto Books, Hove. ISBN0-906447-25-9.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikon_I,_M_and_S&oldid=778894623'