Nikon rangefinder cameras

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The first cameras made by Nikon were a line of rangefinder models, the Nikon I being first released in March 1948. The original design had however been completed by September 1946. They did not come to the attention of the western media until 1950, when photographers from Life magazine were shown photographs taken with these cameras. The design of the first model derived much from the German Contax and Leica of that time. It was decided to copy the body shape and rangefinder base, etc., of the Contax and the cloth focal plane shutter of the Leica, as these were considered the best features of these cameras. Nikon rangefinders are considered highly collectable and fetch very high auction and other sale prices, almost rivalling those of Leica cameras from the same period. --Offbrand 10:21, 10 October 2006 (EDT)

Links

In English:

• Short history of Nikon until 1949 at the Nikon Historical Society website, with details about the Nikon I
• Nikon S2 at Photoethnography by Karen Nakamura
• Nikon S3 at Scott's Photographica Collection
• Nikon S2 at the Vintage Nikon DSLR website
• Articles at Cameraquest:
  • Nikon I
  • Nikon One Garage Sale Treasure
  • Nikon M Unsynced
  • Nikon M recovered from the trash
  • Nikon M Synced
  • Nikon S
  • Nikon S2 nice shooter
  • Nikon S2 Black Dial Prototype?
  • Nikon S2 Black 1st Pro Nikon
  • Nikon S3 Black Olympic
  • Nikon S3M Black Half-frame w/ Motor Nikon's rarest regular production camera
  • Nikon S3 2000
  • Nikon S4
  • Nikon SP Rangefinder System Overview
  • Nikon SP Black most handsome Nikon?
  • Nikon SP Motor Jacobson Powercon Cordless Battery Pack
  • Nikon SP Variations
  • Nikon SP Illuminator a unique accessory Leica should copy
  • Nikon SP 2005

Nikon Cameras