Difference between revisions of "Nikon rangefinder models"

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The '''Nikon''' was the first camera introduced by the optical manufacturer [[Nikon|Nippon Kogaku KK]]. It is a 35mm [[rangefinder]] camera, later called the Nikon I. 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 famous Nikkor-P-C 8,5cm / 2.0. A demand to fit Nikkors to the reporters Leicas and Contaxes were immediately met at the factory in Tokyo, and soon the word spread about these Japanese lenses which was just as good as, or possibly better than their German counterparts. The camera design was strongly inspired by the German [[Contax rangefinder|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 '''Nikon''' was the first camera introduced by the optical manufacturer [[Nikon|Nippon Kogaku KK]]. It is a 35mm [[rangefinder]] camera, later called the Nikon I. 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 famous Nikkor-P-C 8,5cm / 2.0. A demand to fit Nikkors to the reporters Leicas and Contaxes were immediately met at the factory in Tokyo, and soon the word spread about these Japanese lenses which was just as good as, or possibly better than their German counterparts. The camera design was strongly inspired by the German [[Contax rangefinder|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 had no flash synchronisation, but was otherwise a fully-fledged up to date rangefinder camera. Unfortunately, the Nikon lens mount was not exactly compatible with the Contax mount, which meant the Zeiss optics would not focus correctly. However, the Nikkor lenses became very respected and available at lover prices, so the camera would eventually become widely accepted. The factory chose the 32 x 24 mm frame size pioneered by Chiyoda Kogaku, known as the Nippon format, which yielded more frames per length of film, and more closely fitted the common paper sizes. Despite this, the format never caught on.
+
The original '''Nikon I''' as introduced in 1948 had no flash synchronisation, but was otherwise a fully-fledged up to date rangefinder camera. Unfortunately, the Nikon lens mount was not exactly compatible with the Contax mount, which meant the Zeiss optics would not focus correctly. However, the Nikkor lenses became very respected and available at lover prices, so the camera would eventually become widely accepted. The factory chose the 32 x 24 mm frame size pioneered by [[Minolta 35|Chiyoda Kogaku]], known as the Nippon format, which yielded more frames per length of film, and more closely fitted the common paper sizes. Despite this, the format never caught on.
  
 
So the '''Nikon M''' was introduced in the autumn 1949, with a slightly larger frame format of 34 x 24 mm, Nippon Kogaku being reluctant to go all the way to the widely accepted standard size, due to worries about the corner sharpness of the Nikkor lenses, originally designed for the smaller format. This model is recognised by the M preceding the body number. This modified version was still not a viable export product finding acceptance among US importers, and Kodak could not accommodate the non standard format for their automatic slide-film cutting and framing machines. Despite this fact, a new model for export was planned, retaining the non-standard frame format.  
 
So the '''Nikon M''' was introduced in the autumn 1949, with a slightly larger frame format of 34 x 24 mm, Nippon Kogaku being reluctant to go all the way to the widely accepted standard size, due to worries about the corner sharpness of the Nikkor lenses, originally designed for the smaller format. This model is recognised by the M preceding the body number. This modified version was still not a viable export product finding acceptance among US importers, and Kodak could not accommodate the non standard format for their automatic slide-film cutting and framing machines. Despite this fact, a new model for export was planned, retaining the non-standard frame format.  
  
This was the '''Nikon S''', 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. Despite its shortcomings, the Nikon S sold well, and became the first Nikon on the US market. By a strange coincidence about a thousand Nikkor S cameras has on more serial number digit, known as the 8-digit Nikon S. It is about twice as valuable as the ordinary 7-digit version, while the MIOJ (Made In Occupied Japan) version is even rarer.
+
This was the '''Nikon S''', 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. Despite its shortcomings, the Nikon S sold well, and became the first Nikon on the US market. By a strange coincidence about a thousand Nikon S cameras has on more serial number digit, known as the 8-digit Nikon S. It is about twice as valuable as the ordinary 7-digit version, while the MIOJ (Made In Occupied Japan) version is even rarer.
  
 
Several highly sought-after 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 considered highly collectible and fetch very high sale prices, commanding just as high prices as those for Leica cameras of the same period.
 
Several highly sought-after 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 considered highly collectible and fetch very high sale prices, commanding just as high prices as those for Leica cameras of the same period.

Revision as of 10:25, 25 May 2009

Japanese 35mm focal plane VF and RF (edit)
Leica screw mount Alta | Bessa L/T/R | Canon II/III/IV | Canon VT | Canon VI-T | Canon L-3 | Canon P | Canon 7 | Canon 7s | ChiyocaChiyotax | Honor S1 | Honor SL | Ichicon-35 | Jeicy | Konica FR | Leotax | Leotax G | Melcon | Melcon II | Minolta 35 | Muley | Nicca | Nicca III-L | Nippon | Tanack 35/IIIS/IV-S | Tanack SD | Tanack VP | Teica | Yasuhara T981
Leica M mount Bessa R2/R3/R4 | Konica Hexar RF | Minolta CLE | Rollei 35 RF | Zeiss Ikon
Nikon mount Bessa R2S | Nikon rangefinder models
Contax G mount Contax G1 | Contax G2
Other Bessa R2C | Kwanon | Tanack V3
Japanese TLR and pseudo TLR ->
Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

The Nikon was the first camera introduced by the optical manufacturer Nippon Kogaku KK. It is a 35mm rangefinder camera, later called the Nikon I. 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 famous Nikkor-P-C 8,5cm / 2.0. A demand to fit Nikkors to the reporters Leicas and Contaxes were immediately met at the factory in Tokyo, and soon the word spread about these Japanese lenses which was just as good as, or possibly better than their German counterparts. 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 had no flash synchronisation, but was otherwise a fully-fledged up to date rangefinder camera. Unfortunately, the Nikon lens mount was not exactly compatible with the Contax mount, which meant the Zeiss optics would not focus correctly. However, the Nikkor lenses became very respected and available at lover prices, so the camera would eventually become widely accepted. The factory chose the 32 x 24 mm frame size pioneered by Chiyoda Kogaku, known as the Nippon format, which yielded more frames per length of film, and more closely fitted the common paper sizes. Despite this, the format never caught on.

So the Nikon M was introduced in the autumn 1949, with a slightly larger frame format of 34 x 24 mm, Nippon Kogaku being reluctant to go all the way to the widely accepted standard size, due to worries about the corner sharpness of the Nikkor lenses, originally designed for the smaller format. This model is recognised by the M preceding the body number. This modified version was still not a viable export product finding acceptance among US importers, and Kodak could not accommodate the non standard format for their automatic slide-film cutting and framing machines. Despite this fact, a new model for export was planned, retaining the non-standard frame format.

This was the Nikon S, 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. Despite its shortcomings, the Nikon S sold well, and became the first Nikon on the US market. By a strange coincidence about a thousand Nikon S cameras has on more serial number digit, known as the 8-digit Nikon S. It is about twice as valuable as the ordinary 7-digit version, while the MIOJ (Made In Occupied Japan) version is even rarer.

Several highly sought-after 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 considered highly collectible and fetch very high sale prices, commanding just as high prices as those for Leica cameras of the same period.

See also the page about lenses in Nikon rangefinder mount.

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