I'm excited I found your videos, thanks for making these! I had a Nikon SP serviced just last year at Lezot Complete Camera Center in Vermont BTW and I thought they were wonderful to work with and a really good deal too. (The slow shutter speed mechanism must have gotten some water in it a few decades ago, and they cleaned out all the corrosion to get most of the speeds working again, plus a CLA). I gotta say it's the nicest camera I've ever owned.
Had my SP serviced by Kanto Camera. I would recommend their overhaul service 100% if you want the camera to be meticulously cleaned, restored, and function to like new condition, and will keep it for a very long time. Their work and service is definitely reflected in the price, and I compare that to experiences of few well known repair shops around the US I've used in the past. Those shops were great but, holy moly Kanto is in it's own league. You are very right about not looking to repair these just to turn around and sell it. Frankly I believe one day these rangefinders will be even more coveted by photo/Nikon collectors! Hope you enjoy shooting theses cameras!
If I need another overhaul I will try Kanto as I was not too satisfied with the work I saw from PDX. I too intend to shot this camera. Nikon Rangefinders are great it always shocks me they are not more popular due to use and more valuable due to rarity.
The shutter in the nikon S I got from the flea market the other day also has a little slack but seems accurate. I'd like to get mine professionally cleaned, hopefully it would be considerably cheaper since my shutter is in fine condition.
And I purchased my S with 50/1.4, 35/3.5, and 135/3.5 with some paperwork and accessories (sadly not including an accessory finder) for $350. Everything has a little fungus and haze though. Hoping I can get the lenses cleaned up on my own. May look into doing some cleaning on the viewfinder on my own but I'd rather have a pro do it.
Dear Sir, I own an S nikon. It takes great pictures with a weston hand held master 4 meter. Use the arrow setting on the meter. If your doing closeup of dragonfly open it all the way and use tripod with 400iso fujicolorprint film. The original owner got chewing gum on shutter knows so had to use ronsonol skirted liberals over outside knows and inside rollers. By a miracle it worked and freed up a recalcitrant slow shutter. It's just a miracle! I did an arms length self portrait during two summers ago. Not the sharpest image but not bad either. Image might have been sharper with Asa 125 film. Or Asa 32 pluss X. Would need tripod probably. Recomend a medium speed film as was suggested in nikon f manual. I wouldn't sell it too soon I think there is still a lot of good shooting left in the S ! If you would know where to locate an original lens hood and cap for the S I would be interested. Happy shooting the S. She's a grand old gal with lots of life left in her. Thanks for doing cameo of Nikon S film camera.
I have a question maybe you can help me, I recently got a Nikon SP and the Rangefinder patch is so dim I can’t see it, I have to put my finger in front of the viewfinder to see the patch but even then is impossible to focus I can only see an orange dark patch making it impossible to focus. This is normal in this old cameras? It worth it to fix it or I should just zone focus? It’s my first rangefinder so im not sure if this is normal on this cameras or not.
Hard to say what the exact issue is but the RF may have uncoupled, or it might need cleaning. Not sure I would rely on zone focusing too much but it depends on the lens.
kanto camera is definitely worth the cost. they will clean every bit beyond belief and the camera will feel better than new. also, it will retain the resale value for many years if you keep the repair report. btw great videos
Inherited my dad’s. Shutter speeds are accurate but the rangefinder was off a few hairs short of infinity. Was quoted $160 for the rangefinder fix and a total of $350 for a CLA and “off faster shutter speeds”. I don’t think I will continue with the repairs. And my developed rolls don’t reflect it being as unshootable.
General speeds are never 100% accurate or even 90% in many cases and that is still good enough to get the job done. Even misaligned shutter curtains only show up around 1/500 and 1/1000 speeds.
@@andrewsmithphoto Yeah, I guess they thought I was a noob. I'm a working photographer who shoots film everyday on my downtime in various formats and have taken apart and repaired cameras myself. Just thought it would be good to outsource to a local business. Looks like I'm gonna remove the front plate and adjust it on my own. One slight screwdriver turn on the horizontal adjustment screw should do the trick.
Paying 200 bucks for a cla to get a good working camera is a deal. I buy cameras to shoot them, NOT TO S ELL for profit. The funny thing is you are not a shooter. You have not said a word about how the canera shoots. Sounds like you have not put a roll of film through it yet. Try shooting the camera. You want to invest your money go to wall street
Here is the link to the camera "review": ua-cam.com/video/mUqM00BVwA4/v-deo.html&ab_channel=AndrewSmith Had you read the title of the video, listened to what I said, or looked at literally any other video on my channel you would have seen I have been an avid shooter for a decade.
I'm excited I found your videos, thanks for making these! I had a Nikon SP serviced just last year at Lezot Complete Camera Center in Vermont BTW and I thought they were wonderful to work with and a really good deal too. (The slow shutter speed mechanism must have gotten some water in it a few decades ago, and they cleaned out all the corrosion to get most of the speeds working again, plus a CLA). I gotta say it's the nicest camera I've ever owned.
SPs are amazing cameras on par with any other camera.
Had my SP serviced by Kanto Camera. I would recommend their overhaul service 100% if you want the camera to be meticulously cleaned, restored, and function to like new condition, and will keep it for a very long time. Their work and service is definitely reflected in the price, and I compare that to experiences of few well known repair shops around the US I've used in the past.
Those shops were great but, holy moly Kanto is in it's own league.
You are very right about not looking to repair these just to turn around and sell it.
Frankly I believe one day these rangefinders will be even more coveted by photo/Nikon collectors!
Hope you enjoy shooting theses cameras!
If I need another overhaul I will try Kanto as I was not too satisfied with the work I saw from PDX. I too intend to shot this camera. Nikon Rangefinders are great it always shocks me they are not more popular due to use and more valuable due to rarity.
The shutter in the nikon S I got from the flea market the other day also has a little slack but seems accurate. I'd like to get mine professionally cleaned, hopefully it would be considerably cheaper since my shutter is in fine condition.
And I purchased my S with 50/1.4, 35/3.5, and 135/3.5 with some paperwork and accessories (sadly not including an accessory finder) for $350. Everything has a little fungus and haze though. Hoping I can get the lenses cleaned up on my own. May look into doing some cleaning on the viewfinder on my own but I'd rather have a pro do it.
@@brendonwilson1318 The lenses can be cleaned easily enough.
Dear Sir, I own an S nikon. It takes great pictures with a weston hand held master 4 meter. Use the arrow setting on the meter. If your doing closeup of dragonfly open it all the way and use tripod with 400iso fujicolorprint film. The original owner got chewing gum on shutter knows so had to use ronsonol skirted liberals over outside knows and inside rollers. By a miracle it worked and freed up a recalcitrant slow shutter. It's just a miracle! I did an arms length self portrait during two summers ago. Not the sharpest image but not bad either. Image might have been sharper with Asa 125 film. Or Asa 32 pluss X. Would need tripod probably. Recomend a medium speed film as was suggested in nikon f manual. I wouldn't sell it too soon I think there is still a lot of good shooting left in the S ! If you would know where to locate an original lens hood and cap for the S I would be interested. Happy shooting the S. She's a grand old gal with lots of life left in her. Thanks for doing cameo of Nikon S film camera.
Still have the camera a few yers later! Wish I could help with the cap and hood, but I am in need of those myself.
I have a question maybe you can help me, I recently got a Nikon SP and the Rangefinder patch is so dim I can’t see it, I have to put my finger in front of the viewfinder to see the patch but even then is impossible to focus I can only see an orange dark patch making it impossible to focus. This is normal in this old cameras? It worth it to fix it or I should just zone focus?
It’s my first rangefinder so im not sure if this is normal on this cameras or not.
Hard to say what the exact issue is but the RF may have uncoupled, or it might need cleaning. Not sure I would rely on zone focusing too much but it depends on the lens.
@@andrewsmithphoto Thanks 🙏🏼
kanto camera is definitely worth the cost. they will clean every bit beyond belief and the camera will feel better than new. also, it will retain the resale value for many years if you keep the repair report. btw great videos
After the experience I had, the next repair job will be sent to Kanto. On the bright side I am getting pretty good at fixing cameras my self.
Inherited my dad’s. Shutter speeds are accurate but the rangefinder was off a few hairs short of infinity. Was quoted $160 for the rangefinder fix and a total of $350 for a CLA and “off faster shutter speeds”. I don’t think I will continue with the repairs. And my developed rolls don’t reflect it being as unshootable.
General speeds are never 100% accurate or even 90% in many cases and that is still good enough to get the job done. Even misaligned shutter curtains only show up around 1/500 and 1/1000 speeds.
@@andrewsmithphoto Yeah, I guess they thought I was a noob. I'm a working photographer who shoots film everyday on my downtime in various formats and have taken apart and repaired cameras myself. Just thought it would be good to outsource to a local business. Looks like I'm gonna remove the front plate and adjust it on my own. One slight screwdriver turn on the horizontal adjustment screw should do the trick.
Paying 200 bucks for a cla to get a good working camera is a deal. I buy cameras to shoot them, NOT TO S ELL for profit. The funny thing is you are not a shooter. You have not said a word about how the canera shoots. Sounds like you have not put a roll of film through it yet. Try shooting the camera. You want to invest your money go to wall street
Here is the link to the camera "review": ua-cam.com/video/mUqM00BVwA4/v-deo.html&ab_channel=AndrewSmith Had you read the title of the video, listened to what I said, or looked at literally any other video on my channel you would have seen I have been an avid shooter for a decade.