Nikon SP

Nikon SP

Nikon SP chrome with matching Nikon exposure meter and NIKKOR-S 1:1,4 f=5cm lens
Overview
Type 35 mm rangefinder camera
Lens
Lens interchangeable lens, Nikon 'S' bayonet mount
Sensor/Medium
Film format 35 mm
Film size 36 mm × 24 mm
Film advance manual
Film rewind manual
Focusing
Focus modes Split and superposed-image rangefinder
Exposure/Metering
Exposure modes Manual (M), and Bulb (B)
Exposure metering no integrated meter
Flash
Flash PC Sync
Flash synchronization 1/60 s
Shutter
Shutter mechanically timed
Shutter speed range 1 s to 1/1000 s with Bulb and 1/60 s flash-sync
Continuous shooting 1 FPS manual wind, 3 FPS S-36 motordrive
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Dual brightline and etched frame viewfinder
Viewfinder magnification 1x
General
Optional motor drives S-36 motordrive
Dimensions 136 mm (w) × 81 mm (h) × 43 mm (d)
Weight 590 g (1.30 lb)
Made in Japan

The Nikon SP is a professional level, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, rangefinder camera introduced in 1957. It is the culmination of Nikon's rangefinder development which started in 1948 with the Nikon I, and was "arguably the most advanced rangefinder of its time."[1] It was manufactured by the Japanese optics company Nippon Kogaku K. K. (Nikon Corporation since 1988).[2] Further development of Nikon's S series ended with the introduction and success of the Nikon F.

In 2005 2,500 models of a repro model were manufactured under the name of "Nikon SP Limited Edition". The camera was exclusively sold in Japan and came with a (modern multi-coated) W-Nikkor 3.5 cm f/1.8 lens.[3]

Features

The Nikon SP has dual viewfinders providing frame lines for a total of six focal lengths. The main viewfinder has 1x magnification and has frame lines for 50 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm and 135 mm (selected by rotating a dial under the rewind crank). The frames are parallax-corrected and the focusing patch appears in the centre of the viewfinder. A separate, smaller viewfinder (less than life size) to the left of the main viewfinder has non-parallax corrected frame lines for 35 mm. The entire window acts as a frame for 28 mm lenses.

The camera uses Nikon's 'S' bayonet lens mount which is a modified Contax 'C' bayonet and Contax 'C' lenses are physically compatible but do not accurately focus with the built-in rangefinder. In common with Contax, a small toothed wheel in front of the shutter release is used to focus lenses that use the internal bayonet.

The camera does not have a flash sync on its hot shoe. Instead a pc sync socket is provided. The shutter on early models is a horizontally running mechanically timed rubberized silk fabric curtain. In 1959 the shutter curtain was changed to titanium similar to the Nikon F.

The camera will advance film at a rate of 3 FPS with an added S-36 motor drive. This made the SP the first rangefinder to have motorized film advance.[4]

The Nikon F SLR of 1959 has many structural similarities to the SP from which it evolved[5] with the addition of a reflex mirror and interchangeable pentaprism viewfinder.

Specifications

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nikon SP
  2. ↑ http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/discontinue/filmcamera.htm#rangefinder.
  3. ↑ Nikon SP Limited Edition, by Nikon
  4. ↑ Nikon Owner Issue 19 History of Nikon Part XVI by Gray Levett
  5. ↑ Nikon S2, SP, S3, S4 and Nikon F Similarities
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nikon SP.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.