If this concept is hard to picture, the gif below should illustrate the concept well. That means that the aperture control ring cannot close past that stop and the photographer can stop down the lens before exposure without looking to make sure that the aperture is set correctly - the stop ring does that part. Instead of selecting the aperture via a ring and having the blades close-down immediately upon exposure via a mechanical coupling with the camera, the photographer “pre-sets” the lens to their chosen aperture first by way of the aperture stop ring. Focus shift is a common issue with older lenses, especially telephoto lenses. This is especially noticeable on close subjects, where the focus can shift many centimetres. So, theoretically, an LTM lens could have the elements swapped for a Bronica and no-one would be any the wiser, note that I’ve not tried that.Īs the aperture closes, the lens’ focus point shifts. *1 This lens was the same optical design for the 35mm LTM system and the Bronica 6X6. These issues are largely rectified by f/11 or f/16, where the lens performs its best, but at those smaller apertures, another issue manifests: focus shift. As mentioned previously, outside of the 35mm image circle area *1, the Nikkor-Q 25CM f/4 is defined by its severe field curvature, coma, and distortion. The Bronica version of the Nikon Nikkor-Q 25CM f/4 falls mostly in the third category and somewhat in the second. They performed badly and were discontinued quickly.They were too expensive for most people and so very few were made.
![pictures taken with nikon s2 rangefinder pictures taken with nikon s2 rangefinder](https://www.nikonweb.com/s2/d2x_s2.jpg)
You may never see another first-hand article about this lens with photos taken by the author.Ī few reasons exist that can lend a lens the title of “rare”: Including mine, I know directly of six of the 12 copies I’ve identified of this lens and only one other is usable, the rest have lost their large bayonet adapter ring. Also, the LTM versions have a different rear mount and the two versions, Bronica and LTM, are not interchangeable.
![pictures taken with nikon s2 rangefinder pictures taken with nikon s2 rangefinder](https://i.etsystatic.com/19400979/r/il/3eb699/3188736542/il_fullxfull.3188736542_5sfi.jpg)
I have not yet found a source that supports that number, however. In his 2007 book “ The Complete Nikon Rangefinder System” Robert Rotoloni indicated that about 700 of these lenses were made with Type II LTM reflex housings and an additional 100 with Type I housings (Type II housings have 45-degree viewfinder and Type I have a 90-degree).Īdditional, uncited, reports in camera forums indicate a conventional wisdom that 1,700 of the pre-set lenses were produced (the Bronica versions fall into this category). Most of the copies of this lens were made for LTM and most of these lenses that you see for sale will be for LTM-threaded rangefinders. They appear to be inclusive of the pre-set versions of this lens made for the Leica LTM system, too, and that stands to reason because they are (insofar as I can tell) the same lens optically, with a different rear mount and focusing ring.
![pictures taken with nikon s2 rangefinder pictures taken with nikon s2 rangefinder](https://richardhaw.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/img_3491.jpg)
Pictures taken with nikon s2 rangefinder serial numbers#
These serial numbers span a 788-digit range. ✕ Close Search for:įor rare lens nuts reading this, Tony Hilton lists serial numbers 273365, 273414, 273495, 273631, and 273743. EMULSIVE Santa match confirmations have been sent out to this year's 850 players! If you have any questions about your match or the process, please reach out via Elfster ASAP.