Nikon rangefinder S3 2000 ("Y2K")
Limited Edition Black Paint model
The black paint S3 Y2K model was announced barely a few months after the February
S3 Y2K Chrome. IF I can recall it correctly, it was in June, 2000 but actual shipment
was very much later. Somehow I thought the black paint S3 Y2K has a more appealing
appearance than the comparing chrome model. Possibly black finishing provides more
contrasty visual and brought out the full metal jacket of the Nikon rangefinder camera.
Although I doubt many would use either of these for actual / frequent photography
as most people would treat them as collectible piece in appreciation of sheer mechanical
engineering in pure oriental form presented during old time photographic period rather
than from the perspective of a top class imaging tool used during those era.
One way or another,
although essentially it is still a S3 remake. But overall, it gave an impression
it was a separate model (esp. with an over-sized red lens mounting
index dot) and even mistakenly thought it was a Black SP remake from a far (I was
fooled by the larger red lens mounting index red dot .. hehe...). The Black Paint
S3 during the old days was best represented by the combination of a matching black
Olympic 50mm f/1.4 Nikkor-S.C. Nikon has cleverly supplied with a matching black
Nikkor-S 1.4/50mm as well. Actually the same goes for the chrome, as Nikon has only
issued two remakes of Nikkor rangefinder lenses so far (the other was a better effort,
W-Nikkor 3.5cm F1.8 as companion lens for the
SP Black 2005).
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As explained at the S3 chrome Millennium
Limited Edition earlier, The Nikon S3 viewfinder has etched brightline frames for
three basic focal length of 35mm, 50mm and 105 mm. For other Nikkor lenses in S-mount
in different focal lengths, an external optical finder is required for rough guide
on composition. The brightline frames of the mentioned focal lengths do not adjust
parallax. One of the more important feature of the Nikon S3 Limited Edition Models
here is, they can still share and use with many of the system accessories designed
for the Nikon SP, which includes the film advance devices such as S36 etc. The lens
for both chrome and black S3 Y2K uses the re-issued Nikkor-S 1.4/50mm as illustrated
earlier at the chrome version page. The basic spec of this standard lens are as followed:-
Nikkor-S 50mmF1.4 for Millennium Limited
Edition Black
Focal Length: 50 mm
Maximum/Minimum Apertures: 1 : 1.4/1:16
Optical Construction: 7 elements in 5 groups
Picture Angle: 46
Closest Focusing Distance: 0.9 m
Aperture range: f1.4, 2.0, 2.8, 4.0, 5.6, 8.0, 11 & f16
Focusing: rangefinder
Filter Attachment Size: 43 mm (P= 0.7mm)
Dimension/Weight: 51mm x 49 mm; 175 g
Note: S/N started from 20xxxxx. NIC Multi-coated. Lens cap and optional lens hood
are spring loaded type.
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Nomenclature / Main reference Map on chrome/black paint Nikon S3 Y2K
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Nikkor Rangefinder resources
| Nikon Rangefinder Camera Models |
Recommended Links (external):-
Nikon S3 basic data sheet at Nikon site | Cameraquest on S3 2000 | Another artilce on S3 2000
Nikon S3 Black Original by Bjørn Rørslett | A very well written article by Karen Nakamura on original/new Nikon S3
HOW the S3 2000 was in production from Nikon Japan / Original Article in Japanese | Original Press Release of Nikon S3 Y2k (Japanese)
Some very well taken shots of S3 2000 as wall paper | EBAY Search on Nikon S3 related
stuffs |
Relative:- Leica M3 Index Page | M3 Nomenclature | Main Index Page Leica-M Series Rangefinder camera Models
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