Re: [Leica] nikon s3/2000

[Ron Schwarz <rs@clubvb.com>]

I understand that the retail price is less than what it cost's Nikon to
manufacture them, and the production, even at its limited numbers, is going
to take several years to fulfill.  IOW, I would not expect this to be the
start of a trend.


At 07:09 PM 5/31/01 -0400, you wrote:
>seen much sporadic bashing of nikon's new RF offering.  when i found one for
>less than the cost of a LHSA M6 and 50mm Summilux i decided to plunge.  all
>i can say, as a long time leica user AND an SP owner/user, is that this
>camera is VERY special, and well "worth" what i paid for it (at least if you
>take it as a given that an m6 & summi combo are fairly priced).  the build
>quality is unlike anything i've ever experienced in cameradom.  the chrome,
>as barbara would say, is like butta.  the finder is FAR brighter than my m6
>(although strictly a coincident type), and the shutter is certainly quieter
>than my leica.  while a rubberized cloth shutter a la leica M, it has a very
>different construction.  i also did some aerial testing of the 50mm 1.4
>(olympic style and dimensions) using a statndard chart.  without providing
>numbers, it betters the leica summiux by a long shot in the corners at every
>stop, and in the center wide open down to f4.    i think the new s3 is a
>very interesting product, worthy of a full blown review.  as for the lens,
>apparently photodo.com is going to post some specs soon.  perhaps the nicest
>thing about the camera is that there is nothing about it that says "special
>edition."  just a brand spanking new s3.  like i went back in time, and
>popped into olden.  finally, i am puzzled by all the second guessing of
>nikon's decision to go with an s3 reissue, rather than a sp.  for all its
>virtues, the sp had:  1.  a much darker finder than the s3 (at least when
>the cameras were knew -- s3s tended to "tan" over time a la m2s)  2.  the s3
>had an improved, quieter shutter, 3.  if you want frame lines wider than 35
>and longer than 105, use accesory finders -- they work MUCH better at the
>extremes (as any leica m users knows all too well) than in-camera bright
>lines, and 4.  they could sell an s3/50mm 1.4 combo at roughly the cost of
>the comparable leica rig (not counting rebates) -- an sp would have totally
>over the top.  and by the way, no wooden box!
>d
>d
>d
>d
>d
>d
>d
>d
>d
>
>