Issue 115 is in the mail. Paris!

click on cover to enlarge

In this issue:
"The Walz Story - Nikon's first flash maker?"
"The Nikon S2 Shutter"

And of course coverage of the NHS convention in Paris on June 1. Not too late to make your plans!

Nikon Journal issue 114 - Dec 31, 2011

From Robert Rotoloni:
With only one more issue of the Journal due out before NHS-Con L3 in Paris, I feel I must urge those of you planning to attend, or even just considering it, to get involved quickly. There is ample coverage of our plans on pages l0 & 11 for you to read, but I want to use this editorial space to remind you. and urge you, to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.

Rooms are hard to come by in Paris during the time of the French Open so please do this soon. Also we need to know who coming so we can get a head count as early as possible. This needed to book certain things, such as the closing dinner, and to order other supplies, and also to plan br the meeting room. We cannot really assume you are attending until you actually send in your convention fee. So please everyone, May is not that far away and we need to know if you are coming. Contact us with your Convention soon and contact the hotels!

We start off #114 with an article on an aspect of the Nikon RF system I did not cover in my books at all and have hardy featured here in the Journal. That is the Nikon B.C.B. flash system. On page one I offer an introduction to the system, but one that barely scratches the surface of this system. I found this out after seeing what member Jell Felton knows about these flashes. Believe me, there is a lot more to them than I imagined and Jeff will cover them in detail in following issues including the rare "Walz" versions. They is actually a beautifully made and rather elaborate accessory, although one that is often overlooked. Quality and design was very high, as this series of articles will illustrate.

On page 8 we have the story about the beginnings of Nikon in the Netherlands including a a very interesting photo of the first Dutch importer and a group of people from Nippon Kogaku. Dutch member Jan Jonker did the research.

Page 12 has some unusual and interesting contemporary literature discovered by member Jim Emmerson. I have not seen these previously as Jim's source was one I had not thought of before.

This is followed by 3 pages of coverage of two recent auctions featuring Nikon equipment. Resides eBay. Auctions are currently the most visible source of pricing information as well as an idea of what is out there for the collector. Therefore I feel they are very important to the continued interest in camera collecting in general, thus I want to cover them as completely as possible. In addition, both gentlemen responsible for these two sales have agreed to be sponsors s of NHS-Con13 (Stan Tamarkin and PeterCoeln) and deserve our support. Look to pages 13-15 for complete coverage including hammer prices.

I received good feedback to Part One of my series on Nikon RF gear calibrated in meters. Enough feedback to run two more pages with some very interesting items.

Robert Rayzak and I are continuing our research into t internal numbers, found on the very early Nikon One bodies. So far we have had only one response but it is a beauty. See page 18 for details.

By the time you receive this issue it will be about 18 weeks before NtIS-Con 13 and the Holidays s will be history. I hope to see many of you in Paris and I also hope that ALL of you had a wonderful holiday season followed by a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Sad news to report!

It has been reported today (Oct 19) that Peter Smith, the beloved Nikon repairman, from Del Ray Camera in Florida,  passed away a few days ago.

The first report was on Nikoncafe.com and is now confirmed by a Rangefinderforum.com member who made a phone call to Del Ray Camera.

Just received from a friend of Pete's:

"Pete died 2 days ago. There has been no obituary in the local paper yet, but memorial plans are pending. I will be in contact with his family soon."

Previous post including a photo of Pete here:
/pete-smith-is-repairing-nikons.html

OK then...

"Faux no more. The iPhone SLR Mount gives you the real thing. It'll set your phone photos apart from everyone else's ... ! This case-adapter combo lets you mount your Nikon SLR lenses to your iPhone 4 giving your phone powerful depth of field and manual focus." 

Thanks to Andrio for the link!  I will let Journal readers find it for themselves on the web...

Nikkor 55mm F1.2 for Leica M-mount

Amedeo Muscelli, of micro 4/3s adapter fame, has built a rangefinder coupled lens with a Nikon 1.2 as its starting point.

"This fast Nikon 1:1.2 is a fantastic lens, originally used in Nikon F mount -- was totally modified for to mount on Leica M cameras, only the optic elements was kept intact, the auto-diaphragm mechanism was disabled and now can be used as it would usually work in rangefinder lenses. It is full rangefinder coupled at all distances, the rangefinder cam will move at a calculated different rate with respect to the focusing helical  to compensate the difference between 50mm and 55mm.

The new structure is CNC machined from solid brass and has a chrome finish. The front ring and the aperture ring are the original of the modified Nikon lens, this  keeps the original click step mechanism and you will feel it exactly as in the original Nikon lens."

Nikon Journal issue 112 - June 30, 2011

Created for the NHS  by Tony Hurst,
copyright, all rights reserved.

Almost exactly one year from now I will be putting the finishing touches on our Convention issue. I am writing this on June 12th, and by this date next year, NHS-Con l3 will be history. We all know how the years can fly by, so if you have any thoughts of joining us in Paris next June, now is the time for you to start making your plans. Please consider attending. Our Conventions are a good time for all and this one will be tied in with the largest camera fair in the world. See page 15 for all the latest information.

In this, our 112th issue, we have a lead off article by Chris Sap dealing with some of the detailed information he acquired during his visits with the late Tatsuhiko Arakawa concerning the sometimes tortuous route taken by the first Nikons. Dates and serial numbers and production quantities are discussed. Some interesting reading. This is followed by another article from Dr. Manabu Nakai also dealing with the first Nikons and some of the problems that had to be overcome to get it to market. Dr. Nakai has access to material not normally available to researchers here in the West, including detailed translations' of Arakawa's writings. He has some interesting thoughts about the early Nikons. See page 10.

On pages 16 & 17 you will see some of the results from the recent Westlicht Auction in Vienna. There were some really superb items in this sale and some surprising hammer prices, both high and low. It looks like there is still a tremendous interest and demand for our favorite marquee.
-- Robert Rotoloni

Read the complete Journal by joining the NHS.

MS-MAG Nikon S2 RF adapter

www.japanexposures.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=480

Adapter to use MS-MAG x1.35, MS-MAG x1.15 or and other Leica viewfinder accessories including Leica Camera's diopter correction lenses and magnifiers on Nikon S2 RF cameras. Magnifier screws into the adapter which is attached to the Nikon S2 eyepiece ring by means of three locking screws.

Only 20 made!  (Tip on this adapter from Jon on the RFF)