click on cover to enlarge
In this issue:
"The Walz Story - Nikon's first flash maker?"
"The Nikon S2 Shutter"
Information about attending the NHS convention in Paris on June 1. Not too late to make your plans!
The Nikon Historical Society, based the US, has a worldwide membership. Our Nikon Journal, published four times a year, concentrates on the history of Japanese photo equipment from the perspective of the Nikon Camera Company. Visit the NHS on Facebook.
Showing posts with label Nikon Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nikon Journal. Show all posts
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"
Information about attending 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!
Nikon Journal issue 112 - June 30, 2011
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| Created for the NHS by Tony Hurst, copyright, all rights reserved. |
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.
"The Early Nikons an 'Inside' Look" by Joseph Higham
Reprinted from Nikon Journal 15, March 31, 1987 (reprints here)
Nikon member Joe Higham produced an extraordinary series of drawings for the NHS which showed the Nikon M-S series in great detail. The article was published in installments, the drawing and PDF (the complete article) are from part 3 in the series.
The series included more than just illustrations, but provided a manual on how to service these cameras, in detail that was never provided in any official manual. The drawings are quite beautiful, reminiscent of classic product illustrators like Daniel Rebour.
Open the PDF folder on Google Docs.
Nikon member Joe Higham produced an extraordinary series of drawings for the NHS which showed the Nikon M-S series in great detail. The article was published in installments, the drawing and PDF (the complete article) are from part 3 in the series.
The series included more than just illustrations, but provided a manual on how to service these cameras, in detail that was never provided in any official manual. The drawings are quite beautiful, reminiscent of classic product illustrators like Daniel Rebour.
Nikon Journal NHS-110
Excerpted from the Editorial page:
We have some interesting articles this issue starting with a landmark interview with the man who "discovered" the Nikkor lenses and made the West aware of them. Chris Sap and Thieriy Ravassod traveled to his home in Southern France to spend a delightful day with DDD. See page one for the whole story.
On page 6 we have a second installment by Ian DC Shephard on the array of underwater housings made for the Nikon system over the years. It is amazing how many there have been.
Biagio Guerra has been working on an article about a special panorama modified Nikon F for some months. On page 8 you can finally see the results. The "Panorama l x3" custom panorama camera is discussed in detail along with photos by the designer and builder, Thomas Roma, and member Carlo Rivolti who is the proud owner of one of only 31 examples ever made! Not only a rare camera, but a fascinating and beautifully made modification of the venerable Nikon F.
Mike Symons and Uli Koch have collaborated on an article about a rare and rather esoteric rangefinder accessory. How many of you have seen the telescope adapter for the RF cameras? Better yet, have you ever seen one for the Leica SM cameras? I wish I would have had this information when doing my book. This accessory is not covered there. See page 14 for all you need to know.
A lot of book updates this issue, along with photos this time of some really interesting new material, including an item not in the book at all. See page 17.
There is a new book just released and, although it is not about Nikons, it is done by one of our members and it is a fascinating item. Lam Netopil of Gemany is best known as one of the leading Leica dealers in the world. He has just published a beautiful 487 page book on "The Prototype Leicas." This all-color book has hundreds of photos of one-of-a-kind prototypes from the I.eica factory museum, as well as private collections from around the world. The photos are just gorgeous and well reproduced on fine paper in this "printed in Germany" volume. It comes with a dust jacket and a sturdy slipcover. You can contact Lars directly at www.lars‑netopil.com or lars‑netopi@lars‑netopil.com.
RJR
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| DDD with Chris' Nikon One (photo copyright 2011 Chris Sap) |
A Study of the Kwanon NHS-109
On page 14 of Nikon Journal 109, we have the third and final installment of Dr. Manabu Nakai's scholarly research paper on the groundbreaking Kwanon, which became the Hansa Canon. So much has been written about this camera, yet Nakai-san has come up with new information. To read the complete article join the NHS.
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| click to enlarge and read |
Nikon Journal NHS-107
The "rare" Mamiya-6. To read the complete article consider joining the NHS.
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| click to enlarge and read |
Nikon Journal NHS-106
The December 2009 issue of the Nikon Journal has been mailed. Join the NHS and receive the journal four times a year.
Excerpted from the Editorial page:
At the beginning of 2009 I promised we would devote all 4 issues this year to celebrate the 50th birthday of the venerable Nikon F. While this is the last issue for 2009, and it is full of material on the F, I will not stop covering this greatest of all Nikons. I have enough material at hand to continue coverage, although our "official" celebration will end with #106, and the Nikon SP will return to our cover. So if you have ideas for the F send them in. Although its birthday is over, we will always have room for the Nikon F.
Uli Koch continues his expert coverage with nine pages of some very special Nikon F models. High speeds. scientific, and military versions seldom seen on the market. I still have some items from Uli as well as other contributions. More next issue.
On page 10 I've put together a couple of lists that have come my way over the years, They can be used as a "guide" to the approximate date of production for your F body. However, it is only a guide, as a more detailed list is not known to me at this time. I've supplemented it with some factory production photos from "THE F SPOT."
On pages 13 & 14 are two short articles by members Philip Ramsden and Bob Thompson about some of the earliest Nikkors, one of which has proven its worth in our new digital age.
This issue's "Rich & Famous" is dedicated to only one Nikon user, but a very famous one. I have 2 pages of photos and coverage of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was often photographed using a Nikon S2 with the 50/f1.1 Nikkor. The article is by Paul Bonner, who knows his subject well. He produced a documentary on Che for the BBC in 197l!
More info on NHS‑Con12 can be found on page 15. Please check this page as it has the address for our convention website with all the latest info you will need. It is getting close so check out our site.
And now a special note... I first met Burt Rubin about 1973‑74. I already knew Yuki Kawai & Bill Kraus, and it was Bill who put Burt and I together. I received a phone call one day from a fellow with a definite Brooklyn accent who introduced himself and then we talked Nikons for 2 hours. Back then Yuki, Bill, Burt and I were the only serious Nikon collectors any of us knew of. We called ourselves the "Four Musketeers" and had a great time looking for and buying Nikons at prices that would make you cry today. But now we are only "three." Burt Rubin died on October 7th at the age of 68.
Back in the 70's I went to New York to visit his collection and he came to Chicago to see mine. All four of us were in constant communication about what we had seen or bought, and many of the serial numbers in my database are there because of Burt. Although he was never really involved with the NHS (an unfortunate fact), he did help me with my first book and we often saw each other at shows. I last met with him at the Miami show about 5‑6 years ago. We had a good talk and he was on top of the world as he was a new grandfather. A real "force" in world of Nikon collecting is gone but one who will not soon be forgotten.
RJR
Excerpted from the Editorial page:
At the beginning of 2009 I promised we would devote all 4 issues this year to celebrate the 50th birthday of the venerable Nikon F. While this is the last issue for 2009, and it is full of material on the F, I will not stop covering this greatest of all Nikons. I have enough material at hand to continue coverage, although our "official" celebration will end with #106, and the Nikon SP will return to our cover. So if you have ideas for the F send them in. Although its birthday is over, we will always have room for the Nikon F.
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| Both types of High Speed Nikon F cameras and the quite rare original 300mm f2.8 Nikkor. Click to enlarge and read |
On page 10 I've put together a couple of lists that have come my way over the years, They can be used as a "guide" to the approximate date of production for your F body. However, it is only a guide, as a more detailed list is not known to me at this time. I've supplemented it with some factory production photos from "THE F SPOT."
On pages 13 & 14 are two short articles by members Philip Ramsden and Bob Thompson about some of the earliest Nikkors, one of which has proven its worth in our new digital age.
This issue's "Rich & Famous" is dedicated to only one Nikon user, but a very famous one. I have 2 pages of photos and coverage of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who was often photographed using a Nikon S2 with the 50/f1.1 Nikkor. The article is by Paul Bonner, who knows his subject well. He produced a documentary on Che for the BBC in 197l!
More info on NHS‑Con12 can be found on page 15. Please check this page as it has the address for our convention website with all the latest info you will need. It is getting close so check out our site.
And now a special note... I first met Burt Rubin about 1973‑74. I already knew Yuki Kawai & Bill Kraus, and it was Bill who put Burt and I together. I received a phone call one day from a fellow with a definite Brooklyn accent who introduced himself and then we talked Nikons for 2 hours. Back then Yuki, Bill, Burt and I were the only serious Nikon collectors any of us knew of. We called ourselves the "Four Musketeers" and had a great time looking for and buying Nikons at prices that would make you cry today. But now we are only "three." Burt Rubin died on October 7th at the age of 68.
Back in the 70's I went to New York to visit his collection and he came to Chicago to see mine. All four of us were in constant communication about what we had seen or bought, and many of the serial numbers in my database are there because of Burt. Although he was never really involved with the NHS (an unfortunate fact), he did help me with my first book and we often saw each other at shows. I last met with him at the Miami show about 5‑6 years ago. We had a good talk and he was on top of the world as he was a new grandfather. A real "force" in world of Nikon collecting is gone but one who will not soon be forgotten.
RJR
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