Today (June 30th) is International Camera Day. To celebrate, I’m showing off my (current) favorite camera … a Nikon S3 Y2K rangefinder film camera. As you can see, it’s a beauty of a camera. The original S3 was released in 1958 … and was sold as a lower priced (but still expensive) alternative to the Leica M3. There were a series of Nikon rangefinder cameras manufactured from 1948 to 1964 at which time Nikon discontinued their rangefinder cameras because of the release of the Nikon F1 (the first Single Lens Reflex camera).
In the year 2000 (Y2K), Nikon released a commemorative version of the S3 with mostly the same design, except for some minor variations. For instance, the camera came with a 50mm f1.4 lens which in the Y2K version had been updated with modern coatings on the glass. Some individuals feel that this is the best 50mm f1.4 lens ever made. (I’m still trying to decide if I agree.)
While you can see the wonderful design, it does have drawbacks for the modern photographer. It is film, of course (individuals vary on whether that is a drawback or an advantage). But there is also no built-in light meter. Fortunately, there are great apps for your phone that use the phone camera’s light meter to provide the correct settings for you.
So, Happy International Camera Day … now go out there and use yours!
That looks like a great camera. But, Allan, what was your first camera? Mine was the Argus C3. Do you remember Dad letting me use it for hiking and climbing when we were in junior high? I used it until I got my Pentax in college.
I had an Argus C-3 as my first 35mm camera, too.
One that Uncle Dave gave me when he upgraded.
I had used some Kodak 620 box cameras before that.