Nikon SP

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Nikon SP

Type	35 mm Rangefinder camera
Lens mount	Nikon 'S' bayonet mount
Focus	manual
Exposure	manual
Flash	PC sync socket
Dimensions	136mm width×81mm height×43mm depth; 590g weight

The Nikon SP is a professional level, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, rangefinder camera introduced in 1957. It is the culmination of Nikon's rangefinder development which started in 1948 with the Nikon I. It was manufactured by the Japanese optics company Nippon Kogaku K. K. (Nikon Corporation since 1988). Further development of Nikon's S series ended with the introduction and success of the Nikon F.

The Nikon SP has dual viewfinders with 1x magnification. Framelines for wide-angle lenses 28mm and 35mm are displayed in a separate window from the 50mm, 85mm, 105mm and 135mm framelines. Framelines can be manually selected on a dial under the rewind crank. The framelines for 50mm to 135mm lenses compensate for parallax error. The camera uses Nikon's 'S' bayonet lens mount which is a modified Contax 'C' bayonet and Contax 'C' lenses are physically compatible but do not accurately focus with the built-in rangefinder. The camera does not have a flash sync on its hot shoe. Instead a pc sync socket is provided. The shutter is a horizontally running mechanically timed rubberized silk fabric curtain, this was changed in 1959 when the SP gained titanium shutters (similar to Nikon F).

[edit] Specifications

Shutter = Horizontal running rubberized silk fabric curtain type focal plain shutter
Shutter speeds = T, B and 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 and 1/1000 seconds (regular interval graduation)
Range marker = M inscription (XXINF - 0.9)
Self-timer = Connect time variable system (the graduation of 3, 6 and 10 seconds it is attached)
Pc socket = Time lag variable system, it aligns the synchronizer socket attachment and the speed light/write in 1/60 seconds less than
Finder = Rangefinder type fixed 1x magnification finder (wide angle finder for 28mm and 35mm finder)
Framelines = 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm and 135mm
Film wind = Hand operated lever system, 136 degree revolution (multiple winds possible), with 15 degree extra withdrawal angles
Film rewind = Manual Crank system
Film = 135 Film (35mm film) with 36x24mm image size