Anybody know of a Nicca rangefinder?

[durr3]

Also, will Pentax M42 lenses work on Leica or Nikon screw mount cameras?

thanks

[GrahamNR17]

They were Japanese. They had a few different names (and owners?) over the years:

Kogaku Seiki 1940-47
Nippon Camera Works 1948
Nicca Camera Works 1949-58
Yashica 1958 onwards

Re your other question, you used to be able to buy a M39 to M42 adaptor that was long enough to reposition the lens for infinity focus. No chance of rangefinder coupling though.

[scsambrook]

I'm sure you'll find plenty of info on the Nicca rangefinder cameras through a Google search. Perhaps a good idea to do some basic research before you take the plunge.

Pentax M42 lenses CAN be used on Leica rangefinder type cameras but ONLY with a suitable extension tube/adapter and there will be NO rangefinder coupling. That might be ok with wide angle lenses of less than 24mm focal length, but not with the longer ones.

[durr3]

I picked it up for $60 and the body looks pretty good, but the Nikkor 5cm f2 lens is dented all around the front. It still will focus and the aperture works. I may start looking for another lens. Any suggestions as to bargain screw type lens? Also, the shutter sounds like it is fixed on one speed. Will a CLA fix that? thanks for your help.

[GrahamNR17]

If the register distance is the same (lens flange to film) then the Russian rnagefinder lenses will serve you very well indeed, and at a price that means you can collect a whole set for little money.

[scsambrook]

I think you got it for a reasonable price - the way things are these days !

The Nicca has two shutter speed dials - the "fast" speeds on the top, the "slow" ones on the front of the camera. To get the slow speeds to work you have to set the "fast" dial to its slowest value, just as for the Leica. I can't recall what the slowest speed actually is, probably marked "30-1" or "20-1" or something similar. Anyway, wind the transport mechanism, set the "fast" dial and then try the slow speeds. If the shuuter's working okay you'll hear the "click-whirr-click clearly on the 1 second and 1/2 second setting. And if you take the lens off you'll see the delay between the two shutter blinds.

If the glass of the Nikkor is in good shape, you should be well pleased with the results. Is it f1.5, or f1.8, or f2? They're all Zeiss Sonnar type designs.

The Russian lenses can be anywhere between splendid and dreadful, and you need to check on how well they couple to the rangefinder. I have a 50mm f2 Jupiter that's great at 7 feet but out of focus at 4 feet distance. Have a look at the Rangefinder Forum - plenty on there about shimming them.

Be nice to see a picture of your Nicca if you can manage it

[durr3]

iPhone photo

[ludoo]

Great buy at that price.

A hald-decent repairmain will be able to straighten the lens rim, and I doubt you'll find a better 50mm unless you spend some serious money (compared to whay you paid for the camera+lens). A CLA will also probably fix the shutter speeds. While you are at it, check that there are no holes in the curtains, both before and after winding the transport mechanism. Just shine a bright flashlight from one side, and look from the other side, if it's not a bottom loading body.

[luisalegria]

You got it for a fraction of its normal price. That is a very collectible camera. It generally goes for more than some Leica models.

[durr3]

I just sent it off to be repaired and a new CLA. I think I will look for a couple of lenses to go with it.

I am going a bit overboard with this vintage camera collecting.

In the last two months I have found: 2-Voigtlander Prominents w/5 lenses and lots of extras; an Exakta 66 with 2 lenses; a Pentax Spotmatic with 5 M42 lenses and this Nicca. They keep popping up!

regards,
Durr

[Nesster]

Durr, I call that a good two month start


Sometimes I think what we really need is zoom storage

[durr3]

Oh, I forgot about these:

Mamiya C22 w/180mm lens
Mamiya C33 w/80/2.8 lens and another 180mm lens
Minolta SRT 101 and a 58/1.4 lens
and last but not least a Wooden Ansco large format portrait camera with 5 LF lenses

[luisalegria]

I call it an investment.

You are not spending money, you are making money.

There are probably better arbitrage opportunities here than with the usual investment options, there is a better and more reliable return on market knowledge, particularly for the small investor, and at the moment asset appreciation is excellent.