I'd only used a Pentax H1a SLR up to that time: I was amazed by the Nikon's well-made feel and heft, its quiet, silky shutter and smooth film advance. The bright, non-reflex finder was a whole new ball game. I loved the camera.

Less than a year later, in Los Angeles, it was stolen. A love affair ended. It would be more than 15 years until life and prosperity permitted the purchase of a used Leica M4 (Nikon's rangefinders had long passed from production, owing to the success of the Nikon F SLR). I had been making my living as a journeyman photog, then staff photographer at a daily. I still have that Leica, I still love taking pictures with it. But, somehow, my heart toujours yearns for that lost S3.

The good news is that Nikon did a re-issue of the S3 in 2000, and re-issued the more sophisticated SP last year. The bad news is that the factory long ago sold out the S3 and SP (at $6500 a copy). The Leica Digilux II now fills that lonely spot, but it has a digital viewer, that handles differently from a rangefinder (though the photo quality, particularly the in-camera B&W) is awesome. I think there's a niche for a digital rangefinder....
Comments 10:25:47 PM    

Chris Gulker's view from Silicon Valley - in words and pictures