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Specification

Manufacturer description

Nikon SP Limited Edition (hereinafter referred to as SP repro model) is a reproduction model of Nikon SP, the most sophisticated coupled rangefinder camera of its time released in 1957. It is the second limited edition of the Nikon S series, following the Nikon S3 Year 2000 Millennium Model released in 2000 to commemorate the year 2000 millennium.

Nikon SP is a legendary well-designed camera which enjoyed a great popularity, especially among press photographers and professional photographers, because of its high precision, smooth handling, high endurance, and elaborate workmanship. After the introduction of the S3 replica model, there was a growing call for the revival of SP from many Nikon product lovers.

The SP, developed to directly compete with the great rangefinder camera Leica M3, had the outstanding selling point of a universal viewfinder, which allowed selecting the field frame appropriate for the focal length of the lens mounted. The universal viewfinder could accommodate a total of six (6) focal lengths, 2.8 cm, 3.5 cm, 5 cm, 8.5 cm, 10.5 cm, and 13.5 cm, thereby providing the largest number of frame options in the world at that time, and it was the only one model among the S series rangefinder cameras to incorporate the automated parallax compensation. The viewfinder is also known as “couple finders” due to the two viewing windows arranged side-by-side, one for wide-angle lenses and the other for standard to medium telephoto lenses. The viewfinder featured such a complicated and elaborate design incorporating a total of 28 lens elements that it was said to be impossible to reproduce it with the current techniques, but it was recreated with all the know-how about the manufacturing practices of mechanical cameras.

The SP repro model was made as identical as possible to the original Nikon SP. Realizing the reproduction of SP was of great significance for the transmission of manufacturing techniques of mechanical cameras.

The SP repro model was produced in limited quantities of 2,500 units and distributed only in Japan. The orders were accepted from January 14, 2005 to June 30, 2005, and it was first handed over to the customers on March 18, 2005 at camera shops across the country. The standard equipment lens was a reproduction of the W-Nikkor 3.5 cm f/1.8 lens. It was a multi-coated lens just like the currently available Nikkor lenses to ensure a higher degree of optical performance.

The camera body and lens were both inscribed with serial numbers from 0001 to 2500, and the camera body and lens are sold in pairs with the same serial numbers. Each set of body and lens was provided with the serial number certificate. The pair of product number one (camera body: SP0001 and lens: 0001) was donated to the JCII Camera Museum in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

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Product name: Nikon SP Limited Edition with W-Nikkor 3.5 cm f/1.8, Serial Number Certificate, lens cap, lens hood, and camera case

Order accepting period: January 14, 2005 to June 30, 2005

Start of sales: March 18, 2005; handed over to the customers at the shop counter

Number of units produced: 2,500

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Differences between the SP Limited Edition and the original SP:

Focusing scales: Unified to the unit of meters (m) from the original range ring marked in two units, m and ft

Automated frame counter dial: Changed to "24" from "20"

Film sensitivity dial: Changed to ISO from ASA

Strap lugs: Materials were changed to stainless steel from brass, and to chrome finish from nickel-chrome finish.

Film rewind crank: Slightly changed external design

Film rewind knob: Slightly changed external design

Camera back pressure plate: Slightly changed external design

Accessory shoe: Slightly changed external design

Shutter dial sync. indicator color: Slightly changed

Body number: "SP" inscribed before the serial number

Lens: "Nikon" and "MADE IN JAPAN" inscribed, and multi-coating

Lens cap: Changed to aluminum from plastic ("Nikon" on the back surface)

Lens hood: "Nikon" inscribed