[Nikon] S3M | Film Cameras | 1960

 

Nikon S3M

According to Bob Rotoloni's iconic book, The Complete Nikon Rangefinder System, 195 S3Ms were manufactured. The first batch was produced in August 1960, and the second batch in October 1961. Production of the S3M was nearly equal between black and chrome bodies. Most black S3Ms have been found with the motor connection for the S72 motor drive, while most chrome S3Ms do not have the motor plate—though, of course, a motor plate can be installed within minutes. This makes the estimated total production of S72 chrome motors only about 100 (based on the standard chrome 1960 S36 motors for full-frame Nikon rangefinders). The original owner of this outfit was a US Navy intelligence officer stationed in Japan. Nearly all had the focusing scales calibrated in meters, but this fortunate US Navy officer's camera is very unusually calibrated in feet. According to Rotoloni, all S72 motors were thought to be chrome until this unique black S72 motor turned up. Apparently, that US Navy officer had the pull to have Nikon produce a black S72 to his special order. It seems safe to believe that this unique black S72 motor drive is a factory product and not a repaint, as the entire outfit stayed in the officer's family for over half a century until it was put up for sale. At this point in time, Nikon had not produced a combined motor and cordless battery pack, necessitating the separate battery packs with connecting battery cords shown here, worn on the shoulder or belt. It should be proudly mentioned that Nikon produced a dependable pro-quality motor drive right from the start with the S36 drive. Despite its greater motor experience and much greater rangefinder production totals, Leica never succeeded in producing a dependable professional motor drive for its rangefinder film cameras. Those early S36 motors and later Nikon F motors were crucial in establishing Nikon as THE professional 35mm camera of the 1960s.