The Six Sections Are:

• Rangefinder Camera Resurrected - The Nikon S3 2000 Commemoration Model
• The Birth of The S3 Reissue Project
• The Key to the Reissue Project is the Procurement of Components
• From Assembly to Completion
• Main Specifications
• Differences Between the Original S3 and the Reissue Model

The Nikon S3 2000 Commemoration Model (hereinafter referred to as the S3 reissue model) is a reissue of the Nikon S3 rangefinder camera that first went on sale in March 1958 (Showa 33). It is a limited production camera manufactured to commemorate the millennium year, the year 2000. Except for some minor improvements to allow for modern usage, such as the film sensitivity indicator being changed from ASA to ISO and the frame indicator being changed from the old style 20 to the currently used 24, this camera is as faithful a duplication of the original S3 as was possible.

Starting with the Nikon I model that went on sale in 1948 (Showa 23), and then evolving into the M and S models, and continuing until SLR cameras became popular, Nikon's rangefinder cameras were extremely highly regarded. The S series was the basis for the Nikon F, and is a very valued as a classic camera so many Nikon fans had requested a reissue.

The Nikon S3 is one of the later S series models, and is the first rangefinder camera in the world to have a 1:1 ratio finder with frame lines for a 35mm lens. This 1:1 ratio finder with frame lines for a 35mm lens, along with the wheel on the top at the front right side of the camera for adjusting the focus, and the quiet cloth shutter known as the "sasayaku" (whisper) shutter have all been faithfully recreated.

Orders for the S3 reissue model were accepted from 6th March 2000 to 30th June 2000. Sales started from October 2000, and in total approximately 8,000 cameras were sold. The included lens is a reissue of the late model Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4 lens known as the all black Olympic version. The lens is multicoated with the same coatings used on the modern Nikkor lenses for enhanced color rendition.

Also, 2000 black S3 reissue models known as the Nikon S3 Limited Edition Black went on sale from June 2002.

Nikon S3 2000 Commemoration Model

• Product Name: Nikon S3 2000 Commemoration Model
  (including Nikkor-S 50mm F1.4, lens cap, and lens hood)
• List Price: 480,000 yen (504,000 yen including sales tax)
• Order Period: 6th March 2000 to 30th June 2000
• Commencement of Sales: October 2000
• Production Number: approximately 8,000 cameras

Nikon S3 Limited Edition Black

• Product Name: Nikon S3 Limited Edition Black
  (including Nikkor-S 50mm F1.4, lens cap, lens hood, and camera case)
• List Price: 530,000 yen (556,500 yen including sales tax)
• Commencement of Sales: June 2002
• Production Number: 2,000 cameras

How About Reissuing a Rangefinder Camera?
The project to reissue one of Nikon's classic cameras first came to light inside Nikon in the early 1990s. The center of the project was the company that was manufacturing cameras such as the F4, F3, and New FM2 at the time, Mito Nikon. In the past, most manual cameras such as the Nikkormat series were manufactured at the Mito Nikon factory, and even the FM3A, discontinued in January 2006, was manufactured there. In the spring of 1994, the popularity of classic cameras such as Leica was extremely high, so Mito Nikon started a new project to reissue a camera recognized as the pinnacle of Nikon, a rangefinder camera.

The target of the reissue project was to be the S3. The S3 was chosen because it is one of the later S series models, is fairly simply constructed, and because the project was deemed to be technically feasible. Even still, this was a rangefinder camera that was sold more than 40 years ago. There was a lot of anxiety as to whether the S3 could really be manufactured and reissued.

Mito Nikon obtained the S3 design drawings from Nikon and began their investigations. After starting this, Mito Nikon determined that a large initial investment would be necessary to reissue an S series camera. This is going to be very hard to make profitable! And to make matters worse, the following year the Japanese economy went into a slump thus ending the idea of reissuing the S3.

4 Years from the Idea Stage to Project Start
Thus the S3 reissue project was aborted, but 3 years later in 1998 the company responsible for Nikon's imaging product sales, Nikon Photo Products Inc., approached Mito Nikon about the S3 reissue project stating that a rangefinder camera was an extremely desirable product, and that they would like to show their appreciation to the many Nikon fans.

Mito Nikon's continuing desire to manufacture a rangefinder, and Nikon Photo Products Inc.'s decision that a rangefinder reissue would be a worthwhile business project matched! After reviewing each component along with the manufacturing process, Mito Nikon determined that the sales price could be considerably reduced compared to the figure they determined the first time around. And to top it off, Tochigi Nikon offered to help with the manufacture of the lens.

In November 1998, when the basic structure had been established Nikon, Mito Nikon, Tochigi Nikon, and Nikon Photo Products Inc. held a four way meeting and confirmed the start of the S3 reissue project. In December, the "S Team" was established to carry out the project, and the project got underway.

Faithfully Reproduced Down to Each Screw
After the project got officially underway, the team came up against all kinds of hurdles. Divided into the three main steps, the S3 reissue model project included confirming the design diagrams, procuring components, and conducting assembly training. Mito Nikon started by not only obtained the design diagrams, but also by purchasing some S3s at used camera stores and disassembling them. Mito Nikon was aiming for as faithful a reproduction as possible and they weren't going to settle for second best. From the press shapes to the die cast shapes, all the equipment required to make parts identical to the original S3 had to be made from scratch.

The appearance, from the shape of each component starting from the slotted (minus) screws used on the exterior, the texture of the "pear skin" finish of the upper cover, the color and sheen of the paint, the thickness and depth of the engraved lines, the color of the characters on the shutter speed dial, to the pattern of the leatherette, all required extremely pertinacious work. Luckily, the leatherette subcontractor still had the original leatherette pattern, so it was possible to recreate a leatherette exactly the same as the original. Paying attention to the fine details down to each screw, the long road of work for the reissue continued.

Disassembly Of The Helicoid - The Gears Are Very Complex ...
Because each of the mechanisms in the S3 are very complex, to recreate the same smooth feel as the original, the mechanisms had to be assembled from components that were manufactured to be identical to the originals. The focusing wheel on the top cover, one of the S3's distinguishing features, was one of these. This focusing wheel operates a mechanism that moves the focus ring on the lens side, however the mechanism is made up of many fine gears of a particular kind that are no longer used. And to make matters worse, even after recreating and assembling the same gears, when a lens was attached the gears would stop moving. So, it was only after much trial and error making adjustments to the gears, were we able to replicate the original.

The S3 is made up of 554 parts, or 816 parts if all the parts that make up certain components are included. The S3 reissue was a project that involved recreating each individual component as faithfully as possible. The project was naturally supported by Mito Nikon's technical capabilities, but the presence of the subcontractors that had supported them for many years was also very significant. Of course, only a handful of people working at the subcontractors knew of the original S3, and they were getting along in age, but they willingly contributed their knowledge. The internal code for the S3 reissue model was M200. The M stood for Mito, and the product number M100 had been used earlier, so the product number this time became M200.

When handing over the blueprints at the time of placing orders for parts, the orders were made using the product number M200. However, after taking a look at the blueprints, it was easy to imagine what kind of camera the M200 was. Those in charge of the project at Mito Nikon mention that the engineers at the subcontractor companies who saw the product number M200 felt the project to be meaningful and assisted the reissue project without even thinking about the business side. The S3 reissue project became a very significant project that even went as far as encompassing the feelings of these engineers.

Parts Aren't Ready as Expected ...
The orders for the components were at last completed and the project continued smoothly, but problems started to occur with components received from some of the subcontractors. The dimensions and shapes were wrong. The cause ended up being the blueprints that were distributed to the subcontractors.

S3 blueprints and some components

The present day method for drawing blueprints is the third angle projection method where the diagram is drawn as the object is seen from above, but the original S3 blueprints were drawn using the first angle projection method. Mito Nikon had provided the first angle projection blueprints as is, and instructed the subcontractors to convert them to third angle projection before manufacturing components, but the subcontractors didn't know the difference between first angle and third angle projection and just manufactured components as if the blueprints were drawn using third angle projection. On top of that, the color of the coating on some of the completed components was also wrong. Components were being manufactured at several different companies, but if the appearance of the chrome finish on the external components is not kept the same, the final appearance will not be beautiful. Everyone was fully aware how extremely difficult it is to make the coatings on each of the components the same color. However, even the slightest difference wasn't acceptable.

Half Of The Top Covers Were Rejected
It was also a great challenge engraving the top covers with the serial number. The procedure was the same as for the original S3, where the serial number had to be engraved immediately after the top cover was pressed out. Then the top cover was blasted, caulked, and coated, but the blasting right after the number was engraved was also very tricky. That was because blasting pressed 0.5mm paper thin brass was an operation of quite some difficulty. The same part on the FM3A is 0.7mm thick. This slight difference in thickness made a world of difference in handling that required expert technique. Needless to say, if the shape of the top cover was altered because of the blasting immediately after the serial number was engraved, it was rejected there and then. We can suppose that the yield for the original S3 was also very poor.

S3 reissue model parts

The hardships encountered procuring parts up until this point had a great impact on cost, but Mito Nikon was still not prepared to accept any compromises. The S series cameras represent Nikon’s beginnings. The thoughts of the engineers and technicians involved in this project that represented Nikon’s roots were all focused on the same goal - a reissue as faithful as possible to the original.

S3 reissue model production line (Mito Nikon)

Assembly was Performed Completely by Hand
Just when things were starting to look promising with regard to procuring components, the next big wall came along in the form of the assembly process. It wasn't possible to work out how to assemble the cameras by looking at the original blueprints. And of course, documentation on the assembly procedure no longer remained. Back at the time of the original S3, in accordance with their skill level each technician assembled adjusted and readjusted cameras. The ability to meet the demands on the factory floor was very high. However, unlike back in the days of the original S3, the manufacturing process these days requires technicians to precisely assemble components according to a set procedure. At Mito Nikon, they used all their previous camera assembly know how to determine their own procedure for assembling the S3 reissue model to fit the modern camera manufacturing process.

Women were in charge of performing the delicate work of affixing the cloth shutter

The horizontal cloth focal plane shutter, known as the "sasayaku" (whisper) shutter, was not received as a completed unit, but instead had to be assembled by Mito Nikon. Shutter assembly, including affixing the cloth curtains, had to be done completely by hand, but luckily a person with experience working on the original cameras still worked for Nikon and provided guidance on the procedure. Then, after six months training on the assembly procedures, Mito Nikon was just about ready to begin shipments.

At the Start Not Even One Camera Per Day Could Be Completed
The S3 reissue project started with a team of about 10 people, but the project moved along under the surface for a very long time. At last, commercial production could be. At the time, in the Mito Nikon factory the F3 and FM2n production lines were located next to the S3 reissue model production line. However, even though it was a production "line", the S3 was hand assembled and each person had to perform several tasks rather than one simple task. Due to delays receiving components etc. the first shipment was two months later than planned, but the goal of 25 people assembling 300 cameras per month was achieved, and even reached a peak of 30 assembling 500 cameras per month at the end.

According to Mito Nikon's records, at the beginning only one camera was assembled per day. However, the training yielded results and the process improved, and in the end approximately 8,000 cameras had been manufactured by October 2001.

Assembling the finder, Adjusting the finder, Final inspection, The completed product, a faithful recreation right down to the box

Nikon S3 2000 Commemoration Model

• Type: 35mm rangefinder type focal plane shutter camera
• Film type: 35mm film
• Frame size: 24mm x 36mm
• Lens mount: Nikon S-mount (bayonet type)
• Shutter: horizontal cloth focal plane shutter
• Shutter speeds: T, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000
• Focus scale: Marked in meters (from 0.9m to infinity)
• Self timer: Adjustable time type (indicators for 3, 6, and 10 sec)
• Synchro: Timelag type, synchro socket incl., synchro speed of 1/60 or less
• Finder: (framelines) 1:1 finder with 3.5cm, 5cm, and 10.5cm albater framelines
• Film speed: ISO display
• Film advance: One action lever type, 136 degree movement, can advance in small increments, lever standby angle 15 degrees
• Film rewind: With rewind crank
• Frame counter: Automatic reset type
• Back type: Removable (not suitable for use with a motordrive
• Dimensions: 136mm (width) x 81mm (height) x 43mm (depth) (body only)
• Weight: 590g (body only), 765g (with Nikkor-S 50mm F1.4)

Nikkor-S 50mm F1.4

• Lens construction: 7 elements in 5 groups
• Focal length: 50mm
• maximum aperture: F1.4
• Aperture range: F1.4 to F16
• Focus range: none - uses the camera's inbuilt focus scale
• Field of view: 46 degrees diagonally
• Attachment size: 43m (P = 0.75mm)
• Hood: 43mm spring type
• Cap: 43mm spring type
• Dimensions: 51.0mm (diameter) x 49mm (length)
• Weight: 175g

• Distance scale: Changed from m and ft to only m
• Frame indicator: Change from 20 to 24
• Film sensitivity indicator: Changed from ASA to ISO
• Strap lugs: Brass changed to stainless steel, nickel chrome coating changed to chrome coating
• Film rewind lever: Appearance and shape changed slightly
• Knob of film rewind lever: Appearance and shape changed slightly
• Camera back pressure plate: Appearance changed slightly
• Accessory shoe: Appearance changed slightly
• Shutter dial synchro speed color: Changed slightly
• Body number: Marked S3 before the body number
• Lens: Engraved "Nikon" and "Made in Japan", multicoated
• Lens cap: Changed from plastic to aluminium (marked "Nikon" on reverse side)
• Lens hood: pitch of 0.75mm and marked "Nikon"