With
dual viewfinders, the Nikon SP has a total of six focal length frame
lines. The main viewfinder has 1x magnification and by rotating a dial
under the rewind crank you can select color coded frame lines for 50
mm, 85 mm, 105 mm and 135 mm, these frames are parallax-corrected and a
focusing patch appears in the center. The second, smaller viewfinder to
the left of the main viewfinder has non-parallax corrected frame lines
for 35 mm. The entire window acts as a frame for 28 mm lenses. A non
rotating shutter speed dial was a first for Nikon as was the battery
operated motor drive offered. Motor drives are very difficult to find.
The “P” in SP stands for professional and the Nikon SP is considered by
many the best Rangefinder camera ever made. With a small production run
of approximately 165,000 cameras they are very desirable to collectors.
In 1959, the Nikon F went into production and far out sold the SP.
Production continued in small batches until 1962.
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