1957 .....

after the Leica announcement with the M3, Nikon had to react, and this was done in 1957, with the arrival of the SP.

. 1957  Nikon SP.

Final accomplishment of Nikon research in the rangefinder field, this camera body, originally reserved to professional photographers, is the «MUST» of his time .

To reach the same level of technicity, Leitz will need 25 years, and the Leica M6.

The most obvious ... the motorisation.

Easy to install, light and unbreakable, 3 to 4 frames /sec, he helped a lot to establish the Nikon reputation.

The finder, enlarged, and colimated, with parallax correction, and this for the 50, 85, 105 and 135mm lenses.

The camera has an auxiliary finder for 28 and 35 mm lenses. He is equipped with a timer, and shutter speeds go from

1 s to 1/1000 of sec, with a unique button non rotative. and as soon as 1959, he inheritate from the Nikon F, his famous Titanium shutter.

Despite his high price and his professioal caracter, the SP will make a very respectable, and will be sold at over 22 000 samples( 14 000 with a cloth shutter, 8 000 with a titanium shutter).

What impressed the most the perspective buyers was:

his wide line of accessories and lenses.

1. -the legendary lens f:1.1 of 50 mm
   

2. -wide choice ( 25, 28, 35, 50, 85, 105 and135 mm ) coupled lenses .
   

3. -tele lenses available with reflex adapter ( 180, 250, 350 and 500 mm)
   

4. -motors
   

5. -coupled meter ( shutter AND aperture)
   

6. -reproduction outfits
   

7. -underwater housing, bellows,etc...