The Nikon Manual. A Complete Handbook of 35mm Technique. Including the new Nikon SP, Nikon S2, Nikon S by George B. Wright.

Universal, 1957. First edition, very good hardcover with very good protected dust jacket with minor edge wear and soiling on rear panel.  A few pages with spots. With November 1958 Supplement laid in, four pages. Neat blind stamp of Gloria K. Getz on flyleaf.  Has a small bump on one corner. 288 pages. Photographers for illustrations: Eugene Cook; Jacques Lowe; Gerry Low; Ted Russell; Morris Jaffe;  Ray Shorr; Harvey Shaman; George B. Wright; Eric Meacher; Gerry Low; David Linton; Morris Jaffe, et al. Summary:

The Nikon Manual is a comprehensive instructional handbook produced during the early era of Nikon’s emergence as a major maker of high-quality 35 mm cameras. First released in 1957, this 288-page hardback was aimed at both serious amateur photographers and skilled hobbyists who wanted to master 35 mm photography using Nikon rangefinder cameras and understand the broader technical and artistic principles of the format.

📷 Purpose and Scope

Rather than being just a basic camera instruction booklet, this manual functions as a complete guide to photographic technique with 35 mm film. It covers essential principles of the craft—such as exposure, composition, and lighting—alongside specific guidance on using Nikon equipment of the day. While the exact table of contents isn’t widely published online, contemporary listings and book descriptions indicate that the text thoroughly reviews how to operate Nikon’s rangefinder cameras (including models like the Nikon SP, S2, and S) and apply photographic technique in practice.

📘 Content Highlights

• Fundamentals of 35 mm Photography: Foundational topics such as understanding film formats, exposure control (shutter speed, aperture, film speed), and depth of field—teachings applicable to all 35 mm cameras of the period.

• Camera Operation: Step-by-step instruction on handling Nikon 35 mm cameras, including loading and unloading film, focusing techniques, use of rangefinder systems, and accessory attachments.

• Practical Techniques: Advice on composition, making the best exposures under varying light conditions, and using lenses and filters to achieve different visual effects—helpful for photographers transitioning from snapshots to more deliberate picture-making.

• Illustrations and Examples: The manual is illustrated with black-and-white photographs and diagrams to clarify camera controls and photographic concepts.

🎯 Audience and Value

This edition was geared toward photographers who owned or were considering Nikon 35 mm rangefinder gear and wanted both technical know-how and artistic insight. By blending practical Nikon-specific operating instructions with broader photographic technique, it served as a bridge between pure camera manuals and general how-to books on photography.

📜 Legacy

Now out of print, The Nikon Manual remains a collectible piece of photographic literature, valued by camera enthusiasts, collectors, and historians interested in both Nikon’s early system cameras and mid-20th-century photographic instruction.