Just sharing my favorite pair of SLRs

[BHuij]

The FTb has been a faithful member of my 35mm SLR rotation for several years now. The F-1 is brand new to me, courtesy of KEH. It was in "bargain" condition and had zero problems. Even the leatherette was in almost perfect shape, which was a little annoying because that made it harder to remove and replace with the burgundy one.

I think these two are going to be great friends.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Those two friends remind me of two other buddies I know, the Nikon F and his best friend to Nikkormat FT2. Like the Nikkormat FT2, the Canon FTb QL could do almost everything the Canon F1 could do but take its hat (prism) off when a lady passed by. I always thought the FTb was a very underrated Canon camera. I really liked its layout and mirror lockup setup. Very well-built cameras!

 

[BHuij]

Yep, the FTb still goes for criminally low sums on eBay, and I think it might be the second best all-mechanical camera Canon ever made. Both of them just feel rock solid, built to last, and are still going strong after ~40+ years of service.

 

[blee1996]

I have the exact same pair of Canon's, and they are really smooth operators. I like them more than the A-series even though the latter are lighter.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have the exact same pair of Canon's, and they are really smooth operators. I like them more than the A-series even though the latter are lighter.

Yes, I never thopught the film advance on the A-series was as well refined as on the earlier cameras. Especially the AE-1!

 

[BHuij]

I have an AE-1 and an AT-1. They're both nice cameras too, but they don't feel as solid, and they both unfortunately lack a mirror lockup feature, which I use all the time. I agree with @John Wiegerink that the way the F-series does DoF preview/mirror lockup/self timer all on one ergonomic control is fabulous.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have an AE-1 and an AT-1. They're both nice cameras too, but they don't feel as solid, and they both unfortunately lack a mirror lockup feature, which I use all the time. I agree with @John Wiegerink that the way the F-series does DoF preview/mirror lockup/self timer all on one ergonomic control is fabulous.

Boy, I think I'm going to list my extra bodies for sale after what you just wrote. The demand now will skyrocket! Yes, not only are the older f-Series Canon bodies great but some of the older lenses that went with those bodies are fantastic to.

 

[BHuij]

Yep, no complaints about my growing collection of FD-mount glass either

My local camera store has had an FD 19mm f/3.5 sitting in the used-for-sale section for months now. I'm sorely tempted even though they're asking $950. But I don't shoot much wide angle as it is, so it probably just doesn't make sense to do.

 

[benjiboy]

Yep, no complaints about my growing collection of FD-mount glass either

My local camera store has had an FD 19mm f/3.5 sitting in the used-for-sale section for months now. I'm sorely tempted even though they're asking $950. But I don't shoot much wide angle as it is, so it probably just doesn't make sense to do.

If they have had the lens that long, you could try " making them an offer that they can't refuse".

 

[BHuij]

Yeah especially because that lens goes on eBay for more like $400. If I ever feel like I need that wide of an angle, I might go talk to the owners. I used to work for them and they're good guys. The customer base on such a lens is almost nonexistent locally.

 

[IpseLux]

Great post. Nice pair! Here’s my two, today.
(Ha. I love all cameras. Old ones the most.
Kind regards, everyone….)

These two remind me of a Porsche 356, and a 70s 911. Both classic. But the older, the Nikomat FTN, is just a tiny bit classier, with much cleaner lines.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Great post. Nice pair! Here’s my two, today.
(Ha. I love all cameras. Old ones the most.
Kind regards, everyone….)

These two remind me of a Porsche 356, and a 70s 911. Both classic. But the older, the Nikomat FTN, is just a tiny bit classier, with much cleaner lines.

I'm down two my last two film Nikons, not counting a few Nikon P&S cameras. I just sold my Nikon F2 and a Nikkormat FT3. I kept the Nikkormat FT2 and Nikkormat FTN as my last 35mm Nikons and will probably just end up keeping the Nikkormat FT2. Since I'm not using Canon manual focus cameras anymore, I will probably unload those in the near future too. I'll keep a 50mm f1.4 to use on my Digi Sony since it's a really nice rendering lens on that camera. I hate to sell those cameras since they are so well made and feel good in hand, but at my age it's time to let other folks have fun with them.

 

[eli griggs]

My two favorite Canon cameras are the F1n and F1N but the winder is frozen on the F1N, I've only the one F1N so I'm bacterial to the F1n and Ftb ql and I don't feel slighted in the least.

The Ftb ql was my main camera for a few years and the are superior to most 35s of their age.

When I can fix or replace the F1N the ql will go back on the shelf, but the camera id fi e for serious work, whenever it's needed, IMO.

 

[IpseLux]

I'm down two my last two film Nikons, not counting a few Nikon P&S cameras. I just sold my Nikon F2 and a Nikkormat FT3. I kept the Nikkormat FT2 and Nikkormat FTN as my last 35mm Nikons and will probably just end up keeping the Nikkormat FT2. Since I'm not using Canon manual focus cameras anymore, I will probably unload those in the near future too. I'll keep a 50mm f1.4 to use on my Digi Sony since it's a really nice rendering lens on that camera. I hate to sell those cameras since they are so well made and feel good in hand, but at my age it's time to let other folks have fun with them.

It is good of you to pass them on. Our time here on Earth may be limited, at my age it certainly feels short. But our images will outlive us, as will these well made cameras.
Good for thought.
Kind regards.

 

[John Wiegerink]

It is good of you to pass them on. Our time here on Earth may be limited, at my age it certainly feels short. But our images will outlive us, as will these well made cameras.
Good for thought.
Kind regards.

Yes, my hoarding does no one any good and it will end up being a nightmare for my wife and kids should I die. The saddest part for me is that none of my eight grandkids has any interest in photography or older film cameras at all.

 

[mtnbkr]

The FTb has been a faithful member of my 35mm SLR rotation for several years now. The F-1 is brand new to me, courtesy of KEH. It was in "bargain" condition and had zero problems. Even the leatherette was in almost perfect shape, which was a little annoying because that made it harder to remove and replace with the burgundy one.

I think these two are going to be great friends.

View attachment 424490

Nice pair. I have a similar pairing, except mine is the "New" F-1 and an FTQL (the FTb's older brother). Some days I like the FTQL better than the F-1 despite the F-1 being the objectively better camera.

Yes, my hoarding does no one any good and it will end up being a nightmare for my wife and kids should I die. The saddest part for me is that none of my eight grandkids has any interest in photography or older film cameras at all.

I'm only in my 50s but I've started moderating my GAS for this reason. I have several hobbies that are GAS-prone and I've started forcing myself to evaluate new purchases for actual need vs "want". I also have thinned down my gear to what I like to use and then use on a regular basis.

Chris

 

[grant.goodes]

I'm only in my 50s but I've started moderating my GAS for this reason. I have several hobbies that are GAS-prone and I've started forcing myself to evaluate new purchases for actual need vs "want". I also have thinned down my gear to what I like to use and then use on a regular basis.

Like Chris, I have a problem with "collecting" (aka acquiring without limit) items for my hobbies. I have more than 8,000 CDs, but I do listen to them, and they all fit in a rather compact storage cabinet on the wall of my den. I have a Nikon collection, but again, it all fits into a single storage cabinet. Finally, I collect and restore 1980's Pinball Machines, and that is the only hobby that takes up much space. I have stopped buying Pinballs now (due to clear messaging of annoyance from my Wife), but luckily the ones I bought 20 years ago are now worth 3x to 10x what I paid, and there is a booming market to resell Pinballs, so I will do all right there. On the camera gear, I wasn't buying anymore for many years, but recently bought a few AF lenses when the advent of mirrorless caused a flood of low-priced DSLR gear. Also, I discovered the joys of older (60's and 70's) MF Nikkors, and have picked up a few of those at bargain prices. It's hard for me to "thin the herd" on the Nikkors as resale prices are so depressed, but I guess as long as the collection fits in my one cabinet, I'm not in trouble!

 

[BHuij]

My rule for cameras is that I can collect them as long as they work and get used. I don't want shelf queens. I have too many 35mm SLRs, so even though I'm interested in owning at least another Olympus and probably a Minolta as well, I likely won't pick any up unless some kind of ridiculously good deal comes along. I now have 7 35mm SLRs, and I do use all of them, but some are favorites and some are more in the "loaner" category at this point

I've had a few 35mm cameras I really hated. I lived in Russia for 2 years back in about 2011-2013, so I had a phase where I got really interested in old Soviet cameras. Tried the Zorki C (a clone of some Leica or another). It had the cool factor. Looked really nice, the collapsible Industar 50mm lens was fascinating. I wanted to love it. But I'm just not a rangefinder guy. The lens rendering was really nothing special. And loading that camera was the stuff of nightmares. Cutting in a weird custom leader shape, loading from the bottom... not for me. I gave it away.

Several years ago when point & shoot cameras were skyrocketing in popularity and price, I wondered what all the hype was about and picked up a Pentax Espio of some sort. It was slow, the lens was unimpressive, and the motorized zoom/autofocus sounded like C-3PO having a colonoscopy. After 2 rolls I sold it.

Not far back, I wanted a "backpacking" camera that I could rely on but was super light and compact, so I picked up an Olympus XA. Those things are really great cameras, but I just can't do the kind of photography I like to do when I locked into 35mm focal length with a minimum focusing distance of nearly 3 feet. Wasn't a good fit, so I sold it. I'll carry the extra weight of one of my Olympus 35mm SLRs. They're small and the lenses are small, and the quality is outstanding.

 

[RezaLoghme]

The FTb has been a faithful member of my 35mm SLR rotation for several years now. The F-1 is brand new to me, courtesy of KEH. It was in "bargain" condition and had zero problems. Even the leatherette was in almost perfect shape, which was a little annoying because that made it harder to remove and replace with the burgundy one.

I think these two are going to be great friends.

View attachment 424490

I dont know the technical details but big applause for the one on the left. The leatherette is more brown-ish which goes along very well with the black body. And the white lettering! This looks like something from Burlington Arcade. Well done.

The one on the right has a purple hue which somehow does resonate less with the silver body.

The right one might look better in blue, from "surf blue" to "Aral petrol station blue". I think chrome and mid-blue make it look summery.

 

[bernard_L]

Canon EF "black beauty". Would an owner comment on this one, especially as a user camera? Currently I have an FT and a couple AE-1, plus some FL and FD lenses.

 

[BHuij]

I actually owned an EF for a while, though I didn't shoot with it much before gifting it to my dad to join his collection next to his F-1. Looks and feels extremely similar to the F-1 though. My understanding is that it's supposed to be essentially the "electronic F", hence the name, so no surprise that it handles more or less identically. I imagine it's a great user camera.

@RezaLoghme thanks for your kind words and thoughts! Funny enough both are the same kind of leather and the same color "burgundy" purchased from the same shop, but like 2 years apart. Apparently their supplier doesn't have perfectly consistent leather colors from batch to batch. Ironically I prefer the slightly more purple look of the leatherette on the FTb, and wish the F-1 had been made in chrome, but to each their own But I think there were some blue options, so if you have a silver body you'd like to gussy up, I can recommend Hugostudio, I've probably bought 5 camera skins from them so far and they've all been great.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

It is good of you to pass them on. Our time here on Earth may be limited, at my age it certainly feels short. But our images will outlive us, as will these well made cameras.
Good for thought.
Kind regards.

I find it challenging to sell any of my cameras. The thought alone gives me separation anxiety.