35mm Camera Hall of Fame

[Les Sarile]

Which camera gets your vote for the 35mm Camera Hall of Fame and why?

Mine goes to the Pentax LX due to it's build quality, good looks, well thought out elegant design, full system support and it's unequaled (past or present) Integrated Direct Metering feature that gives a range of EV -6.5 to EV 20 and can aperture priority auto expose a scene - constantly monitoring the scene for changes in light, for as long as it takes.

 

[Steinberg2010]

Leica M3/M2 Mechanical simplicity, brilliant viewfinder and implementation of design/ergonomics.

~S

 

[pstake]

Contax RTS II. Metering is top-notch ... easy to use viewfinder ... ergonomics and mechanical precision make it a pleasure to use, controls all intuitive ... outstanding build quality make it a workhorse.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I love my Leica M2. It just feels so 'right' to use it. Fast, precise, and intuitive.

 

[Ian Grant]

I rarely shoot 35mm these days but I guess my Leica M3 it's such a pleasure to use and the resulting images are consistently good. I'll dust it of for a wedding in a couple of months.

Ian

 

[Pioneer]

Mine goes to the Pentax LX due to it's build quality, good looks, well thought out elegant design, full system support and it's unequaled (past or present) Integrated Direct Metering feature that gives a range of EV -6.5 to EV 20 and can aperture priority auto expose a scene - constantly monitoring the scene for changes in light, for as long as it takes.

+1

And don't forget that gorgeous, brilliant, 3-D viewfinder that is easily the equal of any other camera. And, unlike rangefinders, you can actually see exactly what you are about to capture on film!

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Canon F1 N gets my vote.

 

[lxdude]

Mine goes to the Pentax LX

In my case it's obvious.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Contax IIa, the most beautiful!

 

[gmay]

I sold my first proper camera -- a Minolta Maxxum 3xi -- so I could buy a Rollei 35s and I've never regretted it. I like cameras that let me work outside the viewfinder.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I choose Canon F-1 for its tough as nails and easy to use.

Jeff

 

[lxdude]

+1

And don't forget that gorgeous, brilliant, 3-D viewfinder that is easily the equal of any other camera.

It's the contrast that really sets it apart for me. The Nikon F3 has a really nice viewfinder, bright and with good contrast, but the LX is better yet, with noticeably better contrast in bright conditions. They SMC coated everything in the optical path, and it shows.
The FA-1W finder gives more magnification than the F3HP, with eye relief nearly as good as the F3HP.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Leica Ia

 

[EASmithV]

Nikon F or F6. Both are almost polar opposites (Mechanical vs Electronic, etc), and still manage to excel in their respective fields.

And if you lock the mirror up on the F and use an external viewfinder, it's as quiet as any Leica... only you can flip the mirror down for serious work.

 

[cliveh]

Although I have used many cameras and own about 10 classics, my vote would have to be the M2. It is the only camera that I use almost unconsciously, like part of me. However, in terms of hall of fame I think this camera takes a lot to beat –

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/7157122/Shaped-by-war.html?image=6

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Although I have used many cameras and own about 10 classics, my vote would have to be the M2. It is the only camera that I use almost unconsciously, like part of me. However, in terms of hall of fame I think this camera takes a lot to beat –

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/7157122/Shaped-by-war.html?image=6

That was the "Armpit F". The whole camera back came off. You had to put the camera back under your arms while you load film in it.

 

[WMRphoto]

Although I have used many cameras and own about 10 classics, my vote would have to be the M2. It is the only camera that I use almost unconsciously, like part of me. However, in terms of hall of fame I think this camera takes a lot to beat –

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/7157122/Shaped-by-war.html?image=6

I think I bought that F on ebay as very nice, slight brassing.....

 

[yeknom02]

Too difficult to say, but the Konica Auto S2 is my favorite. Best fixed-lens rangefinder, in my opinion.

 

[toolbox]

Univex Mercury II. First camera with a hotshoe. Also has some of the most "unique" styling of any 35mm. Get a ton of frames too, even if they're a bit small .

 

[Nick Merritt]

Olympus OM-2. While the OM-1 was the pioneer, the OM-2's added enhancements, in particular the off-film plan metering, make it an even better camera than the OM-1, while keeping that great big bright viewfinder and small overall size. I think these are two of the prettiest cameras ever, to boot.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Nikon F. The father of a long and distinguish lineage. A very robust camera and a life saver for, at least, one photographer: Don McCullin.


BTW you can read about Don's photography here: http://foraggio.wordpress.com/tag/don-mccullin/

 

[cliveh]

Nikon F. The father of a long and distinguish lineage. A very robust camera and a life saver for, at least, one photographer: Don McCullin.

View attachment 51444
BTW you can read about Don's photography here: http://foraggio.wordpress.com/tag/don-mccullin/

Thanks, I hadn't seen that video and found it very interesting.

 

[Uncle Bill]

Two way tie between the Leica M3 and the Nikon F. Both are landmark cameras worthy of a hall of fame slot.

 

[gandolfi]

Hall of Fame? Dunno, but my vote goes for Topcon.

At least as teh two images show, it would look great in a hall of fame (shouldn't it be hall of frame? ;-))

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Olympus XA, for innovation of design (especially that 6 element lens) and size.
Others: Canon T90, Canon A1, EOS1N, Nikon F3, Olympus OM1N, OM2N, OM4. Any camera that has been highly spoken of and is still eagerly sought out for collections will make the grade.