Best 35mm Camera ever made!

Chiaro o scuro?

D
Chiaro o scuro?

  • 0
  • 0
  • 210
sdeeR

D
sdeeR

  • 3
  • 1
  • 244
Rouse St

A
Rouse St

  • 1
  • 0
  • 265
Untitled

A
Untitled

  • 3
  • 4
  • 308

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
199,199
Messages
2,787,740
Members
99,835
Latest member
Onap
Recent bookmarks
1

Marvin

Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
404
Location
Williamston, NC
Format
Multi Format
I am sure I will get a lot of different responses from this. I was at a local camera store and the owner and I were talking about the Nikon F5 and he said that he thought it was the best 35mm camera ever made. I would agree what would you think.:smile:
 

E. von Hoegh

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
6,197
Location
Adirondacks
Format
Multi Format
I am sure I will get a lot of different responses from this. I was at a local camera store and the owner and I were talking about the Nikon F5 and he said that he thought it was the best 35mm camera ever made. I would agree what would you think.:smile:

Nikon F, Nikon F2, Leicaflexes (pre "R" series). Leica M2/M3/M4, Nikon rangefinders, others.
The all mechanical cameras without electronics can be repaired as long as someone is around to make parts. The electronics in other cameras will eventually crapout, and when replacement parts are no longer available it's bye-bye to that camera.
 

PtJudeRI

Member
Joined
May 23, 2011
Messages
103
Format
Multi Format
Mechanical 35mm SLR? Nikon F2. Rangefinder - Pick a Leica. Electronic SLR- Im biased as I LOVE my F5 (removable prism, various focus screens, etc. all of which I use), but the Minolta 9ti is amazing too. My only gripe with the F5 is the Focus sensor colors. Black was a bad choice.
 

Rick A

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
9,954
Location
Laurel Highlands
Format
8x10 Format
The best 35mm camera ever made is whichever one works for a particular individual, not a specific brand. For me, it's whatever one I have in hand when oppertunity arises, and I get the shot. I refuse to fall into the "my camera is better than yours" claptrap.
 

ME Super

Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2011
Messages
1,479
Location
Central Illinois, USA
Format
Multi Format
The best 35mm camera ever made is whichever one works for a particular individual, not a specific brand. For me, it's whatever one I have in hand when opportunity arises, and I get the shot. I refuse to fall into the "my camera is better than yours" claptrap.

+1. The best camera for the shot is the one you have with you.
 

mopar_guy

Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
1,176
Location
Washington,
Format
Multi Format
What exactly do you mean by "best"?
 

AndrewR

Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
3
Format
Medium Format
I don't think there's any one "best camera". It depends a lot on what you use it for. The F5 is an excellent PJ camera but it would not be my first choice for hiking or street photography...
 

T-grain

Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2011
Messages
84
Format
Multi Format
I don't think there's any one "best camera". It depends a lot on what you use it for. The F5 is an excellent PJ camera but it would not be my first choice for hiking or street photography...

so true, we know that
think of your camera as a suit-if it fits you fine, that's the right one for you (taking into account it has a decnt optics attached of course)
as many of us, I have so (too) many cameras at home, even a couple of superb Rolleis, but they are too heavy and bulky for my "ordinary" shooting style
I also have a set of EOS cameras and then, in the end, I almost always end up to take with me my so beloved Canon AE1, mostly with the trusty 50mm
why? because it is a breeze to use-simple, elegant, reliable as hell, and producing wonderful slides
even though this camera has almost 35 years and an electronic shutter, it still runs as brand new
last time I checked the shutter, it was only 2% off at 1/1000. not bad, huh?
 

cliveh

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
7,553
Format
35mm RF
OK - I get given a Leica M6 and HCB gets a Brownie 127, we both go into town for 2 or 3 hours. Who comes back with the better pictures (not me).
 

thegman

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2010
Messages
621
Format
Medium Format
Best 35mm camera ever made? For me it would be either Leica M3, Rollei 35, or maybe Pentax MX, Nikon F, or something like that.

Rollei 35 is amazing value, completely manual and tiny. In terms of sheer engineering, I think I may have to go with that.
 
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
2,408
Location
London, UK
Format
35mm
The best 35mm camera means different things for different people.
No 35mm camera is a "Jack of all trades, master of all". The Nikon F series tries to be that, but ultimately fails short on some accounts. As an example, if it is need a light weight, strong body camera for hiking, no Nikon F can be called light weight, although the last of the F series, the F6, tried very hard to be that.

Personally, different cameras and/or systems are better than others for some of the photography I do. At the moment, the Nikon EM, or the Nikon F75 if I need AF, is the best for what I am doing.
 
Joined
Jan 21, 2003
Messages
15,708
Location
Switzerland
Format
Multi Format
Like so many others have alluded to, it's a question that doesn't really do anybody any favors.

1. We are all different and like different things. My hands are very large, while other people might have small hands.
2. The camera, as long as it works consistently, is probably the very least important thing in the chain of events. Think about it, the camera does very little, actually.
3. Most of the variables in our work flow are not introduced by the equipment - it is introduced by us humans. What's between your ears and what you do with it to control your tools is five million times more important than the camera.

My answer is that the camera that we can make 'disappear' from our work flow, where we know it intimately enough that we know what to expect when we use it, is the best one, because it is the least distracting one, allowing you to focus your attention on the important part - the picture!
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,252
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
OK - I get given a Leica M6 and HCB gets a Brownie 127, we both go into town for 2 or 3 hours. Who comes back with the better pictures (not me).

Depending, of course, on whether or not HCB can find some 127 film.
 

zsas

Member
Joined
May 12, 2011
Messages
1,955
Location
Chicago, IL
Format
35mm RF
The best 35mm camera ever made is whichever one works for a particular individual, not a specific brand. For me, it's whatever one I have in hand when oppertunity arises, and I get the shot. I refuse to fall into the "my camera is better than yours" claptrap.

Exactly my thought Rick!
 

gone

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
5,504
Location
gone
Format
Medium Format
I think my old FE2 was pretty neat. Should never have sold it.
 

Bill Burk

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
9,327
Format
4x5 Format
Reminds me of a problem I have with a major consumer-oriented publication. I have bought refrigerators and vacuum-cleaners based on their exclamations that they are the best, while reality over time proves the magazine was WRONG.

While I admit, features-wise the F5 may be the "penultimate". The camera with lasting value will turn out to be a mechanical non-metered camera.
 

Bill Burk

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
9,327
Format
4x5 Format
OK - I get given a Leica M6 and HCB gets a Brownie 127, we both go into town for 2 or 3 hours. Who comes back with the better pictures (not me).

WRONG.

Word play here though...

YOU come back taking better pictures than you used to, after watching HCB for 2 or 3 hours (but during that time you didn't take a single frame because you were so in awe...) HCB couldn't get much better.
 

Lamar

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
375
Location
Georgia, USA
Format
35mm
Hmmm. "Best" can be so subjective. Best at what? If you limit "best" to a more objective measure, technical capability, then the F6 would be the "best". It's smaller and lighter. It can be used with CLS. It can write shooting data between the frames. It will write shooting data out to a file. 11 focus points. Metering follows focus points. Yep. I would have to say it's the best. But I don't have one because it's expensive and I enjoy shooting with my old manual cameras. My F100 rarely sees the light of day but my old manual cameras get used just about daily. They are definitely not better but the shooting experience sure is a lot more rewarding, for me anyway.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Les Sarile

Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Messages
3,425
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Format
35mm
If best is measured by how many shots you can get in a roll then these two half frame capable cameras could be considered best . . . :whistling:

large.jpg
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom