best American Made 35mm

Paul Howell · Jul 3, 2014

As the 4th approches, I have only 1 American made camera, a C4, thinking about looking for few others to add to my collection of wokring cameras. Thoughts?

Dan Fromm · Jul 3, 2014

PDH said:
As the 4th approches, I have only 1 American made camera, a C4, thinking about looking for few others to add to my collection of wokring cameras. Thoughts?

Kodak Ektra. Bell & Howell Foton.

Terrence Brennan · Jul 3, 2014

How about a Graphic View and Ektar lens in Supermatic shutter?

Paul Howell · Jul 3, 2014

I am thinking about 35mm, I have a speed and crown and a Brand New View 4X5 all amercian made.

mopar_guy · Jul 3, 2014

Terrence Brennan said:
How about a Graphic View and Ektar lens in Supermatic shutter?

I'm not really sure that the Graphic View is a 35mm.

Hatchetman · Jul 3, 2014

Kodak Signet 35 is a very good camera.

Steve Smith · Jul 3, 2014

I was going to suggest the Retina Reflex series but all of mine are German made.

Steve.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jul 3, 2014

If you count canada as america , elcan lenses and if they produces bodies, are the best.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jul 3, 2014

Dont bother with 35mm , usa is the richest country in the world and people - I wish - dont need to bother with small format, even simple polaroid 350 makes the day at 4.7.

snapguy · Jul 3, 2014

35 4 35

Kodak 35 circa World War II.

Bob Marvin · Jul 3, 2014

Kardon

Dave Wooten · Jul 3, 2014

mopar_guy said:
I'm not really sure that the Graphic View is a 35mm.

Graphic did make a 35 mm

Paul Howell · Jul 3, 2014

Dave Wooten said:
Graphic did make a 35 mm

The later models were made by Kowa, I need to check into earler models, the oddest Graphic was a rebranded Kowa that used a CO2 cartridge for film advance.

mopar_guy · Jul 3, 2014

There was this model, but I think that it was an Import.

http://graflex.org/ciro-35/

summicron1 · Jul 3, 2014

kodak medalist should grace any "American-made" collection. It's 620, yeah, but you need one.

Revere Stereo (which stars in the movie "THEM!") Also Bell&Howell Stereo, Videon stereo, View-Master Personal stereo, Kodak stereo, and many other high quality stereo cameras.

Univex products of a wide variety, especially the Mercury II.

and on and on. You could line the room with Argus bricks.

Paul Howell · Jul 3, 2014

mopar_guy said:
There was this model, but I think that it was an Import.

http://graflex.org/ciro-35/

What little research have been able to do is the Graphic 35, early modles body made in the US lens and shutter in Germany, the later model was made in Japan by Kowa, body, lens and shutter. the Kowas had a 50mm 2.5 the german lens were 2.8 and 3.5. The Ciro was earlier, all made in the US.

wblynch · Jul 3, 2014

Well, to be technical, 126 Instamatics are 35mm

(as are 828's)

MattKing · Jul 3, 2014

I would guess that it might actually be found in the motion picture world - Panavision?

If 828 is allowed, a Kodak Bantam RF.

Two23 · Jul 3, 2014

I'm getting depressed thinking that maybe the "best" American 35mm camera was the Argus. Other than a Brownie No. 0, the only American 35mm I have is an Ansco Memo from 1928. It is a nice little camera considering it's 80 years old. The best American camera I have is a Century Camera Company model no. 46. Wow! It has a Velostigmat lens in Volute shutter. Pretty!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/96826069@N00/14409853525/

Kent in SD

Kent in SD

Zathras · Jul 3, 2014

Bob Marvin said:
Kardon

With a 47mm Kodak Ektar lens!!!

ambaker · Jul 3, 2014

Mercury II. 1/2 frame 35, with a 1/1000 top shutter speed.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

bdial · Jul 3, 2014

Leica M4-2
American made, technically speaking.

Dan Fromm · Jul 4, 2014

Two23 said:
I'm getting depressed thinking that maybe the "best" American 35mm camera was the Argus.

Kent in SD

Wot? You think that Argus made a camera better than the Ektra (or Foton or Kardon)? Are you sure? Are you in your right mind? Are you sure?

elekm · Jul 4, 2014

In 35mm, I'm also inclined to go with the Mercury II and the Kodak Signet 35.

darkosaric · Jul 4, 2014

I must say that I never heard about most of those cameras beside Argus, and when searching in google - none of USA cameras in 35mm comes even close to Leica, Nikon or Canon rangefinders, or let's say Nikon F SLR. And when one thinks - which todays cameras are made in USA? Nice, good and pretty design cameras are made even in communist DDR and Soviet union, and USA was/is economy No 1. Why?

best American Made 35mm

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