Best mechanical 35mm analog SLR

baachitraka · Apr 6, 2011

Hello there,

I am very new to analog SLR and looking around to find a best mechanical 35mm analog SLR camera preferably that takes EF lenses from Canon.

chriscrawfordphoto · Apr 6, 2011

All the cameras that take EF lenses are Canon EOS cameras, none of which are mechanical. All EOS cameras have auto-wind, electronic shutters, and digital displays for aperture, shutter speed, and frame count. The best of them are the EOS-1 series (EOS-1, EOS-1n, EOS-1v). The V model is the latest and most fully-featured.

Kevin Kehler · Apr 6, 2011

There is not one. EF lens require a motor to autofocus and thus batteries - any Canon made from 1987 forward will accept EF lenses but none will be completely mechanical. There are no manual focus lenses for EF cameras as far as I am aware.

baachitraka · Apr 6, 2011

Okay, I give up cameras that take EF lenses...but still interested to own all mechanical camera manufactured by a good old manufacturer. Preferences, all metal, mechanical may or may not take batteries.

holmburgers · Apr 6, 2011

Since you can't use EF lenses on anything except EOS cameras, you'll have to find a different lens line to dive into.

Canon FD lenses seem to get you the most bang for your buck for the simple reason that they can't be used on the new digital offerings from Canon, unlike the Nikon line. For that reason, they're pretty cheap, but micro 4/3rds is going to change that over time.

Will you be using an external meter? There are fewer mechanical cameras with "usable" meters, that is, designed to operate w/ non-mercury batteries, but if you are using an external meter your options grow quite a bit.

to name a few: Canon FTB, Canon EF (FD body, not the lens line), Canon F1 (older style), Pentax Spotmatic, Nikkormat FT line.

baachitraka · Apr 6, 2011

Medium format is very tempting, but then I am not a pro nor I print any bigger than a post card. So, I am tempted to have one good mechanical 35mm gear either with 50mm or 85mm lens on it.

anon12345 · Apr 6, 2011

Kevin Kehler said:
There is not one. EF lens require a motor to autofocus and thus batteries - any Canon made from 1987 forward will accept EF lenses but none will be completely mechanical. There are no manual focus lenses for EF cameras as far as I am aware.

I only shoot manual focus / manual aperture primes on my Canon 630's. Of course, those are m42 primes using an inexpensive adapter. I really love the EOS cameras because of that. Versatility.

But, sadly I can't recommend a 630 to anyone because of the "Gummy Bear on the Shutter Blade" problem that many experience. The fix is easy, but somewhat difficult to describe.

CGW · Apr 6, 2011

baachitraka said:
Okay, I give up cameras that take EF lenses...but still interested to own all mechanical camera manufactured by a good old manufacturer. Preferences, all metal, mechanical may or may not take batteries.

You need to be way more specific about your budget and shooting objectives.Otherwise, you'll just get the usual endless stream of personal preferences that may be wide of what you're looking for.

baachitraka · Apr 6, 2011

Will those meters couple mechanically to the camera? I do not know I fast I can meter and focus and take shots. Further, I am interested only in Black-and-White photography...

arpinum · Apr 6, 2011

By mechanical I assume you mean batteries are only used for metering? If that's the case, you may be out of luck using EF lenses. The Canon F-1, a fully mechanical slr, uses the FD mount. This glass is relatively cheap since the mount was discontinued 20 years ago, but is of high quality. If you want to go to the Nikon side, try the Nikkormat FTn, or sped more for a Nikon F1. These take F mount lenses, also known as pre-AI, though AI lenses can have a prong added to make them work.

Maybe you want to reconsider a more recent electronic camera to use with your EF glass? The best of this bunch is probably the Canon EOS-1V.

holmburgers · Apr 6, 2011

baachitraka said:
Will those meters couple mechanically to the camera? I do not know I fast I can meter and focus and take shots. Further, I am interested only in Black-and-White photography...

External meters will only couple by the "cerebral-phelanges" interface, but it's quite effective and can be very easy, especially with b&w's wide exposure latitude.

CGW · Apr 6, 2011

baachitraka said:
Will those meters couple mechanically to the camera? I do not know I fast I can meter and focus and take shots. Further, I am interested only in Black-and-White photography...

Why mechanical? Nikon bodies like the FM2n or FM3a are about it in affordable, relatively new mechanical cameras. If money is a constraint--and when isn't it?--look at something like the N90s/F90x, a superb AF camera that works nicely with manual lenses that happens to be very inexpensive now. Older mechanical cameras from the 60s and 70s(Pentax, Minolta, Canon, Nikon)are showing their age and often need an overhaul that can make them a bad buy.

baachitraka · Apr 6, 2011

I own an AF camera that takes EF lens and I am quite happy with it. But, I am looking for a mechanical one which I can rely on for another couple of years...

How do you rate a leica replicas(zorki...) which were manufactured in former soviet union?

CGW said:
Why mechanical? Nikon bodies like the FM2n or FM3a are about it in affordable, relatively new mechanical cameras. If money is a constraint--and when isn't it?--look at something like the N90s/F90x, a superb AF camera that works nicely with manual lenses that happens to be very inexpensive now. Older mechanical cameras from the 60s and 70s(Pentax, Minolta, Canon, Nikon)are showing their age and often need an overhaul that can make them a bad buy.

degruyl · Apr 6, 2011

CGW said:
Why mechanical? Nikon bodies like the FM2n or FM3a

The FM2n is mechanical (aside from the meter, of course). The FM3a, however, is electronic. That particular camera (the FM2n) is one of my favorite SLRs. It just works.

CGW · Apr 6, 2011

degruyl said:
The FM2n is mechanical (aside from the meter, of course). The FM3a, however, is electronic. That particular camera (the FM2n) is one of my favorite SLRs. It just works.

You need to check out the FM3a's shutter, dude.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfmseries/fm3a/htmls/index.htm

degruyl · Apr 6, 2011

baachitraka said:
How do you rate a leica replicas(zorki...) which were manufactured in former soviet union?

Typically as crap. There were individual spots of light in there, but I have no idea how to tell the difference on the internet.

Why not a current production Cosina-Voigtlander Bessa R3M or a leica M6? Rangefinders are wonderful cameras.

Jeff Kubach · Apr 6, 2011

Go with the FD series like the F-1 or the FTb.

Jeff

perkeleellinen · Apr 6, 2011

I don't know if there really is a 'best' for this. All the major manufacturers made nice mechanical SLRs at one point. If you really will only have one lens (you may find your new kit addictive and want to expand) then they're all fairly affordable. My tip would be to avoid anything which needs a mercury battery and try to handle the camera in a shop to see how it feels - a 6 -12 month warranty would be nice too.

One camera, one lens, B&W film: sounds great - you'll have a lot of fun out of such a simple kit.

Moopheus · Apr 6, 2011

CGW said:
Older mechanical cameras from the 60s and 70s(Pentax, Minolta, Canon, Nikon)are showing their age and often need an overhaul that can make them a bad buy.

But not necessarily bad, given that formerly top-of-the-line professional cameras from the top camera makers can often now be had for very little money, so even with a CLA you're still getting off fairly cheap.

I agree with the notion of a hand-held meter--I use my Gossen with all of my cameras, whether they have a meter or not.

Aja B · Apr 6, 2011

<The FM3a, however, is electronic.> The shutter is controlled either electronically (Aperture Priority) or manually (Manual Exposure).

<I do not know I fast I can meter and focus and take shots.> In Ap Priority you need not worry about metering. That leaves focus and shooting.

Look no further than the FM3a as the best and most recent mechanical 35 SLR...period.

holmburgers · Apr 6, 2011

Maybe the best thing to do would be to simply make a huge list of all mechanical SLR's and leave it at that. Let the OP determine from there.

Canon....

Nikon....

Pentax...

Minolta...

Olympus...

fill in the blanks

What brands am I missing?

parkpy · Apr 6, 2011

arpinum said:
The Canon F-1, a fully mechanical slr, uses the FD mount. This glass is relatively cheap since the mount was discontinued 20 years ago, but is of high quality.

as said earlier, the price of FD lenses has been affected by 4/3rd users, as well as adapters made for the various digital SLR systems sold today. They aren't really a deal any longer. The film shooter should hope that #1, film continues to be sold, and 2) that digital SLR system manufacturers lower the price of their lenses to the point where their customers don't need to buy old manual focus lenses.

in my recent experience, the price of FD lenses as well as Olympus lenses have increased to the point where it is difficult to stock your camera bag with more than 4 lenses, before reaching the $1000 mark.

Also, I've noticed that Nikon lenses have remained fairly stable, given that all their lenses, save the pre-AI lenses, work with every new nikon mount camera.

That said, I shoot a Nikon FM2n that i purchased in fantastic shape for $75 a few months ago. I added a 24mm f/2.8 Nikkor-N Auto AI'd for $110, a Series E 50mm f/1.8 for $40 a few months back, and a 105mm f/2.5 AI for $140.

There are deals to be had though. If patient, one can find the 24mm f/2.8 AI'd for $40 (what I sold mine for last year :angry, and 50mm f/1.4 AIS for $50!! (which I bought and subsequently sold for 2x as much).

although, if I had to do things over again, I would've kept my Olympus OM-4T with 24mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/2. God...what a complete fool I was to get rid of it.

baachitraka · Apr 6, 2011

Simplicity is the hardest thing in the world. - Old Philosophy.

holmburgers said:
Maybe the best thing to do would be to simply make a huge list of all mechanical SLR's and leave it at that. Let the OP determine from there.

Canon....

Nikon....

Pentax...

Minolta...

Olympus...

fill in the blanks

What brands am I missing?

Colin Corneau · Apr 6, 2011

Well, for fully manual the simplest (and cheapest) ones giving acceptable quality that come to mind are:

Nikon - FM, FM2. These are their smallest, all-manual body and are really durable and reliable. You can use the F or F2 as well but they are a little bigger bodies. The lenses are top-notch, quality-wise, and plentiful and cheap, especially in the focal length you say you want.

Pentax - the venerable K1000! The MX or LX are wonderful too (and small) but a bit harder to find and likely a bit more pricey than this old reliable.

JohnMeadows · Apr 6, 2011

One good thing about the original Nikon FM is its ability to use both AI and pre-AI lenses; I got an FM body off the big auction site for 50 bucks late last year and a really happy with it.

Best mechanical 35mm analog SLR

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