Classic SLR camera with Aperture priority and shutter speed priority?

[RichardJack]

Hi,
All your replies are correct (well almost). My favorites are the Leica R5, Minolta XD-11 (pretty much the same camera because Leitz and Minolta were working together back then) and the Nikon FA. The FA was the first Nikon body with matrix metering (but they called it something else back then). The Leica and Nikon gave you a choice between center-weighted metering and averaging. Nikon had a motor drive option (MD-15) while Leica and Minolta only had winders. I should of also included the Canon A1.

 

[AgX]

Fujica AX-5

 

[AgX]

What's classic? I'm a Canon FD bloke, mainly, and recommend the T90.

Good point: what is classic?

I guess some folks here would not consider the T90 "classic", some would not even say so for a camera with any auto-exposure feature...

 

[miha]

Hi,
All your replies are correct (well almost). My favorites are the Leica R5, Minolta XD-11 (pretty much the same camera because Leitz and Minolta were working together back then) and the Nikon FA. The FA was the first Nikon body with matrix metering (but they called it something else back then). The Leica and Nikon gave you a choice between center-weighted metering and averaging. Nikon had a motor drive option (MD-15) while Leica and Minolta only had winders. I should of also included the Canon A1.

Nitpicking, but Leica had both.

http://www.summilux.net/documents/LeicaR4-Brochure-150dpi.pdf

 

[Pioneer]

Are you sure? Honestly I am not familiar with the Contarex but I don't think it has either modes.

Certainly, if you read their advertisements from that time period they specify auto shutter and aperture priority.

In a sense it is, just as the K1000 has auto shutter or aperture priority. Set a shutter speed and then adjust aperture until the meter reading gives you its correct exposure. Likewise set your preferred aperture and adjust the shutter speed until the meter reading is centered.

What more do you need?

 

[Chan Tran]

Certainly, if you read their advertisements from that time period they specify auto shutter and aperture priority.

In a sense it is, just as the K1000 has auto shutter or aperture priority. Set a shutter speed and then adjust aperture until the meter reading gives you its correct exposure. Likewise set your preferred aperture and adjust the shutter speed until the meter reading is centered.

What more do you need?

There were several camera manuals talking about aperture priority and shutter priority way of setting exposure and those all are for manuals camera. So OK if that is what you want to say I don't argue.
However, to the OP the Contarex like the Pentax K1000 isn't one of those you're looking for.

 

[Chan Tran]

Good point: what is classic?

I guess some folks here would not consider the T90 "classic", some would not even say so for a camera with any auto-exposure feature...

And thus I didn't reply that any one of the cameras mentioned was a classic but just saying the first camera with both aperture/shutter priority automatic exposure control was the Minolta XD-11. It was the first. Don't know if it was a classic.

 

[RichardJack]

Hi,
According to most of the articles that I've read cameras that do not require batteries for any function other than it's meter is a "classic". This excludes any AF film model, and models with battery powered film transport but does include early SLR's like the Nikon F that had an optional motor drive. The term is not limited to 35mm or slr's. The XD-11 is a classic as are all Minolta SR mount bodies.

 

[Chan Tran]

Hi,
According to most of the articles that I've read cameras that do not require batteries for any function other than it's meter is a "classic". This excludes any AF film model, and models with battery powered film transport but does include early SLR's like the Nikon F that had an optional motor drive. The term is not limited to 35mm or slr's. The XD-11 is a classic as are all Minolta SR mount bodies.

If you define a classic is one that only uses battery for the meter then the Minolta XD-11 as well as any camera that offer aperture priority and or shutter speed priority is not a classic. I haven't seen one that can work in either of those mode without battery. The XD-11 in particular only work with one shutter speed without battery. Some can work with a range of shutter speed but no aperture priority or shutter priority without battery.

 

[RichardJack]

True, the XD-11 only using one battery can be used in manual which is true for the earlier Minolta XK(XM/X1) which also has a electronic shutter. There were many cameras in the early 1970's with electronic shutters but did not have AF nor power film advance. Examples are Nikkormat EL, Pextax ES, Leica R4, Miranda Auto Sensorex EE, and many others. There are gray areas here, a Nikon F3 (1980) is a classic, but the F4 is clearly not. I'm old perhaps I'm seeing things from a different perspective, I'm sure there are many who consider any camera older than they are a classic. When I bought my Rolleiflex 3.5F new in 1972 I didn't consider it a classic then.
I'm stopping right here, my intent was not to make an issue of the definition of classic, to each his own interpretation.

 

[ronnies]

True, the XD-11 only using one battery can be used in manual which is true for the earlier Minolta XK(XM/X1) which also has a electronic shutter. There were many cameras in the early 1970's with electronic shutters but did not have AF nor power film advance. Examples are Nikkormat EL, Pextax ES, Leica R4, Miranda Auto Sensorex EE, and many others. There are gray areas here, a Nikon F3 (1980) is a classic, but the F4 is clearly not. I'm old perhaps I'm seeing things from a different perspective, I'm sure there are many who consider any camera older than they are a classic. When I bought my Rolleiflex 3.5F new in 1972 I didn't consider it a classic then.
I'm stopping right here, my intent was not to make an issue of the definition of classic, to each his own interpretation.

You can't use only one battery in an XD-7, it needs two. One battery would be the same as no batteries.

Ronnie

 

[BMbikerider]

You can't use only one battery in an XD-7, it needs two. One battery would be the same as no batteries.

Ronnie

Not quite correct. There is a 3v lithium battery available which is exactly the same size as 2 x LR44. They last longer too.I use them in my Minolta XE1

 

[ronnies]

Not quite correct. There is a 3v lithium battery available which is exactly the same size as 2 x LR44. They last longer too.I use them in my Minolta XE1

Ah! So you can! I forgot about them!

Ronnie