Do any of you have a "birth year camera"?

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I can't tell this thread which camera I am looking for or I would be giving away the fact that I was born in 1960.... Oops
 

mrosenlof

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I have a couple of Canon P bodies. There's a chance one of them is from 1959, but I haven't seen a serial number table for them.
 

flatulent1

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Rather than a birth year camera, I have a pair of Canons dating to my time in high school, an F-1n and an FTb-N. I haven't used either in ages, though I suppose that should change this year.
 

Luis-F-S

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I have a Deardorff V5 made in 1951 the year before I was born
 

mrosenlof

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Born the same year the Nikon F came out. Others in production include Leica M3, M2, Nikon SP, S3. Canon P, VI Zeiss Contarex.

In general, I have more interest in the cameras form the 70s and 80s. Years that I was very interested in the cameras and could afford none of them. Leica M5, Nikon F2, F3 are three examples that I own today.
 

Kilgallb

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I have a Leica M3 that was shipped from the factory in August 1958. I was born in September 58. I think Leica would take nine months to build in those days.
 

awty

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65, What a fine year it was.
20210327_133959.jpg
 

Sirius Glass

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Man, I remember seriously craving a Bolex in 1965. Out of my league, back then.

Charley

Then I wanted the Bronica S in the worst way.
 

abruzzi

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I have a couple cameras made in the same year as me--1971--but I've never cared or bought them for that reason. I think right now a Nikkormat FTN (actually my very first film camera), and a Pentax Spotmatic.

For my other hobbies, I also had a Toyota Landcruiser FJ55 from 1971 (sold), and I'd love to find a Moog Modular synthesizer from 1971, but no way I'd ever be able to afford it...
 

awty

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I have a couple cameras made in the same year as me--1971--but I've never cared or bought them for that reason. I think right now a Nikkormat FTN (actually my very first film camera), and a Pentax Spotmatic.

For my other hobbies, I also had a Toyota Landcruiser FJ55 from 1971 (sold), and I'd love to find a Moog Modular synthesizer from 1971, but no way I'd ever be able to afford it...
I had a 1971 40 series tray back when I was in my early 20's, had a full rear cage with a canvas canopy you could stand up in. Had great fun going out in the bush and going camping. Had a crank start when the battery went flat and a three speed cruch box, was cold in winter with no heater, but great in summer with all the vents open.
 

abruzzi

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I had a 1971 40 series tray back when I was in my early 20's, had a full rear cage with a canvas canopy you could stand up in. Had great fun going out in the bush and going camping. Had a crank start when the battery went flat and a three speed cruch box, was cold in winter with no heater, but great in summer with all the vents open.

I love that Toyota kept that manual crank capability for a very long time, but I'd hate to actually use it.
 

awty

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I love that Toyota kept that manual crank capability for a very long time, but I'd hate to actually use it.
Funny when you stall it a the traffic lights and have to get out and crank start cause you haven't fix the starter motor yet....lot of work on cold starts.
 

ant!

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I was born in December 1982, and have a Minolta X570 (made from April 1983) and a late Minolta XD with new logo, which makes it in between 81 and 84 I guess. So two quite close. Probably a few lenses from the same time frame...

More interesting would be birthplace and date, since I am from Dresden... So, which Pentacon camera would be from 1982? I guess one of the later Prakticas, even though a Pentacon Six would be cooler...

Of course the highlights from Dresden where quite a bit earlier (I guess until the 50s/60s?). So, which camera from Dresden to get? Something early from Pentacon (Practica and others), Ihagee/Exata, Zeiss Ikon Contax, Altix, a half-frame Penti (I think my father had one...), a Certo...? I guess I have to dive into https://www.dresdner-kameras.de/ a bit.
I have my mothers old Zeiss Ikon Werra, but this is from Jena, not Dresden...
 

chuck3565

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I was born in December 1982, and have a Minolta X570 (made from April 1983) and a late Minolta XD with new logo, which makes it in between 81 and 84 I guess. So two quite close. Probably a few lenses from the same time frame...

More interesting would be birthplace and date, since I am from Dresden... So, which Pentacon camera would be from 1982? I guess one of the later Prakticas, even though a Pentacon Six would be cooler...

Of course the highlights from Dresden where quite a bit earlier (I guess until the 50s/60s?). So, which camera from Dresden to get? Something early from Pentacon (Practica and others), Ihagee/Exata, Zeiss Ikon Contax, Altix, a half-frame Penti (I think my father had one...), a Certo...? I guess I have to dive into https://www.dresdner-kameras.de/ a bit.
I have my mothers old Zeiss Ikon Werra, but this is from Jena, not Dresden...
A Praktica BC1 , B200, MTL5, and quite a few more. The BC1 and B200 are actually very nice cameras.
 

randyB

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I do not believe I have a camera from 1951 but I do have a Schneider lens that according to the SR# was made in the summer of 1951.
 

MTGseattle

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I stumbled upon this thread, so I'm bumping it. This is an interesting premise. I'm curious if there were any "gems" camera-wise in '74? The only other random thing I have let hang around due simply to it's date is an M1951 military camp stove made by Wyott dated 1974.
I've entertained the notion of getting a 1974 vehicle of some type, but geez the 70's were rough where car design is concerned.
 

benjiboy

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I have never had any wish to own a camera from the year of my birth, because it would be too old fashioned.
 
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Pioneer

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I am fortunate. I have two birth year cameras and use them both on a regular basis.

The first is a beautiful Zeiss Ikon Contaflex II which was introduced the year I was born and it really is a great camera.

The second one is one of my favorite medium format cameras, a 1954 Rolleiflex Automat MX-EVS with the great 75mm f3.5 Tessar lens, and it too produces magnificent results.

Although both cameras were working when I received them they have both received a recent cleaning, lubrication and adjustment so they still work wonderfully today.

Edit - And I really do wish I had a 54 Vette but I am pretty sure that isn't happening anyday soon. :D
 
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Pioneer

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View attachment 271683 1964 Nikons: F and VERY late SP (1964 reissue for the Tokyo Olympics)

I have a Nikon SP just like that around here somewhere but mine was dunked in seawater by my uncle many years ago when he was based in Japan. It was never cleaned so I am sure you can imagine the current status. I also have that lens as well but in a lot better shape. Nikon made some nice cameras.
 
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