Five most durable cameras of ALL time?

FoidPoosening · May 6, 2016

Correct me if there's a better section for this, but I thought I'd post it here since I didn't want to restrict this question to a specific format.

A lot of companies that manufactured the cameras we use either have gone out of business or ceased production. In your opinion, what are the five most durable film cameras of all time? One way or another, what cameras are you confident will still be working 25, 50, 100 years from now?

Any format is fair game. Feel free to separate it out into 2x lists (purely mechanical vs. electric) if you want.

Factors I specifically think of when I think durability:
-Mechanics
-Electronics (if applicable)
-Ruggedness (can I travel around the world with it and not have to worry about it, maybe drop it, face inclement weather)
-Ease of repair
-Anything else you think applies

GO!

BAC1967 · May 6, 2016

I would put the Kodak Signet 35 on that list. Originally designed for military use it's carved out of a solid chunk of aluminum alloy. The shutter is easy to repair, and it's still going strong after over 65 years.

Kodak Signet 35 by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

I would also put the Leica III models on that list.

Theo Sulphate · May 6, 2016

Not exactly five because some are so similar:

-----35mm-----

1. Leica M3 and M2
2. Nikon F and F2 (plain prisms), Nikkormats
3. Canon F-1, F-1n, F-1N (fully manual)
4. Pentax H-series through Spotmatic F.
5. Toss up between Argus C-3 and Nikon F6 (j/k)

-----Medium format-----
1. Kodak Brownies
2. Pre-1950 Folders
3. Press or field cameras

-----Large format-----
1. Press, field, & view cameras

Of course, pinhole cameras always work.

Kawaiithulhu · May 6, 2016

Any Crown Graphic, to throw that idea out there.

Sirius Glass · May 6, 2016

Graflex
Speed Graphic
Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash camera, I have one without the flash
Early Nikons
Early Canons
Minoltas

FoidPoosening · May 6, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
Not exactly five because some are so similar:

-----35mm-----

1. Leica M3 and M2
2. Nikon F and F2 (plain prisms), Nikkormats
3. Canon (old) F-1

Curious as to why you say old F-1 specifically, versus F1N?

Theo Sulphate · May 6, 2016

FoidPoosening said:
Curious as to why you say old F-1 specifically, versus F1N?

You're right. Body alone, the F1N is probably equally rugged and durable (maybe better?) - I tend to think of the F1N as usually having the AE finder at least and often the motor drive.

I'll edit my list.

michr · May 7, 2016

I don't think I've handled a box brownie that didn't work.

Gerald C Koch · May 7, 2016

I assume we are discussing commercially made cameras and not oatmeal box pinhole ones. The failure rate of any mechanical system is proportional to 2N where N is the number of critical components. Therefore any durable camera must be a very simple one. My choice goes to the Kodak box Brownie. They had but one moving part. They came in many models but were all of the same design.

FoidPoosening · May 7, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
You're right. Body alone, the F1N is probably equally rugged and durable (maybe better?) - I tend to think of the F1N as usually having the AE finder at least and often the motor drive.

I'll edit my list.

So in your eyes AE finder = less durable? I'm curious as to why that might be (apart from meter failing over time obviously, but camera could still be used with handheld meter) unless this is what you meant.

MattKing · May 7, 2016

Anything made of Bakelite.

Gerald C Koch · May 7, 2016

Instead of arguing whether this model Nikon or Hasselblad, etc is more durable than another it might be better to eliminate all those models of any camera that have a common known flaw. I can think of several cameras that are known for a particular kind of failure.

Dr Croubie · May 7, 2016

None of the above stand up well in a rainstorm, let alone underwater.

Ergo, I suggest Nikonos V.

Theo Sulphate · May 7, 2016

FoidPoosening said:
So in your eyes AE finder = less durable? I'm curious as to why that might be (apart from meter failing over time obviously, but camera could still be used with handheld meter) unless this is what you meant.

If the AE finder fails, then you lose aperture priority - but certainly the camera can still be used manually.

So, by saying "F-1N (fully manual)" I'm trying to imply a fully manual configuration is what I consider most durable in contrast to a configuration where components have been added with the expectation of using aperture or shutter priority.

It's not that I'm singling out the finder - it's that, as Gerald mentioned, the more components you add, the higher the failure rate.

TheToadMen · May 7, 2016

A simple wooden pinhole camera. It even floats when dropped in water, no need for batteries and all the maintenance you'll need is rubbing its soar places with some ear wax.

Slixtiesix · May 7, 2016

I think most view cameras would still work in 100 years from now. I have a view camera from 100 years ago and it´s still functional. Unless the bellows gets cracked or the shutter becomes totally deprived of lube, I don´t see a reason why these cameras should fail.

removed account4 · May 7, 2016

bencini

guangong · May 7, 2016

Starting big and working my way down：
Deardorf（never owned one but knew someone who dropped one from the New Jersey Palisades and it only suffered the lose of a sliver of wood with no other damage.）
Rolleiflex F models
Leica iii models，m3，m4，nikon f，f2
Minox iii
Nothing with a battery. With electronoc progress a time may come when absolutely no batteries be made...not even for hearing aids...so nothing with even the simplest electronics on my list. Thus I exclude my tank-like nikkormats.many contemporary cameras are irrepairable just a few years after manufacture because the electronics are no longer available.

Ko.Fe. · May 7, 2016

Brownie.

GRHazelton · May 7, 2016

Nikon S2

HiHoSilver · May 7, 2016

TheToadMen said:
A simple wooden pinhole camera. It even floats when dropped in water, no need for batteries and all the maintenance you'll need is rubbing its soar places with some ear wax.

View attachment 156414

Now *that* made me laugh. 'very hard to argue with.

Hatchetman · May 7, 2016

I'll second the Kodak Signet 35.

Hexavalent · May 7, 2016

Topcon Super D. It was used by the U.S. Navy. If dropped, it will usually leave a dent in whatever it hits.

wiltw · May 7, 2016

Hexavalent said:
Topcon Super D. It was used by the U.S. Navy. If dropped, it will usually leave a dent in whatever it hits.

I have four Super D bodies, and ALL have fully functioning and accurate shutters, per actual exposed film testing. Two of them have accurate meters, but two meters are non-functional.

Kawaiithulhu · May 7, 2016

MattKing said:
Anything made of Bakelite.

OK, I change my entry to Century Graphic

Five most durable cameras of ALL time?

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