In your opinion, what are the best modern 35mm film SLRs ever built?

[eli griggs]

Supposedly. The plan is to release 2 point and shoots in the spring, and 2 SLRs later this year.

Cheers, I appreciate the info on this pending revival of Pentax film cameras

 

[Chuck1]

The slrs will be k mount?

 

[xkaes]

Supposedly. The plan is to release 2 point and shoots in the spring, and 2 SLRs later this year.

I don't know why they wouldn't. It's a big world out there, and lots of people will only buy "new". And since there is basically no competition in the 35mm field -- even though there is interest -- they can probably make money.

 

[kykr]

Don't you know...functionality is not as important as appearance. You don't think we actually use these cameras do you? That is why we have a phone in our pocket.

Sad but so true! I never had a chance to use a Nikon F6, but miss the F5 I used to have. The F100’s LED focus point in the viewfinder was really handy for low light but it just didn’t “fit” the same.

 

[soysos]

The slrs will be k mount?

Either K or KAF. Why fix what isn’t broken.

 

[Dachshund]

Nikon F100 or something a little smaller & lighter, but no less capable is the Nikon N80.

 

[Naples]

no less capable is the Nikon N80.

Agree. I bought a new N80 in the early 2000s and got rid of it when the rubber went. If not for that crappy rubber I'd still be using it. I then bought a used F100 which I liked but I actually got better photos with the N80. When the rubber on the F100 went last year I bought a used FE2 and really enjoy it. Just got back from a trip to Europe and am sunned at the photos. Better than any camera I've ever had.

 

[braxus]

My pic would be the workhorse cameras. The Nikon F4, F5, and F6, plus Canon EOS 1N and 1V.

For second tier I'd choose the Canon Elan 7, and Nikon F100. I have a N80, but its proven faulty and the rubber on it is very sticky as well, so I dont use it.

 

[BorHa]

Since I'm shopping around for a new-ish 35mm film SLR, I figured that I'd ask some of you more experienced professionals about this. (I've been shooting large format and medium format film for about 8 years and am working my way down to 35mm film!)

What 35mm film SLR camera systems do you think are the best to get into right now?
Which system do you think has the 'best' lenses?

I did a little research myself and settled on three cameras that I think might qualify:

-Minolta Maxxum 7 (also known as the 'Dynax 7' or 'Alpha-7')
-Nikon F6
-Contax N1

Nikon F100 if you want autofocus. It does most of what the f6 does at a fraction of the price. If you want to go mechanical, you can’t go wrong with a Nikon F with a standard prism.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Nikon F100 if you want autofocus. It does most of what the f6 does at a fraction of the price. If you want to go mechanical, you can’t go wrong with a Nikon F with a standard prism.

The Nikon F100 also weighs less than the F6. The Nikon F is in a special well earn class by itself.

 

[manfrominternet]

While I think I'm settled with the Pentax LX, I did want to ask you all which of the following two cameras (if you have any experience with either of these) would you pick:

-Nikon F6
-Canon EOS 1V

I feel like the Nikon F6 has that incredible 3D Matrix metering and has a long list of 3rd party lenses that it can use, including lenses by Voigtlander and Zeiss. Not only that, there's a feature where you can extend the shutter speed to 30 minutes in manual. Not too shabby!

Although I'm certain that the Canon EOS 1V is, bar none, one of the very best cameras, right up there with the Nikon F6/Minolta Maxxum-Dynax a-9 (or a-7), I'm not 100% sure if the Canon EOS 1V can take 3rd party lenses from Voigtlander and/or Zeiss. I don't know if it can handle long exposure times either. If anyone has any knoeledge of this, please let me know!

Also, I have heard the that Nikon FA is very good for night shooting in auto-mode. If you trip the shutter during a night scene in auto-mode, the camera will collect as much light as it needs (bouncing off the film, no less) and then closes the shutter.

 

[paddycook]

EOS 1V suffered from a lot of shutter failures.

 

[Craig]

I have an F6 and it works very well. I'd take it over an FA, not the least because it's 20 years newer and the metering has improved considerably in that time. AF and the various program modes are a bonus too. I use the F6 as a point and shoot, it does everything, pretty much perfectly every time with very unforgiving slide film. If you use B&W you have a lot more latitude.

That being said, the EOS1V is also a highly capable camera. It's more personal choice which works better and is more comfortable to use and hold for you. You wouldn't go wrong with either of them.

 

[Vaughan Bromfield]

Imho you'd get an EOS1v for the autofocus and Canon EF lenses.

 

[Les Sarile]

While I think I'm settled with the Pentax LX, I did want to ask you all which of the following two cameras (if you have any experience with either of these) would you pick:

-Nikon F6
-Canon EOS 1V

I feel like the Nikon F6 has that incredible 3D Matrix metering and has a long list of 3rd party lenses that it can use, including lenses by Voigtlander and Zeiss. Not only that, there's a feature where you can extend the shutter speed to 30 minutes in manual. Not too shabby!

Although I'm certain that the Canon EOS 1V is, bar none, one of the very best cameras, right up there with the Nikon F6/Minolta Maxxum-Dynax a-9 (or a-7), I'm not 100% sure if the Canon EOS 1V can take 3rd party lenses from Voigtlander and/or Zeiss. I don't know if it can handle long exposure times either. If anyone has any knoeledge of this, please let me know!

Also, I have heard the that Nikon FA is very good for night shooting in auto-mode. If you trip the shutter during a night scene in auto-mode, the camera will collect as much light as it needs (bouncing off the film, no less) and then closes the shutter.

I owned the Canon EOS 3 & 1V in order to use the excellent line of L zoom lenses with some incorporating stabilization. I don't remember missing a focus even in dark settings specially when using their flash. I did get rid of my EOS gear in favor of manual cameras. I found out the L lenses resale value are very good!

The FA OTF metering is only when using flash. If you haven't seen it, there's a very comprehensive review at -> Photography in Malaysia Nikon FA. Warning, reading this site fueled my acquisition!
I also tested the FA for night photography and unlike the LX, it is not reliable when it comes to autoexposures lasting minutes long.

 

[Tomwlkr]

I may have missed it, but no mention of the Nikon FM3a

 

[Radost]

I may have missed it, but no mention of the Nikon FM3a

Is that considered modern?

 

[Craig]

Is that considered modern?

Some here seem to consider a Nikon F as "modern", so by that measure, an FM3a must be modern!

 

[Radost]

I break it:
Manual Focus
Autofocus pre 2000
Autofocus post 2000
Modern is autofocus.

 

[images39]

All in all, I'd have to say the Nikon F100. For some, it might be too heavy. But for me it's about the optimum.

Dale

 

[images39]

Nikon F100 or something a little smaller & lighter, but no less capable is the Nikon N80.

You'll find this to be far from true in some situations, including:

- if you have to focus in very low light (whether manually or using autofocus)
- if you wear glasses and want to see all of the frame through the viewfinder

The F100 is noticeably superior in these situation.

Dale

 

[JWMster]

F100 is great. I like my Nikon F4 better. But if MF is fine, get an F2 of some variety. Pentax for me is a great medium format choice.

 

[M-88]

You'll find this to be far from true in some situations, including:

- if you have to focus in very low light (whether manually or using autofocus)
- if you wear glasses and want to see all of the frame through the viewfinder

The F100 is noticeably superior in these situation.

Dale

Let us not forget that F/N80 can't work with manual lenses, which is a big drawback for me and I'm sure - for many others who happen to have manual focus glass.

F-801/n8008 and F-90 beat N80 in those regards.

Plus if I want to use AA batteries, I have to use a battery grip which serves no other purpose, it offers no fps boost in drive mode, no vertical release button, nothing. Just batteries.

So no, F/N80 can't be the best camera.

 

[petrk]

Let us not forget that F/N80 can't work with manual lenses ....

it took away my will to live

 

[Sirius Glass]

All in all, I'd have to say the Nikon F100. For some, it might be too heavy. But for me it's about the optimum.

Dale

You'll find this to be far from true in some situations, including:

- if you have to focus in very low light (whether manually or using autofocus)
- if you wear glasses and want to see all of the frame through the viewfinder

The F100 is noticeably superior in these situation.

Dale

I strongly agree. The Nikon F100 has all of the advanced features that I use and more without the extra battery weight. It is my go to 35mm camera.