Largest 35mm SLR

Llamarama

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
67
Format
35mm
Hello everyone, I've been on a few photoshoots with friends and they all comment on how small my Pentax ME is, and that it looks like a toy compared to my friends Nikon DSLRs. It got me thinking though, the largest 35mm SLR I have is my Prinzflex M1. I have a Yashica 230AF that's pretty hefty, but it doesn't have the bulk of the prinz. Are there any larger ones around (in traditional black and chrome, rather than plastic)?
 

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,546
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
Those original Ihagee Exactas aren't exactly petite. I think a Nikon F4 or F5 with the vertical grip, a Canon EOS 1/1n/1v with the vertical grip are also pretty massive. Probably the biggest I can think of would be a Nikon F3 with the motor winder, booster and 250 frame magazine. But that's slapping a lot of accessories on the camera, not the camera itself. Also quite hefty is my Contax RTS III, but I think that it's smaller than a comparable F4 or EOS 1N with vertical grip.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
The largest non-motorized SLR I got is the Petri TTL.

Smaller in height and width is the Zenit E. But it has as the Petri high shoulders, and even higher knobs on them.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Slixtiesix

Subscriber
Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
1,392
Format
Medium Format
Leica R8/R9 are pretty bulky. Apart from that, any 80s/90s SLR with motor winder. Leica R8/R9 with winder beats them all I think...
 

ciniframe

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
803
Format
Sub 35mm
The old Russian heavy iron always seems large and heavy to me. The Zenith series with M42 mount all seemed to share that same body style, big and clunky. Of course one could add a heavy motor drive and 250 exposure back to several of the mid 70's professional systems and make them into a monster camera.
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,660
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
Hatchetman said:
Never held one, but the Contarex is supposed to weigh like 10 lbs.
Click to expand...

There are some older cameras like the Canon F1 high speed, Nikon F2 High Speed or even with motor drive they are big. The biggest camera in its smallest configuration is the Nikon F5. When others with accessories can be bigger. The F4 with the MB-20 is smaller but with the MB-23 is bigger. The F3 with the MD-4 is about the same size but without the F3 is significantly smaller. Same goes for the F2 series. With the motor drive the F2 can be bigger than the F5 but without it's smaller.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
ciniframe said:
The old Russian heavy iron always seems large and heavy to me. The Zenith series with M42 mount all seemed to share that same body style, big and clunky.
Click to expand...

But the Zenit E can be held better than the Petri.
 

PentaxBronica

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
365
Format
35mm
You can buy a 35mm back for the Bronica ETRSi (and probably other medium format systems). Does that make it a 35mm SLR? By the time you add the motor winder and the metered prism finder it's a fairly hefty beast.

If you're finding the ME too small then look for a Winder ME II, they're not expensive and I find it helps the balance with larger lenses.
 

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Sep 7, 2002
Messages
19,974
Location
Honolulu, HI
Format
Large Format
Compared to my New F-1 with motor drive and 12-cell AA battery pack or my 5DII with the Wi-Fi grip, my EOS 1N-RS feels kind of big and clumsy, like it was just designed for bigger hands.
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,485
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
Not the largest, but this picture makes the Rolleiflex SL35M look like a medium format SLR compared to the little Yashica FX-3. There is similarity in the cameras in that they both accept a similar line of Zeiss lenses (but in different mounts).

 

Mustafa Umut Sarac

Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2006
Messages
4,825
Location
İstanbul
Format
35mm
My camera is the biggest SLR you can find. An pentax attached to 10 lbs kodak fluro ektar 111 f:1.5 and that is attached to 7 lbs LOMO Anamorphic Cinema Lens. Around more than 10 kilograms.
 
OP
OP

Llamarama

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
67
Format
35mm
I should point out that it's not so much that my Pentax is too small, I think it's great, it's more a case of it looks a little silly stuck on a tripod for a photoshoot, a couple of models have pointed this out. Apperently it's "sweet".

A few people have mentioned Zenits, however I find my Zenit 12XP to be quite small, it's probably due to my massive meat fists (That broke someone's hand giving them a high five, I'm such a good friend).

As far as size goes, going by photos the Praktica VLC series seem quite large, and indeed my MTL5 seems to be the largest I have, but not the heaviest.

I guess a trip to my local friendly second hand photographic dealer is in order

Thank's for the help, anyone with a VLC 1/2/3, can you measure it
 

wiltw

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
6,364
Location
SF Bay area
Format
Multi Format
Many cameras in the early 1960s did not have published specs. I had to measure one of my Topcon Super D with 58mm f/1.4 lens...
148w x 95h x 102d, tipping scale at 1181g


Nikon F with PhotomicT finder and f/1.4 lens specs list it as 147w x 106h x 104d, tipping scale at 1049g

Both cameras had motor drive option and capability of 250exposure film magazines, greatly increasing size (especially) and weight.


Today's dSLRs are grotestquely overly large in girth and ponderous in comparison even to the largest and heaviest of the film SLRs which were aimed at the photographic professional (Nikon F, Topcon Super D)!

The Pentax ME was only a millimeter or so smaller than the OM-1, which is pictured along with the Topcon Super D. Sure, the OM-D is about the size of the OM-1, but it records on a sensor which is only 50% of the width and length of the 135 format!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

darinwc

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 14, 2003
Messages
3,121
Location
Sacramento,
Format
Multi Format
Which Pentax do you have? I have a ME super, which is actally a bit too small. However with the motor drive, it really gives it a substantial feel and makes it "just right". And pentax put the button on the motor drive exactly where it needs to be. (glares at olympus)
 

Les Sarile

Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Messages
3,415
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Format
35mm

According to http://www.marriottworld.com/praktica/vlc.htm, the VLC body only weighs 730g.

These are the heaviest in my collection. For non-interchangeable finder it is the Ricoh Singlex @ 826g. For interchangeable viewfinders it is the XK @ 882g. The diminutive ME Super only weighs 448g.



Depending on the attached finder, it can make a difference. For instance the Nikon F2 with the plain prism weighs 724g. Change the finder to a DP11 - which makes it an F2A, and it weighs 834g.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,155
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format

If you can find a very hard to find 35mm Hasselblad film back, then put it on a Hasselblad or motor driven Hasselblad.
 

wiltw

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
6,364
Location
SF Bay area
Format
Multi Format

Since the topic is SIZE not weight...how does the Minolta XK with that prism stack up for overall height, compared to Nikon F with PhotomicT finder ( 147w x 106h)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…