Largest 35mm SLR

johnha · Nov 23, 2014

How about the Rollei 3003? They were modular cameras like medium format ones with interchangeable finders and backs - quite boxy cameras.

mopar_guy · Nov 23, 2014

Wow, a thread about who has the biggest unit.

PentaxBronica · Nov 24, 2014

Llamarama said:
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".

Yep, I notice the same thing all the time. My tripod is a Redsnapper with a ball head that can handle the Bronica, so putting an M-series body with a prime lens on it looks tiny. Does make it easy to carry though, I just leave the camera fitted, fold the legs, and shoulder the tripod. Perfectly comfortable for walking a mile or so, and I've not dropped it yet.

I've yet to try putting my Pentax Auto 110 on there. Should probably do that and get a photo!

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 24, 2014

Llamarama said:
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

Llamarama
You could do one thing and that was shown to me by another APUGer: you can take with you prints showcasing what your Pentax can do.
then, if someone points out your SLR is minuscule or that it looks like a toy, you can always point to your prints and say "Look, this is what it does."

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 24, 2014

Dave,
It isn't so much who has a big 'un, but more who can carry a big 'un.
I used in the past EOS-1N and EOS-3 with the power boosters attached. I couldn't go very far due to the weight.
These days, I feel a lot better carrying small and lighter SLR like the Nikon EM or the Olympus OM series.

narsuitus · Nov 24, 2014

When I need to carry an automatic/electronic camera that is smaller, lighter, and less expensive than my Nikon F4, I carry a Pentax ME.

https://flic.kr/p/9vayUb

BradS · Nov 24, 2014

What about the 1970's vintage Konica Autoreflex T and successors? I have always been impressed at how big cameras in that family are.

Sirius Glass · Nov 24, 2014

Llamarama said:
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

When I sold cameras, I told the potential customer to buy the camera that fit better in their hands rather than what they were told was a good camera. If a camera handles well it will be used more that one that is too big or too small.

John_Nikon_F · Nov 25, 2014

Nikon F2 with the MF-2 750 exposure back...

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf2/filmbacks/index1.htm

Looks like paul ewins beat me to it, but now there's a pic...

-J

AgX · Nov 25, 2014

Well I don't think that adding accessories is the idea behind this thread.

Otherwise I take that combo of yours and add that Canon 5200mm mirror lens. Beat me on that...

Dr Croubie · Nov 25, 2014

AgX said:
Well I don't think that adding accessories is the idea behind this thread.

Otherwise I take that combo of yours and add that Canon 5200mm mirror lens. Beat me on that...

Lenses don't count as bodies. Take the lens off and it's still a tiny body. so nyah
Excuse me which I hack my Kiev 88 onto the back of the Hubble.

How about a Graflex RB Super D with a 4x5 -> 6x7 adapter, and something like an RB67 35mm adapter on that. It's technically an SLR and technically takes 135-film...

Meanwhile, back to the OP, it really depends on comparing similar series.
My EOS3 is a tiny bit bigger than my 7D, 1cm wider and maybe 5mm taller. Grips are almost exactly the same. I think the 5D is probably about the exact same size as a 3, which would make sense as they're both 2nd-best bodies in the series.
Try comparing the EOS 3 to the 100D, that thing's tiny, barely bigger than a 580EX flash.
Or instead, compare the 7D to an EOS IX and the film body will look tiny (yes, it's not 135 film, but it takes EF lenses).

Paul Howell · Nov 25, 2014

AgX said:
Well I don't think that adding accessories is the idea behind this thread.

Otherwise I take that combo of yours and add that Canon 5200mm mirror lens. Beat me on that...

How about an Alpa 11 E, with the 500 to 2000 Zoom Reflex and the Alpa motor drive, it was mechanical.

flavio81 · Nov 25, 2014

AgX said:
Well I don't think that adding accessories is the idea behind this thread.

Otherwise I take that combo of yours and add that Canon 5200mm mirror lens. Beat me on that...

... the one that requires its own rails to slide on? LOL

I wonder how many of them were made by Canon... Of course, i could bet $1000 that this lens was only made so Canon could say "everything yo do, I can do better" to Nikon. Same reason they did the 50mm f0.95 lens, for example (when Nikon had the 50/1.1 lens)
Or the FL 19mm lens (when Nikon had the 21mm lens.)
Or the FD 200mm f1.8 lens (when Nikon had the 200/2.0 lens...)

The classic game of showing who has the longest "Frankfurter Würstchen"...

Llamarama · Nov 25, 2014

BradS said:
What about the 1970's vintage Konica Autoreflex T and successors? I have always been impressed at how big cameras in that family are.

Looking into it, it appears that the first Auto-reflex supports both full frame and half frame shooting... Something I used to have a mild obsession with... And it's blocky? Going to have to look into that one a bit more

To appear slightly more scientific, I have just measured some of my most combersome beasts;

Tallest: Praktica L2
Widest: Praktica Nova
Thickest (Lens mount to back)rinzflex SuperTTL (Chinonflex TTL)
Heaviest (No lens): (Chinon) Prinzflex M1

To be honest, I'm surprised that my Zenit didn't appear on here, never thought I'd see the day when a soviet behemoth loses in categorys such as these!

Also, last week I saw an Olympus 500mm mirror lens, compared to that Canon 5200mm it may as well have been an Industar 50!

BradS · Nov 25, 2014

Llamarama said:
Looking into it, it appears that the first Auto-reflex supports both full frame and half frame shooting... Something I used to have a mild obsession with... And it's blocky? Going to have to look into that one a bit more ....snip....

Alas, as much as I admire the Konica AR bodies and glass, I have never owned a Konica SLR. I've only admired them on the shelf at my local purveyor of used gear (he's long gone out of business). I think he let me fondle one once but, I don't recall anything about the experience except being mightily impressed at how big the thing was.

I have a Vivitar 220/SL that is heavy and seems huge...but the apparent size of the Vivitar is nothing compared to the big Konica. Would be cool if some Konica owner could post a few photos comparing say an Autoreflex T to a similar vintage Nikon or Pentax (something more-or-less 'normal' sized)

Les Sarile · Nov 25, 2014

Llamarama said:
To appear slightly more scientific, I have just measured some of my most combersome beasts;

Tallest: Praktica L2
Widest: Praktica Nova
Thickest (Lens mount to back)rinzflex SuperTTL (Chinonflex TTL)
Heaviest (No lens): (Chinon) Prinzflex M1

What are the numbers?

Les Sarile · Nov 25, 2014

wiltw said:
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)

Nikon f+PhotomicT finder only weighs in at 809g compared to the XK+AE finder at 882g. The PhotomicT finder probably displaces more than the XK's AE finder but the XK is taller on the finder as well as on the shoulder. The Topcon Beseler B is taller than the Nikon f+PhotomicT even though it's finder isn't metered and weighs more at 814g. The Topcon is taller at the shoulder than even the XK

BradS said:
I have a Vivitar 220/SL that is heavy and seems huge...but the apparent size of the Vivitar is nothing compared to the big Konica. Would be cool if some Konica owner could post a few photos comparing say an Autoreflex T to a similar vintage Nikon or Pentax (something more-or-less 'normal' sized)

The original half/full frame Auto-Reflex is shorter than it's successor the Autoreflex T and weighs less at 738g and 745g respectively. But both are shorter than either Ricoh Singlex or TLS-401 weighing in at 826g and 787g respectively. The Pentax ESII is lightest of the bunch at 676g and is the largest of the Pentax lineup.

MattKing · Nov 26, 2014

I bought some extra backs for my RB67 from an APUG member. He was selling them for a friend who was the widow of a photographer friend. One of them included a removable adaptation that was intended to permit shooting 35mm film in an RB67.

There are some issues with the adaptation, so I haven't really got it to work. But if it did, I think my RB67 Pro-S would qualify as the largest 35mm SLR.

flavio81 · Nov 26, 2014

Les Sarile said:

Nice pic!! It's interesting to see how ugly the other cameras look when compared to the Minolta XK. What a gorgeous camera that is.

I don't want to be offensive but i've never seen a beautiful Pentax camera, other than the Spotmatic. While RICOH had a talent for ugly cameras (optics were good, though.)

AgX · Nov 26, 2014

flavio81 said:
While RICOH had a talent for ugly cameras (optics were good, though.)

I like that Singlex design. It would be even better if it would not have that meter-shoe.

The comparison with the Konica next to it shows how much larger visually a camera seems to be with that plain front at prism and apron and the quite low upper edge of the cover.

PentaxBronica · Nov 26, 2014

flavio81 said:
Nice pic!! It's interesting to see how ugly the other cameras look when compared to the Minolta XK. What a gorgeous camera that is.

I don't want to be offensive but i've never seen a beautiful Pentax camera, other than the Spotmatic. While RICOH had a talent for ugly cameras (optics were good, though.)

Interesting, I wonder if it's the lack of the hotshoe on the Spotty that you like? How do you feel about the SV and the other earlier bodies without them?

Frankly Unsharp · Nov 26, 2014

mamiya/sekor auto XTL

How about this beauty, put it together with the 200 mm, and we have a beast.

Llamarama · Nov 26, 2014

Les Sarile said:
What are the numbers?

As measured by my calipers (May have read wrong, couldn't find my digital ones)

Praktica L2 height - 97.67mm (roughly 3.8in)
Praktica Nova width - 159.31mm (roughly 6.2in)
Prinzflex SuperTTL Depth - 54.73mm (roughly 2.2in)

Couldn't weigh my cameras accurately, as I can't find the scales, but the Prinzflexes are definitely noticeably heavier than my other cameras.

Hope that helps

Dr Croubie · Nov 26, 2014

Llamarama said:
As measured by my calipers (May have read wrong, couldn't find my digital ones)

Praktica L2 height - 97.67mm (roughly 3.8in)
Praktica Nova width - 159.31mm (roughly 6.2in)
Prinzflex SuperTTL Depth - 54.73mm (roughly 2.2in)

Couldn't weigh my cameras accurately, as I can't find the scales, but the Prinzflexes are definitely noticeably heavier than my other cameras.

Hope that helps

I couldn't find my calipers, so I've just copied this from the Canon Camera Museum
EOS 3: 161 W x 119.2 H x 70.8mm D (although that's only back-button to the normal part of the grip, there's a little protrusion just under the shutter that takes it to nearly 80mm by my ruler), 780g (excluding lithium battery).
It's certainly a beast with the PB installed full of 8x Eneloops.

Frankly Unsharp · Nov 26, 2014

New facts about Mamiya XTL

From the instruction manual: Dimensions
WIDHT: 5 7/8" (149,5mm)
HEIGHT: 3 3/4" (95mm)
THICKNESS (without lens): 2 1/8" (54mm)
WEIGHT: 1 lb. 9 oz. (710 grams)

All in one camera.

Largest 35mm SLR

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