Last Manual 35mm SLR

[BobD]

Nikkormat FS had no meter and was made to 1971.

 

[StepheKoontz]

though I don't know where it fell on the price scale when it was new. (is the "Leica tax" a new thing or has it always been there?)

They have always been expensive.

 

[Nodda Duma]

The Nikon FM3a doesn’t require a battery to function. So...of 2000-2005 timeframe (roughly) *without putting a battery in it*, the FM3a was the last unmetered all-mechanical 35mm camera to ever be made.

The new retail version of the Chroma Camera just announced today is the newest camera (any format) that I am aware of without any electronics.

 

[Chan Tran]

The Nikon FM3a doesn’t require a battery to function. So...of 2000-2005 timeframe (roughly) *without putting a battery in it*, the FM3a was the last unmetered all-mechanical 35mm camera to ever be made.

The new retail version of the Chroma Camera just announced today is the newest camera (any format) that I am aware of without any electronics.

If you said so then the Nikon FM10 which was available way after the FM3a was discontinued would also qualified. However, I think the OP meant a camera without a built in meter and is incapable of auto exposure.

 

[AgX]

Back to the OP's issue:

By lack of further replies I guess we can assume that the Exa 1c was the only meterless, mechanical 35mm SLR in the mid 80s.


But why then cancelled Pentacon the meterless Praktica L-series model already in 1978, but intruduced a cosmetically revived model of the Exa in 1985?

The Exa 1c then again is such a special breed, that it could not compete even with an unmetered Zenit. About its market by the mid 80s I am not sure. Just the price? Or the fact that it was cheap AND offered a WL finder?

Well, maybe they just got still raw parts and thought a make-over would make them sell...?

 

[Nodda Duma]

Thanks for the education. Wasn’t aware the FM10 had that capability.

If you said so then the Nikon FM10 which was available way after the FM3a was discontinued would also qualified. However, I think the OP meant a camera without a built in meter and is incapable of auto exposure.

 

[abruzzi]

Nikkormat FS had no meter and was made to 1971.

I didn’t realize they were made that late. I’ve kind of wanted one for awhile, so I just snagged one from KEH. I love shooting my Pentax SV for the completely uncluttered viewfinder, so this should be fun.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I've been playing with an essentially new Exa 1c and got to wondering. Were there any other manufacturers making an all manual camera at that time (mid 1980's)?

I'm not talking about an OM-3Ti, which though manual, is essentially the anti-Exa 1c. I mean an unmetered, completely bare bones, bottom of the barrel starter camera.

Nikon did!

 

[Chan Tran]

While it's not an SLR but Leica still make a 35mm camera with only mechanical shutter and no meter. The Leica M-A. Today having no feature isn't low end stripped down but rather niche and expensive camera.

 

[blockend]

Generally speaking, if you want less of something the product will be very cheap or very expensive.

 

[wahiba]

I have a Praktica L from that era. No meter.

 

[AgX]

Not from that era...

Zenit B already 1974(!) was cancelled, Praktica L2 cancelled 1978.

The OP asked about the mid-80s, when that Exa 1c was introduced.

 

[AgX]

I already hinted at prices.

Here some more insight (inland prices):

Exa 1c (1987) w. WLF , Tessar 2.8 307,- M

Praktica L (1974) just body! 365,- M
Tessar 2.8 auto-diaphragm 170,- M

 

[John Koehrer]

He did specifically state unmetered: "I mean an unmetered, completely bare bones, bottom of the barrel starter camera" which is what I was responding to.

OP:"I mean an unmetered, completely bare bones, bottom of the barrel starter camera."

 

[markjwyatt]

I've been playing with an essentially new Exa 1c and got to wondering. Were there any other manufacturers making an all manual camera at that time (mid 1980's)?

I'm not talking about an OM-3Ti, which though manual, is essentially the anti-Exa 1c. I mean an unmetered, completely bare bones, bottom of the barrel starter camera.

I think they were still producing Kiev 4a's at that point (mine is form 1978).

 

[AgX]

The Kiev 4a is a rangefinder camera whereas this thread is specifically about SLRs. But yes, basically the same question, as why would one offer a meter-less camera, applied in 1985 for both an SLR and RF. Moreover at 1978 already the market for 35 rangefinder cameras was dead in the West already.

 

[blockend]

I think the answer is a Nikon F2, or similar professional camera with un-metered head. Maybe Seagull produced something meter-less for the home market?

 

[AgX]

A system SLR that offers the chance to use it as bare as that cannot be compared to a camera that only came in such a bare state.

Two complete different markets. The system camera was designed and bought for the ability to exchange finders, backs, add drives, to make it versatile in several means, not just for yielding a bare state.

 

[Chan Tran]

By the 1980 the metering circuit became so inexpensive that it would be included in the most bareboned cameras. Bare boned cheap cameras were meant for people who didn't have much money and mostly beginners so a meter is greatly appreciated. A camera without meter from that point on if not having a meter is no longer bare boned but rather a niche camera for people who want it and willing to pay for it.

 

[macfred]

...Maybe Seagull produced something meter-less for the home market?

The Seagull DF-2 (from1981 - with Minolta SR bayonet) was fully manual and without metering. It's successor Seagull DF-2ETM had a meter.



I never saw one in real - maybe it was only for the Chinese home market.

 

[AgX]

Great find!

I only thought of the model DF-2 ETM, which got a meter, whereas the plain DF-2 (1981) got none. ("Initially it was intended to include a TTL meter, but this feature was dropped from the production model.")


I'm not sure for how long the plain DF-2 was produced though. But it could now be that I have to stand corrected on assuming the Exa 1c being the only meter-less of the mid-80s.
Problem is that we all seeme quite ignorant on chinese cameras.

It would be interesting to know for which markets the DF-2 was intended (seen that the meterless Praktica was cancelled 1978 and the meterless Zenit already in 1974).

 

[macfred]

I'm not sure for how long the plain DF-2 was produced though ...

IIRC this was about '92 but I can't find my source yet.

Problem is that we all seeme quite ignorant on chinese cameras.

True, but on the other hand it's almost impossible to get any information about the Seagull line-up on the net.

It would be interesting to know for which markets the DF-2 was intended (seen that the meterless Praktica was cancelled 1978 and the meterless Zenit already in 1974).

Same here ! There was a -for me unknown- Zenit DF-2 also. On his page Guido Studer from Switzerland says : ... Zenit DF-2 Unautorisierter chinesischer Minolta X300-Nachbau, auch Seagull DF-2, ca. 1980 ... https://www.g-st.ch/privat/kameras/zenit.html

Here's another link to a -German language- forum discussion about 'non-Minolta' SLR's with the SD-bayonet and they mentioned the Seagull DF - series cameras too ... http://www.so-fo.de/t20560f94-Liste-aller-Nicht-Minolta-Gehaeuse-mit-SR-Bajonett.html

 

[AgX]

Same here ! There was a -for me unknown- Zenit DF-2 also. On his page Guido Studer from Switzerland says : ... Zenit DF-2 Unautorisierter chinesischer Minolta X300-Nachbau, auch Seagull DF-2, ca. 1980 ... https://www.g-st.ch/privat/kameras/zenit.htmll

The Zenit DF-2 and DF-300 were not made by KMZ, but by Seagull.
They do not even show up at soviet Zenit listings, so I doubt that they were marketed by KMZ or even the brand licenced at all.

 

[macfred]

^ Thank you !

 

[BradS]

The current production Leica MA is all mechanical and has no light meter and takes no battery. Hard to call it a beginner camera though.