Looking for the perfect mechanical SLR

Crantz · Jul 15, 2021

Radost said:
WIth SLRs I dont understand why people want old SLRs. Yea it looks cool but considering "for example' an ELAN 7s and similar are pretty much perfect and have autofocus old SLRs are a not fun. Manual Focusing on most 35 slrs is a pain.

I use film primarily to slow down my photography and only secondly for the look and feel. Therefore a manual SLR is a must for me. If I got a modern SLR with program AE, AF and auto advance I could just go with the "newer technology" I am not allowed to talk about in this forum. Rangefinders on the other hand are just not my cup of tea, so it's down to old SLRs.

Everyone defines their photography for themselves. People are dipping film into coffee, I would never do this, but I can understand people who are doing this.

RLangham · Jul 15, 2021

Crantz said:
I use film primarily to slow down my photography and only secondly for the look and feel. Therefore a manual SLR is a must for me. If I got a modern SLR with program AE, AF and auto advance I could just go with the "newer technology" I am not allowed to talk about in this forum. Rangefinders on the other hand are just not my cup of tea, so it's down to old SLRs.

Everyone defines their photography for themselves. People are dipping film into coffee, I would never do this, but I can understand people who are doing this.

My thoughts exactly, though I will note that with proper application the caffeine technique can produce artistically useful results... to some extent

Huss · Jul 15, 2021

The perfect mechanical SLR is whatever I happen to be selling. Right now, it is the Nikon FM, the Nikkormat FT2 (black), and a plain prism Nikon F or two. Hmm, also have a perfect condition Minolta SR1s, which is just gorgeous. And mechanical..

George Mann · Jul 16, 2021

Huss said:
and a plain prism Nikon F or two.

I may be interested. PM me.

Dismayed · Jul 16, 2021

George Mann said:
I may be interested. PM me.

I just bought Huss's Nikon S2. You should jump at the opportunity - he has great gear. Besides, there's no reason for me to be the only one with a thin wallet!

Huss · Jul 16, 2021

Dismayed said:
I just bought Huss's Nikon S2. You should jump at the opportunity - he has great gear. Besides, there's no reason for me to be the only one with a thin wallet!

Thanks! Yah I describe my stuff as accurately as possible cuz don't want to harsh anyone's mellow.

George Mann · Jul 16, 2021

I bought a Nikkor S Auto 35mm f2.8 from him to use on my EL. There is very little about this lens posted online.

MattKing · Jul 16, 2021

Huss said:
don't want to harsh anyone's mellow.

From a new moderator's position, more of this approach would be really nice.

Moose22 · Jul 17, 2021

Huss said:
The perfect mechanical SLR is whatever I happen to be selling. Right now, it is the Nikon FM, the Nikkormat FT2 (black), and a plain prism Nikon F or two. Hmm, also have a perfect condition Minolta SR1s, which is just gorgeous. And mechanical..

Not going to call an FM a "perfect" camera. But I used one in the 90s when I was shooting a lot. It just worked. Everything you need, nothing you don't, and the meter worked well.

Huss · Jul 17, 2021

George Mann said:
I bought a Nikkor S Auto 35mm f2.8 from him to use on my EL. There is very little about this lens posted online.

I shipped it with an original period lens cap. Not a cheap generic one.

Les Sarile · Jul 17, 2021

Huss said:
The perfect mechanical SLR is whatever I happen to be selling. Right now, it is the Nikon FM, the Nikkormat FT2 (black), and a plain prism Nikon F or two. Hmm, also have a perfect condition Minolta SR1s, which is just gorgeous. And mechanical..

Too bad it's not a MInolta SR2 . . .

cocobugluck · Jul 18, 2021

this my first ever post in this forum , i hope it helps.
i know some of these are not fully mechanical but i included them just to compare weight and sizes.

for a simple manual slr i recommend the RevueFlex SC2 (K mount) which is also a rebranded Chinon CM-4.
i personally love m42 mount , and i strongly recommend the Fujica ST801 or ST705

Steve York · Jul 18, 2021

No "perfect" cameras out there, but with an SLR I like a Nikon F/F2 with an eye level prism. Relatively light weight (depending on lens), fits in the hand nice, cheap and good optics, especially for B&W work. Some new optics too in F mount (not for me). I shot a Leicaflex SL system fairly exclusively for a 5-6 year period. Great optics, beautiful viewfinder, excellent breaking system, but heavy and some reliability issues. I now prefer meter less cameras and lighter.

Chan Tran · Jul 18, 2021

faberryman said:
I have never timed myself. The thought has never crossed my mind.

I used to practice a lot back in the late 70's when I used the Nikon F2. Today I think I often do it with my DSLR and I can do it in about 5 secs but sometimes longer to set exposure and focus. I am older now and the DSLR ground glass doesn't look as good as the F2 ground glass. I guess because they imbedded a layer of LCD on the focusing screen to indicate the focus point that makes it harder for manual focus.

Huss · Jul 18, 2021

Steve York said:
No "perfect" cameras out there, but with an SLR I like a Nikon F/F2 with an eye level prism. Relatively light weight (depending on lens), fits in the hand nice, cheap and good optics, especially for B&W work. Some new optics too in F mount (not for me). I shot a Leicaflex SL system fairly exclusively for a 5-6 year period. Great optics, beautiful viewfinder, excellent breaking system, but heavy and some reliability issues. I now prefer meter less cameras and lighter.

Relative light weight? Compared to what? These things are big heavy chunks of 35mm cameras.
I mean, I love mine so I'm not knocking them, and don't mind the weight, but relative to other 35mm cameras they are definitely husky.

Huss · Jul 18, 2021

Les Sarile said:
Too bad it's not a MInolta SR2 . . .

Yeah, not giving up my black paint SR2

Paul Howell · Jul 18, 2021

The F2 is not a light weight, with a motor drive a heavy system, the F3 was lighter, still there was something about the F2 I missed when I upgraded to the F3P.

Michael Firstlight · Jul 18, 2021

Paul Howell said:
The F2 is not a light weight, with a motor drive a heavy system, the F3 was lighter, still there was something about the F2 I missed when I upgraded to the F3P.

I guess it's relative - I usually shoot with a Nikon D850 most of the time and when I pick up my Nikon F2as it feels featherweight by comparison.

Here's a good review of the F2 vs F2as: https://sites.google.com/site/timrogersphoto/equipment/reviews-of-nikon-slr-cameras/nikon-f2as and another one specifically on the F2as here: https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/f2as.htm I fully concur with both reviews as they are consistent with my experience dating back to the mid-70's - and I've owned pretty much every Nikon SLR camera since.

choiliefan · Jul 18, 2021

Eddie at Zachary All would have described the F2 as "portly".

Paul Howell · Jul 18, 2021

Michael Firstlight said:
I guess it's relative - I usually shoot with a Nikon D850 most of the time and when I pick up my Nikon F2as it feels featherweight by comparison.

With or without the motor drive?

George Mann · Jul 18, 2021

I like my F2, but not quite as much as the rest of you. I actually find the original F more attractive.

Do any of you know if the F has stepless shutter speeds?

grat · Jul 19, 2021

Radost said:
WIth SLRs I dont understand why people want old SLRs. Yea it looks cool but considering "for example' an ELAN 7s and similar are pretty much perfect and have autofocus old SLRs are a not fun. Manual Focusing on most 35 slrs is a pain.

After shooting 4x5, focusing an SLR with a split or micro prism is ridiculously trivial.

choiliefan · Jul 19, 2021

I'm guessing the Elan 7s with eye focus?
That big bulky camera which needs a very expensive battery unless one lucks into the big bulky battery grip.
Isn't this the Canon with the plastic mode dial which easily snapped and fell off?

MattKing · Jul 19, 2021

choiliefan said:
I'm guessing the Elan 7s with eye focus?
That big bulky camera which needs a very expensive battery unless one lucks into the big bulky battery grip.
Isn't this the Canon with the plastic mode dial which easily snapped and fell off?

Bigger than some, and smaller than others:

RLangham · Jul 19, 2021

I really need to get a battery and test my Spotmatic SP II. If the meter works I'd probably sell my Chinon GAF LCS I mentioned earlier.

Anyone interested? OP? Like I say, this is essentially the camera that the OP's original rubric called for, less it being a little bigger than a Spotmatic.

Looking for the perfect mechanical SLR

Crantz

RLangham

Huss

George Mann

Dismayed

Huss

George Mann

MattKing

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Moose22

Huss

Les Sarile

cocobugluck

Steve York

Chan Tran

Huss

Huss

Paul Howell

Michael Firstlight

choiliefan

Paul Howell

George Mann

grat

choiliefan

MattKing

Moderator

RLangham

Looking for the perfect mechanical SLR

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