Manual Focus SLRS with "Full information" viewfinders

[skorpiius]

You should not only evaluate a camera on features but on actual usage. I've owned the A-1 for about 20 years and I find it very satisfying -- and i own many "superior" cameras like F-1, New F-1, MX, F2, F3, FE, etc.

In the same way, i overlooked the Canon T70 for years thinking it was crap, until I bought one only because it was mint and really cheap. Turned out to be an excellent camera, and at the end I only use the Canon F-1 because it strokes my ego and my fetish for mechanical things, otherwise the T70 is as good or even better as a camera for actually taking pictures.

Realistically any of these cameras I'll at least put one roll through just to get the full experience. Not that I'll have money for processing after buying the Leicas and Contax's suggested in this thread haha!

 

[skorpiius]

Minolta X-700.
Program Mode
Aperture Priority
Full Manual Mode
Shutter speeds, aperture window, LED Readout that shows suggested and actual shutter speed LEDs in manual mode
Exposure adjustment +/- indicator flashes in viewfinder when you have that activated. (Doesn't tell you if it's over or under, just that it is engaged.)
Minolta MD lenses are great and relatively cheap
(Sorry for the crappy snap shot)
View attachment 258240

I've actually considered the x-570 which I think is a newer version of the x-700? Also the XE-11. I have an XG-M which I'm going to sell but there's something about that just feels right which has turned me onto Minolta.

 

[skorpiius]

By the way thanks to everyone for the suggestions, I'm really glad I asked!

 

[Oren Grad]

But then I started thinking, I wonder how much electronic assistance I could add before it felt no different than type #1?...

So I guess in a nutshell I'm seeing what might be a perfect mix of electronic aids but retain the quiet nature of manual mechanical SLRS...

Just a point of trivia given that you want to have a functioning meter, but the aperture and shutter speed readouts in the Pentax MX and Nikon FM are purely mechanical (shutter speed disc visible in finder) or optical (lens aperture ring visualized in the finder through a periscope). They don't depend on anything electronic and remain functional even if the batteries are dead.

EDIT: If I'm remembering right, that's true of the Nikon F2 with Photomic meter prism as well.

 

[Les Sarile]

I've actually considered the x-570 which I think is a newer version of the x-700? Also the XE-11. I have an XG-M which I'm going to sell but there's something about that just feels right which has turned me onto Minolta.

Of all the cameras I have, the XE-7 has the smoothest film advance across the full stroke.

And Minolta glass is second to none.

 

[skorpiius]

Just a point of trivia given that you want to have a functioning meter, but the aperture and shutter speed readouts in the Pentax MX and Nikon FM are purely mechanical (shutter speed disc visible in finder) or optical (lens aperture ring visualized in the finder through a periscope). They don't depend on anything electronic and remain functional even if the batteries are dead.

EDIT: If I'm remembering right, that's true of the Nikon F2 with Photomic meter prism as well.

That's a really good observation, aperture and shutters peed indicators that are via windows or mechanical means don't turn off with dead batteries.

 

[skorpiius]

Of all the cameras I have, the XE-7 has the smoothest film advance across the full stroke.

And Minolta glass is second to none.

Nice. I have an XD-11 in the mail but in hindsight the XE would have been just fine. I'm curious to see if the XD has a similarly smooth wind.

 

[Pflaumesaft]

Ooo good suggestion, looks like the 139Q, RTS ii and the 159 MM are right up my alley.

The RTS 2 is my go to nowadays, best shutter response I've tried thus far. 159 is actually fuller featured yet more ergonomic. I used to pinch that with a wrist strap. But alas, not as reliable as the RTS (2 broke over a 5 year period, and always something with the shutter).

 

[blockend]

Not that I'll have money for processing after buying the Leicas and Contax's suggested in this thread haha!

Yashica FR

Contax SLRs were made by Kyocera, the Yashica company, so the philosophy is the same. The FR fits your criteria, being fully manual unlike the FR1 and FR2, and having readouts for aperture and shutter speed. Yashica ML lenses are a bargain compared to their Contax counterparts, and render very nicely. The single coated DSB range are also nice if you want a classic look, and inexpensive.

FR metering system is also handy, consisting of a sliding switch which stays on while ever the advance lever is in the cocked position. The FR was Yashica's attempt at a professional camera. In many ways I prefer it to my Nikon and Canon cameras, although they were much less common. For some reason the only ones I see in Europe are from German sellers, they were sold in the UK and internationally.

 

[Horatio]

Nice, thanks!

From what I've seen in my online searches, the R-series lenses are much less expensive than the M-series, though equal in quality.

As a side note, I've taken the opposite approach, seeking older cameras with NO automatics/electronics, as many cannot be repaired. Sounds like you'll have quite a collection!

 

[guangong]

As an owner of Leica R4 ( now kaput) and Leica R5, frankly speaking I prefer my match needle SL and SL2. However, this thread made interesting reading.

 

[Horatio]

As an owner of Leica R4 ( now kaput) and Leica R5, frankly speaking I prefer my match needle SL and SL2. However, this thread made interesting reading.

I'd probably buy an R6.

 

[Chan Tran]

How's that procedure NOT a manual mode?

I've owned an A-1 for many years and also used the manual mode occasionally. It's not as great a mode as other cameras, but still usable.

Yes you can manually set the exposure on the A-1 but you can't do it with your eye at the viewfinder which is the OP requirement. It shows the shutter speed set, the suggested aperture but doesn't show the aperture set.

 

[Paul Howell]

In terms of price and build quality, T3, shutter speed exposure priority, nice read out, great lens. The basic lens set, 28, 50, 135 and 200 are inexpensive, the fast glass like the 57 1.2 and 85 1.8 35 2.0 are on the pricy side. Only downside is no winder or motor drive. And, oh, flash sync is 1/125

 

[Martin Rickards]

I've actually considered the x-570 which I think is a newer version of the x-700? Also the XE-11. I have an XG-M which I'm going to sell but there's something about that just feels right which has turned me onto Minolta.

My European X500 version has a pretty complete viewfinder display but lacks the programme mode of the X700. It was actually introduced after the X700 as a more budget version. It must have been one of the last MF Minoltas

 

[Huss]

The Leica R8 and R9 pretty much shows the most info out of any.

 

[skorpiius]

From what I've seen in my online searches, the R-series lenses are much less expensive than the M-series, though equal in quality.

As a side note, I've taken the opposite approach, seeking older cameras with NO automatics/electronics, as many cannot be repaired. Sounds like you'll have quite a collection!

I hate to say it but there is at least a 10% chance after all I this I end up with 10 35mm SLRs and after evaluating them all I decide that my film use will just be medium format and I sell them all

 

[Huss]

Theo's R8. Check out that vf info in manual! Shows meter pattern, meter mode, aperture, shutter, how far away from correct exposure, and exposures taken.

View attachment 202022

 

[skorpiius]

My European X500 version has a pretty complete viewfinder display but lacks the programme mode of the X700. It was actually introduced after the X700 as a more budget version. It must have been one of the last MF Minoltas

I think full program is one item that I won't use, in fact with my F100 and F80 I'm intentionally making a point to not use it as I need to start putting more thought into my photo taking, even if that means being mindful of just the aperture or just the shutter speed. I find full program increases the odds you won't quite get what you were hoping for (unless you were just hoping for a snapshot in which case it works great)

 

[Kino]

I hate to say it but there is at least a 10% chance after all I this I end up with 10 35mm SLRs and after evaluating them all I decide that my film use will just be medium format and I sell them all

That's what they ALL say!
Hope you have a large closet!

 

[PFGS]

Of course all autofocus cameras have super tiny viewfinders since users rely on the AF.

Not all autofocus - my Canon EOS 3 has a fantastic bright viewfinder with a great balance between magnification and glasses-friendly eye relief - maybe it needed a good prism for the eye-control focus feature?

 

[RLangham]

So here's my take... there were several Minolta SrT's with full info in the viewfinder (and they had excellent viewfinders.) No autoexposure but an excellent metering system that compensates for bright skies by favoring the bottom third of the frame when there's a high contrast between the top and bottom.

Someone mentioned the 201. I don't think that's right. I think they mean 102.

201 should be what was sold elsewhere as 101b, with shutter speed display and no aperture display, the midrange model of the second generation srT's. So the list should be at least 102 and 202. The latter has the simpler and in my mind preferable stop-down button, as well as double exposure capability. I don't recall offhand which focusing aids each of those have

Bear in mind that these are the American model numbers and that they will be different in Japan and different again in other markets.

These cameras are fantastically solid and usable and they have really a fantastic and wide range of compatible lenses that are almost universally cheaper than their Nikon, Olympus and Canon counterparts.

 

[Les Sarile]

Nice. I have an XD-11 in the mail but in hindsight the XE would have been just fine. I'm curious to see if the XD has a similarly smooth wind.

The XD11's are also very smooth operators but the XE-7 is even smoother.

 

[Les Sarile]

Not all autofocus - my Canon EOS 3 has a fantastic bright viewfinder with a great balance between magnification and glasses-friendly eye relief - maybe it needed a good prism for the eye-control focus feature?

The EOS 3 was my first SLR. I bought it after I first bought the 16-35 f2.8 L and needed an EOS body to use it . . .

Like I said, all AF cameras (film or otherwise) have tiny viewfinders specially when you compare it to the Pentax MX for instance.

The EOS 3 viewfinder magnification of 0.72X is tiny compared to the Pentax MX which has a magnification of 0.97X. Of course this magnification is much more important to the MX then it is for the EOS 3 which relies on it's great AF including ECF. In the thousands of frames I've shot with the EOS 3, I don't recall having one misfocus. As you pointed out, a smaller viewfinder is ideal for folks who wear glasses due to the eye relief.

 

[PFGS]

The EOS 3 was my first SLR. I bought it after I first bought the 16-35 f2.8 L and needed an EOS body to use it . . .

Like I said, all AF cameras (film or otherwise) have tiny viewfinders specially when you compare it to the Pentax MX for instance.

The EOS 3 viewfinder magnification of 0.72X is tiny compared to the Pentax MX which has a magnification of 0.97X. Of course this magnification is much more important to the MX then it is for the EOS 3 which relies on it's great AF including ECF. In the thousands of frames I've shot with the EOS 3, I don't recall having one misfocus. As you pointed out, a smaller viewfinder is ideal for folks who wear glasses due to the eye relief.

I had an MX, the finder was useless to me - felt like my eyes were going to roll out of my head trying to check the corners. The EOS 3 may by .72X on paper but it's still super bright and clear and just "feels roomy." My EOS Rebels are all ~.72X as well but definitely feel dim and confined by comparison.