My ideal film camera

BayG75 · Apr 26, 2020

So my “if I were a tech zillionaire” musings today revolve around film photography.

If I were to create my own film camera company (no need to worry about profitability) what would its first product be? What is my ideal film camera?

I haven’t worked out all the details, but it would basically be a combination of the Nikon FM, FE, and FA. Full range of mechanical shutter speeds (FM), aperture-priority mode and match-needle display (FE), shutter-priority and automatic modes and matrix-metering (FA). Plus the lens mount shutter speed dial of the Nikkormats. Size/weight halfway between the compact F’s and the Nikkormats.

Anybody else have an ideal film camera they wish they could see produced?

greg zinselmeier · Apr 26, 2020

yes, a complete manual rangefinder with a format of 28mm x 35mm (4x5) ratio with prime lenses of 21mm, 32mm, 43mm, 90mm, and 105mm. lets call the film size 235? like 135 but have paper back like 120 film. have more space between shots on film, so as to cut better, and enlarge better on 8x10 paper. the camera and lenses should nickle plated, not chrome, and leaf shutter so as to synch at any speed. with multi exposure capability mid roll on any or all frames. i.e advance shutter without moving film. NO BATTERIES.

neilt3 · Apr 26, 2020

For autofocus cameras I already have it , a Minolta Dynax 7 .
For manual focus a Minolta X500 .

If I wanted image stabilization it would be somewhere between Canon EOS Elan 7NE and an EOS 1V .
Although the EOS 3 is not so far off that anyway .

Huss · Apr 26, 2020

A Leica M7 with no DX reader and a shutter that times up to 1/8000 sec.

Chan Tran · Apr 26, 2020

Completely manual 35mm camera. About the size of the F3. Interchangeable viewfinder. No meter. Shutter can be and actually should be electronically controlled as it has to be better than 1/10 stop accuracy. 1/1000 or 1/2000 stop speed. No need for high speed. Ground glass focusing not split image focusing aid.

Rob Skeoch · Apr 26, 2020

I would like something that shot 120 film, but was a reasonable size. Don't need AF or auto exposure but it would be nice if it wasn't a rangefinder. Almost like a blad but smaller and with an eye level finder.

Paul Howell · Apr 26, 2020

An upgraded F5, not F6, with AF and metering from DF able to meter with all F mount lens including rabbit ears lens, and auxilly spit screen focusing screen when using manual focus lens and interchangeable finders.

Donald Qualls · Apr 26, 2020

greg zinselmeier said:
yes, a complete manual rangefinder with a format of 28mm x 35mm (4x5) ratio with prime lenses of 21mm, 32mm, 43mm, 90mm, and 105mm. lets call the film size 235? like 135 but have paper back like 120 film. have more space between shots on film, so as to cut better, and enlarge better on 8x10 paper. the camera and lenses should nickle plated, not chrome, and leaf shutter so as to synch at any speed. with multi exposure capability mid roll on any or all frames. i.e advance shutter without moving film. NO BATTERIES.

Aside from interchangeble lenses, you do realize you've reinvented 828 here, right? 828 was paper backed film 35 mm wide, 28x40 frame (reduce the mask width and you automatically get your extra frame spacing). A couple 828 cameras (like my Bantam RF) used film-driven wheels to stop the advance, hence needed the ruby window only for starting the film.

But why limit yourself to those focal lengths? Build it with a fast-sync Copal Square and you can sync up to 250 or 500, and not be limited by having a leaf shutter that has to be behind the rear lens element. Then build it in one of the existing RF mounts -- pre-War or post-War Contax, Nikon, Leica thread or M, and take advantage of the huge range of existing lenses (and any lens that has good corners on 24x36 should have good corners on 28x35). I've seen lenses up to 300 mm for the pre-War Contax/Kiev mount.

I once thought about making 828 with paper only on leader and trailer, like 220, to get more than the 18 frames (vs. original 8 or 12) that I was able to stuff into the spool when cutting down 120 for my Bantam RF; I was going to call it 228 (unperfed 35 mm film isn't impossible to get, just difficult).

Sirius Glass · Apr 26, 2020

Nikon F-100 without a doubt.

MattKing · Apr 26, 2020

An OM-4T with a mode that offers a full range of shutter speeds without a battery in the camera, and auto-focus that can be turned on and off.
With no change in size, weight or viewfinder visibility of course

Pioneer · Apr 26, 2020

A bit more robust Wanderlust Travelwide with a smoother focusing helical. And since I am so rich I may as well come up with a way to interchange lenses.

So far my Travelwide has been amazingly reliable. But I have dropped it in some rocks in a canyon once already (I pack it all over the place.) I was fortunate that nothing broke with the exception of a crack in one of the accessory shoes that was easily repaired.

PGillin · Apr 26, 2020

Nikon F3 with an FM3 shutter. Matrix metering would be nice, but 80/20 centerweight is good enough if it won't fit.
It would also be cool to make the shutter speed LED instead of LCD for easier visibility.
Minor tweaks really.
An in-built film advance, something like the 1-2 fps in the Konica Hexar, would also be welcome.

John Bragg · Apr 26, 2020

Reintroduce the Olympus OM3. I always wanted one but I love my pair of OM1n bodies. Awesome cameras.

Les Sarile · Apr 26, 2020

BayG75 said:
I haven’t worked out all the details, but it would basically be a combination of the Nikon FM, FE, and FA. Full range of mechanical shutter speeds (FM), aperture-priority mode and match-needle display (FE), shutter-priority and automatic modes and matrix-metering (FA). Plus the lens mount shutter speed dial of the Nikkormats. Size/weight halfway between the compact F’s and the Nikkormats.

That would be the FM3A - minus the matrix metering . . .

Les Sarile · Apr 26, 2020

John Bragg said:
Reintroduce the Olympus OM3. I always wanted one but I love my pair of OM1n bodies. Awesome cameras.

Let me reintroduced my OM3 . . .

Ariston · Apr 26, 2020

Les Sarile said:
That would be the FM3A - minus the matrix metering . . .

The FM3A is, indeed, my dream 35mm camera. Really just perfect. Too bad for me the cost reflects that.

Besk · Apr 26, 2020

My dream would be a Nikon F2 with a meter in a small prism such as the plain prism.

Ko.Fe. · Apr 26, 2020

I have one. Film M Leica. But it is terribly expensive to maintain, service is long waiting and it doesn't get better. Even Leica can't make them as good as they used to be.
So, ideal film camera is new, well working camera with real support. Something like Canon EOS used to be.

BayG75 · Apr 26, 2020

Les Sarile said:
That would be the FM3A - minus the matrix metering . . .

The FM3a is a wonderful camera, and the closest thing there is to my ideal camera. But not quite perfect - no matrix metering or shutter priority/auto modes. And unlike most people, I really like the lens mount shutter speed dial on the Nikkormats.

But since the FM3a is basically a combination of the FM2 and FE2, which have been my main 35mm film cameras for 40 years, I was very glad to see Nikon produce it.

Huss · Apr 26, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
Nikon F-100 without a doubt.

With a door latch that is not made of plastic so it won't snap.
With a more ergonomic grip.
With better focusing.
With an exposure lock function that you decide when it unlocks, instead of unlocking after every exposure.
With a higher quality skin that does not get sticky.
With dust seals in the film door channels.

That would be a great F100.
I wonder if Nikon makes something like that?

Huss · Apr 26, 2020

PGillin said:
Nikon F3 with an FM3 shutter. Matrix metering would be nice, but 80/20 centerweight is good enough if it won't fit.
It would also be cool to make the shutter speed LED instead of LCD for easier visibility.
Minor tweaks really.
An in-built film advance, something like the 1-2 fps in the Konica Hexar, would also be welcome.

I actually like this idea. F3 with FM3 shutter, F4 metering options (the matrix metering on the F4 is not programmed for chrome film unlike the F6), film winder from the F2 or FM2/3 (get rid of that sloppy mess on the F3), and meter readouts from the.... Leica R8/9. Best readouts ever.

Huss · Apr 26, 2020

Leica R9 with built in motordrive while maintaining the current size/shape/weight of the R9.

BradS · Apr 26, 2020

SLR: Nikon F2 with faster X-sync speed
Rangefinder: Leica MP

...but more importantly...
local pro film labs with friendly competent staff...and ubiquitous C-41 D&P service for color snap shots

and competent and honest independent repair shop who can buy OEM parts and get factory training and communicate and do a half way decent job of return shipping.

Cameras are plentiful, decent labs and repair shops are going, going...almost completely gone.

blockend · Apr 27, 2020

Rob Skeoch said:
I would like something that shot 120 film, but was a reasonable size. Don't need AF or auto exposure but it would be nice if it wasn't a rangefinder. Almost like a blad but smaller and with an eye level finder.

Some of the 6 x 4.5 cameras shooting 220 film got close to that ideal. Most were rangefinders, or scale focus however.

SilverShutter · Apr 27, 2020

Minolta X-300 with a metal blade shutter. Or better capacitors (but since those can be replaced...). Otherwise it's already perfect to me, even when I have more advanced or superior cameras.

My ideal film camera

BayG75

greg zinselmeier

neilt3

Huss

Chan Tran

Rob Skeoch

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PGillin

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Ariston

Besk

Ko.Fe.

BayG75

Huss

Huss

Huss

BradS

blockend

SilverShutter

My ideal film camera

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