I’m only interested in a fully mechanical, non-electronic camera from the mid-70s era. I have no interest in autofocus, autoexposure, motor drives, or flash capabilities. I want a camera that I can carry around when I visit the city and take street photos (and satisfy my nostalgia for cameras of that era, particularly the cameras used by pros).
I already have medium format (I have a Hasselblad and an RB67) and large format (I have a Sinar F2 and a Toyo VX125) covered.
Yeah, but some members don't want to read your posts too literally because, if they did, they wouldn't be able to go on and on about a bunch of stuff you aren't interested in. Don't just think about yourself; think about their needs and desires. And, to be honest, consider yourself lucky no one has suggested you buy a Leica, even though it is the most obvious choice for someone who wants an all mechanical camera to shoot street. Those Leica love-in threads go on forever.
Well, Yeah, but.......... 9 months or 9 years from now, somebody MIGHT benefit from all the extraneous suggestions.Yeah, but some members don't want to read your posts too literally because, if they did, they wouldn't be able to go on and on about a bunch of stuff you've already said isn't a concern to you. Don't just think about yourself; think about their needs and desires.
Well, Yeah, but.......... 9 months or 9 years from now, somebody MIGHT benefit from all the extraneous suggestions.
BTW...........people looking at this thread 3 years from would have been searching for Nikon and Canon.
Not all the other crud.
I’m only interested in a fully mechanical, non-electronic camera from the mid-70s era. I have no interest in autofocus, autoexposure, motor drives, or flash capabilities. I want a camera that I can carry around when I visit the city and take street photos (and satisfy my nostalgia for cameras of that era, particularly the cameras used by pros).
I already have medium format (I have a Hasselblad and an RB67) and large format (I have a Sinar F2 and a Toyo VX125) covered.
I'd get a Nikon F Apollo with a nonmetering head. That meets your requirements perfectly. Mid-70s, manual, no electronics, motors, or meters. Standard for the working pro of that era.
Would you recommend Sunny 16 or do you have a meter in mind?
Would you recommend Sunny 16 or do you have a meter in mind?
Any number of great meters around. I use a Pentax digital Spotmeter, Gossen Digi-six or Sekonic L-308. I may not meter for every shot, but i'm not keen on ball-parking w the Sunny F16..... it makes for less consistent negatives and then you're fighting the negatives when printing.
I have a Pentax digital spot meter and a Sekonic L-308 too, but I don't want to carry them around when shooting 35mm, so my 35mm cameras have meters. I think a Nikon F2 with plain prism looks classic, but I wouldn't want to have to carry around a meter just so my camera looks classic.
I have a Pentax digital spot meter and a Sekonic L-308 too, but I don't want to carry them around when shooting 35mm, so my 35mm cameras have meters. I think a Nikon F2 with plain prism looks classic, but I wouldn't want to have to carry around a meter just so my camera looks classic.
The Revini meters are perfect for this role. They make, reflective, incident, and spot meters that are small enough to tote around. The reflective meter fits right on the flash shoe. HOWEVER, it doesn't fit that tightly, and I lost mine long enough to buy another, only to find the originalI now use a small leash to tether the meter to the camera strap ring, just in case it pops out of the shoe.
Those Reveni meters, especially with a tether, sort of ruin the classic look of a plain prism Nikon F2. They may work well, but they look pretty cheesy. If you want a meter, get an F2 with one of the Photomic finders. All these leads to the Canon F1. It is no coincidence that the Nikon F3 closely resembles the Canon F1.
Apollo F
The Apollos were the last run of Fs made in the 1970s. You can identify them because the film advance lever and self time lever are plastic coated:How do you distinguish an Apollo F from a generic F? Is it just a serial number range? Are there any functional differences?
Those Reveni meters, especially with a tether, perched on the rewind knob, sort of ruin the classic look of a plain prism Nikon F2. They may work well, but they look pretty cheesy. If you want a meter, get an F2 with one of the Photomic finders. All this beckons to the Canon F1. It is no coincidence that the Nikon F3 closely resembles the Canon F1.
Not a chance you can say that with a straight face in the 21st century on the internet and not expect to get at least a raised eyebrow.....
Giorgetto Giugiaro named car designer of the century in 1999 designed the F3.... it's a fine camera..... but no it does not resemble the Canon...
SecondedI think a Nikon F2 with plain prism looks classic, but I wouldn't want to have to carry around a meter just so my camera looks classic.
How do you distinguish an Apollo F from a generic F? Is it just a serial number range? Are there any functional differences?
But, 2nd thought, last time with my F and the plain prism, I fared well with the Sunny 16 rule...
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