Search for a Durable, Fully Manual SLR

[Andrew Horodysky]

Canon F-1 (old model) or FTb, or Nikon F or F2 or 'Mat, or Pentax Spotmatics or K1000, or Minolta SRTs, a 50mm f/1.4, and a high-quality service and repair job is what I would get to start.

Ditto.

 

[Pumal]

Nikkormat of any kind
Nikon F
Nikon F-2
Pentax K1000
Canon F-1

 

[André E.C.]

Don't look further than an Nikon F2 or a Canon F-1, I still have the F2, sold the F-1, both fantastic devices, built like tanks.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

Nikon FM, FM2 New or Nikon F2AS.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

 

[T42]

Brick meets Brick

i still think that if you smashed a nikon f and a nikkormat ftn together, the nikkormat would win.

That's funny, Frank!

I have owned both and can attest to the fact that both are heavy and rock solid. And during that time, BP (before plastic), the build quality of the Nikomat was, to my eyes and hands, exactly equal to that of the Nikon F which I had at the same time.

In my personal view, the greatest down side of the lower Nikons is fractional viewing, and their inability to switch out viewfinders. There is considerable viewfinder clipping in the Nikomats/Nikkormats that I have owned over the years, but the viewfinder of F, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, D3, etc are all essentially 100% frame accurate viewing.

I'm glad you never engaged in the destruction testing you visualized. If I could keep only one film SLR, it would be an F2. With today's suppressed prices, I cannot imagine going just partway. I would buy another F_ class Nikon without question if I needed another film SLR. The Canon F1 would be in the running too, if I did not already have an arsenal of old Nikkors.

To those who like Pentax, I generally agree. However, I would just add that I think that any serious student class SLR should have DOF preview. But many do not. The K1000, unlike more upline bodies, does not have DOF preview control on the camera's body. Some old M42 lenses do have the A/M slider, though. One could use the M setting on these for seeing DOF.

Happy day.

 

[Stevopedia]

If you're interested in Pentax and like the K1000 you'll love the KX--the KX is a K1000 that has everything that's missing: DOF preview, mirror lock-up, full information VF, and a self-timer. The MX is a good choice too, as are all the Spotmatics.

As for other brands, where I have less experience, the Minolta SRTs and the mechanical Olympuses are all great, as are the mechanical Nikons and Canons.

 

[Amir Aziz]

If you already have your dad's lenses from the Pentax ME-F and want a mechanical body? I completely agree with Steve and Chris, it has to be the Pentax KX and at a push the Pentax MX or the Ricoh XR-1.

But if you want to start a system from scratch the Pentax Spotmatic F is a gem that gives you access to countless M42 mount lenses.

Incidently I had a problem with a Pentax ME-F once the shutter jammed. All it required was a simple fix that involved removing the bottom plate and manually holding a cog back while advancing the shutter advance lever, which then allowed me to fire the shutter.The camera actually has one mechanical speed 1/125th.You might get lucky and the ME-F may just requires 4 new LR-44 batteries, 2 for the electronic shutter and 2 for the focus confirmation. Other common faults are that the mirror gets stuck to the mirror foam which becomes sticky over time.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I completely agree with Steve and Chris, it has to be the Pentax KX and at a push the Pentax MX or the Ricoh XR-1.

But if you want to start a system from scratch the Pentax Spotmatic F is a gem that gives you access to countless M42 mount lenses.

I think the deciding factor should be how often you change lenses:

If rarely, the Spotmatic F is a great camera (or an older Spotmatic - see caveat)*.

If often, you'll probably find using the screw mount very slow and frustrating.

* Caveat: Many M42 lenses (especially of German manufature) won't mount on the Spotmatic F (but will on the "classic" Spotmatics).
Some of these, like the Zeiss Jenas, are some of the best M42s ever made: A limitation which should be balanced against the convenience of full-aperture metering..

 

[timk]

if you up "tank" in the dictionary and there will probably be a picture of an F2. And if you want a camera built like one you can't go past it.

An Om-1 is another good choice it is much smaller and lighter but not as solid, it would be much worse off if you hit it against a rock or something than the F2.

 

[rafaelpeme]

The Nikkormats are cheap AND solid.
The only thing i don't really like in my FT2 is the imprecise meter, but maybe it's just mine.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

if you up "tank" in the dictionary and there will probably be a picture of an F2. And if you want a camera built like one you can't go past it.

But do tanks take good pictures? :confused:

A camera might do better...

 

[benjiboy]

Some very durable cameras have been suggested by our members but whichever one decide to you buy I would suggest get it CLAd before you use it in anger if reliability is you're prime consideration , the majority of them will need the foam light seals replaced and the lubricants will have dried out and need replacing, and the metering checking and calibrating, all these cameras are at least twenty years old and have most probably never had any maintenance since they were new.

 

[nickandre]

But do tanks take good pictures? :confused:

A camera might do better...

Neither do cameras. People take pictures

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Neither do cameras. People take pictures

But where do you load the film?

 

[Pumal]

I load mine into a 'tank'; the Nikon F

 

[cooltouch]

Well, I haven't read all nine pages of this thread, so I don't know where it's drifted to by this point, but I'll go ahead and mention my recommendations based on the OP's requirements.

In order of preference for each brand --

Canon: Original F-1, FTb
Nikon: F2, Nikkormat FT2 or FT3
Olympus: OM-1 MD
Pentax: KX, KM

Of the above, my favorites are the Original Canon F-1 (2nd version), the Nikon F2, and the Pentax KX, in that order.

 

[Dawes71]

Having used Pentax, Olympus & canon in the past I'd go for Pentax MX or LX. Nikons are good but they poke me in the eye with their wind on lever!

 

[kivis]

Nikon:
Nikormat FTN(2)(3), Nikon FM, FM2, FM3A, Nikon F, F2
Olympus:
OM1, 3
Pentax:
Spotmatics
minolta:
SRT's

 

[Andy K]

I would recommend the Cosina Voigtlander Bessaflex TM. Fully manual with M42 mount, so there are myriad superb lenses out there that will fit. If you're lucky you might still find one for sale new as they were only recently discontinued.

 

[illumiquest]

Everyone is going to have a different opinion about what the best all manual SLR is but really there are many cameras which will suit your needs just fine. It really depends on what lens system you'd like to get stuck with.

Nikon - You can use the lenses many of their DSLR bodys (this also drives up the price of their MF lenses)
Minolta - Very cheap right now and many of their cameras are brilliant. I'd get an SRT rather than the X series when they started making plastic junk
Pentax - The M42 Screw mount lenses are actually fantastic and usually quite reasonably priced. If your dad already has some lenses you might be able to save some coin by going this route. The newer bayonet cameras are also quite good although they started to cut corners with the build quality. With the old screw mounts you also have the option of using a bunch of different brand M42 lenses from various manufactures.
Canon FD/FL - The older FD/FL lenses and cameras are dirt cheap right now since they can't be used on anything. I've always found their layout somewhat annoying and it's almost like they're built to be used on an auto mode. The exception might be the F1
Olympus OM - Probably my favorite of all the older 35mm's. They're built very well and using one is a pleasure. A decent OM-1 or 2 can be had for very reasonable prices and unless you're getting into some of the rare lenses, most of the lenses and accessories are very cheap.

Why not stop by your local camera shop and take a look around, find what works best for you. Most shops will give you a week to try out a camera and return it if it's not what you're looking for.

 

[donbga]

Any suggestions/info would be great!

Nikon F!

 

[elekm]

Older film SLRs are very reasonable. I'd buy a few, figure out which one you like best and sell the others. (I might already have answered this with a similar reply.)

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I can't believe we're on page 10 and no one has mentioned the Leica R6 and R6.2. Salgado used one for years including during the dirty days of the first Gulf war when he shot for National Geographic. This is an outstanding manual everything SLR.

I never owned one but did have an R5. It wasn't straight manual through.

Best lenses on the market as well. The 90mm F2 I owned was outstanding and the 180mm F3.4 was crazy sharp. Wish I'd never switched to Nikon but the newspaper was supplying the Nikon toys and the Leica gear was on my own nickel.


-Rob Skeoch

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I can't believe we're on page 10 and no one has mentioned the Leica R6 and R6.2. Salgado used one for years including during the dirty days of the first Gulf war when he shot for National Geographic. This is an outstanding manual everything SLR.
-Rob Skeoch

Well, I did mention the Leicaflex SL & SL2, which IMHO are much better than the R6 (apart from size & weight)...

 

[Paul Armstrong]

Nikon F or Leicaflex SL, Or Even a NikKormat FTn. I've got (2) of each of these(Actually 3 leicaflexes) and they are all wonderful, reliable cameras. I've seen the Nikkormat go for $50.00 on ebay and the Nikon F go for $100 so like the other guy said, you could buy a couple and see what you like. Some people don't like the fact that you have to slide off the entire back(and find a place to put it or hold between your knees) to reload the Nikon F, it doesn't just swing over from a hinge on the left like virtually all other cameras of this type. Money an object-look for a nikkormat, have a few hundred-go for the Leicaflex. That goes for the lenses, too. The leica lenses will cost more than the Nikkor lenses.