Searching for a pro manual focus SLR

dynachrome · Jan 28, 2010

I have many nice manual focus SLRs. One of my favorites is the Canon F-1. It came out just as Nikon was transitioning from the F to the F2. I find the size and shape of the F-1 less ungainly that that of the F or F2. The meter is built into the body so the standard prism finder is not so big. You get a 12 degree spot meter and a nice variety of focusing screens. It seems more common to find an F-1 with a working meter or a meter which can be serviced than to find a Nikon F or early F2 in the same condition. The F-1 and F-1n models have the older CdS type meters. With a Nikon F2 you can get a later DP-11 or DP-12 meter prism and also have AI functioning. The problem is that the F2A and F2AS models are much more expensive. The newer Canon F-1N (1981 to about 1996) has improved metering, slightly improved finder brightness and more metering modes but is missing mirror lock-up. Motor drives for the Canon F-1 or Nikon F2 are large and cumbersome. If I need to shoot with a motor and I can live with no removable finder and 3.5 FPS then a Nikon FE or FE2 with an MD12 is a lot easier to handle. Both of these cameras have interchangeable focusing screens and that makes them easier to use with slower lenses or for macro work.

Pumal · Jan 28, 2010

Both; Nikon F3 and Canon F-1N nare great cameras, but I find myself shooting more with my Nikon F and the F2. I like to shoot with a Hand Held Meter anyway. I dont trust the ones in the cameras.

fotch · Jan 28, 2010

Hey, there are many good cameras, such as Leicaflex SL2 or the early Canon pro models. But, and its a BIG BUT, only Nikon has the lens compatibility that spans from the beginning to the most current models. Only Nikon. And the Nikon lens are probably the best Japanese lens ever made.

So, looking for the most bang for the buck with a quality camera with many many lens options, leaves only Nikon. Question is which one. Frankly, the minimum needed, IMHO, is ability to take a picture if the battery dies or no batteries at all, and MLU. Higher flash speeds are a bonus but never ever stopped me from getting a good picture.

robscomputer · Jan 28, 2010

Thanks again for all of the very helpful comments. I am leaning towards Nikon as posted about their lens selection and the ability to use the lens with the F4S (another favorite I hope to add someday). I totally forgot that the F4S could use manual lenses, very temping but I wanted a classic square brick of a SLR. I usually near a store or town so running out of battery power is not a big problem. I have lots of battery powered gear that have much shorter battery life, so I'll just bring spares.

Hoping I can someday buy all of the mentioned SLR's in this thread.

df cardwell · Jan 28, 2010

Best ever manual focus ? Leica R 8/9; R 6 / 7

For merely wonderful, EOS 1v (Af, but great manual focus)
Nikon F4 wonderful.
Nikon F3, wonderful.

And the last of the F1 series. greatstuff.

iamzip · Jan 28, 2010

I second the Canon T90, and suggest that it is indeed a pro quality camera. Some feel it to be the best manual focus SLR made, and it will work with the same lenses as you AE-1. I purchased a bargain model from KEH for about $90.

http://www.cameraquest.com/t90.htm

Greg Campbell · Jan 29, 2010

robscomputer said:
Thanks again for all of the very helpful comments. ...

I totally forgot that the F4S could use manual lenses, very temping but I wanted a classic square brick of a SLR.

Ah, OK.

Leicaflex is, IMO, pure mechanical porn. Light, precise, classic.

Canon F1 features brick-like durability, modular prisms, and a somewhat rare spot meter option. All this is somewhat overkill, but is fun to play with and is 100% practical.

2F/2F · Jan 29, 2010

Sounds like you already have Canon FD lenses.

I would suggest one of the two old F-1s. IMHO, the "best" professional 35mm camera ever made, all things considered. I keep saying I'd like a New F-1 some day, but I always realize that for what I do, there is zero advantage, and several disadvantages (most important being non interchangeability of accessories between the new and old F-1s).

FWIW, I like the Nikon F and F2 nearly just as much (I have three Fs - one just acquired - that I shoot alongside my F-1s and FTbs), and they were certainly just as good in quality. I just find the F-1s to be "cleaner" cameras to use, if you know what I mean. They are very, very basic machines. There is not a thing on them that is extraneous, not useful, that gets in the way or is awkward to use for me. Others' mileage may vary. Like I said, I love my Nikons, but if I had to pick one camera to win the "all time" award......it'd be the old F-1 (second model).

Philippe-Georges · Jan 29, 2010

fotch said:
Hey, there are many good cameras, such as Leicaflex SL2 or the early Canon pro models. But, and its a BIG BUT, only Nikon has the lens compatibility that spans from the beginning to the most current models. Only Nikon.

No it is not, for SLR's, Pentax goes a lot further/deeper, back till screw mount
And the Takumars are still legendary, way before the compatible Nikkors existed.

Those who shout the loudest are not always the best

Philippe

2F/2F · Jan 29, 2010

leicam5 said:
No it is not, for SLR's, Pentax goes a lot further/deeper, back till screw mount…
And the Takumars are still legendary, way before the compatible Nikkors existed.

Those who shout the loudest are not always the best…

Philippe

Additionally, pre AI Nikon lenses will only work on the the lowest-end Nikon SLR bodies now (D40, et al)...and that is with no meter and a manual aperture. That makes forward lens compatibility start with AI in the late 1970s, not the late 1950s, when the F came out.

Ironically, you do have stop-down metering when adapting pre-AI Nikon lenses to a modern Canon body, so if you want to use pre-AI lenses on a digital camera while using an in-camera meter, you are better off with a Canon body. This also means that you are not stuck with the bottom-of-the-barrel cameras only, but can use any Canon model you want.

RMP-NikonPro · Jan 29, 2010

2F/2F said:
Additionally, pre AI Nikon lenses will only work on the the lowest-end Nikon SLR bodies now (D40, et al)...and that is with no meter and a manual aperture. That makes forward lens compatibility start with AI in the late 1970s, not the late 1950s, when the F came out.

Ironically, you do have stop-down metering when adapting pre-AI Nikon lenses to a modern Canon body, so if you want to use pre-AI lenses on a digital camera while using an in-camera meter, you are better off with a Canon body. This also means that you are not stuck with the bottom-of-the-barrel cameras only, but can use any Canon model you want.

My Question is why? Why would one want to put Old dated lenses on a perfectly good camera when newer ones are available?? Why put Nikkor lenses on Canon??? (D40 with pre Ai lenses! Madness!!)

Nikon/Nikkor has a huge System! bigger than any other Manufacturer!
There is defiantly a Nikkor Lens somewhere that will fit a Nikon body!

why worry about pre Ai? get a Nikkormat!!!

Rol_Lei Nut · Jan 29, 2010

RMP-NikonPro said:
My Question is why? Why would one want to put Old dated lenses on a perfectly good camera when newer ones are available??

Because newer is not always better (or cheaper, or...).

Often "modern miracle" lenses are lacking things like smooth focusing mechanisms, DOF scales and metal.

Many of my favorite lenses are well over 30 years old.

RMP-NikonPro · Jan 29, 2010

Rol_Lei Nut said:
Because newer is not always better (or cheaper, or...).

Often "modern miracle" lenses are lacking things like smooth focusing mechanisms, DOF scales and metal.

Many of my favorite lenses are well over 30 years old.

Which pre Ai lenses is soooo good it's must be mounted on a New Body?
Why not a Nikon F2?

Paul Goutiere · Jan 29, 2010

A Nikon F2 with a little brassing, loaded with Plus-X, a 50mm f1.4 lens and a neck strap that looks like a decomposing band-aid is de rigueur for the seasoned photographer.

A camera like this is a babe magnet and it has been known to take pictures.

I cannot understand why anyone would want anything else.

Pumal · Jan 29, 2010

I often shoot with a 55mm Nikkor-SC Auto f/1.2 (30 or 40 years old.)

rhmimac · Jan 29, 2010

[nice new avatar]2F/2F

Or am I wrong?

rhmimac

fotch · Jan 29, 2010

leicam5 said:
No it is not, for SLR's, Pentax goes a lot further/deeper, back till screw mount
And the Takumars are still legendary, way before the compatible Nikkors existed.

Those who shout the loudest are not always the best

Philippe

Although I have owned several Pentax and they were ok, Nikon is way better. Also, Pentax changed the mounts from screw to bayonet although they did make an adapter. Hey, to each their own.

df cardwell · Jan 29, 2010

Paul Goutiere said:
A Nikon F2 with a little brassing...
I cannot understand why anyone would want anything else.

You kids with their fancy pants F2s.

Can't you stick to something tried and true ??

fotch · Jan 29, 2010

df cardwell said:
You kids with their fancy pants F2s.

Can't you stick to something tried and true ??

That is so cool.

2F/2F · Jan 29, 2010

RMP-NikonPro said:
My Question is why? Why would one want to put Old dated lenses on a perfectly good camera when newer ones are available?? Why put Nikkor lenses on Canon??? (D40 with pre Ai lenses! Madness!!)

Nikon/Nikkor has a huge System! bigger than any other Manufacturer!
There is defiantly a Nikkor Lens somewhere that will fit a Nikon body!

why worry about pre Ai? get a Nikkormat!!!

Wrong place for this set of beliefs! We are largely old camera/lens LOVERS here.

It is the same reason for any use of an adapter. You want to or have to use a certain lens, but the camera you want to or have to use will not take the lens.

First, the pre-AI lenses are outstanding. I like them better than the multi-coated ones.

Next, they are already there, and I have a much better selection than I do of Canon EF lenses (50mm 1.2 only). I do have a Nikkormat, and three Fs...and buying redundant focal lengths makes no sense to me when the lenses leave nothing to be desired.

Thirdly, I often want the imaging characteristics of certain older lenses when shooting certain newer bodies.

Then, they just get the job done. What more do most people need for most things?

Also, money doesn't grow on trees, and pre-AI lenses sell for dirt.

Pre-AI bodies have better lens compatibility than most post-AI models. It makes no sense for me to use an AI body when the F or F2 will do everything I need, and I can use AI or pre-AI glass on them.

Not that there is anything wrong with AI and later lenses...not at all...but they do not make older lenses obsolete. That is just crazy thinking.

The imaging qualities of lenses are not best judged by looking at specifications and technical tests. Technically, a 2010 Mustang 2+2 is "better" than a 1965 2+2...but I know which one I would drive if given a choice (and I did, for years).

I have to ask if you have ever seriously used any pre-AI lenses for day-in-day-out shooting. Before you knock 'em, try 'em.

fotch · Jan 29, 2010

What 2F/2Fsaid, Amen.

RMP-NikonPro · Jan 29, 2010

2F/2F said:
Wrong place for this set of beliefs! We are largely old camera/lens LOVERS here.

It is the same reason for any use of an adapter. You want to or have to use a certain lens, but the camera you want to or have to use will not take the lens.

First, the pre-AI lenses are outstanding. I like them better than the multi-coated ones.

Next, they are already there, and I have a much better selection than I do of Canon EF lenses (50mm 1.2 only). I do have a Nikkormat, and three Fs...and buying redundant focal lengths makes no sense to me when the lenses leave nothing to be desired.

Thirdly, I often want the imaging characteristics of certain older lenses when shooting certain newer bodies.

Then, they just get the job done. What more do most people need for most things?

Also, money doesn't grow on trees, and pre-AI lenses sell for dirt.

Pre-AI bodies have better lens compatibility than most post-AI models. It makes no sense for me to use an AI body when the F or F2 will do everything I need, and I can use AI or pre-AI glass on them.

Not that there is anything wrong with AI and later lenses...not at all...but they do not make older lenses obsolete. That is just crazy thinking.

The imaging qualities of lenses are not best judged by looking at specifications and technical tests. Technically, a 2010 Mustang 2+2 is "better" than a 1965 2+2...but I know which one I would drive if given a choice (and I did, for years).

I have to ask if you have ever seriously used any pre-AI lenses for day-in-day-out shooting. Before you knock 'em, try 'em.

Wasn't Knockin!! they were Questions!! Thanks for very Informative answers!!

:munch:

anthonyh · Jan 31, 2010

Apart from wanting to own the thing (know the feeling....I have so many bodies I just bring out and polish/fondle on a regular basis)...what do you want to photograph? For example...if landscape is your thing then a rangefinder makes sense. Motor driven film SLR's don't make sense anymore.

Second point...buy the best condition gear you can.....if you don't like it there is a very good chance you will get your money back when selling...possibly more if you buy wisely. I have bought several bodies on eBAY...all mint / excellent condition...and the couple I have parted with...I sold for a profit.

Third point...I also have the T90......superb camera...but it doesn't have that 'feel' the classically designed cameras have. I still sometimes use my FTB QL...which I bought as an art student in the late 60's. It was so good I bought 2!

removed-user-1 · Jan 31, 2010

RMP-NikonPro said:
My Question is why? ... Why put Nikkor lenses on Canon???

My answer to this is best summed up with the following: 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor

My answer to the OP's questions is Nikon F3. I've only had mine a little while but it is great and can take almost any Nikkor F-mount lens ever made.

robscomputer · Jan 31, 2010

anthonyh said:
Apart from wanting to own the thing (know the feeling....I have so many bodies I just bring out and polish/fondle on a regular basis)...what do you want to photograph? For example...if landscape is your thing then a rangefinder makes sense. Motor driven film SLR's don't make sense anymore.

Second point...buy the best condition gear you can.....if you don't like it there is a very good chance you will get your money back when selling...possibly more if you buy wisely. I have bought several bodies on eBAY...all mint / excellent condition...and the couple I have parted with...I sold for a profit.

Third point...I also have the T90......superb camera...but it doesn't have that 'feel' the classically designed cameras have. I still sometimes use my FTB QL...which I bought as an art student in the late 60's. It was so good I bought 2!

I'm mostly interested as using the camera for a film camera replacement to my DSLR. I take photos of almost everything but lately it's been night and experimental with of camera flashes. I don't think it's photos were I'll need a motor drive but for the price it would be handy, also I like the heavy feel of a motor drive.

Searching for a pro manual focus SLR

removed-user-1

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