So you win the Mega Powerball what 35mm SLR would you bring back? Ower

eli griggs · Nov 26, 2021

Spell check changed it, again.

What I wrote was really "F1n".

In the F1N AE, I use the larger lithium battery, though I should buy some SR44

flavio81 said:
I understand, however, the F-1 winds the film in the "natural" direction and this makes it really easy to load. It's the easiest 35mm camera to load I own; setting aside more modern auto-everything machines like the T70.

What would be an update on 4LR44 batteries? four LR44 cells? that would be cumbersome, however there're already 3d printed adapters that let you do that. And the 4LR44 battery is easy to get.

Huss · Nov 26, 2021

Radost said:
MMount camera without a rangefinder with digital senser preview like an slr. but mirrorless.

Isn't that a Leica SL w/ M-L adapter?

benveniste · Nov 28, 2021

The Nikon F3 half-frame. Just because.

Bronson Dugnutt · Nov 28, 2021

benveniste said:
The Nikon F3 half-frame. Just because.

Make it a 24x65mm gate, externally adjustable to 24x36 and 24x18 with an intelligent film advance and I'll think about it.

benveniste · Nov 29, 2021

Bronson Dugnutt said:
Make it a 24x65mm gate, externally adjustable to 24x36 and 24x18 with an intelligent film advance and I'll think about it.

Whereas if I want 24x36, I'll just trot out my Nikon FA.

Dismayed · Nov 29, 2021

I'd opt for a Gucci or Louis Vuitton Leica. I'd just tart up the body of a Leica MP and hang a $25k price tag on it. Your initials in red rhinestone would be a $5k option. That way I won't have to tap into my Powerball winnings.

k.hendrik · Nov 29, 2021

I don't need a 'mega powerball'; I have a Nikon FM & a F5 ! all problems solved for a meager $500 :!

r_a_feldman · Dec 3, 2021

canonshotz said:
An Olympus Pen-FV.

+1, but with an OM1-like meter (no half-silvered mirror, for a brighter viewfinder). Might drop the self timer, as the lever always seems to get snagged.

Lenses for this Pen would need an extra lever to sense the f-stop, which would probably make the lenses larger in diameter, but the design goal should be for physically small and light lenses. And the lenses should use modern multi-coating.

Sirius Glass · Dec 4, 2021

I would go for a complete body replacement with an 18 to 24 year old hard body. None of this piece part replacement of body parts for me!

MarkS · Dec 5, 2021

Alpa. Hand-made by craftspeople, no enormous investment in tooling necessary, you could make many maker's lenses work.

Paul Howell · Dec 6, 2021

As the Alpa was the most expensive 35mm, wonder what it would cost to make today. I used a 11e for a week, a friend of mine wife inherited it from her uncle who worked as a biology researcher. He sent to me to make it was working, it was, smooth, jeweled movements, rather then the Kern Swiss 50 macro a Sigma 50 1.4 A lens.

Sirius Glass · Dec 6, 2021

Paul Howell said:
As the Alpa was the most expensive 35mm, wonder what it would cost to make today. I used a 11e for a week, a friend of mine wife inherited it from her uncle who worked as a biology researcher. He sent to me to make it was working, it was, smooth, jeweled movements, rather then the Kern Swiss 50 macro a Sigma 50 1.4 A lens.

In the second half of the twentieth century the Alpa was the Rolls Royce of cameras.

Paul Howell · Dec 6, 2021

When I was working the wires I only saw a few in field use, the lens were picked from the best of each focal length, German, French, Dutch, American and Japanese, then taken apart and rebuilt by Alpa, tested and stamped Alpa. Each lens was tested with a glass plate which stored for reference in case the lens had to be serviced. The Swiss Kern is the only SLR lens I know of that Leica shooters converted to M mount. The guy I recalled worked for a paper in Hamburg, had 2, a black and silver. Always thought it was waste, given he was shooting for news print.

To build an Alpa today by hand would require a team of watch makers.

The example I looked at was well used but well cared for. My friend's wife sold it at auction just before the prices fell.

Donald Qualls · Dec 6, 2021

Paul Howell said:
To build an Alpa today by hand would require a team of watch makers.

And hence, while it may be possible, would be too expensive to sell enough to bother. Or maybe not; Omega and Breitling are still selling (very expensive) all-mechanical automatic wristwatches, 30 years after every cell phone had a clock that never needed setting.

Paul Howell · Dec 6, 2021

How about 2, Argus C3, 3D printed, lens from China, a few stamped metal parts, assemble at home, and a reboot of the Alpa 11e with Sigma A lens.

MattKing · Dec 6, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
30 years after every cell phone had a clock that never needed setting.

Unless you are Canadian on Bell Networks :
https://www.narcity.com/bell-says-s...rect-time-change-on-their-phones-this-morning

Donald Qualls · Dec 7, 2021

Well, yes, as late as 1999-2000 I had to restart my phone to get it to pick up the time change (for a zone crossing or DST). But then, I had a Mulder phone at that time...

wtburton · Dec 7, 2021

I would have a new production of Ansco Memo 1927 cameras but with faster lenses (they are stock f6) and maybe some with wide angle lenses and viewfinder. That would also mean making new cassettes for them out of sheet metal and copper.

Biggest thing is having fast film to shoot in them, like maybe ektachrome 400? That would be a dream. They would need to be made out of metal or wood, if they were plastic they would float away.

Sirius Glass · Dec 7, 2021

warrebphoto said:
I would have a new production of Ansco Memo 1927 cameras but with faster lenses (they are stock f6) and maybe some with wide angle lenses and viewfinder. That would also mean making new cassettes for them out of sheet metal and copper.

Biggest thing is having fast film to shoot in them, like maybe ektachrome 400? That would be a dream. They would need to be made out of metal or wood, if they were plastic they would float away.

It depend on the lens f/stop and shutter speed.

Lee Rust · Dec 8, 2021

Something like a Pentax MX... small body, mechanical cloth shutter, manual split-image focus, center-weighted meter with commonly available battery. No other electronics. Adaptable to lenses by Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus, Minolta etc with various adaptors. A half-frame option or alternate version would be nice. Keep it simple and follow the Leica example by minimizing changes over the years. If you could manage to price it between $1500 and $2000 there might be enough sales to make it all worthwhile.

drmoss_ca · Dec 8, 2021

One thing's for sure - prices of used film cameras are rising, and that means the numbers of available, working cameras is falling. Our 'happy time' is probably over. Presumably agenda items at Harman, Alaris and Fuji are being tabled. They could band together with a company capable of making a basic SLR (Nikon, Canon, Ricoh/Pentax, Cosina) and not only own, they would be the market for film cameras, and they'd have a reason to keep making and selling film. If that doesn't happen, and I don't expect it to, the market for film will inevitably contract again, prices will rise, companies will get out, and one day, the last man standing will fold.

Lee Rust · Dec 8, 2021

LP records are doing well as a niche product because turntables are still being made. Without new equipment it is very likely that the market for 135 and 120 will eventually die out, so it may well be up to the remaining film manufacturers to get together and make general-purpose cameras in both formats. If new SLRs would be impractical or unaffordable, then how about some slightly more capable, durable and reloadable versions of the current disposable cameras that might sell in the $100 range?

Donald Qualls · Dec 8, 2021

Rangefinders aren't difficult to make and can be built without a beam splitter (though they're easier to use with). Come up with a shutter that can be made affordably, use the film transport from a "not quite disposable) and a simplish auto exposure system (like what was put in Instamatics back when that was a 28x28 square frame), and you could make a reasonably competent camera that could be sold for less than the cost of a late model used car. Modern high index plastics and molding technology would allow multi-element lenses comparable at least to the venerable Cooke triplet, at mass production prices.

You won't get an SLR or maybe even interchanging lenses (though they have that on the Diana F, which is still in production), but you'll get a useful rangefinder camera that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

removedacct3 · Dec 8, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
... Come up with a shutter that can be made affordably ...

Bellamy from Japan Camera Hunter has, or maybe had, the ambition to produce a high quality P&S film camera. I have not heard anything of it lately, but if I remember correctly the shutter was the main reason he had to give up the project. The last thing I heard from him was an interview on the Sunny 16 podcast stating that he invested quite a large sum of money and that he was hoping to get it going again in the near future. Do not know what the current status is as I quit listening to Sunny 16 and the likes.

Donald Qualls · Dec 8, 2021

I've had some ideas recently for a multi-speed all-mechanical shutter that could be built with the same technology that was used for the (still operating after 50-100 years) rotary shutters used in generations of box cameras (and modern Holgas). Stamped sheet metal moving parts, simple hairpin type springs, and ought to be able to get speeds from 1/15 to 1/200 plus B with only about 2-3 times the total part count of a Brownie shutter. Problem is, I've got no money and little free time to even try to build a prototype.

So you win the Mega Powerball what 35mm SLR would you bring back? Ower

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency