Top 10 classic 35mm film cameras

leicarfcam · Feb 22, 2014

I'd have to add the Minolta srT-102 as well as most of the Retinas..maybe the IIa slightly ahead of the IIIc/C..

ir0nma1den · Feb 22, 2014

Yashica T4. I'm still looking for one.... ebay has not been kind.

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 22, 2014

Pentax Spotmatic and K1000.
Nikon F series.
Leica M-whatever

Tom1956 · Feb 22, 2014

No question the top 2 Japanese cameras were Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic.These 2 paved the way for every Japanese SLR to come. Most innovative category: Pentax Spotmatic.

Alan Gales · Feb 23, 2014

How about the lowly Canon Sure Shot? It brought the masses to 35mm.

Alan Gales · Feb 23, 2014

I like the Stereo Realist. The Leica of 3D.

pbromaghin · Feb 23, 2014

Dittos for the K1000. The VW Bug of the photography world.

How about the OM-1? Brightest viewfinder on the planet. I love the Minolta MDs, but couldn't say which one to include.

Jeff Kubach · Feb 23, 2014

Another good one is the Canon FTb,

Jeff

Les Sarile · Feb 23, 2014

frank said:
You got me. 1973 vs 1980.
How about the first widely accepted electronic pro 35mm SLR?

http://minolta.eazypix.de/slrtable/

It was the most battery dependent of the 3 kings of interchangeable viewfinder slrs released at that time - Canon New F-1, Nikon F3 and Pentax LX.

Is the criteria for top 10 a sales figure? If so then the Canon AE-1 was up there and likely the more cost effective models sold more than the top of the line.

Les Sarile · Feb 23, 2014

Speaking of low price top seller, I understand the Argus C3 was that and credited with popularizing the 35mm format. The "Brick" a top 10 classic candidate?

Tom1956 · Feb 23, 2014

Now I realize upon wasting my time following this thread, it can't be done in 10. Not without era or decade as a filter. To that end, I would nominate the period of 1964-1978, excluding Nikon FM and beyond. F2A and F2AS are honorary members. So, it would appear the time period defined is Nikon brand, Pentax SP series, Canon. Olympus OM-1. As a 5th possibility would be a toss-up between Minolta as a brand and Contax RTS. 1978 and after are the years that electronics and proprietary chips were shamelessly intertwined with the mechanics, and the resultant products cannot stand the test of time. And as time told the story, the electronics certainly did not. They still esist and many still work. But after that day, they're dumpster and landfill clutter.

benjiboy · Feb 23, 2014

First you must define your terms, what is a classic camera ?

pen s · Feb 23, 2014

The time period '64~'78 is a good choice. Certainly the 'golden age' of all mechanical 35mm SLR development. It could be extended from '59~'79 to take in the introduction of the Nikon F on the early end. That would be an even 20 year period.

My choice is the often mentioned OM-1, although they are all getting a bit long in the tooth now. The main issues with them seems to be dead meters and desilvering of the penta prism due to foam rot. But even those are useable by cleaning off the old foam under the prism housing (no need to replace it), and feathering the edge of the damaged aluminizing. Still noticeable in the VF but not unuseable.

cliveh · Feb 23, 2014

benjiboy said:
First you must define your terms, what is a classic camera ?

How about - A classic camera is one which makes a lasting impression beyond its normal life cycle on its circle of users, collectors and customers.

AgX · Feb 23, 2014

momus said:
I wonder if many of them will still be around 3 decades from now, so I guess the last men standing will be the classics. The Model T was a car that was known for simplicity and toughness. People said that you couldn't wear it out. When was the last time you saw one of those on the streets?

Memory gets lost. I wonder if now many people over here still know what a Ford T was, but they still know about a VW beetle.

elekm · Feb 23, 2014

I probably would view this list as those that are historically significant.

Otherwise, what you see are lists of people's personal favorites, which is why some have four or five Nikon models or just one camera listed.

It's an interesting question, albeit vague.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 23, 2014

Nikon FM

Too old to care · Feb 23, 2014

Pentax Spotmatic
Leica M3, M4, M6

jonasfj · Feb 23, 2014

Nikon FA

Skickat från min GT-P5210 via Tapatalk

BrianShaw · Feb 23, 2014

Saw one of those yesterday; what a pleasant surprise - a beautifully restored beetle! It turned my head and the heads of my friends. Just like the DC-3 that flew overhead did. Headturning is part of the definition of "classic".

AgX said:
Memory gets lost. I wonder if now many people over here still know what a Ford T was, but they still know about a VW beetle.

Les Sarile · Feb 23, 2014

cliveh said:
How about - A classic camera is one which makes a lasting impression beyond its normal life cycle on its circle of users, collectors and customers.

Still seems arbitrary and vague.

How about it is based on innovation to 35mm photography?

The Leica I gave us the 35mm camera?
The Retina I introduced the 35mm cartridge?
The Russian Sport (lesser known) or Kine Exacta (more popular in the west) as the first 35mm SLR?
Instant return mirror - Praktiflex (type of return?) or the Asahiflex IIb linked configuration used by everyone?
SLR with automatic aperture stop down Gamma Duflex or Zunow?
The first through the lens metering SLR? Pentax Spotmatic prototype or the production Topcon RE Super?

Other innovations that advanced photography?

benjiboy · Feb 23, 2014

I nominate the new Canon F1 the first professional film SLR with a hybrid electro-mechanical shutter that works at most of the shutter speeds except the slow ones without a battery if it becomes flat, and the first pro.SLR to have aperture and shutter priority AE with the AE motor drive FN or AE power winder FN attached.

fotch · Feb 23, 2014

This list is, so far, just a list of everyone's favorite, rather than anything related with actual sales, or what everyone would of liked to own but could not afford or justify. Still interesting though.

smithdoor · Feb 23, 2014

Pentax P3

Dave

AgX · Feb 23, 2014

The question remains what makes a camera "classic". Sales figures, being a milestone technically or by market intrusion?

Top 10 classic 35mm film cameras

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