Top 10 classic 35mm film cameras

E. von Hoegh · Jun 16, 2014

benjiboy said:
These lists threads are pointless, who are your top ten mass murderers ?

I agree they're pointless, or worse. But here's mine, in no order: (there aren't ten either)
Contax II-III / early Kievs.
Nikon F
Leica M3
Leica IIIC
Retina IIc (I think - the one with the F:2 Heligon)
Kodak 35 RF
the Voigtlander with the barn doors

GRHazelton · Jun 16, 2014

E. von Hoegh said:
I agree they're pointless, or worse. But here's mine, in no order: (there aren't ten either)
Contax II-III / early Kievs.
Nikon F
Leica M3
Leica IIIC
Retina IIc (I think - the one with the F:2 Heligon)
Kodak 35 RF
the Voigtlander with the barn doors

Hear, hear it for the barn door Vitessa L, with the f2 Ultron, of course! Elegance, craftsmanship, and performance in a ergonomic package.

I think I might add the first pentaprism Pentax.

narsuitus · Jun 17, 2014

My Top 10 classic 35mm film cameras:

Argus C3 rangefinder*
Minolta Hi-Matic 9 rangefinder*
Canon QL17 GIII rangefinder*
Leica MP rangefinder
Olympus OM-1 SLR
Canon F1 SLR
Nikon F SLR with a standard meterless prism*
Nikon F2 SLR with a standard meterless prism* (my personal favorite)
Pentax Spotmatic SLR*
Fujica ST705 SLR*

* Those that I have actually owned and used

https://flic.kr/p/aBohWo

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jun 17, 2014

Leica Ia, best of all.

one90guy · Jun 17, 2014

My top 10, cameras I have owned or still using.
Argus C-3
Nikon F4s
Minolta SRT-101
Yashica TL Super
Olympus OM-10
Nikon FM-10
Nikon FG
Yashica GSN
Yashica any Lynx

David

E. von Hoegh · Jun 17, 2014

GRHazelton said:
Hear, hear it for the barn door Vitessa L, with the f2 Ultron, of course! Elegance, craftsmanship, and performance in a ergonomic package.

I think I might add the first pentaprism Pentax.

"A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality. "

It's important to bear this definition in mind, at a time when everything made before last Tuesday is "classic" and anything made a year or more ago is "vintage" (vintage when?) and they're all "awesome" mad

I'll put the Contax S before a Pentax, also the Kine Exakta. Although these are as much milestones/firsts as classics.

camtec · Jun 19, 2014

Definitely any of the Minolta SRT cameras and the XD-11. I would also add the XE-5 and XE-7. The XE and the XD series are the backbone of some of the Leica bodies. I have repaired SRTs that date back to the 60's.

camtec · Jun 19, 2014

The K1000 is mechanically similar to the Spotmatic; infact, many of the parts interchange.

camtec · Jun 19, 2014

I'm still repairing Canon AE-1s and AE-1 Programs and they are old.

kivis · Aug 22, 2014

Nikon f, f2, f3, Nikon FM/FE(2), Nikon FM3a, OM 1,2,3,4, Pentax MX, K1000, LX, Leica M2,3,4,6,7,MP, Canon AE-1

ZenziFriend · Nov 5, 2014

Leica I
Kine Exakta , first 35 mm SLR
Zeiss Ikon Contax II , first Rangefinder
Leica M3
Nikon F, conquered the Pros for japanese cameras
Topcon RE Super, first TTL open aperture metering
Pentax Spotmatic, succesful camera, killed rhe german camera industry and established TTL
Canon F1N, a beast
Minolta Maxxum 7000' first sucessful AF
Alpa, swiss made and very expensive

TheToadMen · Nov 5, 2014

Nikon S2 comes to mind ...

Les Sarile · Nov 5, 2014

cliveh said:
In say 20 or 30 years’ time, which 35mm film cameras do you think will be thought of as the top 10 classics?

To be a classic they have to be working still and these six - that are knocking on sixty, are completely accurate and functional with no electronics to fail! I have found that after a little practice and familiarity that today's film has so much latitude that I don't miss the meter.

There are probably others out there?

cliveh · Nov 5, 2014

Les Sarile said:
To be a classic they have to be working still and these six - that are knocking on sixty, are completely accurate and functional with no electronics to fail! I have found that after a little practice and familiarity that today's film has so much latitude that I don't miss the meter.

There are probably others out there?

But they are all SLR's, what about range finders?

Les Sarile · Nov 5, 2014

cliveh said:
But they are all SLR's, what about range finders?

Sorry but I am not an RF shooter as I much prefer the accuracy and utility of the SLR. But I did solicit if there are others out there!

benjiboy · Nov 5, 2014

All the cameras I own are "classics", all the brands owned by others are old crap

TheToadMen · Nov 5, 2014

cliveh said:
But they are all SLR's, what about range finders?

Here you are:

(Nikon S2 with 50/1.4, about 1954)

frank · Nov 5, 2014

TheToadMen said:
Here you are:

View attachment 97323 View attachment 97324

(Nikon S2 with 50/1.4, about 1954)

Beautiful! I'm happy for you that you went ahead and bought this.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 5, 2014

elekm said:
I enjoy the thoughtfulness of an all-manual camera. I like being able to select the aperture and shutter speed by turning two dials. I like being able to focus. And in some ways, I like the limitation of film - of not having an endless supply of photos at my fingertips.

That sums it up for me perfectly. My choices are these three all-manual meterless cameras:

Exakta VX
Leica M3
Nikon F

frank · Nov 6, 2014

My list of classic 35mm cameras

Leica llla
One of: Leica M2, M3, or M4
One of: Nikon S2, S3, or SP
One of: Canon P or 7
Contax ll

One of: Nikon F or F2
Nikon F6
Canon F1n
Canon F1 New
Pentax SV
Pentax LX
One of: Contax RTS, ll, or lll
Leicaflex SL

Rollei 35 S
Retina lla

Russ - SVP · Nov 6, 2014

Black Nikon FM.

TheToadMen · Nov 6, 2014

frank said:
Beautiful! I'm happy for you that you went ahead and bought this.

Hi Frank,
Thank you, and yes: I'm happy too. It's a beautiful piece of machinery and very nice to handle. I'm shooting my first film with it and focussing is a joy.
I can understand why this was a popular camera among the journalists in the Korean war.

Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl

flavio81 · Nov 6, 2014

It's easy, really...

#1 - Zeiss Contarex (any version)

For the ultimate in build quality both in camera and lenses

#2 - Contax RTS

The perfect marriage of Germany and Japan

#3 - Nikon F and F2 (tie) and Canon F1 and New F1 (tie)

Practical masterpieces.

#4 - Minolta XK

A forgotten masterpiece

#5 - Leicaflex SL

The high watermark of Leica SLRs

#6 - Leica M3

The best of Leica rangefinders

#7 - Kodak Retina IIIc

A portable and practical masterpiece of very high build and optical quality.

#8 - Minox 35 and Rollei 35 (tie)

Most compact 35mm cameras, with excellent lenses

#9 - Nikon F3 and Canon T90 (tie)

Electronic, modern classics

However, i'd rather keep a Mamiya RB67 or a Rolleiflex SL66 over any of the above cameras...

benjiboy · Nov 6, 2014

"All comparisons are odious" Jack Kerouac - Dharma Bums

rutxer · Nov 7, 2014

In 20-30 years, the Nikon FM3a: because it's mechanics will still work, and it will be only 25-35 years old

Top 10 classic 35mm film cameras

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