Top 5 film cameras for under $1000

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 17, 2014

I was drooling watching the video.

http://petapixel.com/2014/10/17/top-5-film-camera-lens-combos-can-get-1000/

summicron1 · Oct 17, 2014

KEH has Leica R4s for about $100 in exc condition. Hard to be much more "top" than a leica.

Vonder · Oct 17, 2014

summicron1 said:
KEH has Leica R4s for about $100 in exc condition. Hard to be much more "top" than a leica.

A few years back a local camera store got quite a few of these in, used. I don't know their history but all of them were in poor condition and felt cheap. I don't think this particular model is a good barometer for Leica longevity.

summicron1 · Oct 17, 2014

Wolfeye said:
A few years back a local camera store got quite a few of these in, used. I don't know their history but all of them were in poor condition and felt cheap. I don't think this particular model is a good barometer for Leica longevity.

R5 is about $200. R8 is around $600.

The R4 had issues in early models, but either they've all been repaired or tossed by now. They're nice cameras, they're Leicas. They just use film.

frank · Oct 17, 2014

If were talking slr's, then Leicaflex SL, baby!

One can buy a Leica M with used leitz or CV lens for less than $1000.

That list is just one guy's opinion. By no means is it absolute. Even experts would disagree.

danfogel · Oct 17, 2014

Those are odd choices. You could get an Olympus OM-4ti and a 50/1.2 for under $1,000. That would be a nice kit.

JimCee · Oct 17, 2014

That's a very fun video to watch - so many nice film cameras in those shops!

I still own, and use, a Nikon F3HP camera that I bought new in 1984. It's just such a nice camera, and (in my opinion) the best manual focus 35mm SLR camera ever made. Here's mine, along with its contemporary Nikkor AI-S lenses.

Jim

frank · Oct 17, 2014

Hasselblad 500cm with 80 Planar.

Rolleiflex E or F with 75 or 80 Planar f3.5 or 2.8

Newt_on_Swings · Oct 17, 2014

For those who can't watch the video, japancamerahunter recommends:
Contax g2
Nikon f3
Contax t2
Pentax 67
Canon p/ nikon s2

Pioneer · Oct 17, 2014

The only one I agree with at all on that particular list is the Nikon, and I don't think it is the best, just closer then any of the others.

Why, with literally thousands of cameras to choose from, would you pick cameras that can no longer be repaired to be on your top 5 list? Maybe Bellamy has a lot of these he needs to clear off his shelves.

Xmas · Oct 17, 2014

Only got one useful recommendation...

Top Rangefinder: The Contax G2 Fantastic fully-electronic rangefinder with some of the best lenses out there. Just make sure you get a good one cause it cant be repaired.
<oops and autofocus>

Top SLR: The Nikon F3 Super cheap, this pro camera has every setting you might want to tweak, a light meter and (not all versions) weather sealing.
<battery dependent end electro magnet for shutter - some pros stayed with their F2 or went for FM/FM2/FM2n>

Top Compact: The Contax T2 A tank of a compact camera which is good, because like the G2, it cant be serviced.
<oops>

Top Medium Format: The Pentax 67 This beast wont go easy on your wrists or your ears (extremely loud shutter not a subtle thing) but you get a lot of camera for your money.
<yes good camera>

Last Recommendation: Pretty Much Any Nikon Rangefinder A bit vague, but everything from the quality of the cameras to the quality of the lenses that go with them is great.
<only Nikon and short run of Cosina lenses fit, cept for Contax and FSU wides, slow mount, watch out for faint rangefinder images >

So top rangefinder

M2 or M3 with Cosina or Leica lenses
Canon P with Cosina or Leica lenses, clip on light meter if you need
Canon VI ditto
Canon 7 or 7z ditto cept bult in meter

check you don,t have a faint image, Ms can be refurbed but >>£

Top SLR

Nikon F2 or FM/FM2/FM2n

Top Medium

Mamiya C330 not that heavy and quiet

Stick at 3

each back smith maintainable and pretty reliable

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 17, 2014

I don't know what you're talking about that the G2 or T2 can't be serviced. The LCDs are the only things on them that have non-serviceable issues that I'm aware of. Perhaps they can't be serviced locally in the UK, but they can be serviced.

For an SLR, I'd also point a finger at the Contax RTS III for a fantastic 35mm SLR, and the RX as a close second.

For Medium Format, you can't forget the Rolleiflex 2.8 C, D or E (the F and GX bodies routinely sell for more than $1000, so they're out of the running).

snapguy · Oct 17, 2014

Fear

I fear we are not impressed. One could find five great cameras for a grand. I recently bought a Rolleiflex for $180 which tops all of those turkeys in the video. I recently bought a Nikon N70 for twenty bucks and got a 50mm f1.4 Nikkor thrown in free. The N70 isn't the perfect camera but it does the job.

Colin Corneau · Oct 17, 2014

Before we get into the inevitable cavlacade o' lists, it's worth remembering that Bellamy (Japan Camara Hunter) compiled this list as A) by no means conclusive, and B) cameras that pack as many features and as much quality as possible.

You could probably get an FM, for example, for less than an F3, but with the F3 you get weather sealing and High-Eyepoint view (on the HP model) as well as interchangeable screens among other features...I used to take the prism off my F3HP and use it as an impromptu waist-level finder, for instance.

It's an interesting feature and certainly whets my appetite for going back to Hong Kong and doing some wandering!

Jeff Kubach · Oct 17, 2014

Canon F1 is a good choice.

Jeff

Xmas · Oct 17, 2014

Colin Corneau said:
You could probably get an FM, for example, for less than an F3, but with the F3 you get weather sealing and High-Eyepoint view (on the HP model) as well as interchangeable screens among other features...I used to take the prism off my F3HP and use it as an impromptu waist-level finder, for instance.

The FM2 or F2 also do interchangeable screens, they more an exotic sales feature unless you use exotic lenses
If an F2 or FM gets wet you only need to remove the battery and shake dry they will still work

The only reason to remove the prism is to get the water out quicker

The choice is down to
If you need auto exposure you need an F3
If you dont you gotta carry spare batteries...
Or use manual cameras.

Mainecoonmaniac · Oct 17, 2014

I totally agree

Jeff Kubach said:
Canon F1 is a good choice.

Jeff

If you're a fan of Canon FD mount lenses, get a Canon F1(n). I've had mine for over 30 years and it's never failed me. With it's hybrid mechanical/electronic shutter, the camera will work with a dead battery. Another one built like a tank. Some how, the camera feels a little bit heavier every year .

frank · Oct 17, 2014

Even if you're not a fan of FD lenses, the F1n body is gorgeous!

Colonel Blimp · Oct 17, 2014

snapguy said:
I fear we are not impressed. One could find five great cameras for a grand. I recently bought a Rolleiflex for $180 which tops all of those turkeys in the video. I recently bought a Nikon N70 for twenty bucks and got a 50mm f1.4 Nikkor thrown in free. The N70 isn't the perfect camera but it does the job.

I had no idea my G2 was a turkey. It isn't a perfect camera, but it does the job too. I'm sure it is far worse than the wonderful and beautiful Rolleiflex. In any case, I bought mine for 200 euros, not 1,000.

John Koehrer · Oct 17, 2014

Opinions,opinions,opinions.

Loooong sigh.

benjiboy · Oct 17, 2014

Mainecoonmaniac said:
If you're a fan of Canon FD mount lenses, get a Canon F1(n). I've had mine for over 30 years and it's never failed me. With it's hybrid mechanical/electronic shutter, the camera will work with a dead battery. Another one built like a tank. Some how, the camera feels a little bit heavier every year .

If your camera has a hybrid electro mechanical shutter and uses PX28 batteries it's the New F1 or F1N, the F1n was the updated version of the original F1 that had an extended I.S.O. range, a larger lever wind stand off and a film reminder slot in the back, ran on mercury batteries and had a purely mechanical shutter

Ektagraphic · Oct 17, 2014

Nice video- fun to watch! I'm sort of surprised that the Rolleiflex didn't make it on this list...

2F/2F · Oct 17, 2014

I'm gonna Just answer this first, to see how it compares with the other guy's list:

Sinar P with a nice 210 mm lens (Schneider, Rodenstock, Fuji, etc.)
Mamiya RZ67 with 110 mm lens
Mamiya C330 with 80mm lens
Nikon F6 with 50mm lens (any of them are great)
Leica M2 with 35mm lens

All of these choices except the F6 and maybe the Leica also leave you with money left over to get additional lenses. But the F6 could be substituted for the F100 if you wanted more lenses, and the Leica could be substituted for a Bessa (perfectly fine camera, and your images will look identical to those shot on an M2).

EdSawyer · Oct 17, 2014

Rz67 with 110 or 65
Mamiya 7 with 80
Konica hexar af
Crown or speed graphic with nearly any lens
EOS 1VHS with 50/1.8

Regular Rod · Oct 18, 2014

I don't understand why any 35mm cameras are on this list? What's the point of such enormous cameras that make such little negatives? $1,000 dollars is a big budget. A decent 4x5 outfit can easily be had for that sort of money.

RR

Top 5 film cameras for under $1000

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