Top 5 film cameras for under $1000

MartinCrabtree · Oct 18, 2014

Regular Rod said:
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

While there are no lies in that statement you've missed a truth. Let's see ya cover an F1 race with a 4X5. Or a nice medium format (limited shot per roll) for that matter. Horses for curses my friend.

And no F5? really............

benjiboy · Oct 18, 2014

JimCee said:
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

View attachment 96287

Everybody knows the the Canon New F1 is the "best manual focus S.L.R" ever made, the F3 is a nice camera but is almost completely battery dependant

Kyle M. · Oct 18, 2014

After having owned a Canon F1, not the F1n or new F1, a Nikon F3, and a Nikon F the Nikon F is the only one I've kept around. I didn't like the battery dependency of the F3, and I'm just not impressed with the examples of Canon lenses that I've owned. I'm mainly a 50mm shooter and both my Canon 50mm 1.8 and 1.4 seemed to lack the sharpness of my non ai Nikkor 50mm 1.4.

frank · Oct 18, 2014

I think the Nikon F4 is one of the best manual focus SLR's. It has a focus confirmation light for manual focus lenses and offers matrix metering with Nikon AIS lenses.

frank · Oct 18, 2014

Nikon F, F2, F3, F4, Nikkormat Ftn, ft2, ft3, Canon F1n, Leicaflex SL, Pentax KX

All really nice 35mm SLR's.

ciniframe · Oct 18, 2014

For a 35mm SLR no doubt a Nikon F3 or F2 is a top quality choice, just too big and heavy for me. I started out in 1974 buying a OM-1 because; (1) I had used Olympus Pen F's and Pen VF type cameras and liked the lenses. (2) The compact form, light weight and big bright viewfinder appealed to me. (3) It had interchangeable screens, vital for me. After 40 years I still prefer the OM-1 & 1n as my got to 35mm SLR. They are plentiful, cheap and reliable. Not perfect, what is, but checks the boxes most important to me.

JimCee · Oct 18, 2014

The Nikon F3HP uses a small alkaline LR44 battery, that lasts a very long time, you obviously carry a couple of spares. The whole argument about battery dependency was battered around at lot in the early 1980's when the F3 first appeared. The Nikon F3 went on to be the professional camera most used for the next decade or so until the autofocus cameras became the preferred camera for many professional photographers. A review in Shutterbug magazine's collector column about the Nikon F3 referred to the battery rage, with the comment that it seems "like a quaint anachronism" in the age of electronic cameras. Which it does..

http://www.shutterbug.com/content/s...tible-and-vintage-cameras-nikon-35mm-slr-saga

Jim

Chris G · Oct 18, 2014

The slow sync speed on the F3 is a deal breaker for me. I own one and use it... I also just ordered a replacement lcd from Nikon USA which means it is still serviceable. The F3 feels awesome... smooth... durable...

I have a Nikon FE2 which I feel is the best cheap old style film SLR, 1/4000 shutter, 1/250 sync speed, easy to view meter. Maybe it is not as durable as the F3, but much more functional.

That being said, if 35mm film photography is the end game, then I vote Nikon F100, or even an used F6... with a cheap 50mm, you are under $1000.. and miles ahead of an F3... but if emotion and nostalgia are the end game and not making pictures... well then its hard to be objective.

Regular Rod · Oct 18, 2014

MartinCrabtree said:
While there are no lies in that statement you've missed a truth. Let's see ya cover an F1 race with a 4X5. Or a nice medium format (limited shot per roll) for that matter. Horses for curses my friend.

And no F5? really............

I can remember when motor racing was photographed by photographers using LF cameras and by photographers using MF cameras including 6x6 TLR cameras...

RR

MartinCrabtree · Oct 18, 2014

Didn't say it cannot be done. But you will miss a few.

And it's cool to find someone around older than me. Gives me some hope.

Pioneer · Oct 19, 2014

This is a bit of a tough one. It is obvious that the article is looking at used cameras. The ones I have chosen are current but can often be found used at $1,000 or less. Interestingly, unlike some of the cameras in the article, these can still be serviced.

1 - Nikon F-6
2 - Canon EOS 1V
3 - Leica M6
4 - Fuji GF670
5 - Pentax 645Nii

Theo Sulphate · Oct 19, 2014

MartinCrabtree said:
And it's cool to find someone around older than me. Gives me some hope.

Hmm... I've looked at profiles, but can't find anything that indicates age. I'm 62 (can't even believe it), but started making photos long before I was a teenager.

There are so many excellent cameras under $1000 - 35mm, medium format, and otherwise. It was nice to see all those cameras in the window display and I hope that continues in Japan rather than having them flock to eBay. I miss seeing real camera stores in every town.

Hatchetman · Oct 19, 2014

I'm not a Nikon guy. Guess I can't play in this thread.

frank · Oct 19, 2014

My list of 10 best/classic/great cameras in no order:

Leica M2
Hasselblad 500cm
Rolleiflex E2
4x5 Speed Graphic
Nikon F2 plain prism
Plaubel Makina W67
Leicaflex SL
Hexar RF
Leica llla
Nikon F4

MartinCrabtree · Oct 19, 2014

A tad off topic but where can I rent an F6 for a few days? I cannot see where it can get better than an F5 but so many insist it's so. I must see for myself before dropping that much cash. Not joking a serious question.

Pioneer · Oct 19, 2014

I don't think you will find one for rent. Most rental outfits are only renting d@$@!&l.

I would never personally recommend this you understand, but I think your best option is to pick up a used one from someone with a liberal return policy. If you like it, keep it. If you don't, return it.

BTW, I used an F4 for work years ago and never cared for it. I picked up an F-6 a few months ago thinking I would hate it but found out I love it. Now I need to figure out how to get my hands on an AF 105 and 180 without actually breaking the bank.

MartinCrabtree · Oct 19, 2014

It's OK I'm rather fond of the F5 anyway.

Johnkpap · Oct 20, 2014

For $1000 USD there are alot of better choices......

35mm

Nikon F5 + Lens +SB28 -> The lens choice is huge
Nikon F2 + Lens -> The lens choice is huge
Pentax KX + Lens -> The lens choice is huge
Leica III F + F2 or F3.5 lens

Medium Format

Rollei SL66 with 80mm and WL
Hasselblad 500c/m with 80mm
Bronica GS1 with a lot of lenses
Fuji 645 rangefinder lots to choose from

4x5

Speed graphic
Toyo
the list is endless

Johnkpap

Henning Serger · Oct 20, 2014

Pioneer said:
This is a bit of a tough one. It is obvious that the article is looking at used cameras. The ones I have chosen are current but can often be found used at $1,000 or less. Interestingly, unlike some of the cameras in the article, these can still be serviced.

1 - Nikon F-6
2 - Canon EOS 1V
3 - Leica M6
4 - Fuji GF670
5 - Pentax 645Nii

+1.
I completely agree, Dan.

Best regards,
Henning

Henning Serger · Oct 20, 2014

MartinCrabtree said:
A tad off topic but where can I rent an F6 for a few days? I cannot see where it can get better than an F5 but so many insist it's so. I must see for myself before dropping that much cash. Not joking a serious question.

Hello Martin,

I've used both, and all the other modern Nikons as well.
The F6 is by far the best 35mm SLR ever build. It is a dream machine, perfect engineering.
The F6 is significantly improved compared to the F5.
All of the design flaws and disadvantages of the F5 are solved with the F6.
More than 20 significant improvements in detail, which are implemented into the F6.
The Nikon engineers listened to the critic from professional photographers concerning the F5 and wanted to build the best Nikon SLR ever. They were successful.
Here is a detailed test report from me about the F6 (in comparison to the F5):

http://www.aphog.de/wp-content/photoklassik/Nikon_PhotoKlassik_I.2014.pdf

Best regards,
Henning

Hatchetman · Oct 20, 2014

I don't think the F6 or M6 can be reasonably had for under $1000. Maybe if you throw a cheapo lens on it.

Colin Corneau · Oct 20, 2014

Maybe the point of the article was to stimulate conversation and get people fired up about film cameras...in that case, mission accomplished.

JimCee · Oct 20, 2014

Hatchetman said:
I don't think the F6 or M6 can be reasonably had for under $1000. Maybe if you throw a cheapo lens on it.

The Nikon F6 is shown on eBay as "Trending $925.00", and that seems to reflect the listings at this time. That is the price for the body only. I've never owned a Nikon F6, but I'm quite convinced that it's a fine camera. One feature of the camera that I think makes it a good choice is that it will allow use of matrix metering with older MF Nikon lenses. From my own experience with my Nikon N90s, matrix metering is definitely useful when shooting color positive slides films like Fuji Velvia 50 which has very little latitude for exposure. This is a feature that is lacking in the Nikon F100 which is otherwise a very nice camera.

Of course, one of the advantages of earlier MF Nikon cameras like the F3, FE, FM is that they can be picked up for a song in this age of digital cameras!

Jim

frank · Oct 20, 2014

Colin Corneau said:
Maybe the point of the article was to stimulate conversation and get people fired up about film cameras...in that case, mission accomplished.

Thumbs up!

Hatchetman · Oct 20, 2014

How about a Minolta CL for $250 and the best $750 Summicron you can find?

Top 5 film cameras for under $1000

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