what features do you like/dislike on different cameras or lens systems?

mcgrattan · May 16, 2007

I love the way my Zorki 2c feels in my hands, I love the fact that despite being 50 years old the shutter speeds are bang on and the frame spacing more even than on relatively new SLRs I own. I even like the knob-wind.

I hate the dark, claustrophobic viewfinder.

I hate noisy motorwinds on modern SLRs even though I like (sometimes) the autoexposure, and the autofocus capabilities.

David Brown · May 16, 2007

Kathab said:
I like the fact that after 50 years of black and white photography, ...

50? :confused:

Kathab · May 16, 2007

50?

David Brown said:
50? :confused:

When I said "50", I meant I had had 50 years of black and white photographic experience!!!

copake_ham · May 16, 2007

There is one thing I like about my D70 that I wish I had on my F5 and that is a LCD with a menu system for making various setting changes!

I love the F5 - but making changes to settings requires holding buttons while turning wheels etc. And it means looking at rather obscure graphics on the monochrome screen. Oh for a LCD screen with menu system and simple scrolling etc.

David Brown · May 16, 2007

Kathab said:
When I said "50", I meant I had had 50 years of black and white photographic experience!!!

Perfectly understandable. My apologies.

I love the RB67 I've had for a bit, except for the mirror lock up! If one leaves the mirror "up" the camera still operates and makes all the right sounds as if one has taken a picture, but one only finds out when there is a blank frame (or frames) after processing.

One knows who one is ...

Snapshot · May 16, 2007

I'm a fan of the 35mm format as it allows me to take pictures in a flexible manner. It requires only a small amount of setup and advanced features in the equipment add to its versatility. While there are many features I like about 35mm, especially my F100, I have couple of issues, which are as follows:

- No lens interchangeability among the major camera manufacturers.
- Image stabilization built into lenses rather than camera bodies
- Pro Silent Wave lenses tend to be be bigger/bulkier than their non-SW counterparts.
- No MLU or virtual MLU.

darinwc · May 16, 2007

I hate the support for apeture-priority canon has on their older cameras. I had an AE-1-Program for a while and while it was supposed to support apeture-priority it never seemed to get the exposure right while in that mode. I traded that for a T-70 and had the same problem.

PhotoJim · May 16, 2007

mcgrattan said:
I love the way my Zorki 2c feels in my hands, I love the fact that despite being 50 years old the shutter speeds are bang on and the frame spacing more even than on relatively new SLRs I own. I even like the knob-wind.

I like knob wind too! Don't ask me why. (I don't know why.) I much prefer my knob-wind Zorki 4 to my lever-wind Zorki 4K, even though the cameras are essentially identical when you ignore that feature.

PhotoJim · May 16, 2007

darinwc said:
I hate the support for apeture-priority canon has on their older cameras. I had an AE-1-Program for a while and while it was supposed to support apeture-priority it never seemed to get the exposure right while in that mode. I traded that for a T-70 and had the same problem.

The AE-1 Program is program mode and shutter priority (plus manual)... it doesn't have aperture priority. You needed the A-1 or the AV-1. (The T90 has it too, I think. Perhaps some other of the newer FD bodies.)

darinwc · May 16, 2007

"The AE-1 Program is program mode and shutter priority (plus manual)... it doesn't have aperture priority. You needed the A-1 or the AV-1. (The T90 has it too, I think. Perhaps some other of the newer FD bodies.)
__________________"

lol that explains it.

ricksplace · May 17, 2007

I like the mechanical wonder of the Retina 3c, and the barely audible "tick" when the shutter fires. Same with my Rolleiflex.
I like the simplicity of my MEsuper. I don't like auto focus.
I like the quirkiness of my Pentacon SixTL but don't like the weight. The Zeiss lenses are incredible, and the russky lenses are no slouch either. 13 shots per roll of 120 is cool too.

copake_ham · May 17, 2007

On the "negative" side, I will say that the flash attachment via an adapter slipped over the rewind knob is a real PIA on my otherwise beloved F3HP.

bjorke · May 17, 2007

I like wireless flash.

I like the Hasselblad shutter/aperture rings.

I like lens focus levers (the one thing missing from the Bronica RF).

I like meters that I can set to spot (and spotmeters with a nice zoom range).

I like VF markings that are truthful, not "the meter reads an area somewhere around here."

I like things that I do not worry will break or fail.

I like USM and FTM.

I like CFn4 (and its Contax etc equivalents).

I like that my Elan 7 weighs 1/3 as much as my 5D, makes 1/10th the noise, & would cost 1/30th as much to replace.

If it were only the size of my old A-1....

I like looking at the ground glass in a TLR. All the other issues above are practical, this is just a simple experiential pleasure.

darinwc · May 17, 2007

I hate cameras where the shutter speed is controlled with 2 buttons that are out of reach and too small... Examples are the Pentax Super Program and Canon T-70.. If they had made the buttons larger and placed them so they were accessible while shooting... that would have been ok.

Magnus W · May 17, 2007

darinwc said:
I hate cameras where the shutter speed is controlled with 2 buttons that are out of reach and too small...

Total agreement!
Example:
Pentax 645; buttons 'n stuff = hate
Pentax 645n and 645nII; twisty knobs = love

-- MW

kwmullet · May 17, 2007

I love medium and large format cameras that feature bellows focusing (as opposed to lens-based [SIZE=-1]helical focusing) and focal plane shutters because of the possibility of using barrel lenses and the fact that you get much closer minimal focusing distances with non-macro lenses.

I love medium format cameras that fit in the hands like a 35mm SLR. That's one of the main things I like about my Kiev 60.

I have plastic construction. I don't care if it's supposed to be robust. It just feels wrong.

Even if they're less accurate, I prefer mechanical shutters. I can always compensate for shutter accuracy in development by inspection. Lack of batteries is one less thing to worry about. If my spot meter runs out of battery, I can always expose by experience. If my shutter runs out of battery, I'm dead in the water.

I love as fast of of a lens as I can afford. The brighter image makes focusing so much easier and give me that little extra speed in the odd "available darkness" shoot. I'll take speed over features anyday. To wit: I use a Canon FL 1.2 55mm normal on my Canon F1. If I were inclined to use the meter, I'd have to use stopdown metering with that lens, because it's FL, not FD.

I love the smell of old cameras. When I get my face close to an old camera, it's like its soul is wafting up into my sinuses and guiding me through the process of taking a picture.

The front-mounted shutter release on my Kiev 60 took a wee bit of getting used to, but now, I prefer it to other shutter releases on MF cameras.

I tried my best to turn an RB67 into a walking around camera, I got a multi-angle speed grip, but it never really happened. I'd inadvertantly bump the rotating back all the time, and the shutter wouldn't fire and I'd lose the shot. It was heavy as a tank which isn't a shot killer in itself, but it's basically a cube with a lens on it, which made it ergonomically difficult for me.

mw_uio · May 17, 2007

I love 'Aperture Priority' on my F3HP with a 28/2.8 for fast street shooting, as I just have my camera strapped to my shoulder, and my F3 about hip level and fire away.

Mark
Quito, EC

F3HP/MD-4, 24/2.8, 28/2.8. 85/1.4

Jerry Thirsty · May 17, 2007

The film advance lever on the Nikon F3 is hands-down the smoothest, easiest film advance I have ever used.

I hate having to use zinc-air batteries in old cameras designed for mercury batteries.

narsuitus · May 18, 2007

Features I like:
1. Longevity of lens mount--I like being able to use lenses that I bought decades ago on brand new camera bodies
2. Quiet operation of rangefinders and twin lens reflex cameras
3. Interchangeable lenses
4. Perspective control and depth of field control feature of view cameras
5. Modular camera design
6. Ergonomic design

Features I dislike:
1. Hard to read menus on tiny screens
2. Built-in obsolescence
3. Focus and/or exposure locks that are activated by slightly depressing the shutter release button because there are times when I cannot always trust my shutter finger to apply just enough pressure to lock the focus and/or exposure without tripping the shutter.

Thorney · May 18, 2007

I love my Rollei 35S for it's cultic hipness, 2.8 zeiss, and 1/3 stop shutter and aperture settings. I adore it's lack of a rangefinder and that the flash mounts on the bottom of the camera. What a little gem!

Contax 139Q - what can I say? Love the Zeiss lenses, hate the leatherette that came off from my nose oils... Love that it interchanges with Yashica bodies and winders. Absolutely love the internet guy who sells replacement camera leather (his contax leather is great stuff).

Bronica ETRSi - when your 50mm 75mm and 150mm lenses all take the same size filter and lenscap how can you not love it? The feel of the camera in my big ole mitts (size 16 ring) when it has the speedgrip on is blissful. Hate that Bronica is discontinued.

Calumet/Cambo 4x5 - I've had 4 of these over the years: Super Cambo (1980s); Cambo 45N (1990s); Calumet 45NX (2000s) - love the revolving back feature as I made a panoramic film holder by cutting a darkslide in half; and recently a CC-400 Calumet. Superb cameras all with the best availablity of accessories at a sane price. I've been able to use Schneider, Nikkor, Caltar, Rodenstock, Wollensak Graphic Raptar, and Goerz lenses on them - can't beat that!

Ansco 8x10 - My current paramour because she is in pieces on my workbench as a new bellows is being made while I restore her. I have a 480 APO Nikkor barrel lens ready to go for this camera.

Pavel+ · May 20, 2007

I love the choices we have now - in this photographic renaissance which we are lucky to be alive in.

I hate how the culture in America has changed where street photography is now looked at with suspicion.

I hate my bank account.

jleavesl · May 21, 2007

I love the cheap prices for great glass and bodies on the Canon FD system.

I love the fact that I could pave a driveway with Canon F1ns and then pick one up and use it months later.

I hate the fact that my Ftb is dieing

I love the metering and weight of my Nikon F5.

I hate small children (not really related to the topic at hand, but I do).

John

darinwc · May 21, 2007

jleavesl said:
I hate small children (not really related to the topic at hand, but I do).

Aw, how can you say that? I get all teary-eyed whenever i see film/video of little ones. And I cant bear to listen to any news of child abuse. But then I have 2 little ones so that may make a big difference.

jleavesl · May 25, 2007

darinwc said:
Aw, how can you say that? I get all teary-eyed whenever i see film/video of little ones. And I cant bear to listen to any news of child abuse. But then I have 2 little ones so that may make a big difference.

I'm not saying beat them... eventually they grow up and become somewhat tolerable (they are actually alot of fun when they hit 5 or older.... younger than that and they just break stuff and smell funny).

John

Shawn Mielke · May 25, 2007

I like the options of speed and handholdability that comes with the 35mm format. I also particularly like the number of films, especially black and white films, available within it. May I be able to shoot Neopan 1600 for the rest of my days.

I love my F6 period.
Viewfinder, ergonomics, metering options, AF accuracy.

I love the 50mm focal length and I love that one of the most inexpensive optics for this system is also one of the best, the 50mm f1.8 afd (super sharp, low distortion, relatively fast).

I dislike that there are so few fast, high performance AF primes being made for this system. The 50mm f1.4 is too soft at wide apertures and with too much distortion. The 85mm f1.4 is better, but there ends the list, other than what's available on the used (often manual focus) market. I like that Canon, on the other hand, is producing a range of such optics (24mm f1.4,35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.2, 85mm f1.2).

I love that Zeiss has produced the 50mm f2 Makro ZF for Nikon and look forward immensely to working with it.

what features do you like/dislike on different cameras or lens systems?

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