What is the most fabulous piece of film gear you've ever owned?

[Colin Corneau]

A Widelux F7. Truly unique camera, wonderfully sharp lens and I mostly used it on a few trips to China, so, magical memories associated with it, too.

The pictures I made with it there are among the best I ever made in my life. I was a moron to sell it and I'm trying to figure out how to get it back.

 

[Greg Heath]

My right eye

Like...

 

[Greg Heath]

We can only list ONE thing ? That's confusing to photogs !

I do love my 1946 Speed Graphic. Bought it for a $149, and took it apart and cleaned it and rebuilt it. fun. Amazing Images.

 

[Greg Heath]

Oddly the camera that struck me as the most impressive when I bought it is one I have no use for and it is too valueless to bother selling. I still marvel at my Nikon F100 when I pull it out of the closet however it's been years since I put any film in it and I doubt I ever will again. My roll film cameras are Rolleiflex and Pentax 67 and they give me fabulous results which trumps the fabulousness of the Nikon.

The F100 is a great camera... I love it too. Surprisingly they sell for up to $200 on Ebay. Great fun platform.. drop a nice Nikon-Zeiss 35mm lens on it, and it's AMAZING...

 

[Maris]

37mm f4.5 fisheye lens for my Mamiya RB67. Nothing swallows space better.

 

[naaldvoerder]

Definitely my Heiland Splitgrade.

 

[naaldvoerder]

A little gadget consisting of a piece of glass with a pin attached upon which is spun a cut out wheel with graduated cut outs. Lay on paper and spin while enlarger light on. Better than test strip for determining best exposure for development. Bought two way back when and still haven't had to use backup. Simple, cheap but fabulous.

Can you post a picture of this? I can not visualize what you mean.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Can you post a picture of this? I can not visualize what you mean.

+2 I've been around for awhile and have seen about everything, but this is new to me. Let's have a look please?

 

[choiliefan]

Can you post a picture of this? I can not visualize what you mean.

Is this similar to the Kodak Print Projection Scale (which doesn't have and spinning parts)?

 

[MattKing]

I've actually seen one being demonstrated. A friend has one and showed it in the regular "Show and Tell" section of my Darkroom Group's meetings.

It is really difficult to describe, but really ingenious when you see it.

It accomplishes what the Kodak Projection Print Scale does but it does it by essentially inserting a labelled, variable aperture into the light path.

 

[viridari]

I put this in the 35mm category, but it applies to ALL equip. My vote goes to the 50mm 3.5 Komuranon-S enlarging lens.

Olympus XA, not because of any technical pinnacles it has achieved beyond its diminutive size. It's a full frame 35mm rangefinder that takes up no more space than a wallet. The best camera, after all, is the one you always have with you.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Olympus XA, not because of any technical pinnacles it has achieved beyond its diminutive size. It's a full frame 35mm rangefinder that takes up no more space than a wallet. The best camera, after all, is the one you always have with you.

Exactly why I keep several working Minox 35's.

 

[freemanslim]

I have been seriously into photography since my early teens (in the early '70's). I have owned so many 35mm, medium and large format cameras. I don't know why I had never know, until late in 2013, that a 4X5 SLR existed. How had I not known this?
Anyway, I managed to get a Graflex RB Series D 4X5 in mint condition in 2013 and I consider it "fabulous".

May I know where can I find a 4x5 Graflex super D in mint condition as well mate?

 

[nsurit]

Like many, I own too much gear, however two (sorry, not one) lenses come to mind. Each just feels fabulous when working with them, The first is the 85mm f2 Zuiko for my Olympus OM series bodies and the second is the Tamron SP 180mm f2.5 used on the same OM bodies.

 

[Craig]

I'd have to say my RH Designs timer and Zonemaster meter. Truly made a huge difference to my success rate printing, and I can get to what I want the prints to look like much quicker than before.

 

[Scott Micciche]

Hasselblad 500cm, Nikon F4 and Nikon F2.

 

[benjiboy]

The" most fabulous item" I own is my Canon FD 35mm f2 Thorium lens, because it seems to defy the laws of physics in that at just about all apertures it makes images that are as sharp at the edges of the frame as they are in the centre.

 

[mike c]

500CM and lens

 

[destroya]

pentax 67ii. it just made me take better pictures. then runner up is my hasselblad pcp-80 projector. 6x6 slides projected 90x90 inches are awesome!

 

[Paul Goutiere]

My absolute piece of film gear?......I guess I'd have to say my Pentax Spotmatic I bought new in 1966. It started me on all the other stuff.

I still have it after all these years, (51 years) and it still works just fine.

 

[Arklatexian]

'Fabulous' is open to interpretation but for me it was my first 'serious' camera -- an Olympus OM-1 that I inherited from my parents and was later stolen in a burglary.

If "fabulous" can mean my first "serious" camera, then I must agree, it was/is my first serious camera, a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Busch pressman bought with saved money when I was 18. I still own it, enjoy looking at it, and just passed my 86th birthday. When I bought it and asked the owner of the camera store where it was purchased, who could I get to develop my films, he answered that people who buy that type of camera usually develop their own films and so began my desire for a darkroom which I haven't gotten over yet. The desire that is. I have the darkroom.......Regards!

 

[Arklatexian]

+2 I've been around for awhile and have seen about everything, but this is new to me. Let's have a look please?

+3 Add me to the list. I have never seen anything like this....Regards!

 

[John Bragg]

Nikon F5. It came late in the day for pro film cameras but is rock solid and highly capable. I was lucky enough to get one in near mint condition for £180 and, F6 aside, it is the pinnacle of Pro Nikon film gear. The extra weight and remarkable damping make it ideal for low light hend held shots with less risk of camera shake or vibration spoiling the shot. I have added a 50mm f1.4 af D and it is a dream combination which feels solid and inspires confidence. The weight is not an issue for me as I really don't notice it in use and feel that it is an advantage and not a hinderance.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I put this in the 35mm category, but it applies to ALL equip. My vote goes to the 50mm 3.5 Komuranon-S enlarging lens.

my self-madeZone Dial

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

...my first serious camera, a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Busch pressman bought with saved money when I was 18. I still own it, enjoy looking at it, and just passed my 86th birthday.

Do you still shoot with it? I know everyone is different, but if I had camera like that, I would have to "pull it out" at least once-in-a-while. Freestyle sells brand new Ilford 2.25" x 3.25" sheet film. Did they have a roll film back for the Busch cameras?