What other cameras should I be trying

[Zorkiphoto]

I'd like to see what you think of Argus rangefinders, the c3, c33, c4 or c44, with other than the stock 50mm lenses attached. Also what do you think of the Kodak Signet series?

Hey Michr - I would like to have a play around with an Argus C3 or similar - they're not as common here in the Uk as they are in the US.

Not shot with a Signet at all - worth a crack?

S

 

[Zorkiphoto]

My respect for trying Lubitel 166, FED 50 and rest of FSU gear!
Subscribed

Thanks Ko.Fe - hope you enjoy what you read.

You know what. the FED 50 is a little cracker. Having huge fun with it at the moment...

S

 

[Zorkiphoto]

Konica T or T3 with 57 1.7

Kowa STR

Petri EE

Topcon Super D or RE

Minolta 102 or 202

Yashica FX

Mamiya 6, the folder not the new model

Yashica 635 if you can one with the 35mm adaptor.

Entry level AF

Nikon N 55

Canon Rebel,

Minolta 5000

Pentax PZ 7

Quite a list there - and nothing so far on the list, though I've been keeping my eye on Mamiya Six prices. I met a Swedish photographer once who had taken some amazing pics with one.

 

[Zorkiphoto]

I would be interested in reading a retrospective review of the Nikon SP, comparing it with modern cameras. Some say that it outclassed early Leica M series cameras at its introduction. It is still highly thought of, so much so that Nikon built a retro batch of 2500 pieces, sold only in Japan, during 2005.

Not quite enough in the fund for a Nikon SP, unless I win the Lottery...

S

 

[cuthbert]

I've thought about getting Russian / Ukraine Nikon mount lens to play with. If it's good wide open (not "cloudy") then I'd be happy with it. OT: My new Nikkor-H 50mm f2 has that haze/cloudiness wide open, but is sharp @ f/2.8.

This is a good shot of the Helios 81N wide open on my F2A and Superia 200:

Another one:

Unfortunately no swirly bokeh, but light years improvement from a Nikkor 50mm f2 IMO.

 

[elcabezagrande]

Some of the early compact AF point and shoot cameras, like the Konica C35AF, Minolta Hi-Matic AF or AF2, Nikon L35AF, and Canon AF35M or AF35ML.

 

[Aleksej6]

One of the best camera to use is Contax RF and their various copies. I have an excellent Kiev IV of the Seventies, it is really quiet, cheap, precise focusing, good optical quality, little.

 

[Paul Howell]

Quite a list there - and nothing so far on the list, though I've been keeping my eye on Mamiya Six prices. I met a Swedish photographer once who had taken some amazing pics with one.

I have a Mamiya 6, got about 25 years ago, now needs need seals, with a lens shade one of the best MF lens I have ever used. At the 25 pound point the Topcon 100 or Uni or a working Kowa STR would be fun. As I understand it many of Kowa lens were designed by Fritz Hintz at Kailfit including the Kowa 50 F 1.9 and 1.8. A Topcon D or SuperD will likely be over your budget.

 

[michr]

I've owned a Signet 35 (non functioning shutter, which I hear is common) and a Signet 80. Both cameras have coupled rangefinders. From what I hear the 35 has a great lens, and the styling of the camera is unique. It's also built like a tank, with an all-metal body, allegedly designed for military use and for use with gloves. The 80 is the only one in the series with interchangeable lenses. The entire body is made out of bakelite, the film is just spooled an area on the left side of the camera without a takeup reel. Three focal lengths were made, and changing lenses is very simple. Kodak also made the 30, 40, and 50, similarly styled non-interchangeable, non-rangefinder cameras.

I think they're worth a try.

 

[4season]

Zorkiphoto, it looked like your link to the Lomo LC-A review is broken on your web site?

How's about reviews for:

Zorki/Zorki C SLRs
Fujica Mini
Lomo LCA-120

 

[Zorkiphoto]

The list would be VERY long... i will limit myself to suggestion for 35mm cameras
that are interesting and/or very good for some reason.

I am putting the "must test" cameras underlined.

Compact
Minox 35 (any)
Rollei 35 (any)
Voigtlander VF101 ( a rare one )
Zeiss Contessa (original folding camera)
Olympus Pen S
Olympus Trip 35
Olympus XA (or variants)
Olympus 35RC (or RD or SP)

Rangefinder
Nikon SP
Canon 7SLeica M3
Leica M4
Kodak Retina (any)
Yashica Electro 35GSN
Minolta Hi-Matic 7
Forget the Canonets... they are overrated and this comes from a Canon fanboy like me.

SLR
Nikon F
Nikon F2
Nikon F3
Nikon F4
Nikkormat FT2 or FT3
Nikkormat EL
Nikon FG
Nikon FE/FE2

Canon Canonflex R2000 (if you can get one)
Canon Canonflex
Canon FTb
Canon F-1
Canon New F-1
Canon A-1
Canon AE-1
Canon T90

Pentax Spotmatic SP
Pentax Electro-Spotmatic ESII
Pentax MX
Pentax LX

Minolta XK
Minolta XE-5

Leicaflex (any)

Alpa (any alpa reflex)

Zeiss-Ikon Contarex (any)

... the list can go on forever

Wow - thanks Flavio - that is quite the list...

There's a few I've already reviewed..

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My main SLR outfit is four ESIIs and a bunch of SMC Takumars - great cameras, and really nice for travelling.

I've been blown away by the quality of the Olympus 35RC - I'm taking it on a few upcoming trips to Istanbul and Seville... it's a brilliant little camera.

I've also got a Minolta XE-1 that I'll review at some point in the next year... a beautiful piece of kit.

Lots else to discover - thanks for so many suggestions.

S

 

[Zorkiphoto]

I love Kodak Retinas! I'd love reading about them on your blog I follow

Thanks, Zanxion ;-0

I've never shot with a Retina. I'll keep my eyes open.

 

[Zorkiphoto]

Ricoh Five One Nine, Fujica V2, Chinon Bellami

Thanks BeeGee

The V2 looks fantastic - will have to add that one to the list.

I have a Chinon Bellami already, but I've yet to put film through it. But it's fully working and will get reviewed for sure.

 

[Zorkiphoto]

SLRs of a given decade and price point are all much of a muchness, with very few exceptions. Folders, box cameras, up market Instamatics, Werra, Mamiya Press, TLRs and AF zoom compacts are under represented in tests.

Good point, worth bearing in mind when looking for possibles.

I am shooting a lot with a Lubitel TLR at the moment. It's enjoyable.

 

[Zorkiphoto]

Any of the Minolta SRs or SRTs are classics and reliable. I used them for decades.

Thanks Sirius - the next SLR to be reviewed is the SRT 100X - taking it to Istanbul next week...

 

[mweintraub]

I've also got a Minolta XE-1 that I'll review at some point in the next year... a beautiful piece of kit.

Lots else to discover - thanks for so many suggestions.

S

The XE/XE-7 bodies are great. I had one and it was just a pleasure to use. The winding is the smoothest I've used. (never used a Leica, so that's probably on par). Probably another reason Leica used the XE for their R3.

I sold mine because of the jumpy meter. Kinda wish I kept it and fixed it.

 

[Zorkiphoto]

I saw you had a Soviet Camera Section on your blog. I would suggest looking into the Pentacon Six (P6) , usually comes with the Biometar 80mm 2.8, but I've heard great things about the Flektogon 50mm. This is a medium format camera as opposed to the majority on your blog which appeared to be 35mm

Hi Sceptic

I used to have a P6 but found my Kiev 60 way more useable thanks to more of the frame in shot.

I do however still have the 50/4. 80/2.8 and 120/2.8 lenses, all of which are fantastic.

S

 

[Marvin]

Minolta X700, and other MC/MD cameras. I have a Minolta Maxxum 9xi that I have been having fun with.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

A lot of the "must review" cameras have been reviewed countless times on the internet and one more won't be that useful. I would select from the suggestions those cameras for which there is less attention.

A good example is the Canon EF ("the Black Beauty") of 1973-1978. Aside from a Wikipedia entry, I haven't found a single review of this camera - not even on MIR.

 

[Paul Howell]

After some thought Olympus IS , range of bridge camera, Olympus made many models, I see the basic 35 to 135mm going for as little as $2.00 on line. The zooms are APO, some with ED glass, macro, all seem to have M, S, A, and P exposure mode. I have my eye a 25 to 100.

 

[Zorkiphoto]

At that price point

Konica A or A3, stripped version of the T and T3
Petri FT or EE
Kowa STR, leaf shutter very good lens
Topcon 100, another leaf shutter, good lens, different mount than D or Super D.

Nikon N 55
Canon Rebel
Pentax ZM manual focus in a AF type body.


May be difficult to find film.

Pentax or Minolta 110s.

Rolli 126 SL

Kodak Tourister with 100 4.5

Any number of AF point and shoots

Thanks PDH...funnily enough, I've been looking at a Kowa leaf shutter SLR... I got a KOwa E a few years back with the meter was massively underexposing.

I'll keep an eye out for the Petris aswell.

Cheers

S

 

[Zorkiphoto]

OT: how is the 88CM? Some people say it's a remarkable improvement, others that it's like the 88 just more expensive.

For the Soviet glass (Kiev were made in Ukraine, not Russia) I always loved it, my Arsat 50mm f2 N (the old Soviet Helios 81N developed for the Kiev 17/18/19/20 series) is better than the Nikkor 50mm f2 and 1.8...usually Nikonians goio berserk when I write that.

I have a Kiev 19M wwith an erratic meter - it's worth keeping just for the Arsat. I've got some beautiful shots with it.

 

[Zorkiphoto]

Another vote for the Canon FTb, out of the plethora of 35mm SLR's I've used it's definitely my favorite. I got mine KEH EX for $35.00, it was listed as having an inoperative meter but it works seems to work fine for me. I'm using a 1.5v alkaline even though it was originally designed for a 1.35v mercury cell, and it's spot on with my Gossen Luna Pro F and the metered finder on my 645 Super. Also the Pentax Spotmatic, K1000, MX, Olympus OM-1, Nikon F, and F2 are among other favorites of mine.

Cheers Kyle - consider the FTb on the shopping list.

S

 

[Jim Jones]

Quirky American answers to expensive German 35mm cameras just before and after WWII were the Mercury and Mercury II half-frame models. The design was largely original. The rotary focal plane shutter was simple, reliable, and more accurate than shutters in Zeiss and Leitz products. Unfortunately, the range was only from 1/20 to 1/1000 and B, except for one model that went up to 1/1500. The Mercury featured the World's first hot shoe flash. The cameras had interchangeable lens ability, although focal lengths other than the original 35mm are rare. The die-cast body was sturdy and fairly heavy. The pre-war Mercury used proprietary film, and cannot be used with today's film. No rangefinder was included, as that would have increased the cost and greatly increased the bulk due to the rotary shutter housing. I used one in the early 1950s, and found it to be reliable. The f/2.7 triplet lens was comparable to that in the Argus C3 and other cameras in that class.

 

[Paul Howell]

Thanks PDH...funnily enough, I've been looking at a Kowa leaf shutter SLR... I got a KOwa E a few years back with the meter was massively underexposing.

I'll keep an eye out for the Petris aswell.

Cheers

S

Petri is an interesting camera, the lens seem sharp enough, the Peri 135 3.5 is listed on few sites as one of the shaprist, I have an FT and EE, in breach mount. I have the 55 1.9, a 135 2.8 a 200 and a 70 to 230 zoom, contrast is somewhat low, I took the bottom cover off the FT, shutter is run by a set of tension springs. Perti moved to a M42 mount just before going out of business, or at least the camera business, some sites indicate that Petri made telescopes for a few years. I don't know if the brand was sold and used to market other cameras.