What was the best decade for 35mm cameras?

Paul Howell · Jun 7, 2011

For 35mm my thinking is that the late 60s to the late 70s are the golden years, not only for pro level cameras, but also afforadable consumer level cameras including 35mm fixed lens range finders. At the pro level we had the Nikon F, F2, Canon F and new F, Minolta XK, Pentax LX, Lieca and Context systems with great lens.

ic-racer · Jun 7, 2011

drumminor2nd said:
So, I was thinking about my favorite cameras, and I realized most of them came from the 1970s. The Canon F1 premiered in 1971. The Nikon F2 and Olympus OM-1 came out in 1972. Pentax ditched the M42 mount in the mid '70s. The Multimode Minolta XD-11 came out in '77.

What do you guys think was the best (most important/biggest leap) decade for 35mm camera development?

Yes, late 1970s was the heyday for manual, metal 35mm SLR cameras.

Neanderman · Jun 7, 2011

1954-1980: Introduction of the M3 til the discontinuance of the Nikon F2. I'm not anti-automation, but for me it is all about being in control.

More than a decade, but I think this is more illustrative of a 'period' in the evolution of the all metal, 35mm camera.

anon12345 · Jun 7, 2011

1945-1955. Somewhere in there my Canon III came into being. Everything added to 35mm cameras since that significant event is just fluff.

Kisatchie · Jun 7, 2011

I vote for the 10 year span that produced the Nikon F2A and F3HP cameras.

Ralph Javins · Jun 7, 2011

Good morning;

With the understanding that I have lived in a fair range of the years suggested, I will offer my vote also:

My suggestion is the years from roughly 1960 to 1980. In that two decade time period, we had many very good mechanical camera designs. Those cameras will continue to function for many more years with just a CLA. And, the single focal length or "prime" lens designs were very well developed by then.

I do agree that the development of the electronically assisted camera functions from the 1980s to the present time has helped photography for everyone by doing many of the functions more precisely and faster than we humans can do them, such as light metering and focusing. However, we do need to watch what the automatic systems are telling us that they are doing. Having the focus system focus quite accurately on the background does not help the blurry subject standing before you. Yes, they have made it possible to more quickly get rapidly changing subjects onto the film than we could have done ourselves, but we do need to watch what they are doing for us.

Then there is the problem with the support for the electronics systems and the repair for them. A couple of my cameras require a battery I can no longer buy. "Repair" of an electronic part usually means replacing that assembly, if it is still available. Many of them are no longer being made. I have run into this also.

The mechanical cameras from the 1970s and earlier will continue to be functional and repairable. With a talented machinist or perhaps a watchmaker (for as long as those guys are still around also), we can have replacement spare parts made to keep those older cameras going. While I do like the features of the electronic marvels available to us today (I do like my Minolta X-700 and Maxxum 9/Dynax 9), my Nikon F and F2 and the Minolta SR and SR-T Series of cameras probably will outlive them.

Many may say that I am old-fashioned. They may be right, but with some knowledge of photography and the continuing availability of some kind of film in the 135 format, the cameras and lenses in my preferred range will still be working for at least as long as I will.

ka1kx · Jun 7, 2011

Very interesting replies!

For me, I'll have to go with the '80s. Starting with the F3's introduction to the F4's in '88.

upnorthcyclist · Jun 7, 2011

The Japanese Yen was very weak and the U.S. Dollar was very strong in the late 60s and through most of the 70s. American photography enthusiasts got a lot of bang for the buck then and high-quality Japanese cameras proliferated. Even Leica, through an affiliation with Minolta, used Japanese manufacturers to stay competitive then. When margins got tougher in the 80s, a lot of Japanese camera companies folded or merged and manufacturers started using a lot more plastic - relying on electronic features rather than high-quality construction for product differentiation.

Mike

fstop · Jun 7, 2011

I would say the 70s, and a little bit into the 80s. That period of time was when you saw the most amount of new features/concepts being introduced.The SLR craze started in the early to mid 70s and lasted a good 10 years.

Christiaan Phleger · Jun 7, 2011

I'm going with the decade of time from 1976 to 1986. Pre AF, lenses still were constructed well, with ED glass, MC and the rapidly improving computer ray tracing programs improving not only super wides but tele's (don't forget Internal Focussing). Bodies ranged from the F2 to the F3, FM/2-FE/2 FA for Nikon, A-1 AE-1 F-1 for Canon, the Excellent OM line (don't forget the OM-3), Pentax ME, Minolta pro bodies etc. And, TTL flash, the Vivitar 283, Fujichrome and HP-5. Before that era and after that era, things were different.

flatulent1 · Jun 7, 2011

I suppose it depends on how you define 'golden age'.

For my money, the best-ever 35mm cameras were built from the late '80s to today, including the T90, F4s, RTS III, EOS 1V, F6, and so on. But that's not how I define 'golden age'. Because all those cameras are basically the same, have the same features, do the same things.

I'm inclined to think of the 'golden age' as being one of great advancement, development, ingenuity, and, of course, a great product. An exciting period. Like the late '60s to the mid '80s. Cameras of this period weren't necessarily the best ever, and frequently they weren't the best of their time. But their designers had vision, and they had guts.

MattKing · Jun 7, 2011

The early to mid-1970s was when the market for 35mm grew tremendously. 35mm became much more common among those who wanted a "snapshot" camera. Remember that something as simple as an Olympus Trip 35 is also 35mm. Also, cameras as complex as a 35mm SLR became much more of a casual hobbyist's camera, rather than a camera intended for the limited, professional market.

With the expanded market came research, investment and innovation. Not just in cameras, but in films as well.

CGW · Jun 7, 2011

Herb Keppler's findings (from the link I cited above) from 1993-95. Recall his mention that the Canon AE-1 was the all-time top selling SLR around 1979-80. At any rate, read 'em and weep.

Number of serious amateur and professional photographers:
1981 1/2 million
1993 1/2 million
rate of growth = zero

Number of cameras sold in U.S.:
SLR cameras:
1981 2.6 million
1993 725k*
rate of decline = 146k less per year ==> Is 1998 the year of the last SLR?

Point and Shoot (camera + fixed lens)
1981 800k
1993 13 million

Disposable cameras:
1981 -
1993 22 million USA
1993 62 million Japan

35mm film market - color print film = 96% slides, B&W, etc. = 4%

Source: Popular Photography, Sept. 1993 p. 14, Keppler's SLR column
*Popular Photography, Jan. 1995 p. 18, Keppler's SLR column
(originally projected 850k in Sept. 1993, sold only 725k SLRs)

narsuitus · Jun 7, 2011

The 1970s (or more precisely, September 1971 to June 1980) was the best decade for 35mm cameras. This corresponds with the introduction and discontinuation of one of the best manual/mechanical cameras the Nikon F2.

resummerfield · Jun 7, 2011

The 70's saw the most innovation and variety of 35mm manual focus film cameras. Actually, the late 60's to the later 70's would be more accurate.

Chan Tran · Jun 7, 2011

The early 80's. Mid to late 80's cameras with AF but not really worked well. Mid 90's they worked well but digital was taking over.

tomalophicon · Jun 7, 2011

CGW said:
Herb Keppler's findings (from the link I cited above) from 1993-95. Recall his mention that the Canon AE-1 was the all-time top selling SLR around 1979-80. At any rate, read 'em and weep.

Number of serious amateur and professional photographers:
1981 1/2 million
1993 1/2 million
rate of growth = zero

Number of cameras sold in U.S.:
SLR cameras:
1981 2.6 million
1993 725k*
rate of decline = 146k less per year ==> Is 1998 the year of the last SLR?

Point and Shoot (camera + fixed lens)
1981 800k
1993 13 million

Disposable cameras:
1981 -
1993 22 million USA
1993 62 million Japan

35mm film market - color print film = 96% slides, B&W, etc. = 4%

Source: Popular Photography, Sept. 1993 p. 14, Keppler's SLR column
*Popular Photography, Jan. 1995 p. 18, Keppler's SLR column
(originally projected 850k in Sept. 1993, sold only 725k SLRs)

From what dark hole did he pull this information?

fstop · Jun 7, 2011

CGW said:
Herb Keppler's findings (from the link I cited above) from 1993-95. Recall his mention that the Canon AE-1 was the all-time top selling SLR around 1979-80. At any rate, read 'em and weep.

Number of serious amateur and professional photographers:
1981 1/2 million
1993 1/2 million
rate of growth = zero

Number of cameras sold in U.S.:
SLR cameras:
1981 2.6 million
1993 725k*
rate of decline = 146k less per year ==> Is 1998 the year of the last SLR?

Point and Shoot (camera + fixed lens)
1981 800k
1993 13 million

Disposable cameras:
1981 -
1993 22 million USA
1993 62 million Japan

35mm film market - color print film = 96% slides, B&W, etc. = 4%

Source: Popular Photography, Sept. 1993 p. 14, Keppler's SLR column
*Popular Photography, Jan. 1995 p. 18, Keppler's SLR column
(originally projected 850k in Sept. 1993, sold only 725k SLRs)

The AE-1 was talked about by everyone, it was so easy to use it brought people into the slr market that weren't interested previously.

fstop · Jun 7, 2011

tomalophicon said:
From what dark hole did he pull this information?

Probably his mind, Kepplers been around forever.

yeknom02 · Jun 7, 2011

I echo RidingWaves. Mid-to-late 70's to Mid-to-late 80's.

Aristophanes · Jun 7, 2011

fstop said:
The AE-1 was talked about by everyone, it was so easy to use it brought people into the slr market that weren't interested previously.

Including Stevie Wonder apparently.

bblhed · Jun 7, 2011

This decade is about the best ever, most of the cameras I wanted as a kid because they cost more than some of my cars at the time can be had for next to nothing. As for the tech jump, for my camera collection it is the same, but I would say the late 70's early 80's. Like them or not, Nikon did change the world of photography with the F4 back then. I don't think the photography world will see a tech jump like that again for a long long time.

fstop · Jun 7, 2011

bblhed said:
This decade is about the best ever, most of the cameras I wanted as a kid because they cost more than some of my cars at the time can be had for next to nothing. As for the tech jump, for my camera collection it is the same, but I would say the late 70's early 80's. Like them or not, Nikon did change the world of photography with the F4 back then. I don't think the photography world will see a tech jump like that again for a long long time.

Good point. I have bought almost every model camera I always wanted in the past couple years, a lot in the past few months and included a few I wasn't interested in back in the 70s and 80s.

Including Stevie Wonder apparently.

Kannon AE-1, a camera so simple even Stevie Wonder could use it.

wiltw · Jun 8, 2011

tribalista000 said:
I love em bell bottoms and platform shoes on the other hand, I'm grateful that Olympus came up with the TTL and OTF metering.

Olympus absolutely did not come up with TTL metering for ambient...cameras like the Topcon RE Super (Beseler Topcon Super D in USA) had TTL back in the early 1960s.

Olympus did develop TTL OTF flash metering with the OM-2 in 1975.

wiltw · Jun 8, 2011

Alan Johnson said:
From my small collection:
In the 50's the most popular camera with interchangeable lenses was the rangefinder, they were slow to use.
In the 60's SLRs with auto diaphragms and viewfinder needle metering were introduced.
In the 70's SLRs with zooms became available, lenses had bayonet fitting.
In the 80's AF SLRs with zooms became the camera of choice.
In the 90's AF SLRs were perfected.
IMO the engineering and finish of some popular 70's and 80's cameras was very nice.
When pushed to get good pictures I use a camera from the 90's.

The 1960's not only brought common availability of auto diaphram lenses but also common availability of instant return mirrors, as well as TTL metering
The 1970's also brought the Olympus OM system which revolutionized the size of a 135 format body, TTL OTF flash metering
The 1980's AF cameras sucked on response times with shutter lag! But the 1980's brought OM-4 with the best spotmetering system in a camera body, focal plane flash with high shutter speeds (like today's HSS).

I would certainly identify 1960-1980 as the technical heyday of the SLR, but I would have to state the most advancement of the genre was in the 1961-1971 period. 1971-1981 merely added more automation bells and whistles, but the mechanical camera disappeared in favor of the electronic camera and its absolute reliance upon batteries in that time period! Certainly the 1980s was the marketing heyday with the Canon AE-1 holding a key role in market development with the snapshooter SLR owner.

What was the best decade for 35mm cameras?

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