What was the MOST BEAUTIFUL camera?

[NJH]

Never likely to buy one but in terms of form following function and the impact it had in its era it has to be Leica M3 for me.

 

[Les Sarile]

More Kodak Ektra info -> Marc Rochkind on Kodak Ektra

Industrial heavy metal!

 

[M.A.Longmore]

.
The Minolta XE-7 !

.

 

[Les Sarile]

What ruins the LX for me are the lugs on the front. I've never handled one, but I imagine feeling those lugs all the time would annoy me to no end.

No more so then the strap lugs on any other.

The LX was also the last interchangeable viewfinder SLR with an unobstructed prism due to the elegant OTF metering system that didn't require that add on look.

It doesn't need a viewfinder blind as the meter is unaffected by light coming through it. No need for an extra multiexposure control. The most weather sealed of the bunch even production line tested for it.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I like the steam punk-ish look of the Leica llla with its dials and levers.

Ha! Probably the first time steampunk and Leica have appeared in the same sentence. Yet, Stephen Gandy shows that with the Leica IIIf, that "art, form, function, philosophy and style meet" in a camera:

https://www.cameraquest.com/3frdst.htm

Industrial heavy metal!

That is extremely attractive. I think it has more straight-cut gears than a Lamborghini Miura.


That's a nice website link. Marc's site is a treat for every APUGer:

http://basepath.com/ClassicCameras/begin.php

 

[cliveh]

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/iannorris/leica_copies/leica_copies_r/reid3.htm

Clive H

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Les please stop posting about the Pentax LX. I cannot afford another system.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Since this is a 35mm thread, Leica R4

In large format, the Sinar Norma was beautiful.

Graflex Model D

 

[Les Sarile]

Les please stop posting about the Pentax LX. I cannot afford another system.

I never even heard of the LX until I read about it at Photography in Malaysia - Pentax LX

There is no denying the elegance of the LX but the viewfinder choices and screens can be come in handy when needed.

 

[ColColt]

For sheer beauty alone...no contest.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-F2AS-...ilm-Camera-Body-BOXED-BEAUTIFUL-/271918667319

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Les I said please.

 

[Les Sarile]

Les I said please.

We're just a bunch of enablers . . .

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Les please stop posting about the Pentax LX. I cannot afford another system.

You don't want an LX. The lugs, the ones on the bottom of the body, will irritate and distract you. I suppose you could buy some accessory that covers these, but what you really want is a New F-1.

 

[benveniste]

35mm Only?

If were sticking staying with 35mm cameras, I'm got a soft spot for both the Olympus FA and the Rollei 3003. Otherwise, it's hard to beat a rosewood, black leather and brass field camera.

No love for the Nikon Gold FA? Me neither.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You don't want an LX. The lugs, the ones on the bottom of the body, will irritate and distract you. I suppose you could buy some accessory that covers these, but what you really want is a New F-1.

Nah, just buy one of every Nikon F body and Nikon N body.

 

[Rook]

Among my cameras, it's undoubtedly the Braun Paxette. Small and elegant... it feels like a well-crafted precision wrist watch in my hands.

 

[Nodda Duma]

Right now I'm lusting after a silver Nikon FM3a. So my pick is for that. Beautiful on the outside and the (engineering on the) inside. The design team was very attached to this camera and poured their heart and soul into it. The older engineers as the culmination of their careers and the younger engineers as an opportunity to be part of a dying legacy. That's a good mix for something great.

 

[phil0]

M3
Contax RTS

 

[Roger Thoms]

Wow, completely missed the fact that this was in the 35mm section. Sorry about posting the 5x7 although, you have too admit, it's a great looking camera.

Roger

 

[MartinCrabtree]

No apologies needed. Seeing a lot of cameras I never knew existed.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

And you're a bad bad man Les.


Pentax glass is cheap compared to Nikon.............dammit. But the LX commands a price like a Nikon so it must be all it's said to be..............again dammit.

 

[ColColt]

Anyone remember Miranda? I think I saw one.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Anyone remember Miranda? I think I saw one.

Carmen?

 

[ciniframe]

The question is so subjective. My opinion is that certain cameras just look 'right'.
My list?
Nikon F or F2 with plain prism finder (And I have never owned a Nikon)
Canon F1 , early first version
Pentax Spotmatic, from early to Spot F, does not include ES or ESII, they are too tall.
Olympus OM-1 series (these I do own)
Olympus Pen F with the gold gothic f (not the FT or FV with that ugly self-timer lever)Have a Pen F also.
Zeiss Box Tengor 6X9, The Zeiss of box cameras
Leica M2 (everything you need and no frills)

Well, that's my short list. My opinion and worth only what you paid for it.

 

[Paul Howell]

Anyone remember Miranda? I think I saw one.

I have a few Mirandas, the RE was good looking camera, as the G and D, the Sensormat or EE not so much, the Dx was also good looking. I think a very handsome cameras was the Alpa 10 and 11.