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What was the MOST BEAUTIFUL camera?

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That Zone VI is actually a Tachihara or Wista. The original Zone VI made in Vermont is larger, more utilitarian. But this thread is in the 35mm forum anyway.
 
darinwc said:
That Zone VI is actually a Tachihara or Wista. The original Zone VI made in Vermont is larger, more utilitarian. But this thread is in the 35mm forum anyway.
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I was wondering why someone specified 35mm above, when there isn't any reference to 35mm only in the post title. For those of us who just click "new" to read new posts, we (or at least I) most often actually don't notice which forum we are in!

35mm is much more limiting. Though there is, of course and as seen here, of course considerable variation in 35mm cameras there is not nearly as MUCH as among medium and large format cameras. All 35mm SLRs (even Exacta to something like, say, my black Pentax LX) have a pretty similar design. Many 35mm rangefinders can be difficult for even knowledgeable people to tell apart without a name plate or close look. P&Ss look different but I wouldn't call many of them beautiful.
 
Roger Cole said:
...
P&Ss look different but I wouldn't call many of them beautiful.
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One attractive design was the titanium bodied GR-1; a truly pocketable camera:


IMAG6231-1.jpg

IMAG6232-1.jpg


It also allowed a fair bit of control: aperture priority or program mode, exposure compensation, and an impressive viewfinder display of information.
 
It looks nice, in a functional kind of way, but I wouldn't call it beautiful (nor would turn down one given to me.)

But yes, some of them are really classy. I love the 35Ti:

D3S_6690-1200.jpg


And the top panel:

03b.jpg
 
I almost wish I hadn't posted that. I recall what the 35Tis sold for a few years ago and went and looked on the 'bay.

They are tempting now. Very tempting. Must...resist...GAS.... (especially because I'm having a repair and CLA done on my M645 Pro... but dang that's a nice looking camera with a lot of capability and a lens with excellent reputation.)
 
The Nikon 35Ti, Minolta TC, Ricoh GR-1, and Contax G2 were, as one writer put it, made in the late 1990's when high quality compact 35mm cameras were at their peak.

You can't go wrong buying one today.

Tessina is clever. Never saw one in real life yet.

That Contax is looking better by the minute...
 
DREW WILEY said:
What would have James Bond used?
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Minox B in "On Her Majesties Secret Service".

Nikon F or F2 which also was a rocket launcher with antennae in "The Man with the Golden Gun".

I seem to remember Sean Connery using a Rolleiflex in one movie.

I'm sure there were other cameras.
 
All of the cameras above, plus:

Rollei 35 original chrome /black or black S
Contax T2
Leica IIIf RT ST
Leica M2 and M3

I also quite like the Yashica 35 Electro GX.

Apologies if these cameras were mentioned and I missed them.
 
Huss said:
Most beautiful instant camera - Kodak Kodamatic 980L
Most beautiful 35mm SLR - Zenit TTL
Most beautiful 35mm rangefinder - Argus Lady Carefree
Most beautiful 120 rangefinder - Lomo Diana F+
Most beautiful 120 TLR - Holga 120 TLR
Most beautiful 35mm Pano - Horizon Perfekt
Most beautiful 120 Pano - Holga 120 Pan

Hmm, who knew five out of seven on that list would be from Eastern Europe? Guess they know a thing or two about fine design.

p.s. in full disclosure, I own none of the above. Picking what we own borders on nepotism
:wink:
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Wow, I have the exact opposite opinion. I think Holga, Lomo and Horizon are one of the ugliest cameras, definitely the ugliest ones in production today and there is absolutely nothing special about the look of Zenit TTL except for the logo, logo which I like.
 
Les Sarile said:
I don;t know about their cameras but they had the best looking ads back in the day . . . :whistling:
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No company would dare place ads like those today - not in the U.S. at least. Yet, innocent and much more revealing nudity was far more common in a 1960's Popular Photography magazine than it is today, for example. It's as if the U.S. has become more prudish, which it really hasn't (*). What has happened, I think, is those who would be offended by innocent nudity or a teasing mild naughtiness now have more influence or affect on the publication.

(*) for example, I've seen young women at work or out shopping who are either wearing very thin form fitting "yoga pants" or who are really naked with a thin layer of body paint. This is not a complaint...
 
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The Canon EF "Black Beauty" is very nice...

IMAG6290-1-1-1-1.jpg
 
This thread would have been much shorter if the question had been which is the ugliest camera becasue there can't be many which haven't been listed as the most beautiful.
 
RobC said:
This thread would have been much shorter if the question had been which is the ugliest camera becasue there can't be many which haven't been listed as the most beautiful.
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Koni-Omega is hideous. I'd never let one in my house.
 
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