Which Camera would You Like to See Again?

[Helen B]

Plaubel Makina... Actually the Japanese 80/2.8 Nikkor version (6x7) could be reintroduced without significant change.

To me, that is the ultimate example of a type of camera that has completely disappeared, and therefore it would be the camera I'd most like to see reintroduced. I can't think of any currently manufactured camera that combines the portability of the Makina 67 with its image quality. It's a standard-bearer for the advantages of film.

Best,
Helen

 

[MAGNAchrom]

I'd like to see a modern, lightweight, 6x9 folder, with coupled rangefinder that worked with 220 film.

 

[mawz]

Also, at the very end of the product run there was a F3 AF - considered to be m/l the proto-type for the F4.

Actually, the F3AF was very early in the F3 run, being introduced in 1983, 3 years after the F3 and discontinued a couple years later, long before the F3 itself (Which was only discontinued in 2001).

It was in no way the prototype for the F4 either.

 

[mawz]

There was an F3HP model with the hotshoe on the prism, taller speed dial, it's the F3P and the F3 High Speed.Problem was that they were extremely difficult to get.

And no TTL flash on the hotshoe. I'd like to get an F3P for a couple reasons (no fiddly back lock, no nailed 1/80th shutter speed before frame 1) but it doesn't solve the problems with the F3 that I identified. If you've ever shot with an LX, you'd understand why the LX's exposure compensation/ISO dial design is so superior to the F3's design.

 

[Ole]

A Speed Graphic with - very important - a Grafmatic magazine. Or a resurrection of the 1930's 9x12cm film pack would be almost as good (since we're dreaming anyway).

 

[bart Nadeau]

A Speed Graphic with - very important - a Grafmatic magazine. Or a resurrection of the 1930's 9x12cm film pack would be almost as good (since we're dreaming anyway).

Many people have observed that the legacy of the Graflex Co. was the Graflok back but I would add the Grafmatic - a huge percentage of those produced must still be in service, the majority by folks who never used a Graphic.

I would second the film pack but the 1960's version with 16 exposures instead of 12. I'm not sure that the 9x12's Kodak 541 fp's lasted long enought to make it to the 16 sheet size. I would be great to have them back in the 5x7 size too. Oh well, I've got 11 TP523 fp's in the freezer from the last production run. I'm saving them for street shooting with my Super D Graflex.

bart

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've experimented with old 2x3 film packs just to see what they were like, and I'm not too enthusiastic about them. The film is on a thinner base than standard sheet film, and it seemed like a messy process separating the film from the cover sheets, which seemed to always leave some residual paper that floated off in the developer tank. It was a very quick way to shoot in the field though.

Grafmatics--yes. Maybe with more sheets like the Kinematic, but the reliability of the Grafmatics.

 

[snegron]

And no TTL flash on the hotshoe. I'd like to get an F3P for a couple reasons (no fiddly back lock, no nailed 1/80th shutter speed before frame 1) but it doesn't solve the problems with the F3 that I identified. If you've ever shot with an LX, you'd understand why the LX's exposure compensation/ISO dial design is so superior to the F3's design.

Yes, that 1/80th shutter speed before frame one is rather annoying.

The more I think about Nikon producing limited edition reproductions, the more likely the idea seems. They probably chose to "reintroduce" the SP rangefinder because it was a landmark camera. If Nikon were to bring back another "landmark" camera, I think it would have to be the classic F. The problem would be that the more they wait to do this, the smaller the market will be for that particular model. If they rebuilt it with metering in the body like the F3, they would probably sell more of them. Of course, then it would not be the same F... I'll stop rambling for now.

 

[Curt]

The free "Kodak" that George Eastman gave to every person under the age of 12 in the US and Canada on the 50th aniversity of the company.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Well, if Pentax decided to make a Spotmatic that had a Spot meter and an autoMatic exposure setting (aperture-priority), it could be a killer. Otherwise, good old Spotmatic F (to keep that aperture pin with SMC takumar lenses) would be a favorite. A TLR of better overall quality than the Seagulls, but of decent price, like the YashicaMats would be a good thing too.

And while we're at it, why not an all-automatic Brownie box camera with 120 film, a simple fixed lens and the equivalent of a Program mode to take care of exposure. People would believe in 120 film once again.

 

[butterflydream]

Leica M3 with original finder and built-in meter.

 

[narsuitus]

I would love to see the following cameras reintroduced but not in limited runs for collectors. I would much rather have then produced and priced for camera users.

35mm SLR
The Nikon F2 titanium

35mm rangefinder
Canonet QL17 Giii but with improved light seals

Medium format rangefinder
Fuji GW670 and GW690 but with interchangeable lenses

Medium format twin lens reflex
Mamiya C220 and C330 but with winding gears made with harder metal

Large Format
None because the current crop is still great

 

[epatsellis]

I'd love to see thte Omega 45D and B&J 8x10 Commercial I loaned to a friend, and never got back, along with all the meters, tripods, lenses and filmholders.

erie

 

[MacCaulay]

How about a Praktica Nova B?

 

[Vincent DiPietro]

The CONTAX RX. I simply love this camera.

 

[bobfowler]

I just want Bronica to put the SQ-Ai back into production...

 

[Lachlan Young]

A tailboard style camera but made using the technology used to make the Walker cameras. The same methods could be used, I imagine, to make ultra light and strong ULF cameras...

Lachlan

 

[Gerald Koch]

A few years ago Leitz made a limited run of Oscar Barnack's Leica prototype which they called the Series O. Interesting camera but it would have been better had they chosen a different early Leica.

 

[Bob F.]

Any 6x9cm folder with a modern lens and a coupled rangefinder. Old folders are great cameras to use, are very portable and provide large negatives. Practically perfect in every way...

Cheers, Bob.

 

[abeku]

The Pentax MX, although a Bessaflex with a K-mount would be great!
I also miss the cameras from Topcon, e.g. a Super DM. In addition, the Plaubel Makina 6x7 would be a great come back.

 

[Andy K]

The Pentax MX, although a Bessaflex with a K-mount would be great!

The fact that the Bessaflex TM (Thread Mount) is so named suggests to me the possibility of other famous mount systems being resurrected in the future by Mr Kobayashi, ie we could see a Bessaflex KM etc.

 

[Kensey]

I would love to see the following cameras reintroduced but not in limited runs for collectors. I would much rather have then produced and priced for camera users.

35mm SLR
The Nikon F2 titanium

35mm rangefinder
Canonet QL17 Giii but with improved light seals

Medium format rangefinder
Fuji GW670 and GW690 but with interchangeable lenses

Medium format twin lens reflex
Mamiya C220 and C330 but with winding gears made with harder metal

Large Format
None because the current crop is still great

Hear hear! though 35mm rangefinder
Minolta CLE with modern electronics

Medium format twin lens reflex
Rollieflex but with interchangeable lenses

 

[MattKing]

A Retina IIIC, with a brighter, more modern viewfinder/rangefinder.

 

[onigiri]

OM1n titanium sounds fun, with mass-produced 40mm f2

 

[Mark Layne]

Plaubel Makina 6x9; not with the 100/2.9 Anticomar, though, and preferably able to take a more modern back. Actually the Japanese 80/2.8 Nikkor version (6x7) could be reintroduced without significant change.

Cheers,

R.

I have one of these Makinas with the 80 f2.8 Nikkor. If there's a sharper MF lens around I haven't used it.
Mark