Which cameras are set to become "classics"?

Alan W · May 12, 2012

benjiboy said:
I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the Canon T90 that although only manufacture for a short time it was the design and concept that nearly all the subsequent modern 35mm S.L.R.s both film and digital ones are based on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_T90 Before 1986 S.L.R.s didn't look like that.

Great camera alright,but try to get one with a working shutter!

benjiboy · May 12, 2012

Alan W said:
Great camera alright,but try to get one with a working shutter!

I have three Canon T90s all with working shutters, I was given two of them because the shutters "didn't work" they need to be used regularly to prevent the shutter magnets from becoming magnetized and sticking, a couple of bangs of the camera base plate on the carpet freed them, and they have worked ever since probably because I use them regularly .

ambaker · May 12, 2012

I would include the Canon A-1 in this category. I've owned one for 30 years now. Still a very enjoyable camera.

agfarapid · May 12, 2012

How about the Nikon F100 and the Contax 137. The Nikon, although autofocus, was an excellent marriage of the electronic everything, yet still was a good, reliable workhorse instrument. The Contax, with built in motor drive, Zeiss lenses and auto exposure has been one of my favorite machines for speed, weight and mobility in the 35mm universe.

narsuitus · May 12, 2012

rolleiman said:
As for the suggestion re. the OM1 & 2, I'm less convinced. I've had experience of these in professional use, I'm of the opinion Olympus didn't develop these over a period of time.......the OM1 suffered through the limitation of a 1/60th flash sync.....and was generally found by professionals to be not "tough" enough for heavy use...

I agree that the Olympus OM1 was not tough enough for heavy use and it did not handle well due to the location of its shutter control. However, I included the Olympus OM1 in my list of 35mm classics because:

1. I think it has a very classic appearance.
2. Its innovative small size and lightweight was so popular that it influenced other manufacturers to copy.

wiltw · May 12, 2012

rolleiman said:
As for the suggestion re. the OM1 & 2, I'm less convinced. I've had experience of these in professional use, I'm of the opinion Olympus didn't develop these over a period of time.......the OM1 suffered through the limitation of a 1/60th flash sync...

...but very few SLRs back in the 60's and 70's offered any faster X-sync speed, except for the metal focal plane vertical travel shutter cameras like the the Topcon D-1, with 1/125 X-sync !

We should not limit ourselves to 135 format...I nominate the Hasselblad 500C, the Rolleiflex TLR, the Mamiya RB67 as other classics.

lxdude · May 12, 2012

ME Super said:
If we're going to include electronic cameras, how about these Pentax beauties...

ME Super
Super Program/Program A
Program Plus

And (ahem), the LX.

lxdude · May 12, 2012

narsuitus said:
I agree that the Olympus OM1... did not handle well due to the location of its shutter control.

Well, I agree with that with the winder or motor, but by itself, I found the handling delightful!

MattKing · May 12, 2012

Horses for courses, but I find the positions of the controls on the OM1 et al far better than other cameras (Nikkormat excluded of course).

I bet those who complain aren't left-handed.

Jeff Kubach · May 12, 2012

ambaker said:
I would include the Canon A-1 in this category. I've owned one for 30 years now. Still a very enjoyable camera.

I have one myself, great camera!

Jeff

wblynch · May 12, 2012

This thread should be renamed, "What is your favorite camera?"

jumbosilverette · May 12, 2012

Not necessarily...I named the SRT and the Argus, neither of which is my favorite. And many have mentioned the Pentax K1000, but how about the Spotmatic?

Zewrak · May 12, 2012

wblynch said:
This thread should be renamed, "What is your favorite camera?"

+1
Usually, what turns classic is what you see alot of. Instamatics, Brownies, Canon 300D will mostlikely be more of classics then Pentax 67 or Linhof technicas or Leica m2. Because most people wouldn't be able to pick them out in a lineup.

ME Super · May 12, 2012

lxdude said:
And (ahem), the LX.

I forgot about the LX. There was a KX too.

BobD · May 12, 2012

Values on the Spice Girls Polaroid are sure to skyrocket.

lxdude · May 12, 2012

Topcon RE Super/Super D/Super DM

BradS · May 13, 2012

Pentax Spotmatic - although, arguably, it is already considered a classic.

I think the Nikon FM3A may one day achieve classic status.

Magic2007 · May 13, 2012

Im becoming classic too lool.
I think most cameras listed above are just old not classic.

waynecrider · May 13, 2012

Photo Technique magazine published a list every year that addresses the same question. There was always TLR's, Graflexes, Nikon F's, Canon F's, Leica, Contax and some odds and ends on the list every year. It has changed over time somewhat to reflect new models that have become the newer classics. I would say that the term reflects the ones that have proven themselves thru simple great engineering and which still draw new users to this day. Look back in time and see what was being shot on the battlefield or in the news industry and you'll have a pretty good idea of the more popular ones.

benjiboy · May 13, 2012

Only time will tell.

Zathras · May 13, 2012

I nominate the Minolta Autocord. All the camera's can be operated with the right hand while being held in the left hand. And of course there's the awesome 75mm Rokkor lens up front. Since I got mine back from Karl Bryan, it has become my favorite TLR. For 35mm, the Minolta XE-7 is pretty sweet as are the Spotmatics.

fstop · May 13, 2012

Nikon F,F2,F3,FA,FM,FM2,FE,FE2,FM3A
Minolta SRT101,102,XE,XK,XD
Canon F-1,A-1

elcabezagrande · May 14, 2012

Yashica TL Electro X ITS for its innovative (at the time) step-less electronically-controlled shutter.

rolleiman · May 14, 2012

Zathras said:
I nominate the Minolta Autocord. All the camera's can be operated with the right hand while being held in the left hand. And of course there's the awesome 75mm Rokkor lens up front. Since I got mine back from Karl Bryan, it has become my favorite TLR. For 35mm, the Minolta XE-7 is pretty sweet as are the Spotmatics.

Entirely agree with the Minolta Autocord. I have had one for years, and in my opinion, it is the one Japanese twins lens reflex that can match the Rolleiflexes for lens quality.

The Pentax Spotmatic, I mentioned this in my original post, is probably discounted my many because of its slower screwthread lens mount and lack of motordrive capability, but the Pentax Takumar lenses are excellent, and the camera fits the hand beautifully; everything seems to fall into the right place, definitely a classic for the thinking, contemplative type photographer who still believes in the "decisive moment" of film exposure, rather then the 10 frames a second types, who just press the button hoping one or two will hit the mark.

Paul Howell · May 14, 2012

Konica T
Miranda EE, shutter spead priority, interchangable viewfinder average and spot meter.
Miranda Dx, one of the worse camera made.

Which cameras are set to become "classics"?

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