Your Favorite 35mm Camera?

PentaxBronica · Nov 1, 2012

My earliest is an SV, which has the same lever. I should probably use it more, it does suffer from shutter capping but this seems to cease with a bit of exercise. I flushed the mechanism out with lighter fluid and added a few drops of light oil a few months ago which helped.

LumbisK · Nov 1, 2012

I've used several different brands over the years...always wanted to try a Leica. I've had a number of different Nikons and my most favourite would be the Nikon F Photomic. Well made and reliable when I bought one new in 1969 (that one was stolen) and now the one I have in 2012 is still functioning with out a problem. I really enjoyed the Nikkormat ELW for many years as well.

Yashinoff · Nov 1, 2012

Les Sarile said:
The original Asahi Pentax was the prototype of all SLRs that followed.

Close, but some Germans beat them!

You see, back in 1954 Wirgin introduced their Edixa Reflex:

It had lever wind on the right side. Film reminder dial around the rewind. The typical bottom location of the film rewind button, and the centered tripod socket... The prism was interchangeable though and Wirgin introduced automatic aperture operation in 1956... it took a while for Pentax to adopt. Of course the Pentax had an instant return mirror and the Edixa didn't.

The Edixa is oddly forgotten today. Kind of like how people forget Topcon's contributions to the development of the SLR.

Yashinoff · Nov 1, 2012

Peltigera said:
I recently bought an Exa 1a and while I have only shot one roll of film with it so far, I found it a delightful camera to use.

They can be a lot of fun, although the right side winding and left side shutter button is a little bit more akward than the fully left handed Exakta, and obviously unnatural compared to any other camera. xD The top shutter speed is also a bit limiting, but 100ASA film is fine with me!

kivis said:
Awesome!! Who needs an EVF?

I prefer the WLF to pentaprism viewing. In fact I only have one film SLR with a fixed prism. The exa's WLF does however have a built in "sports finder" that can be useful for panning shots - but is more essentially for portraits!

My Miranda D which is another of my favorites also sports interchangeable viewfinders:

Untitled by berangberang, on Flickr

E. von Hoegh · Nov 1, 2012

Nikon F / F2.

But, things like a Leicaflex SL2, Leica CL, Leica M3, Contax RF series, and a few others are right up there too. The Nikons are at the top because there is no other camera system out there which provides the combination of durability, reliability, performance, versatility, and low cost.

Slixtiesix · Nov 1, 2012

Praktica Super TL. Well made, bright and large view finder, very smooth and silent cloth shutter, great ergonomics, small and light. And it was really cheap. That was the last of the great Prakticas IMO. Later models I do not like as much. Oh, and it was my first real camera ;-)

freecom2 · Nov 1, 2012

I love shooting with my FE2 (large range of shutter speeds, aperture priority, bright clear viewfinder, compact and unobtrusive), however the F2 really does exude quality - feels absolutely fantastic.

newtorf · Nov 1, 2012

XPAN, always the XPAN. Although I shoot my Leica M4 more often.

Les Sarile · Nov 1, 2012

Yashinoff said:
Close, but some Germans beat them!

You see, back in 1954 Wirgin introduced their Edixa Reflex:

It had lever wind on the right side. Film reminder dial around the rewind. The typical bottom location of the film rewind button, and the centered tripod socket... The prism was interchangeable though and Wirgin introduced automatic aperture operation in 1956... it took a while for Pentax to adopt. Of course the Pentax had an instant return mirror and the Edixa didn't.

The Edixa is oddly forgotten today. Kind of like how people forget Topcon's contributions to the development of the SLR.

Do you have another reference for the 1954 Wirgin Edixa Reflex? This site states a different year -> Dead Link Removed. Perhaps a different model?

Of course arguably the single biggest advancement that opened the SLR floodgate was Asahi's instant - and automatic, mirror return.

Yashinoff · Nov 1, 2012

Les Sarile said:
Do you have another reference for the 1954 Wirgin Edixa Reflex? This site states a different year -> Dead Link Removed. Perhaps a different model?

Of course arguably the single biggest advancement that opened the SLR floodgate was Asahi's instant - and automatic, mirror return.

Yes the Edixa line was well established, and actually quite popular by 1957.
A list of the variations of the Edixa Reflex is found here: http://anusf.anu.edu.au/~aab900/photography/cameras/edixas.htm
Another page about the history of the Edixa Reflex is this one: http://photobutmore.de/vintagephoto/edixa/modelle/

My personal experience playing with old SLRs is that the automatic diaphragm was a more important advancement than the instant return mirror. Having to stop down the lens manually can easily cost you a great candid photo opportunity. Not that Edixa invented the auto diaphragm, it was introduced for the M42 mount the same year by Pentacon, and had already been implemented a few years earlier on the Praktina. As well as there were the Exakta style pressure activated diaphgrams used by a few companies.

BradleyK · Nov 2, 2012

Like many others here, I, too, struggle to decide on a single 35mm camera as my favorite. Rather, I can reduce my favorites down to three: my F6 for its precision when shooting chromes; my F2AS as my "insurance policy" when shooting out in the middle of nowhere (no batteries? no problem!); and my M6 (with the 50 Summilux ASPH) when I am strolling around town with no particular destination in mind.

dbuckle · Nov 2, 2012

Of all the cameras I own I have say I like the Konica T3 the best.

Konica T3 by dbuckle2695, on Flickr

alarickc · Nov 3, 2012

My favorite 35mm would have to be my only camera: a Nikon F2 Photomic.

Yashinoff · Nov 4, 2012

Avanar 23mm lens by berangberang, on Flickr

I've been using this one the most all year. I'm really drawn to simple cameras lately. Shutter speeds 1/30-1/500, who needs more? I think the reason I like this camera so much is because of the large, bright viewfinder.

Someonenameddavid · Nov 4, 2012

Favorite camera

M3, but I'm scared to use it in public so I put the Summicron on a Bessa. I have a wonderful and Immaculate black Nikon F but I'm scared to use it so I use my beater F2

Yashinoff · Nov 4, 2012

Someonenameddavid said:
M3, but I'm scared to use it in public so I put the Summicron on a Bessa. I have a wonderful and Immaculate black Nikon F but I'm scared to use it so I use my beater F2

What is scary about a Nikon F?

If you're afraid of scratching, dropping, whatever- just use an ever ready case. It looks dorky, but they really do work if you drop something!

pen s · Nov 4, 2012

Hmmm...long thread.

Well, I don't have to think hard, in a 35mm SLR it is the OM-1, been that way for me for almost 40 years.

For a little viewfinder camera I've always had a soft spot for my Olympus Pen original, the fully manual one with a lens focusing to a little less than 2 feet.

I know, one is full frame and one is half frame but both are 35mm cameras. I also enjoy my Pen F reflex, my second favorite half frame.

flatulent1 · Nov 5, 2012

Always changing my mind about this. I'm beginning to think my latest camera is my favorite. (New cameras this year include a pair of Elan 7NE, a pair of EOS 55, an Elan IIe, Yashica Mat 124G, six dead T90s [three since resurrected by beating them on the floor], and a pair of Fuji Discovery 3000.)

Taking a stab at it...

1. Canon Elan 7NE (new this year)
2. Canon T90
3. Canon EOS 55 (new this year)

Honorable mention...

Contax RX, AX
Canon Elan IIe

PentaxBronica · Nov 5, 2012

Yashinoff said:
What is scary about a Nikon F?

If you're afraid of scratching, dropping, whatever- just use an ever ready case. It looks dorky, but they really do work if you drop something!

Also stops your fingers freezing to the camera, and helps get a better grip on it too. About the only reason for my not using them is if I want to use a motor winder. I do take the front part off and leave it in the car though, as it's seriously annoying dangling in front of your face and won't fit over anything longer than a 50mm lens anyway.

I have noticed a direct correlation between presence of an ERC and the condition of used cameras. My best ME and MX both came in ERCs which had taken all the scuffs and scratches, the cameras were perfect inside.

trojancast · Nov 6, 2012

When new, the Yashica Electro 35, a camera that changed everything. Today, the Nikon F6.

Sirius Glass · Nov 6, 2012

At the moment the WideLux F7 that I just bought.

Allan Swindles · Nov 6, 2012

I might have said this before - Olympus OM-4Ti , but it's worth sayin' again, and again and again. But, each to their own, what suits one don't suit all, but it's 'twas the only the OM system that moved me from MF to 35mm.

Newt_on_Swings · Nov 6, 2012

I love my om4t too! Even more than my nikons, f3hp included!

For a classic range finder, I really like my canon vi-t, trigger wind, nice prism viewfinder that's adjustable to lens and with a fine magnified focusing option. Big shutter speed dial, and a beautiful folding film rewind lever. Really solid metal construction. Plus a side swinging film door!

For mf, my fuji gs690ii rocks, loved using it so much I plunked down for its wider brother the gsw690ii! Should be in my hands soon! It's huge and in your face, and a comical ice breaker almost everywhere you carry it.

Edit oops forgot its 35mm only, scratch the last bit!

dsmccrac · Nov 6, 2012

Maybe I gotta loosin' up and look at an OM4t - I am an OM2 stick in the mud that has not looked at the 'newer' stuff

Chris Nielsen · Nov 7, 2012

dsmccrac said:
Maybe I gotta loosin' up and look at an OM4t - I am an OM2 stick in the mud that has not looked at the 'newer' stuff 

I have an OM4 I bought from an apug classified, and I love it to bits. I also love my OM2N but there is something marvellous about the OM4. I am sure a Ti would be even better. I love how you can take a spot reading and when you adjust the aperture the shutter speed automatically adjusts to suit. Magic!

Your Favorite 35mm Camera?

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