Your Favorite 35mm Camera?

[flashgumby]

Four months ago it would have been my Minolta 600si.

Now it is, without question, my Minolta 7.

I will never buy another film camera (unless I have to replace the 7 with another 7)

You took the words out of my mouth. I still like the size and shape of the grip of the 600si a bit better than the 7 though.

Unlike you, I *would* buy another camera - not to replace the 7, but just because I can't help myself when I see a bargain - and besides, film cameras need to feel loved...

 

[fatmoon]

At some point or another I have owned Most MF and AF nikon SLR cameras. I have finally pared down to just two that I will never get rid of! I have an FM3a and an F2AS (both in black finish). I love them both dearly but use each for different things so they're both my favorite. I use each equally as much averaging 4-6 rolls per week between the two.

 

[Fwelixizers]

Pentax SpotMatic F, with a 50mm Takumar 1.4 lens.
This camera is one of the reasons I went back to film.

 

[snegron]

Interesting post! I can't say I have a favorite anymore. For many years I thought the the F3HP was the greatest camera in the world, but I have recently changed my mind. I find it a bit heavy (with the MD-4 motordrive attached).

I own a bunch of 35mm cameras (Nikon S2 rangefinder, F with standard prism, F with FTN Photomic Metered Prism, F2A with MD-2 Motor Drive, several F3 HP's, FM2N chrome, FM2N black, F100, N80; other brands include Minotla Maxxum and Pentax manual focus, also several Mamiya medium format cameras both 645 and RB-67).

While I absolutely love my old manual focus Nikons, I have recently found myself liking the lighter weight of my old N80! Even with the battery pack it weighs less than most of my other Nikon bodies and I find it to be very responsive. Yes, my F100 can focus better and is built like a tank, but my N80 is much easier to carry. So, as of this week my choice is the N80. I'm sure if you ask me next week I will have a completely different answer...!

 

[David Brown]

Four months ago it would have been my Minolta 600si.

Now it is, without question, my Minolta 7.

Hmmm ... I own a 650si (600si with databack) and I fancy a 7. Temptation is always just around the corner, ain't it ...

 

[alanrockwood]

Here is kind of a philosophical or cultural or sociological or psychological twist to the topic. I somehow get the impression that Nikon and Leica owners are more likely to "love" their cameras more than Canon owners, whereas Canon owners are more likely to take a more pragmatic attitude toward their cameras, perhaps viewing them as the most suitable tools for their photographic tasks but without emotional overtones.

Any comments?

 

[snegron]

Here is kind of a philosophical or cultural or sociological or psychological twist to the topic. I somehow get the impression that Nikon and Leica owners are more likely to "love" their cameras more than Canon owners, whereas Canon owners are more likely to take a more pragmatic attitude toward their cameras, perhaps viewing them as the most suitable tools for their photographic tasks but without emotional overtones.

Any comments?

Probably so. Nikon and Leica have more of a fan (or cult) following. My guess is that the almost folklore-like stories associated with Nikon and Leica users of yesteryear have fueled the following. Stories about Life Magazine's Leica-toting photographers and Vietnam war photographers shooting in the bomb-infested jungles with their Nikon F's turned these cameras into legends. Other than the recent era of sports shooters with their "white" Canon lenses or the ocassional wedding photographers shooting with their EOS 1D Mark whatevers, Canon doesn't really have that much of a cult following. Yes, there are a few who swear by their old Caonon rangefinders, but a quick look at their resale prices compared to Nikon or Leica rangefinders of the same period will tell the story. while Canon made fantastic film cameras (like their old F1 series), there seemed to be more "war stories" about Nikons and Leicas.

I have been a Nikon fan for over 25 years, but I would love to own a Contax RTS III with some Zeiss glass someday. While I'm at it, I would also like an Olympus OM3 with a few Zuiko primes! I wouldn't even mind owning a Minolta 9 or a Pentax LX for that matter!

p.s. My first 35mm camera was a Pentax K1000 back in the late 1970's. I was happy with it until I started working as an assistant to a pro photographer who informed me that if I was serious about photography I needed to get a Nikon. He used Nikons to record the war in Vietnam, therefore I believed he knew what he was talking about, so I followed his advice!

 

[Stevopedia]

I have been a Nikon fan for over 25 years, but I would love to own a Contax RTS III with some Zeiss glass someday. While I'm at it, I would also like an Olympus OM3 with a few Zuiko primes! I wouldn't even mind owning a Minolta 9 or a Pentax LX for that matter!

You say that as if the LX and 9 are bad cameras! I think that for name brand SLRs, one is just as good as the other, really; Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Konica, Minolta, Leica, Rollei, etc all made good bodies and optics. It's just that we prefer one over the others.

Like me. I'm a Pentax guy, and my favorite has to be my KX... like a Spotmatic, but better! But I'm also partial to Nikon, and I'm sure that there's an F4 in my future, and just as certain that I'll love it!

 

[EdColorado]

For me it would have be the T-90. Great all around camera, fantastic meter, great build quality, and after shooting with them for years they just fit my hands, or perhaps my hands fit them, but they feel so natural and prefect to me. Second place would be my first gen F1 cause its so simple and so damn tough.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

My favorite one is the orignial F-1. A strong and easy to use camera.

Jeff

 

[gmanp]

Of all I've ever used, owned, or now own it would have to be a Leicaflex SL.
The Leica R8 is pretty close behind the SL.

 

[Ralph Javins]

Favorite camera?

Probably the Minolta X-700. It is compact, light weight, it takes all of my Minolta glass, and with the MD-1 Motor Drive on it, it "just fits my hand."

Snegron mentioned the Minolta Maxxum 9 or Dynax 9. I have one of those also. The way that it fits my hand is not the same as the Minolta X-700. The shutter release switch seems to be slightly in the wrong place. I need to make a deliberate effort to get my finger to the shutter release. With the VC-9 Vertical Control Grip on the Maxxum 9, it is noticeably heavy. Anyone who has used a recent Digital Wonder Camera will feel right at home with the Maxxum 9.

 

[Allan Swindles]

Without doubt, the Olympus OM-2N, and the finest SLR SYSTEM ever produced, since copied by others. However, a OM-4Ti black body has just arrived and is yet to be tried. I have no doubt that this will become my favourite.

 

[Vilk]

...Canon owners are more likely to take a more pragmatic attitude toward their cameras, perhaps viewing them as the most suitable tools for their photographic tasks but without emotional overtones.

hmmm... what could be more "pragmatic" than loving my F2? thirty years and the damn thing still has to break. got me every picture i ever wanted

 

[Paul Goutiere]

hmmm... what could be more "pragmatic" than loving my F2? thirty years and the damn thing still has to break. got me every picture i ever wanted

Well yeah!

I've been with my F2 since 1985....I ain't never even been with the same woman for that long.

 

[Graham.b]

If i go for a carry around, then it is my Bessa R, family gatherings Minolta 800si. I have had my Mini for so long it is part of the family.

 

[mudman]

I think I already replied to this, but My F100. I love the focus confirmation, I love the speed, handling comfort of the whole camera. Just wish the autoexposure would do 15 min. work like my FE.

 

[snegron]

Well yeah!

I've been with my F2 since 1985....I ain't never even been with the same woman for that long.

I'll up the ante by one extra year: I purchased my FM2 new 25 years ago in 1984! I dropped it on its prism in 1985 and the meter stopped working. I used it without a battery for the last 23 years! The hotshoe came loose a couple of years ago, but I have no plans on getting it fixed. It will probably cost more to get the camera fixed than what it would cost me to purchase another one!

 

[xzulx]

For color film i'll shoot using Minolta Dynax 9 and for b&w film i'll be using Asahi Pentax Spotmatic. So my fav 35mm camera will be both Minolta Dynax 9 and Asahi Pentax Spotmatic.

 

[stealthman_1]

Canon - A-1
Nikon - FA...and I have all the Fs except the F6, but I like the FA the best.
Favorite of all - Leica M6, still very new to me, but I don't think my opinion will change, for all the reasons already mentioned.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

F4. In either the F4s configuration that it currently is in, or with the basic MB-20 pack, which it sometimes wears as well. For a small, go anywhere pro-series Nikon, then it'd be the F3P, without motor drive or MF-6B back, and with the pancake 50f1.8 - in this case, the later Series E version. The F2A is also a favorite of mine. To tell the truth, all the bodies in my .sig are my favorite tools. Some do see more use than the others, though.

-J

 

[davela]

Probably a toss up between the Nikon F with a non metered eye level prism and the Leica M3.

 

[MattKing]

The Retina IIIc I bought my Dad, almost 40 years after he wanted one so much, but as a young father, with a young family, he just couldn't justify.

Matt

 

[tony lockerbie]

Hey Matt, that's a great story, hope your dad likes it. How does one pick the best? Really depends on which day it is. Mostly use my Canon F1, but if I want auto everything, the Nikon F4, or F5, yep......depends on which day!
Tony

 

[darinwc]

I'm really liking the Olympus Stylus with the 35mm f2.8 lens.

While there is a small shutter lag,maybe about 1/4 sec, the camera turns on when you open the cover.
You can do this with one hand, so total time from pocket to exposure is really quick!

I brought it with me to Hawaii and used it when I was worried about using a digicam or 35mm slr.

Prints should arrive Saturday.

**Also makes a great camera to load up with BW/Color when you are using the opposite.