Your Favorite 35mm Camera?

[gerryyaum]

shot a lot of different 35s through the years, I would have to say thou tht my favorite is the latest...LEICA M6 with 50mm F1.4 lens. It just feels so good and works so well plus the optics are dazzling.

 

[Richard Wasserman]

Leica M2-R. It has a simple uncluttered viewfinder and after running I don't know how many (1000's) rolls of film through it, it is buttery smooth, and has the best shutter release of any camera I have ever used.

Richard Wasserman

 

[jgjbowen]

Nikon FM3-A I like it so much I have 3 of them. One always has chromes loaded, one always has Tri-X and a 85 f1.8 attached and one has Tri-X and what ever other lens I used last attached. I love the Nikon glass assortment

 

[JLP]

Another M6, just feels good and the 3 lenses i have are stellar. My F2, F3 and F5 are equally fine cameras but my new darling is the Horizon Perfect, that is a lot of fun.

 

[avpman]

Do I have to choose?

It's hard to choose a favorite camera...too many good ones. But, if I was FORCED to pick two they would be Contax G2 and Nikon F5. Contax's handling is second to none, superb optics and (relatively) good value make it a winner. F5 is a machine that requires manhandling, but plethora of lenses on used market make it one heck of a system camera, and it's confidence-inspiring factor is second to none. You feel obligated to take a good picture when you have F5 in your hands. And it's faster than I'll ever be, seriously. If F5 had auto-rewind at the end of the roll (when you are done with a roll of film what else is there to do but rewind it?) and leave-the-leader-out features it'd be perfect. Contax G2 does both of those things, but it's auto focus is not as precise (or fast) as F5, nor does it have advanced features of F5. I AM TORN!!!

 

[davela]

There are too many to be favorites, but a new one has recently entered my domain and is getting more use than I expected: The Rollei 35 S. The Nikon F, Contax IIa, Pentax Spotmatic, and Leica M2 follow close behind.

 

[2F/2F]

I like tons of them! However, if I had to be stuck with one, it would be a Canon F-1 version two. Not the '80s one, but the second version of the '70s one. The advance stroke is shorter than the first model and the lever hooks my thumb better because it comes out more when in the "ready" position. Also, the meter can be set up to EI 3200, as opposed to EI 2000 on the first version. They are solid, versatile, and simple, yet full featured. My only gripe is that they do not incorporate the QL system, which really is about as quick as can be!

 

[cooltouch]

I can't answer you're question, It's like being asked which of you're children you love the most, I like them all for different reasons.

This is definitely my favorite answer so far. As is the case with guitars and motorcycles, it's just tough deciding on a favorite. Which leads of course to GAS (both photo gear, and guitars) and MAS.

Best,

Michael

 

[Chaplain Jeff]

Leica M5, 3 Lug w/ 28mm finder

Others competing for a close 2nd might include:

Nikon F4e (my favorite SLR - too bad it won't take Rokkor lenses)
Minolta CLE
Minolta XK / XK Motor
Leica M3
Minolta Super A

 

[Ian Grant]

Leica M3, good solid and reliable, but my next choice would be a Spotmatic F or an MX.

Ian

 

[ooze]

Leica M6. The camera is quiet, small and tough, and the lenses are just amazing.

 

[nemo999]

1st choice when I need to be quick - Nikon F3 or FM3a.
1st choice when I have time to take separate meter readings - Leica M2.
1st choice for scientific work (photomicrosocpy, etc.) - Canon EOS5 with Nikon lenses, because the mirror-up function is so simple (one press raises mirror and fires shutter 2 sec, later).
1st choice for a change - a 1950s Voigtländer (Vitessa or Vito) or a screw-thread Leica with an old lens (Summar or Elmar).

 

[David Brown]

Zorki 4.

(just kidding ...)

 

[Paul Jenkin]

My Nikon F100 with 24mm, 50mm and 85mm primes. I have an OM2n and I truly love it but, if the chips were down and I had to choose just one, it would have to be the F100 as it's almost bomb-proof, has programme, auto or manual modes, offers auto or manual focus and has a great meter.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Definitely my Bronica RF645.
Or maybe my Hexar AF.
Perhaps my Contax T.
Then there's my Pentax KX...

Chris

 

[smdeep]

I love all cameras!! Cameras do something to me and of course I love looking at all photographs. Photography rocks!


I love my Canon A2.

 

[yardkat]

I love my F100. After I got it I quit lusting after 35 and moved on to others in my Format Acquisition Syndrome. I also really like my Pentax K1000, although I don't think I've used it since I got the F100, but I have an emotional attachment to it since it was my first camera. I had to save up my allowance and baby sitting money and buy it from my dad. He probably gave me a pretty good deal, though.

 

[darinwc]

My favorite camera body is the Pentax Super Program.. Unfortunately its a pain in the rear to find the more exotic prime lenses, and they cost 2x as much as the nikons!

 

[Vinylman]

Hi, I started off with a Minolta XG1, then I moved up to a Minolta XD7, of which I used to have 2, one for black & white and one for colour. I liked them as I was using them to photograph bands in dim light and I just used to set the shutter speed and it did the rest. Then someone sold me a Nikon F body for about £40 (it was a while ago) and the images were superb, plus the Minoltas were starting to fall apart. I still have the Nikon F and now own 2 Nikon F2s and a Rolliflex TLR which is very old, but is superb. I have also owned a Hasselblad 500 and this I found to be the best of all, but business was bad, so I had to sell it. The chap I sold it to, still uses it.
Phil

 

[mjs]

Not having had experience with a really wide variety of 35mm cameras, the one I have which I like the best is my Minolta 7xi. It's also the one I've had the longest, so we've had a chance to get used to one another. I don't think that it's magical or anything like that, I'm just used to it and it works reliably. I'd probably have the same feelings about pretty much any similar 35mm camera, if I used it long enough to get used to it.

Mike

 

[tessar]

I have more 35mm cameras than I need, but when I get serious, I use a Nikon FE, Nikkormat FT3 or a Leica M4-P. Absolutely dependable and great lenses.

 

[bighilt]

I love my Voigtlander Prominent. It's quirky, heavy and looks like a piece of photographic jewelry. My Nikkormats come in a close second.

 

[Todd Frederick]

Probably my tiny Konica C35...it's small, quick, and reliable, accurate and the lens is most excellent.

I just acquired a Nikon FM2/T and that is beautiful, but not an everyday camera to be sure.

 

[Vader]

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)

 

[ArtO]

F4S was my favorite and still is but I no longer have one. FM2N is a super little camera, no longer have one. Nikkormat EL is actually pretty neat camera, have one and it does a great job. Nikon EM is surprisingly fun to use. Light weight, some restrictions but with workarounds by adjusting iso etc.

F3HP is another great to use workhorse. Mine is broken but not for long.