Your Favorite 35mm Camera?

[leicavit]

Current favorite is an early 60's Voigtlander Vito CLR. The rangefinder is a little dim, the meter is inaccurate, - but it's really well made and has a great Skopar lens.

 

[benjiboy]

I can't decide, I have nine including some I have two bodys of ,I like them all for different reasons ,or I wouldn't keep them. I like to think that over the years I've finished up with gear that makes sense as an outfit in that all my SLR bodys and lenses are Canon FD so they are all interchangeable with each other.

 

[darkosaric]

For me it is not possible to answer this - every day different answer (I did ask myself this question many times).
Every time when I am going on some trip - I look on my 35mm cameras (nikon F3, FG, F801s, leica minilux, yashica lynx 14, yashica ME, minolta himatic F) and think: which two to take this time?
My favorite couple is F3 with 50mm and FG with 105mm when I am going somewhere (because I feel like armed with good weapons), for everyday use I like leica minilux with 40mm/2.4 (small and very very good).

But one day - just some M body with 50mm Summicron and minilux as spare camera

-Darko

 

[noot]

Thus far, my Contax 139Q w/ Zeiss 50 f1.4 ... Every time I use it, I like it more.

 

[JPD]

My Kodak Retina Ib. Sharp 2,8/50 Xenar, no distracting controls, no batteries...

 

[MarkLas]

I love my Eos 3 but hope to get a Leica someday also

 

[mbabnik]

I have Nikon F80, two Praktica cameras (L and Super TL 1000) and Fujica ST605. My fave is Fujica ST605, so cute little camera with very respoding silicon cell lightmeter.

 

[Roger Thoms]

I have a Nikon 8008s, and a Rollie 35s, mainly I like camera names that end with an s. Hard to pick a favorite of the two, but I do shoot with the Nikon more than the Rollie.

Roger

 

[lukee4]

A great but slightly rare camera is the Nikon EL2. It's the last of the Nikkormat series. It has nice Nikon type weight, mirror lock-up, aperture priority automatic, with automatic exposure lock capability. I got mine in near new condition on Ebay for a song.

 

[BobNewYork]

My F100...But for a small 35mm the FE is a great!

Yup

Bob H

 

[perkeleellinen]

I have a Nikon FM2. It's my favourite, but then it's also my only camera. I bought it ten years ago as a 'camera for life', trading in a Canon T90 kit which I felt would not out-live me. I like it because it's rugged, light and simple.

 

[naeroscatu]

Oh, I have too many. Lets see for 35mm SRL: Nikon F100, Canon FTBn, Canon AE-1, Pentax K1000 & Pentax KX on K mount, Pentax Spotmatic SP on screwmount.
35mm RF: Leica IIIc

 

[Uncle Bill]

Do I have to choose?

Three way tie: Leica M3, Olympus OM-2n and the Nikon FM

 

[parker53]

i have three yashica electros

 

[jeroldharter]

I have used various slr systems, but anything Contax wins. What slr system has better aesthetics and better lenses?

Although I never used one, I think a Pentax LX should be high on the list?

Does anyone really get excited about Nikon and Canon?

 

[Carlb]

I can't decide between my Pentax LX or my OM 1. The LX is beautifully built and wonderful to use, while the OM 1 has the nicest shutter sound of any SLR I've tried, and far from being hard to get on with, the layout of the controls works really well (for me anyway) - and the viewfinder!!!!!! The Oly is just so much fun to shoot with (so much fun in fact that I've bought another one)

If I had to choose between one or the other I don't know which way I'd go.

 

[Pete H]

I have used various slr systems, but anything Contax wins. What slr system has better aesthetics and better lenses?

I agree totally, and find the ergonomics perfect too.

 

[mpirie]

If the question is my favourite 35mm camera, it has to be my Xpan with 45mm lens.

If it's 35mm SLR then it has to be one of my F2's with a plain prism.

Mike

 

[Jimothy]

M6.

What's to discuss?

 

[nicefor88]

Best camera ever... Leica M6, no?

I bring my M6 everywhere. And I really mean everywhere! Nobody notices... His best friend: Summicron 35mm asph.
Also a favorite: Nikon F3 - solid, easy focusing (er... not ALWAYS easy with the M6 by the way). His best mate: Nikkor 50 f1,4 (1972) will never sell it, will be burried with this one to bring it to my afterlife shooting sprees! he...he

M6, F3 the best cameras? Nothing new but so true.

 

[Roger Krueger]

Konica Hexar AF

My Konica Hexar AF, a $500 compact with a sweet 35/2 that smokes my (formerly) $8k DSLR--and any other SLR, F or D that I've ever seen--on a bunch of points:

Active AF that works perfectly in low light that stumps or radically slows other focusing methods, manual or auto.

The only program mode I've ever found useful (essentially Av with a configurable safety shift).

An AF system that compensates for the focus shift that comes (via residual spherical aberration) with good bokeh.

Configurable GN-vs.-AF-distance flash metering that's 100% accurate.

AF easily reconfigured for IR film.

AF calibration steps publicly available for us usually-wide-open gotta-be-dead-on types.

 

[elekm]

This changes every few months. This week, I'm digging an old Vivitar XC-3 as my single-lens reflex. For a rangefinder, I'm playing around with a Rollei XF 35.

 

[hansutrecht]

Like elekm, no particular favourite, this week a EOS1n and a Voigtländer VSL1 (with terrific Carl Zeiss lenses).
Sold my OM1 gear, still a bit sad about it...

 

[Leighgion]

Long as I'm not shooting action, probably my Nikon FE2.

It's got all the SLR flexibility in a much trimmer package than later, AF models. I can jam my FE2 and a couple prime lenses into a surprisingly small space.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Like elekm, no particular favourite, this week a EOS1n and a Voigtländer VSL1 (with terrific Carl Zeiss lenses).
Sold my OM1 gear, still a bit sad about it...

Eekk! In both cases!

At least in Rolleiflex country, try to get hold of a working SL35-E (or Voigtländer VSL-3E = same thing). You still have the Zeiss lenses with a nicely usable body...