What's your favorite camera that you couldn't part with?

**MikeNArk** · 06-01-2023, 01:49 PM - **1 Like**

This is not a difficult question for me. Although I have a Pentax KP and other cameras, my go to camera is the Pentax K-5Iis. I stopped using it for a while when I got the KP, but after a short while, I resumed using it and haven't stopped.

Last edited by MikeNArk; 06-01-2023 at 04:20 PM.

**microlight** · 06-01-2023, 02:58 PM

I’m still really content with my K-3II, and given my drop-off in photography of late, I couldn’t see me spending large amounts to replace it, even if I wanted to! Of my film cameras, it’s the MX, which is a tiny gem.

jgnfld · 06-01-2023, 04:27 PM - **1 Like**

**RobA_Oz** · 06-01-2023, 05:02 PM

For sheer versatility, I would be most reluctant to let go of my K-1. The K-3iii is nice, and much easier to carry (although I don’t really find the K-1 to be an issue that way, yet) but there’s something appealing about the way the K-1 works – I guess a combination of its ergonomics and performance – that pulls me back to it more frequently.

Of my film cameras, it’d be a toss-up between my Spotmatic-F and my K2DMD. The SP-F was my first new camera, and it has a nostalgic pull for that, as well as being beautifully simple and robust, but the K2DMD just works so efficiently and feels good in the hand – something even my LX can’t match.

**madison_wi_gal** · 06-01-2023, 05:25 PM

I'll never part with my Red K-r, my favorite images (and memories) are from that (even if they are pretty crappy). The Blue K30 was bought used and I like that too, but I could get rid of it if/when it develops the aperture block.

gregnski · 06-01-2023, 05:32 PM - **1 Like**

My Leica IIIf that my father took to the Korean War. 1 war, 70 years and a recent CLA later it still works like it was brand new. An amazing piece of engineering for it's time.

For digital my K-70 takes the prize running away.

sb in ak · 06-01-2023, 05:46 PM

Ricoh GR (original APS-C digital) is probably the camera I've had the longest. 16MP is good enough and that 18mm 2.8 is nice and sharp.

**paulh** · 06-01-2023, 06:22 PM - **1 Like**

I still own all my Pentax cameras from the *ist D up to the K-5. All still working. My go-to is the K10D

. The only camera I replaced was a Lumix LX3 when the zoom lever quit working. I had to find a replacement immediately - love that little CCD compact!

**carlb** · 06-01-2023, 07:41 PM - **1 Like**

I'm starting to think that it might be my Leica M9. It's really basic (for a digital camera)...........but so easy, and so much fun, to use. Any deficiencies in the photo's it produces are nothing to do with the camera!!

Billking · 06-02-2023, 01:46 AM - **1 Like**

K1 is perfect even if the AF is imperfect.

Was showing it to another bird photographer yesterday. I had the DA 300mm on and she was very impressed with how light the whole rig was compared to her monster Nikon FF and equally monster Nikon 500mm zoom. The controls on that camera were very nonn user friendly. The wheels on the K1 are wonderfully easy and fast to use.

Sandy Hancock · 06-02-2023, 02:14 AM - **2 Likes**

The day my K-1 arrived in the mail changed me for life. It was love at first sight, and nothing has changed that feeling over the last seven years.

jcdoss · 06-02-2023, 03:14 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

...and nothing has changed that feeling over the last seven years.

My God, it's really been seven years?!

kypfer · 06-02-2023, 04:30 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jersey

Zenit 3M. It is one crappy camera, huge pile of dinosaur poo. But I like it and I cannot part with it. It being my first "serious" camera has probably something to do with it. But I still do use it. Only 4 times (60, 125, 250, 500 + B and X), viewfinder covering half of frame, no TTL, no focusing help, you focus on working aperture - it is nightmare pre-war camera sold post war. But I like it. I think small Industar 50mm has something to do with it.

Still sorry I sold my Zenit 3m … the first SLR I owned, cost a whole week's wages in 1969, paid for it over three months!

Today, if I absolutely had to downsize everything … the KP would probably be the last to go

… and yes, I still own and use an Industar-50

Sandy Hancock · 06-02-2023, 04:41 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jcdoss

My God, it's really been seven years?!

May 2016. I remember it like it was yesterday.

texandrews · 06-02-2023, 06:28 AM

I have a runner-up to that Fuji: the Rollei 35. First camera I bought for myself in 1978. It really taught me how to use a camera. But within a few years I became disenchanted with 35mm, and that was that. I kept an MX going through the '80's for slide documentation, mainly. But once that got stolen around '89 or '90(out of my studio, by the building super! Couldn't prove it...), I never shot 35mm film again.

06-01-2023, 05:25 PM	#20
madison_wi_gal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Madison WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 926	I'll never part with my Red K-r, my favorite images (and memories) are from that (even if they are pretty crappy). The Blue K30 was bought used and I like that too, but I could get rid of it if/when it develops the aperture block. Last edited by madison_wi_gal; 06-01-2023 at 05:32 PM.

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06-01-2023, 01:49 PM - 1 Like	#16
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,124	This is not a difficult question for me. Although I have a Pentax KP and other cameras, my go to camera is the Pentax K-5Iis. I stopped using it for a while when I got the KP, but after a short while, I resumed using it and haven't stopped. Last edited by MikeNArk; 06-01-2023 at 04:20 PM.

06-01-2023, 02:58 PM	#17
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129	I’m still really content with my K-3II, and given my drop-off in photography of late, I couldn’t see me spending large amounts to replace it, even if I wanted to! Of my film cameras, it’s the MX, which is a tiny gem.

06-01-2023, 04:27 PM - 1 Like	#18
jgnfld Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,789	KP

06-01-2023, 05:02 PM	#19
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	For sheer versatility, I would be most reluctant to let go of my K-1. The K-3iii is nice, and much easier to carry (although I don’t really find the K-1 to be an issue that way, yet) but there’s something appealing about the way the K-1 works – I guess a combination of its ergonomics and performance – that pulls me back to it more frequently. Of my film cameras, it’d be a toss-up between my Spotmatic-F and my K2DMD. The SP-F was my first new camera, and it has a nostalgic pull for that, as well as being beautifully simple and robust, but the K2DMD just works so efficiently and feels good in the hand – something even my LX can’t match.

06-01-2023, 05:32 PM - 1 Like	#21
gregnski Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 32	My Leica IIIf that my father took to the Korean War. 1 war, 70 years and a recent CLA later it still works like it was brand new. An amazing piece of engineering for it's time. For digital my K-70 takes the prize running away.

06-01-2023, 05:46 PM	#22
sb in ak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 612	Ricoh GR (original APS-C digital) is probably the camera I've had the longest. 16MP is good enough and that 18mm 2.8 is nice and sharp.

06-01-2023, 06:22 PM - 1 Like	#23
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,268	I still own all my Pentax cameras from the *ist D up to the K-5. All still working. My go-to is the K10D . The only camera I replaced was a Lumix LX3 when the zoom lever quit working. I had to find a replacement immediately - love that little CCD compact!

06-01-2023, 07:41 PM - 1 Like	#24
carlb Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,162	I'm starting to think that it might be my Leica M9. It's really basic (for a digital camera)...........but so easy, and so much fun, to use. Any deficiencies in the photo's it produces are nothing to do with the camera!!

06-02-2023, 01:46 AM - 1 Like	#25
Billking Forum Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 72	K1 is perfect even if the AF is imperfect. Was showing it to another bird photographer yesterday. I had the DA 300mm on and she was very impressed with how light the whole rig was compared to her monster Nikon FF and equally monster Nikon 500mm zoom. The controls on that camera were very nonn user friendly. The wheels on the K1 are wonderfully easy and fast to use.

06-02-2023, 02:14 AM - 2 Likes	#26
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	The day my K-1 arrived in the mail changed me for life. It was love at first sight, and nothing has changed that feeling over the last seven years.

06-02-2023, 03:14 AM	#27
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,769	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock ...and nothing has changed that feeling over the last seven years. My God, it's really been seven years?!

06-02-2023, 04:30 AM - 1 Like	#28
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,594	Originally posted by jersey Zenit 3M. It is one crappy camera, huge pile of dinosaur poo. But I like it and I cannot part with it. It being my first "serious" camera has probably something to do with it. But I still do use it. Only 4 times (60, 125, 250, 500 + B and X), viewfinder covering half of frame, no TTL, no focusing help, you focus on working aperture - it is nightmare pre-war camera sold post war. But I like it. I think small Industar 50mm has something to do with it. Still sorry I sold my Zenit 3m … the first SLR I owned, cost a whole week's wages in 1969, paid for it over three months! Today, if I absolutely had to downsize everything … the KP would probably be the last to go … and yes, I still own and use an Industar-50

06-02-2023, 04:41 AM - 1 Like	#29
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Originally posted by jcdoss My God, it's really been seven years?! May 2016. I remember it like it was yesterday.

06-02-2023, 06:28 AM	#30
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,393	I have a runner-up to that Fuji: the Rollei 35. First camera I bought for myself in 1978. It really taught me how to use a camera. But within a few years I became disenchanted with 35mm, and that was that. I kept an MX going through the '80's for slide documentation, mainly. But once that got stolen around '89 or '90(out of my studio, by the building super! Couldn't prove it...), I never shot 35mm film again.