favourite film camera and other film cameras?

stevebrot · 03-05-2009, 10:06 PM

My favorite film cameras are the ones I have purchased! I know that sounds silly, but I am usually pretty careful about market research and am generally sure before I plunk down the money. Sometimes that research points to a more desirable item that I can't afford. It is that that "old" research that has spurred a couple of my more recent purchases and has me still looking for an excellent Pentax KX.

Cameras I own and really like (by age):

Ricoh Singlex TLS
Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL (recently purchased...really liked them back in the day, but could only afford the Singlex)
Ricoh XR-2s (recently purchased...it was a tough choice between this and the Ricoh XR7 back in the day)
Ricoh XR7 (I still think the combination of features, performance, size, weight, and price were and are hard to beat.)
Olympus XA (Wanted one new...found one many years later on eBay...worth the wait...)

Cameras I lusted after:

Pentax Spotmatic
Yashica TL Electro-X
Pentax KX
Olympus OM1
Nikon FM2
Nikon FE2
Pentax LX

Gosh...I would still love to get a good FM2 or FE2 except that I would then have to spring for the lenses! (...Can only afford LBA for one system...)

Steve

(Sorry for the lack of Pentax bodies after the early 80s...I lost interest in Pentax with the P-series...)

Steinback · 03-05-2009, 10:42 PM

I'm still getting used to my KX but I'm pretty sure it's going to replace my K1000 as my favourite film camera. I'm still trying to decide if I want to try to get the microprism screen replaced with a K1000 style split prism with microprism collar, that's about the only feature I miss from the K1000.

I'm going to be keeping my eyes open at Toronto's next used camera show, last year I saw a clean looking MZ-S with winder go for ~$200 and that or an LX with waist level finder are combinations I would still like to try.

Erik · 03-06-2009, 01:51 AM

Olympus OM-1 (this is my favourite, sorry Pentax! Everything just seems right on this camera. If I had this exact camera with a full-frame CCD I would never need anything else again)
Olympus Trip 35
Pentax ME (unfortunately this seems to meter wrong)
Nikon F-401s (I don't have any Nikon lenses or anything, I only have this camera because I found it for such an exceedingly cheap price that I couldn't leave it)

Here is the family -- that Nikon is such a monstrosity!

Pumalite · 03-06-2009, 02:48 AM

Pentax:
Spotmatic SPII
K1000
ME Super

Other SLR:
Nikon F
Nikon Photomic FTn
Nikkormat FTn
Nikkormat FT2
Nikon F3HP
Nikon FM
Nikon FE
Nikon FM2n
Nikon F-4
Canon New F-1
Canon EF
Canon AE-1
Canon A-1
Minolta XD-11
Minolta SRT 201
Olympus M-1
Olympus OM-1
Olympus OM-2
Olympus OM2n
Yashica TL Electro X

RF:
Yashica Electro 35 GSN
Yashica MG-1
Ricoh 500 GX

**Digitalis** · 03-06-2009, 02:55 AM

This list is in no particular order

LX,ME Super,pentax 645 IIN, Hasselblad V series,Pentax 67 II,Konica Hexar RF,Leica M3, Ebony SV810UE....those are a few of my favorite things

Nesster · 03-06-2009, 03:55 AM

Originally posted by k100d

ever since i found out about folders (and OMs), i've wanted one. do you know where to get a clean one?
.

Folders? Jurgen Kreckel (certo6) is the current King of Restorations, and the more desirable models from him go for fairly big bucks. My Bessa I was fixed up by Mr Kreckel for the guy I bought it from, and indeed it looks and feels like near-new, despite being 55 years old.
Vintage Folding Cameras

OM? The Eric of Olympus is John Hermanson at Camtech, though the feel (and wait time) is very different than with Eric. The zuiko.com website has a lot of excellent info on all things Olympus:
index

8540tomg · 03-06-2009, 04:12 AM

The only two 35mm film cameras I have ever owned are the Pentax K2 and MX. Dependng on the day and mood either one is the favourite.

Tom G

TaoMaas · 03-06-2009, 05:24 AM

#1 LX
#2 K2

However....when my mom was looking for a camera years ago, I recommended that she get an Olympus OM-1. I've never used it very extensively, but everytime she's handed it to me so I can take a picture of her and my stepdad, I'm always impressed by the smoothness of the shutter. I'd love to try one for a year or so.

Sluggo · 03-06-2009, 07:16 AM

My Chinon CP-7m and Yashica MAT 124G are loaded up with film, and they are my favorite cameras. But that's this week. Whatever is in in my hands or around my neck is, like, my absolute favoritest camera ever.

To try to do justice to the question, I think I've spent more time with a K1000 of late than with anything else.

artobest · 03-06-2009, 08:21 AM

For years my favourite camera was my Nikon 35Ti Nikon 35Ti & Nikon 28Ti Quartz Date (QD) compact cameras. For ease of use and sheer aesthetic appeal, the analog display has not been bettered by any other system that I've seen. I still keep it around as a second camera, mainly loaded with Provia, but I have come back to using SLRs.

My favorite shooter is the ME Super. I bought mine new in 1984. I'm one of the few who loves the buttons. But easily the most glamorous, nostalgic, and pretty camera, and the one that makes me feel most like an old-school photographer, is the LX. It was always my dream camera. I confess I'm always a little surprised when people nominate later Pentaxes as the 'best Pentax film SLR'. Doesn't build quality count for anything?

Nesster et al's vintage photo adverts on flickr are like a map of my photographic heart. Those old Nat Geo ads in particular are what got me started. The Olympus ads are especially alluring.

mer · 03-06-2009, 05:40 PM

One of my favourite cameras is the Yashica T4* with the beautiful carl zeiss 35mm

graphicgr8s · 03-06-2009, 05:48 PM

My fav is still the K1000. Had it since it was new. (Old version, not chinese)

vinzer · 03-06-2009, 06:47 PM

I haven't had the pleasure of owning a lot of different film cameras, so from the few I have, I'd go with the KX and LX.

If I had the money, though, I'd certainly be willing to try out most of the other cameras mentioned here in this thread.

chubasco · 03-06-2009, 07:02 PM

Had to pop another anti-envy pill, some of you guys have cams I've been lusting
after.

35mm SLR

1. Nikon F
2. Konica T4 (love Hexanon glass)
3. Ricoh XR-10M
Haven't shot with my Pentax SP or a Contax 137MA yet.

35mm rangefinders:

1. Olympus XA
2. Yashica Electro 35 GT

6x9 rangefinder:

1937 Voigtlander Bessa RF

Medium Format TLR

Ricohflex Dia L
Thinking about getting a Mamiya C3, C33 or Fuji GS645 folder

I have several point and shoot 35mm, the big surprise is the Ricoh FF-90, what a
lens!

Bill

k100d · 03-06-2009, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by Nesster

Folders? Jurgen Kreckel (certo6) is the current King of Restorations, and the more desirable models from him go for fairly big bucks. My Bessa I was fixed up by Mr Kreckel for the guy I bought it from, and indeed it looks and feels like near-new, despite being 55 years old.
Vintage Folding Cameras

OM? The Eric of Olympus is John Hermanson at Camtech, though the feel (and wait time) is very different than with Eric. The zuiko.com website has a lot of excellent info on all things Olympus:
index

sweet site on the folders. maybe i'll pick one up when i find one i like. big MF is fun

03-05-2009, 10:06 PM	#16
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	My favorite film cameras are the ones I have purchased! I know that sounds silly, but I am usually pretty careful about market research and am generally sure before I plunk down the money. Sometimes that research points to a more desirable item that I can't afford. It is that that "old" research that has spurred a couple of my more recent purchases and has me still looking for an excellent Pentax KX. Cameras I own and really like (by age): Ricoh Singlex TLS Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL (recently purchased...really liked them back in the day, but could only afford the Singlex) Ricoh XR-2s (recently purchased...it was a tough choice between this and the Ricoh XR7 back in the day) Ricoh XR7 (I still think the combination of features, performance, size, weight, and price were and are hard to beat.) Olympus XA (Wanted one new...found one many years later on eBay...worth the wait...) Cameras I lusted after: Pentax Spotmatic Yashica TL Electro-X Pentax KX Olympus OM1 Nikon FM2 Nikon FE2 Pentax LX Gosh...I would still love to get a good FM2 or FE2 except that I would then have to spring for the lenses! (...Can only afford LBA for one system...) Steve (Sorry for the lack of Pentax bodies after the early 80s...I lost interest in Pentax with the P-series...)

03-06-2009, 01:51 AM	#18
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Olympus OM-1 (this is my favourite, sorry Pentax! Everything just seems right on this camera. If I had this exact camera with a full-frame CCD I would never need anything else again) Olympus Trip 35 Pentax ME (unfortunately this seems to meter wrong) Nikon F-401s (I don't have any Nikon lenses or anything, I only have this camera because I found it for such an exceedingly cheap price that I couldn't leave it) Here is the family -- that Nikon is such a monstrosity! Last edited by Erik; 03-06-2009 at 02:00 AM.

03-06-2009, 07:16 AM	#24
Sluggo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Ames, Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 774	love the one you're with My Chinon CP-7m and Yashica MAT 124G are loaded up with film, and they are my favorite cameras. But that's this week. Whatever is in in my hands or around my neck is, like, my absolute favoritest camera ever. To try to do justice to the question, I think I've spent more time with a K1000 of late than with anything else.

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03-05-2009, 10:42 PM	#17
Steinback Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,673	I'm still getting used to my KX but I'm pretty sure it's going to replace my K1000 as my favourite film camera. I'm still trying to decide if I want to try to get the microprism screen replaced with a K1000 style split prism with microprism collar, that's about the only feature I miss from the K1000. I'm going to be keeping my eyes open at Toronto's next used camera show, last year I saw a clean looking MZ-S with winder go for ~$200 and that or an LX with waist level finder are combinations I would still like to try.

03-06-2009, 02:48 AM	#19
Pumalite Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 80	Pentax: Spotmatic SPII K1000 ME Super Other SLR: Nikon F Nikon Photomic FTn Nikkormat FTn Nikkormat FT2 Nikon F3HP Nikon FM Nikon FE Nikon FM2n Nikon F-4 Canon New F-1 Canon EF Canon AE-1 Canon A-1 Minolta XD-11 Minolta SRT 201 Olympus M-1 Olympus OM-1 Olympus OM-2 Olympus OM2n Yashica TL Electro X RF: Yashica Electro 35 GSN Yashica MG-1 Ricoh 500 GX

03-06-2009, 02:55 AM	#20
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	This list is in no particular order LX,ME Super,pentax 645 IIN, Hasselblad V series,Pentax 67 II,Konica Hexar RF,Leica M3, Ebony SV810UE....those are a few of my favorite things

03-06-2009, 03:55 AM	#21
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Originally posted by k100d ever since i found out about folders (and OMs), i've wanted one. do you know where to get a clean one? . Folders? Jurgen Kreckel (certo6) is the current King of Restorations, and the more desirable models from him go for fairly big bucks. My Bessa I was fixed up by Mr Kreckel for the guy I bought it from, and indeed it looks and feels like near-new, despite being 55 years old. Vintage Folding Cameras OM? The Eric of Olympus is John Hermanson at Camtech, though the feel (and wait time) is very different than with Eric. The zuiko.com website has a lot of excellent info on all things Olympus: index

03-06-2009, 04:12 AM	#22
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	The only two 35mm film cameras I have ever owned are the Pentax K2 and MX. Dependng on the day and mood either one is the favourite. Tom G

03-06-2009, 05:24 AM	#23
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	#1 LX #2 K2 However....when my mom was looking for a camera years ago, I recommended that she get an Olympus OM-1. I've never used it very extensively, but everytime she's handed it to me so I can take a picture of her and my stepdad, I'm always impressed by the smoothness of the shutter. I'd love to try one for a year or so.

03-06-2009, 08:21 AM	#25
artobest Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Swansea, Wales Posts: 455	For years my favourite camera was my Nikon 35Ti Nikon 35Ti & Nikon 28Ti Quartz Date (QD) compact cameras. For ease of use and sheer aesthetic appeal, the analog display has not been bettered by any other system that I've seen. I still keep it around as a second camera, mainly loaded with Provia, but I have come back to using SLRs. My favorite shooter is the ME Super. I bought mine new in 1984. I'm one of the few who loves the buttons. But easily the most glamorous, nostalgic, and pretty camera, and the one that makes me feel most like an old-school photographer, is the LX. It was always my dream camera. I confess I'm always a little surprised when people nominate later Pentaxes as the 'best Pentax film SLR'. Doesn't build quality count for anything? Nesster et al's vintage photo adverts on flickr are like a map of my photographic heart. Those old Nat Geo ads in particular are what got me started. The Olympus ads are especially alluring.

03-06-2009, 05:40 PM	#26
mer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greece Posts: 237	One of my favourite cameras is the Yashica T4* with the beautiful carl zeiss 35mm

03-06-2009, 05:48 PM	#27
graphicgr8s Guest	My fav is still the K1000. Had it since it was new. (Old version, not chinese)

03-06-2009, 06:47 PM	#28
vinzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,399	I haven't had the pleasure of owning a lot of different film cameras, so from the few I have, I'd go with the KX and LX. If I had the money, though, I'd certainly be willing to try out most of the other cameras mentioned here in this thread.

03-06-2009, 07:02 PM	#29
chubasco Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 328	Had to pop another anti-envy pill, some of you guys have cams I've been lusting after. 35mm SLR 1. Nikon F 2. Konica T4 (love Hexanon glass) 3. Ricoh XR-10M Haven't shot with my Pentax SP or a Contax 137MA yet. 35mm rangefinders: 1. Olympus XA 2. Yashica Electro 35 GT 6x9 rangefinder: 1937 Voigtlander Bessa RF Medium Format TLR Ricohflex Dia L Thinking about getting a Mamiya C3, C33 or Fuji GS645 folder I have several point and shoot 35mm, the big surprise is the Ricoh FF-90, what a lens! Bill

03-06-2009, 07:27 PM	#30
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911 Original Poster	Originally posted by Nesster Folders? Jurgen Kreckel (certo6) is the current King of Restorations, and the more desirable models from him go for fairly big bucks. My Bessa I was fixed up by Mr Kreckel for the guy I bought it from, and indeed it looks and feels like near-new, despite being 55 years old. Vintage Folding Cameras OM? The Eric of Olympus is John Hermanson at Camtech, though the feel (and wait time) is very different than with Eric. The zuiko.com website has a lot of excellent info on all things Olympus: index sweet site on the folders. maybe i'll pick one up when i find one i like. big MF is fun