Which is THE one for you?

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OK, I know we have some serious film camera nuts in here and I'm as bad as most of you having more film cameras than I actually need - only half a dozen, but a lot less than I know some of you have and the ones I have have been carefully chosen to be the best I can find of their type.

I've been tidying up my camera cupboard this morning to stop the missus complaining of cameras and bits of camera gear abandoned on pretty much any convenient shelf or other suitable surface throughout the flat. Anyway, in the process of stowing it all away I got to looking at my film cameras and wondering which was the very last one I'd want to part with if it actually came to it. It's an almost impossible decision but I think I finally settled on the Canon F1N...


F1 by tonky8203, on Flickr

I'd have to say straight away that 35mm isn't my ideal format - so a MF camera should really have taken top spot, but this camera just embodies everything desirable for me in a 35mm camera - the Canon equivalent of the Nikon F3. It feels great in the hand, the lever wind is silky smooth, the viewfinder is bright and makes manual focusing as easy as it could ever be.

If the battery fails in Wales on a Sunday, it has a full range of mechanical shutter speeds from the flash sync speed upwards without metering obviously. (just pull the battery and carry on shooting). I have a rechargeable motor drive for the camera which actually provides full power to the camera and the meter, Canon seem to have thought of everything with this camera you just know it's built like a tank and will still be going when my digital bodies have all been recycled.

I remarked to the missuis the other day that I could do with a better lens for it. She said "what's up with that one?" :D They don't really understand do they? :lol:

So which is the one for you that we'll have to kill you to take away from you? It doesn't have to be a rational or plausible choice - I don't really think that's anything to do with it? :cuckoo:
 
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Mamiya 645, bloody great lump of a thing in its time, although these days when compared to my 1D its not "that" big. Rarely use it, but it was so satisfying to take pictures with, slides in particular have a wonderful look to them.

Matt
 
Probably this one

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[/url]
Nikon F2 by Raglansurf, on Flickr[/IMG]

I'm actually very torn between this and the FTn that belonged to my Dad, but this is just a pure joy to use and the noise the shutter makes just makes me smile.
 
RaglanSurf said:
Probably this one

4650448947_e43e2cc639_z.jpg
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Nikon F2 by Raglansurf, on Flickr[/IMG]

I'm actually very torn between this and the FTn that belonged to my Dad, but this is just a pure joy to use and the noise the shutter makes just makes me smile.
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Can't give you a big argument with that - superb! :cool:
 


My Leica M4. It was a toss up between that and my Hexar AF, the Leica just edges it out due to the way it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy when I shoot. I love the styling, love the way it handles (being able to set the focus, shutter and aperture by feel alone is something that the Hexar can't really do) and the viewfinder is great. The Hexar is faster and easier to use, and if I had a Leitz 35/2 on the M4, there wouldn't be any difference between them as far image quality is concerned - in fact the Hexar is the only reason why I haven't bought a 35 for the M. But the Leica has always been my dream camera, its build quality and how involving it is to shoot with epitomises what film photography (actually, all photography) is for me. Plus since buying it I haven't had the itch to buy any new gear, so in that sense it has somehow saved me money. :lol:
 
FruitFlakes said:
since buying it I haven't had the itch to buy any new gear, so in that sense it has somehow saved me money. :lol:
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I'm making a mental note of this and will be using it to justify any future Leica-based purchase.
 
LOL. There's something very appealing about those earlier M series Leicas and the prices are pretty reasonable nowadays compared to what you'd have had to pay not that long ago. Leica glass though is another matter entirely! :eek:
 
Mine is a leica too, my M6 to be precise. Paired with the 35/2 summicron v3 (dirty, dirty canadian lens!) and voigtlander 50mm f1.5 its a great set that allows me to shoot very happily. I have no real plans to upgrade it or buy any more lenses at present. I might get a NEX 5N to stick the lenses on but otherwise I am very happy with my film kit!
 
menthel said:
I am very happy with my film kit!
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Me too actually Jim. I still peruse ebay (Don't we all) but I'm pretty happy with where I am with film gear. I still drool over the occasional Zeiss Ikon Bullseye, but I just know I'd be potentially buying a load of trouble. A repair guy's worst nightmare! :D
 
CT said:
Me too actually Jim. I still peruse ebay (Don't we all) but I'm pretty happy with where I am with film gear. I still drool over the occasional Zeiss Ikon Bullseye, but I just know I'd be potentially buying a load of trouble. A repair guy's worst nightmare! :D
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There is no harm in looking! I do find myself thinking a lens around 90mm would be nice but I know how often I have used them on my previous film kit! I also keep thinking about some MF kit but I just don't have the time to shoot with what I have, let alone even more that is even slower to shoot with!
 
menthel said:
There is no harm in looking! I do find myself thinking a lens around 90mm would be nice but I know how often I have used them on my previous film kit! I also keep thinking about some MF kit but I just don't have the time to shoot with what I have, let alone even more that is even slower to shoot with!
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There you go you see - rationalising again - nothing to do with it! :lol:
 
Guess it would be the OM4Ti, I've waited so long to get one and it certainly does live up to its reputation. Had to decied between it an LX:

LX pros:

Pentax Glass
Build
Mirror Lock up
Mechanical speeds

OM4 pros:

Incredible metering system
controls that don't have to be unlicked very time!
External diopter control
More accurate viewfinder display
Flash sync up to 1/2000
Doesn't need a special strap!
 
My God what a cruel question..... I think, if push came to shove, that I would keep my Voigtlander R3A. Its a very close thing between that, the Nikon F3 and The Ross 12-20 MF, but R3A is just so good at everything. Build quality is excellent and with Nokton 40mm f1.4 it produces stunningly sharp shots, plus its small enough to sit discretely in a coat pocket.

Please tell me I won't ever have to make the choice......:help:

Andy
 
My Mamiya 645 Super - good balance of weight and image quality. Ergonomics with the prism could be better though.
 
erm one camera and sell the rest? Well I'd keep the Canon T90 as it's so versatile e.g. I can use all my M42 lenses with it.
 
OM_4.jpg



I have completely lost interest in photography at the moment, but if I had to choose then it would definitely be the OM4 with 35mm f2 lens. It was a 21st present and I still (occasionly) use it today.
 
If you'd asked me this a few weeks ago, it'd have been the T90 without a moment's pause. Unfortunately, with it needing another repair, my love for it has faded. :(

I am developing strong feelings for my FM now though and I'm still happy with my Yashica Electro GX but haven't had the time to get out and play recently.
 
I know which one my back would like me to keep :D

Canon A-1 and Mamiya RB-67 by Rob Hooley, on Flickr

But i think it would have to be the RB67 which stays, while the A-1 is portable and convenient. Nothing beats the feeling of popping up the viewfinder on the RB and seeing the image on the focusing screen, i'm more attached to it than my digital gear :cuckoo: :D
 
Not long had this camera, but it's already my favourite film camera, having owned a fair few...

photo-12.jpg


My RB67 is an outstanding camera, but for me personally, using this camera quite simply blows my mind. Love it.
 
Another vote for 5x4 cameras. I've been using a MPP for the last couple of months and its great.
Woodsy, how do you find the ShenHao, I'm thinking of getting one for the extra movements over the MPP.

Mart
 
Well, I imagine that like any other LF camera that is new to someone, it takes a little getting used to as far as getting a feel for it goes. I personally really like this camera. It's not the lightest, and I'm yet to get my head round what all the movements do as far as altering the perspective goes, but I find it an excellent camera to use. The build quality is excellent, and all the movements are smooth with very little play. I believe this model will take down to a 65mm lens, so wide angle lenses should be fine on it. That's a Schneider 90mm F/8 on the camera in the photo.

That said, I'm probably not the best to ask really! I've not had it all that long and what with it being my first ever LF camera, I have nothing to compare against.
 
Cheers for the comments on the build quality, that's what I was looking for.

Here's my MPP

6344298043_91460d1bce_z.jpg
[/url] MPP by Marvin d martian100, on Flickr[/IMG]

Mart
 
Stoppit now - we're getting into unscratched itch territory! :help:
 
one !

ish gods I dunno

normally I'd say Mamiya 6, but if we have to choose only one camera the 6 has a lens range of 3 and its just not possible to cover as much photographic ground with that as it is with old faithful.
so I'm gonna have to go with Veronica:love:, she's got lots of fancy glass.

v2w5c3.jpg
 
I don't use her enough....its a tragedy

but when I get my studio back in operation....blah blah blah....:(
 
Woodsy said:
Have you gone 5x7 Chris?!
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My Deardorff is really a 5x7 anyway, I just need to find some holders that dont cost the earth. Looking at the even bigger groundglass is incredible, and makes me see how people get seduced into going ULF :eek:
 
for classic simplicity ......has to be my Nikon F3
.
fca62cc3.jpg


but the Canon A-1 was my first real 35mm SLR and it's a magical camera
this one replaced my original, but still has the same ''buzz''
.
929907a0.jpg
 
My Yashica Mat got me into medium format and twin lens reflex photography, and I adore its simplicity and lack of fanfare. However, it is now broken, and the Rolleiflex 3.5F probably takes its place.

35mm... I shoot with a Pentax MX, but it's the K1000 that you will prise from my dead body.
 
My canon 500n, but that just shows my age as it was my first propper camera.
 
joxby said:
one !

ish gods I dunno

normally I'd say Mamiya 6, but if we have to choose only one camera the 6 has a lens range of 3 and its just not possible to cover as much photographic ground with that as it is with old faithful.
so I'm gonna have to go with Veronica:love:, she's got lots of fancy glass

v2w5c3.jpg
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Damn - that's pretty!
 
A wise choice Joxers, that Bronica is so much nicer to look at than the SQ and ETRS series of cameras.

I want to scratch the LF itch too CT, but that means new dev gear and a new enlarger to go with a new camera and that's just too much money too invest for the amount of photography I'm doing.
 
Kev M said:
.

I want to scratch the LF itch too CT, but that means new dev gear and a new enlarger to go with a new camera and that's just too much money too invest for the amount of photography I'm doing.
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Well I have a humungous changing bag big enough to cope with LF and my scanner has a holder for sheet film so I have all the exscuses. :lol:

I'm staying sensible on this one though - much as I love the things it wouldn't see much use.
 
Filthy awesomeness :D

5x4 is plenty big enough for nearly everything, but it will be nice having essentially 2 focal lengths from each lens
 
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