My Ideal SLR

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two40

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Help me find my ideal old school SLR.

Basically the only requirements are:

small
shutter speed in VF
aperture in VF
aperture/shutter controls on barrel
decent range of lenses

So far the Olympus OM-2 SP seems to be the closest.

cheers
 
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Excellent suggestions by fdigital. You can't really go wrong with either an Olympus OM2n or Nikon FM2n. But look at it as a system: how much are you willing to spend on the camera and lenses, maybe a flash as well? Also, check out prices on second hand lenses in the focal lengths you would like to buy. A quick check on keh.com gives very similar prices for Olympus and Nikon lenses like 24mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2 or 50mm f/1.8. I'm stating these lenses as an example of course, they would be my choice for a camera kit, but your preferences may be totally different.

If you find your choice of lenses in both systems, then try to handle each camera. A good photography store that stocks second hand equipment should have these cameras or similar equipment. I started out with Olympus, but somehow preferred the Nikon layout and ergonomics, so changed over and have used Nikon exclusively for the past 25 years.

One thing to consider is that Nikon still makes lenses for the F mount (if you disregard the recent DX optics made specifically for smaller digital sensors and also the G optics which lack an aperture ring). Olympus have been totally out of the film SLR business for quite some years now. All things considered, I think you'll have a wider choice with Nikon, but then again, I'm not that familiar with Olympus. The bottomline is: check prices, compare and make an informed choice. Once you commit to a system, any change is going to be expensive.
 
I don't think you'll find all of these characteristics on one camera but the single figure OMs will be closest. I would go for the OM1 (the 'n' doesn't make much difference, other than a flash ready light in the viewfinder) for a manual, mechanical camera or the OM4ti if you want automatic exposure. I think Zuiko lenses represent the best value secondhand lenses on the block by a mile; accessories like motorwinders are also fantastic value. The cameras are solid, beautifully made and a joy to use. Not being able to see the aperture in the viewfinder is no hardship as you can feel it because of the way the aperture rings are made; likewise, you can feel what the shutter speed is when using an OM1.
 
Pentax MX has everything you want except shutter speed in the VF. The Pentax LX fits your requirements perfectly.
 
two40 said:
shutter speed in VF
aperture in VF
aperture/shutter controls on barrel
Click to expand...

OM cameras never had aperture in VF afaIk. Perhaps the OM 2 SP shows the aperture in the viewfinder, but only in Program-mode.

The combination you are looking for is very special. You will have to compromise (yes, even though it´s the devil talking :rolleyes:). Pentax MX or Nikon FM or FM2n are good compromises as they don´t have shutter controls at the barrel but aperture and shutter speed in the viewfinder.

Thomas
 
I don't remember any camera having aperture and shutter speeds on the "barrel" either, except the Olympus. There may have been some secondary brands that copied that but I don't recall any.

However, you might look at the Fujica ST 901. It did not have the shutter speed control on the front of the camera, but did show shutter speeds in the viewfinder, or at least the closest "normal" shutter speed, inasmuch as the shutter speeds in auto were stepless. It was small, light, quiet, and had manual speeds independent of the battery if you should forget to change the battery when the speed in the viewfinder began blinking. Fuji made some of the best lenses on the market, and since it was screw mount, it used all other screw mount lenses with the excepion of some that also had an auto tab that would allow full seating. I don't remember for sure, but I think that was some of the Mamiya 35mm cameras. It could be used in auto with those non-Fujica lenses with the DOF pushed and locked in.

Nice camera but they are gettin harder to find, and for that reason, probably cost more than the Olympus cameras. I don't think you would go wrong with an Olympus. I don't know anyone who actually disliked them even if they preferred another brand.
 
I have a nice Nikkormat Ftn, I think it would work for you. The batteries can be a PITA though (have to buy those "air" batteries), however its only for the meter so its not really nessesary if you use a handheld meter. But I would say that they are small next to an DSLR, and I'm not sure that the apeture is visible in the finder. Another nice feture is that the meter readout is visible on the top deck through a separate window, a nice touch.
 
When you say 'small' I think of the F3HP, with either a 'pancake' or one the 50mm 1.4's.
I you want 'big' just put on the MD-4 winder. As mentioned above the older Nikons will work
fine with lots of the new lenses, as well as the plentiful AI-s.

Shutter speed and lens opening are visible in viewfinder with AI, AI-S, AI-D (converted) and lots of the new ones. The speed controls are not on the lens barrel. But it does have 80/20 metering and
aperture priority, so one control (aperture) is enough.

Did I mention the 30 or so different focusing screens still available for this 'new' (1980)
classic, make it focus easier than a Cosina Bessa. There are few memories in my life better
than watching runway models swinging down the walkway to the tune of an F3HP/MD-4. Keer-Wiz-Clunk, Keer-Wiz-Clunk, Keer -Wiz-Clunk...
 
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Canon A-1, or F-1 if you don't mind the weight. Both beautiful, all metal cameras w/ a great selection of affordable, sharp lenses. But my current favorite is a Nikon N80. The viewfinder isn't as bright as my 8008s (which is like looking out a big, bright picture window), but it has 1/4000 top shutter speed and DOF preview and is very light and small. The shutter is so quiet and well damped that sometimes outside I don't always know if I have taken the picture until I look at the film count. And of course it takes very good Nikon glass. I use mine w/ an 85 1.8, but if you were to mount a 50 1.8 on it you would have a very small package. If you want a manual focus camera the Nikon F (Fn, FM2n, etc) models are great. Ken Rockwell, believe it or not, has some good info on the different F models that explains their different characteristics. I really like the Pentax K1000 and Spotmatics for their rugged build and sharp lenses, but the Spotmatic's stop down metering is a pain, and they both have viewfinders that are difficult to see all of the frameline unless you cram your eye to the finder. The Nikons are much better in this regard.
 
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Minolta SRT-102. No shutter control on lens barrel - I had no idea any SLR had that, didn't know about the Olys.
 
An important consideration in cameras of this vintage is repairability; if the electrics die in an electric camera it may easily become a doorstop simply because of lack of parts.

-jbh-
 
jbh said:
An important consideration in cameras of this vintage is repairability; if the electrics die in an electric camera it may easily become a doorstop simply because of lack of parts.

-jbh-
Click to expand...

Another reason to go with a Nikon :)
 
Athos6 said:
Another reason to go with a Nikon :)
Click to expand...

Just had my 1964 Canon FX completely restored. No electronics in the way of the photograph, just a meter which has very little in the way of 'electronics' in it and who cares if it stops working anyway.

Think about that - 44 years old and made to work like new. Wish I could do that with my corpus.

Nikons are not the only cameras with a reputation for being tough as nails...
 
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