What is pitbull toughest 35mm camera type?

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paulfish4570

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What is pitbull toughest, most reliable 35mm camera type, the one that would be with you in the desert, on a mountain, in a jungle or jostling in a rough crowd?

Focal plane, interchangeable-lens rangefinder?

Fixed-lens leaf shutter rangefinder?

Zone/scale-focus fixed-lens leaf shutter?

SLR?

All-mechanical version of one of the first four?

AE version of the first four?

Did I miss a category?

This is not a poll, per se. I am interested in your own personal, empirical evidence ...
 
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Until recently I would not have been able to answer your question but my favorite camera for this purpose is the Nikon S rangefinder camera. Heavy as a brick, nothing that sticks out and can break off, only 50mm VF (external VF otherwise). Only problem is cloth shutter and I am not sure if a Nikon F shutter can be mounted so in case of ultra-rough -> Nikon F ! :)
 
From what you read Nikon F was the choice for a lot of photo journos in extreme conditions.

I saw 'Apocalypse Now' ... Dennis Hopper didn't look like he was babying those Nikons to me! :D
 
Nikonos. Until you have handled one you can't appreciate the solid ruggedness built in to those things. That makes it a 35mm, interchangable-lens scale focus with a focal-plane shutter (Nikonos V).
 
If you want a basic point and shoot but the toughest a Robot wins. Nikonos III is a close second. A Nikon S3 or Nikon F would be my next choices in moving up the functionality scale. Nikons lubricants seem to be less temperature sensitive than Leicas.

I'm not much of an AE guy, outside of flashes but I would have to say Nikon F3P would get my vote there.

B2 (;->
 
There was an Australian photographer who took a lot of shots in the Antarctic with a Leica screwmount ... I can't remember his name though.

He was impressed that the little Leica could be near encased in ice and snow and still function perfectly!
 
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A Nikon SP or S3 with Titanium shutter would be good on the rf side. On the SLR side a Nikon F2 or F3T would probably do the trick.
 
I would also go with the Nikonos as one that is readily available.

Take it out in any situation, use it, bring it home and hose it off with a Garden Hose. I had a friend that took a Nikonos II on his white-water rafting trips.
 
Type-wise, it has to be the SLR.
Not because it's the most robust design, but it is the most popular among photographers who are likely to be in the extreme heat/cold/humid conditions. So the manufacturers came up with ways to make them bullet-proof... well, almost.

In other words, you certainly can make a weather-proof, tough TLR, but where's the demand?
 
Chinon Memotron CE-II.

Tough, M42 mount, aperture priority, metered manual, double exposure, all mechanical shutter up to 1/2000th, even when no batteries fitted. 1/90th flash sync. Exposure compensation and even exposure memory lock. Wide open focusing with aperture stopping down when exposing, stepless shutter for perfect exposures.

All that in a 1976 full brass-and-black-laquer body that is built like a brick and has a nice Woods Metal logo, like a vintage Leica.
 
One I own that was able to take a lot of abuse was the Yashica TL Super. Very tough camera. But it can't take the environmental abuse that a Nikonos can.
 
I think I will put the Pentax Spotmatic family in there.
I own an SP1000 that went 40 years or more before needing a CLA.
Amongst the cameras I currently own, that is what I would take with me just about anywhere I need to go - with a Tak 55/2 aboard - if I could have only one camera ...
 
BillBingham2 said:
I'm not much of an AE guy, outside of flashes but I would have to say Nikon F3P would get my vote there.

B2 (;->
Click to expand...

I own a Nikon F3P that was formerly owned by the newspaper Newsday. It acually was utilized in Operation Desert Storm. I changed the foam seals myself, that electronic shutter has proven to be durable and acurate (sold my F2AS's because shutters were becoming slow). When I carry this camera around NYC with the MD-4 motordrive it clearly can be utilized as an aggressive weapon.

I own two other F3's, and I learned from a dealer that they are not worth very much. It seems reliability has created an oversupply. Crazy how cheap a Nikon pro body can be had for no money. I bought a F3 in excelent condition with a motor drive for $185.00 from Adorama.

Cal
 
SLR, if you want brand any of the early Nikon F models. An F3hp is my personal favorite; built like a tank and great functionality.
 
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