If one were to collect cameras, which are the top ten, in your opinion?

[FrankS]

For those of you who frown on the idea of collecting, this is not the thread for you. Please do not post here about how it is all about the image. Some of us enjoy the gear aspect of photography as well as the results, just as there are car enthusiasts when a Toyota or Chevy would be a more sensible choice to get from here to there.

So, for those of us able to embrace the gear head within us, my question is, if you were to choose a list of top ten cameras, what would your choices be? One one can be "wrong" because we are talking about personal choices.

Mine would be:
1. 4x5 speed or crown graphic
2. A 500 series Hasselblad
3. A Rolleiflex TLR
4. Nikon F or F2
5. Minolta XK
6. Canon F1
7. Pentax (Spotmatic, K1000, MX, or LX)
8. A single digit Olympus OM
9. A screw mount Leica
10. An M mount Leica

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

That is more or less what we all like to use depending on the mood/situation... In my case:

4x5
Hasselblad
Nikon SLR (mechanical back-up + AE)
Nikon SLR (AF)
Barnack
M mount (Mechanical)
M mount (AE)
Olympus XA
Hexar AF
DSLR

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Spider67]

It's a good list you have. I decided for a narrower scope and collect Kodak Retinas.
But I am also tempted to buy a Nikon F or a Spotmatic for their significance as photographic milestones

 

[FrankS]

If I could make my list longer I would add the Hexar AF and Retina lla.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

There is a difference in "Collectible camera" vs "User-Collector" camera for someone that wants to experience using many of the classics.

I've got a mix of both.

For the user-collector,

Nikon Rangefinder, Nikon S2 being the most affordable. Nikon SP for all-around.
Canon P
Leica IIIa
Polaroid 180 or 195
Nikon F or Nikon F2
Canon F1 (original)
Fujica ST-801 or ST-901
Kodak Retina IIIc or IIc
Kodak Retina IIIS for the lenses

Collector (more than user)-
Early Nikon RF, M no Sync, Nikon I (out of sight prices)
Leotax RF

 

[ChrisN]

Frank - I'm almost ashamed to say I own 6 of the cameras on your list - and I do not consider myself to be a collector!

 

[FrankS]

Chris, don't be ashamed.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I gave away two Crown Graphic 4x5's, traded a third.
Gave away a Retina Auto III
And a Nikon F

 

[Mackinaw]

Good list. For me, I'd choose:

Leica M(3)
Pentax Spotmatic (screwmount)
Nikon F
Canon F-1 (original)
Rolleiflex
Hasselblad
Speed Graphic
Argus
Leica screwmount
Olympus Om-1

Jim B.

 

[Austerby]

I think that it's interesting to experience what could be termed milestone cameras:

Leica M3
Nikon F
Rolleiflex TLR
Hasselblad 500cm
Speed Graphic
Leica LTM/Barnack

That's only six, the other four can be variations on the same theme, or competitor models from other manufacturers, or bring in innovations such as AF or digital should you be interested.

 

[FrankS]

Jim, that's only 9!

I have 8 on my list, but I used to have an XK and an F1. (miss the F1)

 

[Neare]

I'm definitely not a collector so I can't imagine 10 but I would certainly want one of those Hasselblad's that are sitting on the moon's surface right now.

 

[D.O'K.]

My top ten, but in no particular order as it's impossible to rank my preferences:

Rolleiflex;
OM1;
LTM Leica;
Contax lla;
Leica M2;
Rollei 35;
Super Ikonta;
Voigtlander vitessa;
Olympus XA;
Thornton Pickard 1/2 plate (or similar LF wood & brass).

Regards,
D.

 

[DamenS]

Leica M3
Crown Graphic
Rolliflex TLR
Hassleblad 500 series
Nikon F2
Olympus OM
Polaroid 110B
Linhof Technika

 

[Mackinaw]

Jim, that's only 9!.....

I'm going to add the original Polaroid to make it an even 10.

I already have about 1/2 of the cameras on my list, so I'm on my way!

Jim B.

 

[ferider]

All the ones I own, of course: 🙂

- OM1 and OM2
- Nikon F
- Leica M2, M3 and M6
- Rollei 35
- Olympus XA
- Hexar AF
- Hasselblad 500 series

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Keith]

Frank - I'm almost ashamed to say I own 6 of the cameras on your list - and I do not consider myself to be a collector!

You're ashamed?

I have seven of them and consider myself a reformed gearhead ... well I did until a few minutes ago!

😱

 

[rolleistef]

The Kodak - First film camera
The Leica - First modern 35mm camera
The Rolleiflex
The Leica II - First camera with a couple rangefinder
The Contax - First camera with a bayonet and a vertical metal shutter
Contax S (1st SLR with a Pentaprism)
Spotmatic 1st with a built-in VF lightmeter
Minolta 7000 - First AF SLR
Canon T80 - 1st all in one camera
Nikon D1

In a word, any camera that significally changed photography operation...
I omit the M3 and the F because they are more like synthesis of everything that was made at the time : the M3 has a couple RF-VF like a contax, projected, parallax corrected frameline like the IIIg etc...
They're pretty though!
I'm too much of an historian sometimes. i should go back to my scientific papers.

 

[Frank Petronio]

It's not just the camera but the system:

1. 8x10 Sinar Norma with 14" Kodak Commercial Ektar and #5 Gitzo, Aztec Drum Scanner, Epson 9880 and a truckload of ink and paper....

2. 4x5 Linhof Master Technika with 150mm Linhof Select Symmar or Sironar and the heaviest RRS CF tripod, Linhof 3-way head.

3. 6x12 Noblex 612UX and Kenyon Auto-Gyro

4. 6x6 Rolleiflex E with Planar and Maxwell Screen, Fleenor clean, and adapted Hasselblad chimney finder with diopter adjustment so I can actually focus it.... oh and a Nikon Coolscan 9000 so I can scan the film nicely.

5. Leica black paint MP 0.72 with 35 Lux ASPH

6. Leica II black with Nickel Elmar

7. Nikon F6 with 24/1.4 G, 35/1.4 G, 85/1.4 G, and some wack telephoto I don't know about

8. Nikon D4

9. Fuji X200, Pro M4/3s, Ricoh GR-Next, latest greatest pocket toy

10. I'm not greedy, nine cameras is enough for my modest needs ;-p

It sounds like a ridiculous list until you do the math and realize that you could buy it all for less than a Leica S2 and a couple of lenses.

 

[maddoc]

Lihof Technika
Nikon F
Leica II or III
Leica M3 and M4-2
Rolleiflex TLR
Hasselblad 500 C/M
Nikon D70 and D1x
Polaroid SX70