perfect combo film reflex and street photography

[Godfrey]

I'd never even thought about a grip very much. And never had much trouble holding any camera, either without or with a grip. It's not much of any consequence one way or the other.

Oh yeah: My standard camera nowadays is one or another Leica M. I don't own any grips for them.

G

 

[aw614]

I really like the Pen FT for this kind of usage.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Have a look at these two favorites of mine. You'll find extensive write-ups on both online:

Nikon FM3A
Canon EOS 5

 

[JohnGellings]

I'd never even thought about a grip very much. And never had much trouble holding any camera, either without or with a grip. It's not much of any consequence one way or the other.

Oh yeah: My standard camera nowadays is one or another Leica M. I don't own any grips for them.

G

I can use a grip camera too, but my tendency is to not...and from what I know of your cameras, I think it is your tendency too. 🙂

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

I got no gripe about grips. Although I do appreciate a camera that I can grip with one hand while gripping an umbrella in the other. A big grip for me is uncomfortable; a small grip is better. I always thought that the Voigtländer Bessa grip was the best grip of all.

All the best,
Mike

 

[wlewisiii]

Nikon F4 & the AF50/1.4D

 

[Leon C]

Many moons ago I bought a Yashica Electro 35 GTN do some some but never used it and more recently bought an old 38/100mm f3.5 Tamron Lens for the FG to try, not been out yet though.

My OM1 used to be the goto with 50mm.

 

[Richard G]

Maybe so, and I've shot with plenty of cameras without much of a grip. The MX and OM-1 just seem especially short on space for the right hand, I find myself cradling the body at the middle base beneath the lens more often, which makes it less ready to raise to my eye and take a shot. They're not light cameras, in addition.

Definitely this is my problem with the OM. I have an OM2n and I find the body too shallow, and all a bit front heavy with a 50. I like to wrap the strap around my wrist and carry a comera in the right hand. The larger than film Leica M9 cried out for a grip soon after release, but I resisted and I am now very comfortable with that but I have probably grown a few hand muscles compared to toting the M6 and 35 Summicron for the previous 20 years.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

My problem with the OM-1 was not so much the size of the camera but the fact that the self-timer lever is exactly where the tips of my fingers needed to be to get a good shooting grip on the camera. I don't have this problem with slightly larger cameras like my Nikon FEs or Pentax SL and Spotmatic. I have never had an MX in my hands, but it looks like the self-timer lever is higher up and might not interfere with my grip.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I use my Pentax MX only with the Winder MX attached. It adds a large vertical grip but negates the small body.

My overall favorite and most often used 35mm SLR body is the slightly larger - so easier to hold and operate - Pentax KX.
It has DOF preview, mirror lockup, mechanical shutter, manual exposure (only), SPD meter and full-information viewfinder.

Chris

 

[Evergreen States]

I love the street photography and I love film..... every time I try to do a google search I find basically only information about the digital world. .I tried to do a search on the forum too, but didn't find anything: probably i didn't search properly.
I am asking to the forum members their opinion as to which film SLR is best suited, or which you prefer, for street photografy, and why.

cheers

OP is coming up on a year old. Did you ever find a good SLR to shoot street with, friend?

 

[kxl]

Any manual focus SLR that can operate without a battery, but will give you AE when you install one--I'm most familiar with Nikon SLR's, so I would say the FM3A.

 

[Godfrey]

I can use a grip camera too, but my tendency is to not...and from what I know of your cameras, I think it is your tendency too. 🙂

Well, both my Olympus E-1 and E-M1 have grips molded into part of the body. I made up a special grip for my Hasselblad 907x too...
The point is, I don't really care much. I do whatever seems needed to hold a camera steadily.

I've been shooting a lot with the Leica X2 lately, and bought the grip for it. I find I use the grip about 50% of the time, mostly when the compactness of the camera isn't something I'm reaching for.

G

 

[valdas]

Not stylish, but it’s hard to beat in terms of size/practicality - Canon EOS300 (or Rebel 2000 in US) with 40mm 2.8 STM lens (very sharp). Lightweight, small, AF (not the fastest, but faster than any MF). You have it.

 

[caila77]

OP is coming up on a year old. Did you ever find a good SLR to shoot street with, friend?

I love my OM2N and a konica TCX with 40mm f1,8 that fits in my pocket

 

[Zuiko-logist]

The Konica is a nice size but I find the viewfinder a bit dim. The 40mm is an excellent and compact lens.

 

[luuca]

I love my little Pentax MX, size matters.
BUT the long "clang" shutter sound can often result excessive for street; maybe I'm used to my M cameras, but I'm sure there are quieter small SLRs

 

[santino]

Not stylish, but it’s hard to beat in terms of size/practicality - Canon EOS300 (or Rebel 2000 in US) with 40mm 2.8 STM lens (very sharp). Lightweight, small, AF (not the fastest, but faster than any MF). You have it.

I get your point but I hate the EOS 300. iMO it feels really cheap and the winding at the start of every roll is not my cup of tea since I change mid roll between different cameras. In EOS land the first 650, RT series are the ones I prefer (the RT and 630 like to drain batteries and often need new illuminators -read top displays - or just cut the right wire to the illumination).

 

[ddutchison2]

Nikon F to F3, primarily because of the type H focusing screens which have a course micro-prism grid over the entirety of the screen. They're super bright and you can focus accurately anywhere on the screen without recomposing. They're also very nice if you're shooting from the waist without the prism - a streety kind of thing to do. Not my choice for pictorial photography but for fast low light they can't be beat.

I also like the type G screens which are clear glass with a large course micro-prism in the center - extremely good in low light and available up to the F4

 

[valdas]

I get your point but I hate the EOS 300. iMO it feels really cheap and the winding at the start of every roll is not my cup of tea since I change mid roll between different cameras. In EOS land the first 650, RT series are the ones I prefer (the RT and 630 like to drain batteries and often need new illuminators -read top displays - or just cut the right wire to the illumination).

Yes, it feels cheap and the winding at the start is also something I don’t like. But it does the job. When I don’t care about the weight and just go for a short walk - EOS 3 is my choice. But I never take it when I travel. The good part about EOS300, it does not only feel cheap, it is cheap. So, when traveling I never worry about it being lost or stolen 🙂