BillBingham2
Registered User
A good 28/2.8 AIs is worth at least that!
Great combo, 28, 50, all you need is a 105 and you're set!
B2 (;->
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
IMHO the Nikon F3HP. It was a professional camera and there are many around. There are many Nikon lenses to build onto the system as well as Carl Zeiss lenses.
Huss
Veteran
People mentioning the CLE... I had two (at the same time) perfect condition, looked like new CLEs and they both failed. Electrical issues. Shutter stayed open.
One I sold before that happened but was told about it a couple of months later. The one I kept I had repaired but lost faith in it and so sold it the moment I got it back.
So as lovely as they are, I would not recommend them. FYI the tech who fixed it said he pretty much had to take it apart and clean oxidation off all connectors etc. So nothing failed per se like a circuit board, just age took its toll.
One I sold before that happened but was told about it a couple of months later. The one I kept I had repaired but lost faith in it and so sold it the moment I got it back.
So as lovely as they are, I would not recommend them. FYI the tech who fixed it said he pretty much had to take it apart and clean oxidation off all connectors etc. So nothing failed per se like a circuit board, just age took its toll.
Huss
Veteran
OP wants a small camera.
That's not all that common with the CLE, but it's just a CLA, like all the other Leicas need every few decades. 
CharlesDAMorgan
Veteran
OP also asked for an SLR recommendation - which the CLE isn't!
Huss
Veteran
More from the 40mm 2.8
Orthogonal
Established
Contax 139 and the Zeiss 50mm 1.7. The 1.7 has a rep for being one of the sharpest film SLR 50's ever produced, it's also very saturated and high contrast. If you want something a bit faster the 1.4 is also excellent albeit larger, heavier, and a tad softer when wider than f2. The combo is the most ideal match to the OP's wish list I can think of, the only note I would add is to have the body overhauled by Peter Robinson.
Or, the 159, which has a faster shutter and is the same size as the 139.
Yes to Peter Robinson, he's also a member here: @monopix
he operates www.contax139.co.uk
Yes to Peter Robinson, he's also a member here: @monopix
he operates www.contax139.co.uk
Prest_400
Multiformat
Nikon F80 + 50mm 1.8D, buy a kit with the zoom which is usually thrown in as free with the body. The F80 can be found for 30GBP and the 50 1.8 for 50GBP.
A toy compared to a M3, but loaded with features. Automation and fill flash.
Nikon F90 is tough and does feel professional quality. I kept a F90 + 50 1.8D at my folks' just to have a 35mm camera there for when I visit.
Canon loses me with the different model names, but I think a sort of equivalent is the EOS 30/33V with a 50mm 1.8.
Too cheap? Good "battle" camera to put out in action, spend the rest on good film, processing and paper. Color film is quite dear nowadays, and for B&W, fiber paper isn't cheap. Perhaps you can even squeede a medium format camera purchase
I second Huss' Pentax MX and 40mm, as I have that kit. However, I do sometimes miss the sheer convenience of an AF camera.
A toy compared to a M3, but loaded with features. Automation and fill flash.
Nikon F90 is tough and does feel professional quality. I kept a F90 + 50 1.8D at my folks' just to have a 35mm camera there for when I visit.
Canon loses me with the different model names, but I think a sort of equivalent is the EOS 30/33V with a 50mm 1.8.
Too cheap? Good "battle" camera to put out in action, spend the rest on good film, processing and paper. Color film is quite dear nowadays, and for B&W, fiber paper isn't cheap. Perhaps you can even squeede a medium format camera purchase
I second Huss' Pentax MX and 40mm, as I have that kit. However, I do sometimes miss the sheer convenience of an AF camera.
AlexBG
Well-known
FE2's with a fast 50 seem out of budget and I think I would prefer the FE over the FE2. I also like the rendering of the Nikkor-s auto. Would this work ok on a FE? I've read a bit about old Nikkors not being compatible with newer cameras but really can't get my head around it.
CLE and Hexar Rf are out of the question, too expensive and I don't really like rangefinders hence why I am after a SLR.
Nikon N80 is a bit too new but agreed would be a better camera than most suggested.
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
More from the 40mm 2.8
a killer small camera .....i know.... not aper. priority. But just as cool as Huss implies
The F80/N80 is one of my favorite cameras. I typically use the 35/2, 50/1.8, and 85/1.8 AF-D lenses, but also have the 28-70 and 28-105 zooms, and the 70-210/4.5-5.6, all of which are excellent zooms, and cheap.
Light body, 1/4000, quick (enough) AF, excellent viewfinder. The F90/N90 is quite a bit bigger/heavier but the trade off: it has a larger/better viewfinder. It also will meter with manual focus lenses unlike the F80.
The key to these cameras is finding those that don't have the usual sticky plastic degradation. Don't let the plastic fool you, it's just a covering over a very well-built metal chassis. These are solidly built cameras.
And they are nearly free nowadays...
Light body, 1/4000, quick (enough) AF, excellent viewfinder. The F90/N90 is quite a bit bigger/heavier but the trade off: it has a larger/better viewfinder. It also will meter with manual focus lenses unlike the F80.
The key to these cameras is finding those that don't have the usual sticky plastic degradation. Don't let the plastic fool you, it's just a covering over a very well-built metal chassis. These are solidly built cameras.
And they are nearly free nowadays...
The FE has the flip-up indexing lever so it will work with non-AI lenses. I prefer the FE2 for the 1/4000.
Not as small as the Pentax but the Contax 139/159 with the 45/2.8 Tessar pancake is a killer setup. The Tessar seriously blows away other Tessars like the Nikon 45/2.8 P.
tbhv55
Well-known
It certainly is... and, what's more, I actually HAD one!
Admittedly, it was nearly forty years ago
... but the real question is: why the h*** did I sell it? :bang: AlexBG
Well-known
I'd rather have the extra speed but price and the way it needs to be turned on and then turns off automatically after 16 seconds makes me prefer the FE.
The pentax MX looks good except I shoot 99% of the time on aperture priority.
tbhv55
Well-known
More from the 40mm 2.8
That's a great looking rig, Huss. My MX looks rather different. It 'only' has a 50mm f/1.7, and it has a lot (and I do mean, a LOT) of brassing.
Having said that, it still looks bl***y wonderful!
Huss
Veteran
Pentax ME/ME Super/SuperA are pretty much the same size.
I really like the ME and the SuperA. Dirt cheap too!