Anyone still shoot with their SLR's?

[xcapekey]

well...since i've discovered bicycling, i've managed to knock RF alignment out of my leicas 3 times....my camera of choice when i'm on 2 wheels now is an FE2

 

[taffer]

Just in case you wonder why I got another F2... I seriously think after this post classic SLR prices will skyrocket on thepray 😉

 

[dexdog]

I still use my AE-1 Program occasionally, both with a zoom and 50mm macro lens. Also, a DSLR

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I shoot with virtually everything I own, and that includes SLRs. I have recently re-acquired a Hasselblad 500c/m kit (that would be an SLR), and also shoot with my Leica R8, Canon 20D, Canon 300D, Canon Elan IIe, and Canon A-1 (with a very nice Canon 50mm f/1.2 which I also have mounted on my Leica M6, the LTM version, of course).

Actually, the only SLR that I don't use is the Nikon Pronea-S...hmm, maybe I should sell that one, I haven't used it in almost two years.

 

[anandi]

My rediscovery of film started with an RF but moved into my Canon FD lenses to the point where I picked up an A-1 to complement my T-70. I'm shooting 60% SLR with a new to me 28mm lens and even picked up a 35-70 zoom. The RFs have made me crave mechanical interaction and fiddling, but the contrast between the metering on 70s rangefinders and 80s SLRs is interesting.

 

[Bertram2]

Never stopped using my Nikon SLRs and in some ways appreciate them even more after using RFs.
Bob

Oh yes, that''s what happened to me too ! 🙂
First after the RFs had taught me how to take decent photos ( let's say halfways decent) I learned to estimate SLRs as a great tool too.

To make it extreme I don't use manual SLRs but a F80 + a Tamron 28-300 and my wife a Dynax5 with a 28-85 which I use too from time to time because it is incredibly small and light. Today I shoot ISO 100 slides with these cameras which are so sharp and clear that I myself can not clearly distinguish them from the CV slides.
Between f 5,6 and f11 it is more the color handling and the contrast which differs, not the impression of sharpness.

2003, using again SLR after " RF exclusively" break of 2 years i first understood, why SLR had such an enormous success at pros and amateurs from the 60s on.

Nonetheless I cinsider the RF gear as unsurpassable for many special tasks.

Best regards,

Bertram

 

[richard_l]

I could see getting GAS for the elegant F2 (preferably the AS version), but common sense tells me I would probably use the more rudimentary and rustic FM2n a lot more because of its more rangefinder-like size and weight.

Unlike most of you younger folk, I still think of the 35mm SLR as the new boy on the block, but a very welcome newcomer which greatly simplifies certain tasks which can be a real hassle on the rangefinder.

 

[Bertram2]

I tend to shoot rectangular things sometimes, wanting them to be rectangular in the print. Weird, huh? So I use an F1 with a grid screen, especially with 24mm. My CV 25 is no good for this purpose, but it's fun in nature, where 90deg is an unusual angle.

You cannot use a cv 25 without a level, if you want rectangular items look rectangualr on the prints. Bit with that level it more precisely levelled than with a grid screen, that's my experience. And you got zero distortion with the CV, the SLr lenses mostly don't come close to this quality. How good is the Nikon 24mm (AI-S ?) related to distortion ?
Thought about it once but did not buy it .

Best, Bertram

 

[Honu-Hugger]

I could see getting GAS for the elegant F2 (preferably the AS version), but common sense tells me I would probably use the more rudimentary and rustic FM2n a lot more because of its more rangefinder-like size and weight.

Unlike most of you younger folk, I still think of the 35mm SLR as the new boy on the block, but a very welcome newcomer which greatly simplifies certain tasks which can be a real hassle on the rangefinder.

May I suggest the F2 with the unmetered prism? That was without question my absolute favorite Nikon SLR, and the last one I got rid of. Of course picking a favorite among the F, various F2's, and the F3 is sort of like "Sophies Choice," but sweet misery nevertheless 🙂. After going with no Nikon SLR's for a while I did recently pick up a lowly Nikkormat FT3; it has a 45mm GN attached to it most of the time (Richard, if you can remember when 35mm was "new on the block" then you'll likely remember the 45/GN).

 

[Uncle Bill]

when I shoot with SLR, its either with my Nikons: two F's and one Nikkormat FTn which are tank cameras with killer glass. The other system I use are the Pentax M42's the Model K, S1a and Spotmatic SP1000. I have become a huge fan of their light weight and the killer Takumar glass that honestly rivals Leica for sharpness. I plan on getting another Spotmatic or M42 Pentax in the new year, have not decided yet.
I use about 50/50 Rangefinder vs. SLR, I don't discriminate unless it involves pixels.

Bill

Bill

 

[Honu-Hugger]

50 postings in three hours -- does this mean there's a little pent-up demand to chat about our SLR's? 😀

 

[MrRanger]

I have a Minolta SRT 201 that I've had since it was new - I've a soft spot for the manual focus Minolta SLRs. After getting back into film (with the help of you guys) I dusted off the 201 and started using her again, mainly for telephoto shots.

After checking out the 'bay and seeing how cheap the Minolta stuff was going for I bought a lovely XD-11. I have Yashica GAS right now, I must buy MORE Electro's for my collection! Then I probably will go back for more Minolta SLR stuff!

Mike 😀

 

[richard_l]

50 postings in three hours -- does this mean there's a little pent-up demand to chat about our SLR's?

Maybe Jorge should be advised that there is interest in an SLR forum. He's an SLR person himself, so he should go for it. Heck, there's a P&S forum, why not one for SLR?

 

[Traut]

I've started buying black F's. They are as basic as the RFs they replaced. A Nikon F with the basic nin meter prism is in my estimation an evolutionary turning point in film camera history. I remember being in John Bull in Nassau when they were filming Dr. No with Sean Connery. The salesmen were showing off the very first Nikon SLR. Its fun shooting with them again.

 

[ray_g]

I prefer the F2's with (DE-1) plain prisms for the same reason. I have one in chrome and one in black. Most solid camera I have ever held. Titanium shutters rated for 200,000 clicks. The last of the hand-built nikons.

If any of my cameras would survive a nuclear blast, it would be these 😉 Too bad my film would be worthless.

 

[rover]

I have brought my Minolta SRTs back to life and recently picked up a 58mm 1.2 lens for them. Very, very nice giant piece of glass!!!😀

Mike you are right about the price of the Minolta stuff, so so low. Check out KEH too, their prices for Minolta glass generally is not much more than that on ebay. I picked up the 58 from a dealer for less than $100!!! One recently sold for over $200 on ebay.😉

I thought about buying an EOS 7n, but then didn't thinking that I can put that money into a di...., dig...., digit.....

Oh, I still can't say it, you know what I mean.

Until I do so I will stick with my old school stuff.

 

[hugivza]

I recent shot my son's wedding and took photos of my new grandson using SLR's. I used Fujipro S2 digital for convenience at the wedding, and a Nikon F2 with 85/1.4 for close ups of my new grandson and others. I used my III a RF with B and W at the reception as there was more time to compose and measure exposure and distance!

 

[MrRanger]

Glad to see someone else is keeping the old SLR Minoltas alive! 🙂 Thanks for the heads-up on KEH rover, as soon as I satisfy this latest case of Yashica GAS I will check them out! Hmmm, maybe a wideangle? 😉

Mike 😀

 

[djon]

Bertram, I don't know nuttin' bout' Nikons 😛 . I shoot Canon, Ps and F1s. I dumped a pair of then-newish black FTNs and lenses to get then-new F1ns because the SSCs were better than Nikkors and the machines were tougher than Nikons, not to mention the precise double exposure (which I used) and even better (like 99.999%) viewfinder and resistance to crud and moisture. 😎

My Canon SSC 24 is incredibly perfect in every respect. CV's fun sometimes because it's more contrasty, and if not equal, it's still plenty sharp. CV vignettes heavily, SSC doesn't, which isn't as important as it was before Photoshop. The CV 25 would be a more credible alternative to that 24 if somebody other than $Leica made a finder that transcended CV's crapola design/construction. For somebody else's photo trip, it's probably more valuable: I don't like distortion, I mostly use wide lenses simply to get wide perspectives.

If I wanted to mount a spirit level on something, it'd be an F1. 😉

 

[Gary R]

I still use my canon 1D Mk II for sports and general photojournalism, but have been using my Leica more and more. I am pretty new to rangefinders but I love the feel of the M4-P and have used my Canon less these past two weeks. The Canon is great, a real workhorse, but the Leica has a little more finesse. I have noticed that I tend to "feel" the camera less, in other words the camera does not seperate me from the subject or scene as much. It may be the lack of information in the viewfinder or the fact that I can see outside the 50mm framelines and get a better sense of what is happening around me. I wonder if anyone else who has recently made the transition from an SLR has had a similar experience.