Are Later Film SLRs Now Overlooked?

[emraphoto]

1+

Back in 1995, bought a Nikon FM2-T new and it has never failed me.

If I had to choose one film SLR right now, it would be the petite OM3/4 or Nikon FM2 or FM3a. The Olympus viewfinder is quite the revelation.

As mentioned by the OP, P&S cameras like Contax fetch stupid money; Kyocera no longer services them so they're pricey paperweights when their ancient electronics (will invariably) fail. The upside is that MS Optics can convert the lens to M mount and it gets a 2nd life.

I've had a Contax T (original) and T2 repaired in past 2 years. Electronic issues. Came back good as new

 

[james.liam]

I've had a Contax T (original) and T2 repaired in past 2 years. Electronic issues. Came back good as new

Available electronic parts as time pass will diminish rapidly. As an ominous example, Leica recently announced it is no longer supporting the R8 & 9 while maintaining it for earlier mechanicals.

 

[markjwyatt]

I think the main issue about this class of cameras, is , yes they were auto focus/exposure/etc., so they could be used a an oversized point and shoot, but if I recall correctly, most of the autofocus schemes on these cameras was not so great compared to what we get today on modern digitals. I am sure there are exceptions (maybe some of the Nikons for instance), but for $9 I would not expect much and would rather get another Praktica body or something similar (not that I need one).

My Fujifilm XT-2 has all the features I could have dreamed of when I was young and could not afford the motor driven OMX's/Nikons/Canons/etc. with fancy zoom lenses, and 50' film backs, etc. And it works very reliably, even very reasonably quick autofocusing (for my shooting style). But 50% of the time I am more than happy (and even enjoy) just manually advancing the next frame. The other 50% I use the XT-2. And yes, there is some plastic on the XT-2, but is is a very solid camera, and metal where it matters.

Auto-exposure is nice, but for me only with visual feedback (i.e., digital)- other than P&S. I usually end up searching for the right exposure, and still need to think about it to avoid blowing out clouds, etc.. With manual cameras I use a light meter and think about it (takes a little longer, but for most cases, not an issue).

 

[markjwyatt]

Available electronic parts as time pass will diminish rapidly. As an ominous example, Leica recently announced it is no longer supporting the R8 & 9 while maintaining it for earlier mechanicals.

This is a real issue, and would give me pause before buying one of the fantastic high end film rangefinders or even SLRs that came out in the late 80s through 90s and early 2000's (like the Contax G2, Zeiss Rangefinder, Nikon F6, etc.). With film at a low, these could become very hard to get serviced (especially with electronic shutters). But mechanical cameras will potentialy live on for another century or so. On the other hand I won't , so that is a consideration also 🙂 .

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

And, while we are at it, the Contax SLRs are terrific, and now reasonably priced. Especially reasonable if you use Yashica brand glass.

Contax RTS (and the more-or-less) equivalent Yashica FR-1.
Contax ARIA is fabulous and small.
Some of the other Contax are beasts and very good looking.

 

[blan01]

I bought a Contax N1 with the Planar 50/1.4N to satisfy my dream of owning one when I was priced out at the time. I loaded it with Tmax 400 and off to target practice. Then it all came rushing back why I got into rangefinders in the first place. The Planar whirls back and forth minimum focus/infinity/minimum focus/infinity/minimum focus until eureka the green light glows and a shot is made. I’ll take the ground glass and light meter thank you very much. If I ever buy another late model film body it would be the F6 for the manual focus confirmation or the EOS 1n or 1v for the only truly decent AF technology in a film body. But these are no $50 bargains.

I had contax N1 for a while, the autofocus is awful and it's not cheap.
The N planar can be converted to canon ef, don't know if it focus better on EOS body

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Y'all can keep yer cheap and nasty plastic cameras thank you! 😛

Chris

 

[maigo]

Are Latter-Day Film SLRs Currently the Overlooked Film Camera?

Are Latter-Day Film SLRs Currently the Overlooked Film Camera?

Two years ago I bought a Nikon F601 (aka N6006) at a thrift store for $18 CAD. It is in perfect working order with hardly a scratch.
I use it with a Nikkor 70-210/f4 zoom for action shots of my kids playing sports.

I bought the zoom a few years back at $100 CAD for use with my ancient Nikon D50 and found the controls on the two camera were exactly the same. No need to RTFM for the F601.

Excellent price for both and I do not know of a better combo at this price.
Image quality at higher ISO (800/1600) is better on film (box or pushed) than on the D50.









Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PhotoGog]

Short answer: because they are ugly. Or, more accurately, what we here in Australia call fugly (fat + ugly).

 

[peterm1]

My favorite film camera in terms of functionality is my old Nikon f801s (Also known as f8008s). Dating from the late 1980s /early 1990s it is remarkably well made and although its AF is slow by today's standards it still has some advantages - it has spot metering in the S variant, it is built like a brick outhouse, it takes 4 x standard AA cells and hence has no problems with finding power sources. And unlike the later f90 and f90s does not have problems with its covering (which in the f90/ f90s becomes tacky over time as it degrades). It is also a cheap camera to buy for anyone who wants one (being very common back in the day) and will mount most AI lenses and beyond though obviously the latest lenses that lack an aperture ring and or screw AF drive are a problem. In general I quite like how the camera looks too - though I have to admit to preferring the looks of the older range of metal MF Nikon cameras. My only regret is that as far as I know there was never a Nikon or aftermarket battery grip made for this camera. Oh and another advantage is that the focus screen can be swapped out for one that works better with MF lenses if you are so inclined.

 

[emraphoto]

Available electronic parts as time pass will diminish rapidly. As an ominous example, Leica recently announced it is no longer supporting the R8 & 9 while maintaining it for earlier mechanicals.

So here is the logic the repair folks passed on to me... Little electronic motors, ribbon cables, logic boards etc. are much easier to deal with than stamped or machined mechanicals. When those parts fail, it is much harder to replace unless your particilar camera was MASS produced and parts are plentiful.

My point being that i often comes across the 'useless paperweight' comment, when it comes to the point and shoot film cameras of not too long ago, however my experience has been the opposite.

 

[Mackinaw]

So here is the logic the repair folks passed on to me... Little electronic motors, ribbon cables, logic boards etc. are much easier to deal with than stamped or machined mechanicals. When those parts fail, it is much harder to replace unless your particilar camera was MASS produced and parts are plentiful.......

With 3D printing, it's relatively easy to reproduce new, mechanical parts. For that matter, it's already being done. Much easier for sure, than reproducing 1980 electronics.

Jim B.

 

[Huss]

So here is the logic the repair folks passed on to me... Little electronic motors, ribbon cables, logic boards etc. are much easier to deal with than stamped or machined mechanicals. When those parts fail, it is much harder to replace unless your particilar camera was MASS produced and parts are plentiful.

My point being that i often comes across the 'useless paperweight' comment, when it comes to the point and shoot film cameras of not too long ago, however my experience has been the opposite.

Who was your repair guy?
Almost all the service techs in the US no longer service electronic Contaxes, saying parts unavailable. I actually have not been able to find anyone who would.
I think that's a pretty bad sign.

If you have a resource, it would be helpful to share it.
🙂

 

[jarski]

F801 has been mentioned. I think its loudness deserves a special mention also 😛

One sleeper to be rediscovered is EOS mid-range 30V/33V. These were released only in 2004.

 

[Fraser]

My favorite film camera in terms of functionality is my old Nikon f801s (Also known as f8008s). Dating from the late 1980s /early 1990s it is remarkably well made and although its AF is slow by today's standards it still has some advantages - it has spot metering in the S variant, it is built like a brick outhouse, it takes 4 x standard AA cells and hence has no problems with finding power sources. And unlike the later f90 and f90s does not have problems with its covering (which in the f90/ f90s becomes tacky over time as it degrades). It is also a cheap camera to buy for anyone who wants one (being very common back in the day) and will mount most AI lenses and beyond though obviously the latest lenses that lack an aperture ring and or screw AF drive are a problem. In general I quite like how the camera looks too - though I have to admit to preferring the looks of the older range of metal MF Nikon cameras. My only regret is that as far as I know there was never a Nikon or aftermarket battery grip made for this camera. Oh and another advantage is that the focus screen can be swapped out for one that works better with MF lenses if you are so inclined.

Don't let the sticky back put you off its easily polished off and makes them an even bigger bargain!
18fbpicNikonf90x_01 by Fraser Bremner, on Flickr

 

[MrFujicaman]

I agree with the poster that said that the late 80's-early 90's SLR's are dirt cheap. My N8008s was $8 from KEH a few Christmas's ago. I had a Sigma 28-80 that was given to me with a N6006. I gave the 6006 away because I didn't want to be dealing with weird batteries that I can only get mail order! I bought the N8008s for that reason-AA's I can buy anywhere! I later bought a Tamron 80-210 auto focus zoom for $19 to go with the 8008s.

I've got a grand total of maybe $50 in the camera and lenses and a cheap flash and bag. This rig has become the one I grab going out the door going anywhere. If the N8008s die, I'll find another cheap one.

These SLRs give you a great deal of bang for your buck!

 

[Ronald M]

Been collecting Nikon F2 for some time. Up to 4 now, black & silver , plain & metered prisms. These are all metal mechanical cameras made for heavy professional use. F5 is electronic. F6 is plastic. Also have a Nikkormat and Nikkormat Ft. Same guts as Nikon F whiter not not bad.

Plastic junk age hardens and breaks. Even the spare parts are old.

The Nikons compliment my M6. Digital Leica and Nikons are fun too, but I like making prints in my darkroom.

 

[emraphoto]

Who was your repair guy?
Almost all the service techs in the US no longer service electronic Contaxes, saying parts unavailable. I actually have not been able to find anyone who would.
I think that's a pretty bad sign.

If you have a resource, it would be helpful to share it.
🙂

https://www.sunflowercamerarepair.com/

 

[Ambro51]

Best plastic camera is the Diana. Funny thing now a nice original Diana is worth more than most of the cameras mentioned in this thread.

 

[richardHaw]

no. the Nikon FM3a is expensive and still highly-desirable 😱😱😱

but...the price of most plastic automatic cameras from the 80s to the 90s are cheap...because of parts or the lack of it.