Addy101
Well-known
They're not the best, as the Minolta XD series are better cameras. But the X700 (and X500 and X300) is hard to beat for your bang for a buck and those Rokkor lenses are wonderfull.How about the X-700 ?
I don't know if they are "the best" but they are very reliable and dirty cheap at the moment as they are very underrated. Value for money is excellent.
I would like to nominate the Minolta Dynax 9 (aka Maxxum 9 and Alpha 9) - though it is big and heavy, I think it never gets in the way of a picture and thats what it is all about.
68degrees
Well-known
How about the X-700 ?
I don't know if they are "the best" but they are very reliable and dirty cheap at the moment as they are very underrated. Value for money is excellent.
I loved it when I owned one. My first SLR at 15 years old. I swear the image quality was better than my Nikon FM. Underated. I think you are right. Should have kept it. Is there a name for that? Like RetroGas or something. Gear that you want back?
nobbylon
Veteran
Best ever? Nikon F5 for A/F and for M/F a Leicaflex SL.
The F5 has the best meter of any camera I've used. It's the best point and shoot anywhere that I have! The autofocus is so fast and I've heard of them trashing 3rd party lenses because of the torque in the motors. If I don't want to be worried about getting a camera wet or sandy or bashed against stuff I take the F5.
The Leicaflex is a masterpiece of German engineering. Built like an M, ie a core of mechanicals slid into a strong shell make it very robust. It has that M feeling to it. Meter is a decent spot and the no brainer is the viewfinder. Simply the best there is and unless you've looked through one you wont understand. After using an SL all other finders are inferior, dim, etc etc. I wish I'd bought one years ago.
The F5 has the best meter of any camera I've used. It's the best point and shoot anywhere that I have! The autofocus is so fast and I've heard of them trashing 3rd party lenses because of the torque in the motors. If I don't want to be worried about getting a camera wet or sandy or bashed against stuff I take the F5.
The Leicaflex is a masterpiece of German engineering. Built like an M, ie a core of mechanicals slid into a strong shell make it very robust. It has that M feeling to it. Meter is a decent spot and the no brainer is the viewfinder. Simply the best there is and unless you've looked through one you wont understand. After using an SL all other finders are inferior, dim, etc etc. I wish I'd bought one years ago.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
The Canon EOS 5 has made the presence of any other Canon in my collection, completely unnecessary...
Despite the extended use of plastic,it is fast, reliable and consistent... one of the finest....

Despite the extended use of plastic,it is fast, reliable and consistent... one of the finest....
Peter_wrote:
Well-known
there is,- obvious, only one right answer: Exakta Varex IIa
Bar8barian
Established
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Ronny
Well-known
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
Nikon F2AS. Superbly built, amazingly flexible, and the most extensive line of lenses you will find anywhere. Besides, it LOOKS the way a proper, serious fine camera should! How's that for objectivity??
Cheers,
Dez
Cheers,
Dez
maitani
Well-known
for me its the Nikon F, the F2 and this one

Roger Hicks
Veteran
Gorgeous camera, the nearest SLR in the hand to a Leica M, and I completely agree with the highlight, but they're prone to lazy shutters with aging. Don't ask why I say this...THE BEST 35mm SLR
It's got to be the Pentax SV, superb build quality,feels perfect and svelte in the hand,and fitted with the superb Takumar lenses,and the best camera Pentax ever made.
Here is one of mine:-
Cheers,
R.
dabick42
Well-known
The best SLR ever ?
Got to be the Nikon F. I've had my original F (the first of my present five copies) since bought new in 1962.
Still gives perfect pics, still unserviced, still fault-free apart from a worn-out Photomic head, which I've replaced with a prism.
The F is tough. It will soldier on until hell freezes over.
If it was human, it would shave with a blowtorch and wipe its butt with sandpaper.
We'll never see its like again, more's the pity....
Got to be the Nikon F. I've had my original F (the first of my present five copies) since bought new in 1962.
Still gives perfect pics, still unserviced, still fault-free apart from a worn-out Photomic head, which I've replaced with a prism.
The F is tough. It will soldier on until hell freezes over.
If it was human, it would shave with a blowtorch and wipe its butt with sandpaper.
We'll never see its like again, more's the pity....
azzurri
Member
The best SLR ever ?
Got to be the Nikon F. I've had my original F (the first of my present five copies) since bought new in 1962.
Still gives perfect pics, still unserviced, still fault-free apart from a worn-out Photomic head, which I've replaced with a prism.
The F is tough. It will soldier on until hell freezes over.
If it was human, it would shave with a blowtorch and wipe its butt with sandpaper.
We'll never see its like again, more's the pity....
i'm sure glad the f isn't human
Tom Harrell
Well-known
I have a Nikon F, F2, 8008 and a Nikkormat all are great cameras. I also have the Minolta X-700 which is a pleasure to use. I had a Canon EOS 10s that gave me great service and lots of good pictures but my favorite has always been my Canon T-90. Wow, what a camera!
asiafish
Established
I've got a bevy of Canon 'L' glass and was thinking of purchasing a film body. I mainly was thinking of the SLR for my longer lenses... longest 200mm. I decided to buy the latest and greatest Canon and then a few things hit me. One, I don't need all the fancy metering, nor rapid fire and I hate huge cameras. Two, I use to love my mechanical Nikons and had a real interest in the small Olympus of earlier years.
What is your ultimate SLR and why? What SLR might you want to buy? ...ah and yes I have searched and read other threads.
Leica R6/6.2, for the glass of course, but also a very nice body.
asiafish
Established
Minolta
Minolta
I like the X-570 (X-500) better than the 700 because in metered manual it shows the set and suggested shutter speed in the finder. That, and I never used P mode anyway.
XD-11 is probably the most impressive Minolta, but my favorite has always been the XE-7. There is just something about it (and the matching Leica R3) that feels right. If a mass-produced SLR can be a luxury item, it is the XE-7.
The SRTs are also fantastic cameras, though very crude.
Minolta
They're not the best, as the Minolta XD series are better cameras. But the X700 (and X500 and X300) is hard to beat for your bang for a buck and those Rokkor lenses are wonderfull.
I would like to nominate the Minolta Dynax 9 (aka Maxxum 9 and Alpha 9) - though it is big and heavy, I think it never gets in the way of a picture and thats what it is all about.
I like the X-570 (X-500) better than the 700 because in metered manual it shows the set and suggested shutter speed in the finder. That, and I never used P mode anyway.
XD-11 is probably the most impressive Minolta, but my favorite has always been the XE-7. There is just something about it (and the matching Leica R3) that feels right. If a mass-produced SLR can be a luxury item, it is the XE-7.
The SRTs are also fantastic cameras, though very crude.
locheeboy
locheeboy
Best?...
The one ah use most...
The one ah use most...
clayne
shoot film or die
Pretty much any of 'em if they're pre-1980.
Personally I use Nikon F, F2, F3, Pentax K1000, Minolta SRT-101, XE-7. Any of them will work similarly - as in essence they all mostly follow a similar standard and way of working.
Focus on glass and film.
Personally I use Nikon F, F2, F3, Pentax K1000, Minolta SRT-101, XE-7. Any of them will work similarly - as in essence they all mostly follow a similar standard and way of working.
Focus on glass and film.
leicapixie
Well-known
The original Nikon-F.
Nothing comes close.
No light leaks. Shutter almost burn-proof.
100% viewfinder.
Compact size, with pentaprism.
Nothing comes close.
No light leaks. Shutter almost burn-proof.
100% viewfinder.
Compact size, with pentaprism.
Rodchenko
Olympian
I used to lust after a Nikon FM2. But now I'm more convinced of the claim by the OM-4. My OM-2SP feels like a prototype for the 4.
julianphotoart
No likey digital-phooey
Some would say the VC Bessaflex. It happens to be a fantastic M42 camera.
Here's a link to a review: http://www.petapixel.com/2013/04/03...beautiful-and-refined-m42-camera/#more-105487
Here's a link to a review: http://www.petapixel.com/2013/04/03...beautiful-and-refined-m42-camera/#more-105487

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