Best built mechanical SLR?

[Robert Lai]

I can only speak of the cameras with which I have experience. In 35mm SLRs, these are Nikons and Canons. In medium format, I prefer the Rolleiflex or Autocord TLRs.

With respect to Canon, I had the FX, which was the first to introduce the FL lens mount. This later evolved into the FD mount.

The FX had weaknesses. Primarily, it used a spring clutch to couple the wind lever to the winding shaft. If there was a problem with the clutch, then the shutter would jam. By the time the FTb came around, Canon had fixed all of these issues.

Also, the FX's meter scales were shifted by a silken cord. With time, it is a certainty that the cord will break, and your meter will not function. The semi-spot metering in the Ftb is one of the best implemented TTL metering schemes in 35mm SLRdom.

The QL feature of the FTb also works great. It is the easiest 35mm camera to load.

The early FL lenses, such as the 58mm f/1.2 had only a single guide pin, so the focusing could be a bit rough. They corrected this on subsequent lenses. Worse, with hot weather the grease from the focusing helical could migrate into and gum up the aperture mechanism, leading to overexposure.

With issues like this, I can understand why Mr. Market went with the Nikon F as the professional SLR.

Of the Nikons, I do feel that the F3 is the best handling of them all. However, the original question was regarding the best mechanical SLR cameras. I still stand with the Nikon F and F2.

 

[Mackinaw]

Canon original F1 - all ball bearings, split and recemented glass focusing screen... The original teardown report from modern photography was very positive

I heard that Norman Goldberg (DAG’s father), who did camera tests and strip down reports for Popular Photography in the 1970/80’s, was so impressed by the original Canon F-1 he bought one for his own personal use.

Jim B.

 

[dmc]

My personal experience, as I have had and used them since new are the Nikon F, and the Canon FTb. These cameras have taken many thousands of shots with no breakdowns. The F has always had the non-meter prism finder, but the FTb has a stop down metering system that is still spot on, all these years later. Great cameras both.

 

[tunalegs]

Really think the only people qualified to answer a question like this are camera repair people who've been up to their elbows in a wide variety of makes and models.
My experience is with virtually only with Nikons so how can I possibly speak intelligently about other brands?

If you had to get inside for a repair - the camera broke. 😉

 

[Robert Lai]

Not necessarily. I routinely send any "new" vintage cameras to my favorite repair persons for an overhaul. Almost all of them have had use, without a recent service. The only exceptions are the ones that I pick up from RFF, where the vendor tells me that a recent service has been done.

 

[Canyongazer]

“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.”
― Henri Cartier-Bresson

Thank you for that, DMC...this is a gem.
I've found C-B and W.Eugene Smith the most articulate of photographers.
Bresson because of his rigorous education, Gene Smith because he just can't help himself - he can do no other.
Both men were brilliant.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

My ex-brother in law's Canon F-1 was unrepairable due to "evidence of humidity".
AFAIK it was never stored in a damp location.

Chris

 

[Rico]

my personal favorite was the Contax AX, a singular engineering marvel. took those awesome contax zeiss mf lenses and made them autofocus! what a brilliant tool.

The Nikon F2AS, Canon F1 and Leicaflex SL2. My favourite would be the small titanium Contax S2 !

I agree about the AX, although it doesn't qualify as fully mechanical. The only such model in the Contax RTS line was the S2/S2b which was as well-built as the FM2, but not up to F2 levels. The S2 gets my vote, anyway, for being so darned pretty. 🙂 OP wants pictures...

 

[nobbylon]

My '72 early type with slotted screws and F type leatherette

 

[Peter de Waal]

I once asked my friend Mr. Wood who trained everywhere and worked on everything from 1962-2014 which 35mm cameras had the most accurate shutters. His reply:

1) Leica-M
2) Nikon F2
3) Minolta SR-t 101

He commended that the Nikon F2 "just want's to run at the correct speeds". The Leica-M is an excellent shutter and very accurate, but vulnerable to lubricant issues. The Minolta SR-t surprised me, but Chris pointed out that Minolta only ever copied the best, i.e. Leica.

He wasn't so keen on the Canon F-1. They have problems with the shutter brake mechanism and no parts are available.

 

[kshapero]

From the F

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Nikon F2.
Maybe the Pentax Spotmatic but I've owned a few with dead meters.

I saw the Contax AX listed way early in the thread and although it doesn't fit in this thread it was an interesting engineering feat...
...and one of the worst cameras ever made, in my opinion.
I had owned an RX for a couple years which worked fantastically, then "traded up" to an AX. Owned the camera for 28 days and the evening before I was supposed to shoot the Nurses of Pearl Harbor meeting in Seattle on the 60th Anniversary of the attack, the camera died. Tried a new battery, no joy. Bought another new battery, no joy. Tried every trick in the book I knew and it was just dead. I was moonlighting as a shooter and this was my only camera at the time, as I was still a "weather guesser" in the Navy, stationed at Whidbey Island NAS. I had to pass the job off to another shooter.
So the following day, I went to my regular shop down south west of Seattle and the Contax rep happened to be there. He saw the camera and offered me a mint RX but I refused, partially out of spite and partially because the writing was on the wall as to the fate of Contax under Kyocera. So right there I traded the AX and a bunch of lenses (28, 35, 50, 85, 180) in for a mint Nikon F4s and near mint F3HP plus a gang of lenses and $1200 in cash.
Went through a typhoon and tropical storm in Guam with the F4 and never had a single issue with it or any F3 I've ever used.
I digress.
The Nikon F2.

Phil Forrest

 

[papaki]

The Old Canon F-1 is the best ever mechanical camera ever built. Nikon F2 is a nice one,but most of them have issues with their shutters and mostly with the slow speeds.

 

[nobbylon]

The Old Canon F-1 is the best ever mechanical camera ever built. Nikon F2 is a nice one,but most of them have issues with their shutters and mostly with the slow speeds.

hahaha really? first i've heard of it. Where's your source for disputing 45 years worth of operational F2 shutters?

 

[papaki]

hahaha really? first i've heard of it. Where's your source for disputing 45 years worth of operational F2 shutters?

My F2s of course; an F2A that has a fully working meter head but lazy slow speeds, an F2 with the plain prism head that 1 an 2 hang open, and an F2 with the DP1 that the slow speeds sometimes trip like 1/30 or 1/60.
Not to mention that none of them has a single mark on them (and not to mention how much I am being asked for CLA).

 

[nobbylon]

My F2s of course; an F2A that has a fully working meter head but lazy slow speeds, an F2 with the plain prism head that 1 an 2 hang open, and an F2 with the DP1 that the slow speeds sometimes trip like 1/30 or 1/60.
Not to mention that none of them has a single mark on them (and not to mention how much I am being asked for CLA).

So if there are no marks on them then they probably haven't been used much. Most F2's are atleast 30 odd years old. Reliability and best built does not mean best maintainance free SLR.
Send them all off to Sover, get them serviced and then you'll be able to enjoy them.
Would you expect your car or motorcycle to run unserviced for 30-40 years? of course not. The fact that a lot of F2's and other cameras still do without service is due to multiple factors including useage pattern and storage conditions. I've been fortunate and only one of mine needed attention. Many more of the Leica's that have passed through my hands needed attention. Not because of being built badly or being unreliable but because of under use and stored in damp conditions.
I'm not a believer in a service for the sake of it but if there's an issue then get it fixed and only then can you judge how reliable they are.

 

[papaki]

That's my main concern with my collection. Building a large collection of cameras, makes it keeping it up difficult and expensive too.
Sending them to Sover is out of question. Not that he is expensive or not doing a good job, but there are customs troubles to sort out. Is there anyone in the EU that takes care of these?
My F-1, although does not go out frequently it still works like a charm (this one came from my dad, never seen service since 1969).

 

[nobbylon]

That's my main concern with my collection. Building a large collection of cameras, makes it keeping it up difficult and expensive too.
Sending them to Sover is out of question. Not that he is expensive or not doing a good job, but there are customs troubles to sort out. Is there anyone in the EU that takes care of these?
My F-1, although does not go out frequently it still works like a charm (this one came from my dad, never seen service since 1969).

Sover is in the EU so no customs charges.

 

[papaki]

Silly me! I thought that he was in the States. Will send the F2A right away.

 

[John Bragg]

Purely from my personal experience, Olympus OM1n and Nikon FM2n. I have two Olympii, one black and one chrome and a lovely chrome FM2n. The former 2 are 30 years old and the Nikon is 26 years old and none of them has missed a beat !