Best Vintage Camera!?

[Borghesia]

Another vote for the Rolleiflex (T) / Rolleicord. And the OM 1 as a runner up.

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

Say What?

Say What?

Nikon F3 The only one good enough to go to the moon (in it's time).

The last moon landing was in 1972. The Nikon F3 didn't come out until 1980. If I'm not mistaken, most of the pictures on the moon were taken with Hasselblads.

 

[Al Patterson]

The best camera I have that cost me less than $200 is the Yashica GSN.

Nick Trop and Ken Rockwell both think it's a great camera...

😉

Now, I also like my Leica CL, Canon P and my Canon A-1 SLR, but they all cost me more than $200, although I think one can now get an A-1 for less than $200.

 

[JohnTF]

The last moon landing was in 1972. The Nikon F3 didn't come out until 1980. If I'm not mistaken, most of the pictures on the moon were taken with Hasselblads.

That had me wondering as well, Apollo 15 left their Blad's on the moon, brought home a bunch of stupid rocks. Probably the same for 16 and 17. I met the Apollo 17 Geologist, and forgot to ask about the camera.

Story was they stripped out everything they could to cut weight. First one they just picked up at a shop, I understand Hasselblad got involved later and they were using 70mm backs.

Nikon did make some cameras for space, but I think the classic moon photos were shot with Hassy's.

I also remember someone losing one in orbit, Hasselblad offered a reward for its return. ;-)

Retina 1a's are terrific bargains, and yes there is a camera show Sunday in Richfield, near Cleveland. Saw a beautiful black Miranda SLR for $20 at the last show.

Regards, John

 

[Abbazz]

So the Ricoh TLS-401 gets my vote!

The TLS-401 is a nice camera, but its dual mode pentamirror finder is the weak point. I prefer its predecessor, the Ricoh Singlex TLS, the Ricoh version of the Nikkorex -- vastly improved technically -- available both in Nikon F and M42 mount. A heavy beast which was a great camera with a fast Copal square shutter. So great in fact that the design was later licensed to Cosina, which used and reused it until the contemporary Bessa series. So, yes, the Ricoh Singlex TLS can be considered as a prehistoric SLR Bessa 😀.

In MF, i vote for the pre WWII Voigtländer Bessa RF.

In LF, maybe an old Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[Papercut]

Minolta Autocord (TLR) ... sub-$100 if you're careful on eBay!

 

[JohnTF]

I did some checking, and while they had Hasselblads, beginning with Apollo 15 Nasa had Nikon FTN's. They later used F3's I believe, and there was a special F4 made for a digital back that made 1Mb images I believe on the Shuttle. Both Nikon and Hasselblad used the connection for ads.

Regards, John

 

[feenej]

Olympus 35 SP

 

[cosmonot]

Story was they stripped out everything they could to cut weight. First one they just picked up at a shop, I understand Hasselblad got involved later and they were using 70mm backs.

And later on they used some Olympus OM's as well. Something to be said for the small size and minimal bulk of that system... Nice glass and relatively low prices unless you get into the fast and wide or big glass.

 

[andrealed]

The last moon landing was in 1972. The Nikon F3 didn't come out until 1980. If I'm not mistaken, most of the pictures on the moon were taken with Hasselblads.

Waist finders are the only choice when wearing this.....

 

[Rey]

I would have to say an OM-1 or OM-2, a Nikon F, or F2. The former models can be puchased in excellent condition for $200. The later Models can be obtained in good user condition for that price. OM lenses are excellent and much cheaper than Nikon. Many Nikon leneses are Leica quality, so the are more expensive.

 

[ampguy]

F3 prototypes appeared in 1974. Here's a link to the '80s NASA F3 system for the shuttle (or 250), some of these were lost in space as well:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...f3ver2/variations/Nikon_F3_NASA_250/index.htm

 

[caperunner]

My present best 'vintage' camera for <$200 are the Konica Autoreflex SLRs 1st model and T3n, and some classic lenses.

Also in the mix are Canon FTb, A1, Contax II, GTN, 14ic, Canon VT De Luxe. All good equipment and standard RFF fare. 🙂

 

[eli griggs]

Here's another vote for the Minolta Autocord (mine is the meter-less "export model"), as well as the Canon FT/FTb, EF and F1 family in total. FL and FD glass can be outstanding, especially the FD 'L' lenses.

There are so many great vintage rangefinder cameras available today I think a smart shopper can find one tailored to his/her particular needs without much trouble.

Cheers

 

[JohnTF]

Nasa Nikons

Nasa Nikons

Waist finders are the only choice when wearing this.....

I saw the NASA photo of the black FTN, and though it had the big finder, I could see no linkage for the 55mm lens, though it is generally always a sunny day on the moon.

The shot you posted seems to be a wide angle view as well?

I would think a sports finder might work?

Probably more than $200, but all kinds of Nikons, N90s, can be had with a zoom for under $100, I think I found a F100 in that range.

Petri and Ricoh fixed lens RF's in good working order are often $10-$20 on tables, and if not working, may be put on the "free" table.

And the dial set roll film cameras always seem to work, I found a cheap Bantam and even some 828 roll film on line.

As it is back to school time, Campus Camera sold out of every mechanical camera and was expecting a new shipment in this week.

The week the K1000 is king.

Regards, John

 

[350D_user]

Olympus OM1n's... there's some real bargains out there, if you have a look. 😉

 

[feenej]

Did we suddenly turn into reflex camera forum?

 

[kuzano]

Nope... I vote for a steadfast rangefinder....

Nope... I vote for a steadfast rangefinder....

Did we suddenly turn into reflex camera forum?

The magnificent Argus C4 (The FLR model - Fixed Lens Rangefinder).

Available in great numbers endlessly on eBay for $10-20. Mostly bulletproof, with a great lens and wonderful image quality. Usually come with a nice leather everready case for that price. Every one I have owned has had a bright viewfinder with a great rangefinder patch, easy to focus (Bofus?)

You haven't truly experienced photography until you have held an Argus C4 with those nice round ends in your mitts.

 

[Solinar]

Did we suddenly turn into reflex camera forum?

Nope - but some top of the line film SLRs are ridiculously inexpensive these days.

Last month - I almost forked out a whopping 50 bucks for a minty Nikon FE2 with two dead batteries and an AIS 50/1.8 at a yard sale. It was tempting.

If I had not just bought a well worn Leica M2 and Summicron for a little over 10 times of what the Nikon with Nikkor was being sold for, there would be an FE2 in my bottom drawer today.

 

[retro]

Prices are so arbitrary these days. I've bought cameras for well
under $200 that could have easily sold for more.

If you look you can find decent 4x5 cameras in that range. I even
bought an 8x10 B&J camera recently with lens in decent condition
for $80 at a swap meet. The seller thought it was an enlarger. 🙂