Classic Cameras Every Collector Should Own . Let’s make a List!

[Ambro51]

For Fun, We can create a list of “shelf buddies”. Some cameras, so important historic and useable deserve to be in every collection. Probably safe to nominate the Nikon F as a “Gotta Have”. So, the list Begins. 1. NIKON F.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

Hmmm, this is my list. Some obtainable, some relatively common, some less so... Some I own, some I never will.

- Nikon F ‘Apollo’, plain prism, black paint
- Nikon F2 Titan
- Olympus M-1
- Leica M2 KS15-R
- Asahi Pentax K
- Hasselblad SWC-M
- Rolleiflex 2.8b
- Nikon SP 2005

 

[raid]

Hasselblad SWC
Leica M3
Nikon F2
Standard Leica
Canon F1
Rolleiflex TLR

 

[aizan]

Isn’t the fun of collecting getting what you want, not what other people say you should get? Collectors always seem to have specific areas of interest. Even that guy with 3000 cameras was most interested in Kodak Brownies, along with cameras he picked up on vacation.

 

[xayraa33]

Zenit E SLR with a 58mm Helios lens or the 50mm Industar 50 lens if you were super poor. Millions were sold.

In the 1970s many teenagers outside the USA could only afford these 35mm SLR cameras and hoped to be able to afford a Praktica L series camera in the future.

 

[madNbad]

Nikkormat but not the FT3
Canonet
Any Retina
Olympus XA

 

[David Murphy]

M2
M3
Nikon F (eye level prism)
Rolleiflex 2.8 (B-F))
Contax IIa
Leica II any version
Leica IIIg
Hasselblad 500C

 

[kmallick]

Some of my favorite Rangefinders have been mentioned. Can I include a few other classic SLRs?

Pentax LX
Minolta XD-11
Olympus OM-4T

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Hmmm, this is my list. Some obtainable, some relatively common, some less so... Some I own, some I never will.

- Nikon F ‘Apollo’, plain prism, black paint
- Nikon F2 Titan
- Olympus M-1
- Leica M2 KS15-R
- Asahi Pentax K
- Hasselblad SWC-M
- Rolleiflex 2.8b
- Nikon SP 2005

I’ll just borrow your list, add a Contarex Special, Contax IIa, Linhof Master Technika, and a Contax 645.
That should do it. None destined for shelf duty.

 

[Hari]

No 4x5 so far? I'll go for the Graflex Speed Graphic...
second is Sinar Norma

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Just going off my own collection, and/or regret selling, and/or have yet to purchase, but they are all dream cams to me

Nikon F3 HP
Nikon S3/SP

Leica M2/M3/M4

Mamiya 7ii

Hasselblad 500cm
Hasselblad SWC
Hasselblad XPan

Rolleiflex 2.8f/3.5f
Rollei 35s

Deardorff 8x10
Deardorff 5x7

 

[Forest_rain]

Oh no, this thread is going to raise the prices for all these cameras! 🙂


Just kidding.


I agree with Nikon F, Olympus XA. What about TLRs? Probably a Rolleiflex or Rolleicord. Rollei 35s. Hasselblad, Mamiya 645, Retina Reflex, Zorki, all unique and interesting.

 

[johnf04]

Contaflex 1 (1950s SLR)
Contax S
Praktica LLC
Exakta Varex
Pentax K1000

 

[Ccoppola82]

M2
Hasselblad 500cm if medium format is desired.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

I believe Plaubel Veriwide 100 should be on this list.

And one of the Widelux.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Retina IIa, Nikon F3, Pentax Spotmatic, Nikon F2.
Phil Forrest

 

[lcpr]

Deardorff V8.

 

[DanskDynamit]

No Rectaflex in the lists? you guys are crazy.. it's the world's first SLR equipped with a pentaprism and with a Som Berthiot lens, it's all you need in your collection.

 

[David Hughes]

Essential 1: an incredibly expensive one with a superb lens that is all electronic, that has failed and cannot be repaired. Display prominently to remind you not to be so stupid next time. Display with print-outs of posts telling you it was worth it and that it was a good investment...

Essential 2: an incredibly cheap one with a so-so lens that you use all the time and have done some of your best work with. Display with 12 x 8 prints.

Essential 3: an incredibly useful one and the expensive one that it copied and improved on. Display with a list of prices paid on ebay for them both and bills for the repair of the original.

Essential 4: an incredibly old digital camera with only 5 megapixels available and an f/3.5 lens. Display with a selection of 12 x 8 and 16 by 24 prints.

I'm sure suggestions for all these will soon be forthcoming.


Regards, David

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

The Canon F-1n

The best there ever was, the best there will ever be.

So says me.

All the best (and all that jazz),
Mike