Digital cult cameras?

[Godfrey]

My digital cult classics:

- Olympus E-1
:: one of the best designed SLRs ever made and still a wonderful picture taker, despite being only 5Mpixel.

- Epson R-D1
:: limited production run, interesting concept, entertaining design. And it makes good photos too.

- Leica M8/M9
:: almost too commonly accepted to be a fine camera to be a cult classic. ;-)

- Ricoh GXR
:: Fascinating design, excellent ergonomics and features, superb photos. Few realize just how good a camera it is.

I think the Leica X1/X2 have staying power too, but time will tell.

 

[gavinlg]

I might agree with you, Keith. It certainly has had a niche all to itself for a LONG time. However, if the D600 turns out to be a cheaper, just as good, giant killer... hmmm?

Don't forget the 5d was out at about two years before the d700, was the first affordable full frame body, and noise performance was only a stop worse.

The 5d is also known for color - wedding photographers often refer to it as the classic wedding camera for it's colors/tones.

 

[grantb]

The Pixelvision PXL-2000 has to be the cultiest of all digital cameras so far, even though it's a video cam. It's also only "digital" on a very primitive level.

 

[rluka]

R-D1 and GR-D
That two came into mind.

The M9 is a cult camera for those who can justify the cost of owning it.

Not sure. I think cult status is not limited to users. There's still a lot of peoples lusting for M9 even though they can't afford it so it has popularity among bigger groups.

But then, my idea of cult is of groups that's usually went unnoticed on the surface.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

The Pixelvision PXL-2000 has to be the cultiest of all digital cameras so far, even though it's a video cam. It's also only "digital" on a very primitive level.

Yes... no doubt the lomography crowd will pick up on this one! 🙂

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Current digital cult cameras:

- GRD series
- Canon 5d
- Epson R-d1
- Possibly the kodak DCS-14n


Future digital cult cameras:

- Fujifilm x100
- Leica M9

I agree that the 5D will likely make it to cult-land. It continues to be such a great camera when compared to anything made before or since. It definitely holds it own!

 

[funkydog]

Almost nobody uses digital cameras from the 90's for example.

True. Digital cameras are the new disposable cameras. Despite the price, they're just things to use temporarily until the next better model comes along.
A single film camera has served me for over 25 years. I've gone through more than ten dslrs and mirrorless cameras in the last six years. I've no special attachment to them. Buy, use, and give away. I cant even sell them. They fetch such insultingly low offers that I rather just give the cameras away to deserving people.

Perhaps a future digital camera cult classic will be a Samsung phone.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

True. Digital cameras are the new disposable cameras. Despite the price, they're just things to use temporarily until the next better model comes along.
A single film camera has served me for over 25 years. I've gone through more than ten dslrs and mirrorless cameras in the last six years. I've no special attachment to them. Buy, use, and give away. I cant even sell them. They fetch such insultingly low offers that I rather just give the cameras away to deserving people.

Perhaps a future digital camera cult classic will be a Samsung phone.

This pretty much says it... its going to be difficult for any digital camera to achieve cult status. But I think a few have been mentioned here that might do so. I'm thinking the RD1, the Leica Monochrome (assuming they never build another version), and maybe the Canon 5D.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

I don't think we can ever talk "cult" status in terms of tens of years after when it comes to digital cameras. That's just my opinion. Almost nobody uses digital cameras from the 90's for example.

Exactly! And its really sad, at least to those of us that lived in the era when cult film cameras were passed down from generation to generation. I don't think we'll ever see that again. 🙁

 

[ChrisN]

cult = cool = cool people. I think the only one that qualifies is the iPhone.

 

[Keith]

Don't forget the 5d was out at about two years before the d700, was the first affordable full frame body, and noise performance was only a stop worse.

The 5d is also known for color - wedding photographers often refer to it as the classic wedding camera for it's colors/tones.

Yes but it's a Canon! (ducking)

 

[rhl-oregon]

++ GRD & GXR. But maybe that's b/c I'm so happy with each of mine (which by now operate naturally in hand almost apart from rational/logical considerations).

 

[btgc]

Early Petax DSLR's - istD, istDS and istDS2 for their pentaprism enhanced viewfinders. istD even has top mounted LCD for shooting parameters and PC socket. Sure there are later cameras also good at this but three particular models still keep the price.

 

[GaryLH]

Interesting topic Jamie

Sony R1 and now the RX100
Panasonic GF 1 and LX 3
Ricoh GXR w/ A12 M module
Fuji X100

 

[kutitta]

My personal cult is Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D with the knobs, dials and extensive manual control it feels like a film camera shooting digital. It's still my only digital camera and I have no intention of upgrading it to any other DSLR. I really don't feel any need to do so.

 

[ChrisN]

Perhaps the forerunner of the Sony R1 - the DSC-F717. Quirky and fun. Has a real following modified for IR work.

by Thegreenj (Own work), from Wikimedia Commons

 

[texchappy]

How about the NikoFujis - The S2,S3,S5Pro. They seem to have retained a following for their color renditions in people photography.

 

[btgc]

Finepix F601 Zoom, vertical camera styled by (or with help of) F. A. Porsche. Probably some precursors of 601Z, too.

 

[Classique]

From the ones I've used and some I still have:

Pentax istD*
Fujifilm Pro S3
Kodak 14nx (same as SLR/n)

Kodak C375 (point n shoot with great output)
Nikon D700
GF1

One digital cult classic I want to try is RD-1. I just wish it was at least 12 mp.

 

[steveclem]

Epson RD-1, hands down winner.
Fuji X100-a design classic,quirky but beautiful.
Panasonic LC1/Digilux2-Analog layout (again) and a fantastic lens.

Dark horse- Ricoh GRX