dee
Well-known
Having an interlude due to ongoing anxiety / dee'sorientation ...
Brought out my favourite cameras as calming .
Pondering on the why ? I tend to do this !!
I mean , I swapped a new OM1 for an antiquated Minolta SRT and never looked back , it just clicked .The OM1 was watch like but so fiddly with sharp edges .
10 years ago , I reluctantly bought a Kiev , mercifully from Oleg , and was hooked ! But I have a kind of dee'slexia with script logos , although I am fine with KNeb LOL .
Maybe it's shades of an SLR background with pentaprism , but I like the meter of the Kiev 4 . Moreover , I was fascinated by the history of Contax / Kiev and even briefly , considered a Contax copy Kiev 4a / 4 ...
My mind likes sameness and continuity .
I needed a real Contax , but the prospect terrified me .
I found an entry into Ukraine and the original Arsenal Techs and a member here kindly sold me a stripped down Contax II with matching back which the techs rebuilt with brand new 1970s ? shutter and various other parts .
Having cameras restored in Ukraine with Arsenal Techs was and is special to a child of the Cold War with a father in the Air Ministry .
It was , and is superb , so I bought a parts Contax III [ less desirable I guess ] and a truly brassed-off Contax II plus a couple of very early dead Kiev 4 [ 1957 ].
I now have my dream Kontax 4 plus another silver tan Contax II still brassed-off , all showing the blemishes of the 30s , and , for the record a 1956 KNeB III with 1957 Kiev 4 top plate ... but it's the history and continuity which works for me .
Several SRTS remain plus the elegant SR7v and SR1s without the meter , plus several Kiev II / 4 and my Kontaxes .
Even my Leica IIIc carries a familiar label for Wallace Heaton , I sold the others , and my Leica M8 is Contaxed care of amadeo !!
They still invoke the magic for me .
OK , this is OTT / EXTREME - but does history/backstory/background make a difference to your preferred camera ?
dee
Brought out my favourite cameras as calming .
Pondering on the why ? I tend to do this !!
I mean , I swapped a new OM1 for an antiquated Minolta SRT and never looked back , it just clicked .The OM1 was watch like but so fiddly with sharp edges .
10 years ago , I reluctantly bought a Kiev , mercifully from Oleg , and was hooked ! But I have a kind of dee'slexia with script logos , although I am fine with KNeb LOL .
Maybe it's shades of an SLR background with pentaprism , but I like the meter of the Kiev 4 . Moreover , I was fascinated by the history of Contax / Kiev and even briefly , considered a Contax copy Kiev 4a / 4 ...
My mind likes sameness and continuity .
I needed a real Contax , but the prospect terrified me .
I found an entry into Ukraine and the original Arsenal Techs and a member here kindly sold me a stripped down Contax II with matching back which the techs rebuilt with brand new 1970s ? shutter and various other parts .
Having cameras restored in Ukraine with Arsenal Techs was and is special to a child of the Cold War with a father in the Air Ministry .
It was , and is superb , so I bought a parts Contax III [ less desirable I guess ] and a truly brassed-off Contax II plus a couple of very early dead Kiev 4 [ 1957 ].
I now have my dream Kontax 4 plus another silver tan Contax II still brassed-off , all showing the blemishes of the 30s , and , for the record a 1956 KNeB III with 1957 Kiev 4 top plate ... but it's the history and continuity which works for me .
Several SRTS remain plus the elegant SR7v and SR1s without the meter , plus several Kiev II / 4 and my Kontaxes .
Even my Leica IIIc carries a familiar label for Wallace Heaton , I sold the others , and my Leica M8 is Contaxed care of amadeo !!
They still invoke the magic for me .
OK , this is OTT / EXTREME - but does history/backstory/background make a difference to your preferred camera ?
dee
ProSimex
Member
Zorki 1 for me. I have a few very sophisticated Nikon slrs but it's the little zorki that always goes out the door
My favorite camera ever is the one I use the most currently... the Fujifilm X-Pro2. You may question how that can be since it is relatively new, but, for me, it encompasses what I love about all of my favorites from the past. This is also about favorite to use, not favorite to look at or fondle.
In the past there have been a few cameras that were close to perfect (at the time) but were always missing something. Past favorites were:
Leica M6
Leica Minilux
Contax G1
Contax T2
Leica M8/M9
Leica X1
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Nikon Df
You can see a familiar trend in all of these... traditional controls, most were small, some had AF, optical VFs, small lenses (not Df) etc. However, each had its own issue (well, maybe not the M6, but I've learned to love AF) kept me from thinking they were perfect for me. That was ok... nothing is perfect. However, the X-Pro2 feels like everything I've been waiting for from these past cameras in one camera. I absolutely love it.
In the past there have been a few cameras that were close to perfect (at the time) but were always missing something. Past favorites were:
Leica M6
Leica Minilux
Contax G1
Contax T2
Leica M8/M9
Leica X1
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Nikon Df
You can see a familiar trend in all of these... traditional controls, most were small, some had AF, optical VFs, small lenses (not Df) etc. However, each had its own issue (well, maybe not the M6, but I've learned to love AF) kept me from thinking they were perfect for me. That was ok... nothing is perfect. However, the X-Pro2 feels like everything I've been waiting for from these past cameras in one camera. I absolutely love it.
bucs
Well-known
I always keep coming back to a Leica M2 and 35mm lens.
1st, the FOV is just perfect for how I 'see' scenes.
2nd, the viewfinder of the M2 is just the best I can get with enough clearance to see what's coming into the frame.
In fact, I'm fire selling all my other cameras and will stick with the combo (famous last words)
1st, the FOV is just perfect for how I 'see' scenes.
2nd, the viewfinder of the M2 is just the best I can get with enough clearance to see what's coming into the frame.
In fact, I'm fire selling all my other cameras and will stick with the combo (famous last words)
doitashimash1te
Well-known
Film: Leica M2
Digital: Fujifilm X-H1
Both in combination with either my Summitar f=5cm 1:2, or my Summaron f=3.5cm 1:3.5.
Digital: Fujifilm X-H1
Both in combination with either my Summitar f=5cm 1:2, or my Summaron f=3.5cm 1:3.5.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I like family FED-2. It is more less working. Just no framelines.
I like M4-2. It has to be operated special way to avoid issues.
I like Bessa R2M just have to be extra careful with loading and half-case is nessesesary.
I have EOS 300. It is super easy to deal with, it just works. Why it is not my favorite camera...
I have... well, M-E is somewhere with corroded sensor.
I have Canon 500D, it just works...
I like M4-2. It has to be operated special way to avoid issues.
I like Bessa R2M just have to be extra careful with loading and half-case is nessesesary.
I have EOS 300. It is super easy to deal with, it just works. Why it is not my favorite camera...
I have... well, M-E is somewhere with corroded sensor.
I have Canon 500D, it just works...
Chuffed Cheese
Established
Film: TX-2
Digital: Leica M
Digital: Leica M
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
Mjd-djm
Established
Contax G1 for me with the 45mm. Quick, easy, comfortable and delivers stunning images. I tend to think you make your own history with a camera... when you’ve taken enough great pictures with it it kind of endears itself to you.
narsuitus
Well-known
narsuitus
Well-known
narsuitus
Well-known
Fuji X-Pro1 (favorite digital) - great lenses, reasonably priced
Fuji X-Pro1 by Narsuitus, on Flickr
zuiko85
Veteran
Olympus Pen F (film) or OM-1 for full frame. They just seemed right at the time (early 70’s) and that hasn’t changed.
dfdann
Member
I turn 81 in 4 days and still enjoy my M7,M8, Nikon F100,and Nikon FE. However, I
got the new Leica CL and rekindled my love of photography. Can’t put it down. Using new TL lens as well as my M and Nikor lenses. There are many times when autofocus beats
Rangefinder focus.
Cheers, Dan
got the new Leica CL and rekindled my love of photography. Can’t put it down. Using new TL lens as well as my M and Nikor lenses. There are many times when autofocus beats
Rangefinder focus.
Cheers, Dan
dee
Well-known
OOPS Forgot the x-Pro 1 which is so reminiscent of my Minolta SRTs !
Dogman
Veteran
Favorite film cameras: Nikon F2, Leica M6, Canon EOS 1n. Because they all served their purposes reliably during my time using them. I've owned a lot of others that I also loved but these would be my top picks.
Favorite digital cameras: Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji X100S, Ricoh GRII. These are the cameras I use today and, yes, I've owned a lot of other really excellent digitals as well but I truly love using these cameras. Why? The Fuji cameras felt familiar from the first day I used them--we totally "clicked"--and the Fuji prime lenses are superb, as good or better than any I've ever used. The Ricoh took longer to love but the lens and image quality won me over...along with it's ease of carrying.
Favorite digital cameras: Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji X100S, Ricoh GRII. These are the cameras I use today and, yes, I've owned a lot of other really excellent digitals as well but I truly love using these cameras. Why? The Fuji cameras felt familiar from the first day I used them--we totally "clicked"--and the Fuji prime lenses are superb, as good or better than any I've ever used. The Ricoh took longer to love but the lens and image quality won me over...along with it's ease of carrying.
daveleo
what?
My favorite camera ever is the Konica Hexar AF.
My favorite digital camera changes every month or so. This month, at the moment, it would be my XPro1 overall with the 35/f1.4 lens I guess.
My favorite digital camera changes every month or so. This month, at the moment, it would be my XPro1 overall with the 35/f1.4 lens I guess.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Olympus OM1 ... it has been since I got it and I don't expect that to change. 
jpa66
Jan as in "Jan and Dean"
Hands down for 35mm (and slightly winning for overall camera) it's my Nikon FM3a. Everytime I look at it (and use it), I love it even more...
An extremely close second (and fav medium format) is my Rolleiflex. My love for this camera is nearly on the same plane as the Nikon.
An extremely close second (and fav medium format) is my Rolleiflex. My love for this camera is nearly on the same plane as the Nikon.
jpa66
Jan as in "Jan and Dean"
Olympus OM1 ... it has been since I got it and I don't expect that to change.
Keith,
That's awesome! I remember my first "real" camera - the Canon AE1-Program - fondly. I managed to save up enough money for it in 1985 to get it at the end of the summer (the OM1 beats it without a sweat, though!).