Hi-end classic SLR with a 40. Nearly unlimited budget. What are my options?

[svinao]

Hello, I'm a very long time lurker of the UnRF section, and this is my first post.

I have recently sold a lot of digital gear in a pursuit to go back to basics.

I really like experience of shooting with classic SLRs – my first camera was a Zenit, after I had various older consumer-grade cameras from Japan, but eventually I got tired of them very quickly – unreliable metering, problems with electronics, bodies dying on me – meters, shutter speed problems, underexposed rolls, you know the gist, Zenit's mechanics just jammed eventually and it was not worth salvaging.

So I went digital, and still have two cameras and a large collection of vintage manual SLR glass. Over the years I've realized my go-to focal length is 40-45mm. 50s feel quite good as well, but already start feeling too tight. 40 is where it's at for me.

So I've decided to treat myself and get myself a hi-end camera with a 40-45mm lens. I know hi-end means hi-budget, but I have the funds from recent sales and consider buying film cameras a good investment.

Anyway, I'm more familiar with certain brands and less familiar with others, so here's my list, the cameras I'm researching, please feel free to anything I might have missed.

Olympus om-3 ti with a 40/2 Zuiko – I like that it's small, I like it has aperture priority. Visually it's stunning, and that's very important to me, I want to enjoy it, if it's gonna be my only film camera.

Contax S2b with a 45 2.8 Sonnar – No aperture priority is kinda weird for such a price point, but it's all mechanical and has 1/4000th.

Some small premium Nikon body with a 45/2.8 nikon pancake. I am not very familiar with Nikon bodies at all, I think FM2N is close to Olympus and Contax, but would appreciate the suggestions.

Nikon body with a Voigtlander Ultron. I know Ultron has a cult-like following, but again, not sure which body to pair it with.

Pentax Limited 43/1.9 paired to some small pentax body. Again, I have no idea about Pentax bodies at all right now, I know LX is supposed to be great, so maybe that. Pentax also has a 40/2.8

Konica Hexanon 40/1,8 with some Konica body. I did not do any research on the bodies yet.

Essentially I am looking for a premium body with higher build quality/reliability then my old SLRs from 70s, somewhat of a classic feel, small is preferable, and a 40-45 lens I could attach to it to be my daily driver.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[WJJ3]

F2 Titan and the Ultron!

 

[santino]

Om 3 ti or The Contax with 40mm Tessar lens. I think the Olympus is the better build camera but the Tessar is the better lens.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

FM3a and Ultron. The ultimate Nikon manual camera and the Ultron is a gem. Forget the Nikon 45mm f2.8, like the Contax it's a Tessar and needs to be stopped down.

 

[haempe]

I would choose the Nikon FM3a and the Ultron.

 

[splitimageview]

Yes, go with the Ultron...but there are several varieties with the same great optics; the latest will focus to 0.25m without a closeup lens and has electrical contacts if you want to use it on a digital body eventually: SL II S. It's not a pancake, although not large. Chrome nose or black:

The SL II N has the electrical contacts and is a 'pancake' that focuses to 0.45m (or 0.25m with the closeup lens.)

For a Nikon body, FM3a.

My close second in terms of lenses is the 45/2.8 Tessar in C/Y mount; for a hi-end Contax body, RTS II or RTS III? Although I prefer the smaller/lighter bodies, like the 159MM (same size as the little 139 but has 1/4000 instead of 1/1000.)

No experience with the other options you mentioned, but I'd skip the Nikkor 45mm lenses, the Tessar and the Ultron are far superior.

 

[ronnies]

How about one of these?

Minolta XD7 by F4ronnie, on Flickr

Ronnie

 

[Orthogonal]

I'm probably going to make a lot of enemies, but here are my very subjective personal impressions of your options:

Oly OM3ti: Only handled one, but compared to other SLRs I'm used to (Pentaxes, Nikons, Canons etc.) it didn't feel as robust and gives off a "thin" feeling, which is how I feel about Olympus SLRs in general. If you really prioritize weight this could be a good option.

Contax S2b: A really beautiful shell around the mechanics of a low end Cosina. Apparently can develop film advance problems.

Nikon FM2n: Nice choice, but if you're wanting the highest end and most fully featured compact Nikon then it has to be the FM3a. I love the FM/FE series, they're not too big and feel fantastic in hand.

Pentax LX: Cool but I hear (and I could be wrong) that they were designed for regular servicing. If you're considering the LX then it might also be worth looking at the MX, which I really like.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Everything is pro grade after Zenit 🙂.
Don't know which junk you were buying from Japan. I have EOS300 and it just keeps on working for twenty years now. They have rechargeable batteries for it on eBay now.
Canon makes 40 2.8 EF.
I don't think older Olympus and Contax will lasts in real use.
I have three Nikon F mount bodies. F2, which I less impressed with. Nikkormat which is how Zenit must be made. And tiny EM, which is awesome camera for those who prefers results instead of owner of pro camera status.

If I would be after another SLR, I'll get FM3A and one of the 40mm lens available for this mount.

 

[rumbliegeos]

I'd think about your preferred shooting experience, and particularly whether autoexposure capabilities are important. Also the weight and size of the camera body. If weight and size are not limiting factors, and autoexposure is also not needed, Nikon F2's are extremely durable and by changing prisms you can have metering interfaces that are either lights or moving needles, which can be useful for different kinds of shooting. Also, there is an incredibly wide range and number of used lenses if you decide to go beyond 40mm.

 

[trianbampol]

Nikon body with a Voigtlander Ultron. I know Ultron has a cult-like following, but again, not sure which body to pair it with.

I have both the Nikon FM3A & Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2 SLII for sale in the classifieds if you're interested.

If you're unfamiliar, the FM3A was arguably Nikon's last great mechanical SLR before they fully transitioned to autofocus / auto rewind camera bodies.

You can operate it as a fully mechanical camera with speeds up to 1/4000th, as well as aperture priority if that's your preferred way of shooting.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have both the Nikon FM3A & Voigtlander Ultron 40mm f/2 SLII for sale in the classifieds if you're interested.

If you're unfamiliar, the FM3A was arguably Nikon's last great mechanical SLR before they fully transitioned to autofocus / auto rewind camera bodies.

You can operate it as a fully mechanical camera with speeds up to 1/4000th, as well as aperture priority if that's your preferred way of shooting.

If I would have sufficient money for it, I'll get it right away! But my gear is sitting unsold.

 

[raid]

A small package:

Pentax Limited 43/1.9 paired to some small pentax body. Again, I have no idea about Pentax bodies at all right now, I know LX is supposed to be great, so maybe that. Pentax also has a 40/2.8

Can you get a clean LX? The 43mm 1.9 lens is top class.

 

[Ccoppola82]

If budget is no concern, buy what’s in the classifieds listed above! I personally don’t own the combo but I have the canon version of the 40mm Ultron and it’s just beautiful to use and the images are quite good. As for bodies...I LOVE my nikon F3 but my FM2n is much smaller, lighter, and operates to 1/4000 mechanically. Plus the Led metering is more like shooting an M6 than the F3 which is more difficult to see. . I have to imagine the FM3a would be EXACTLY what you are looking for. Good luck!

 

[shimokita]

Voigtländer 40mm f/2 SL-II in Nikon mount... Aspherical Full-Frame AI-P and one of the compatible Nikon SLRs

 

[Godfrey]

I have my early Nikon F plain prism already, I'd pair it with the Ultron 40mm. If I didn't have this body, I'll look for a good, clean, late series FM2n or an F3 with hp finder.

G

 

[Archlich]

Once had a OM2 with the Zuiko 40/2 and the Ultron SL I in OM mount (waited 3 full years on the 'bay for one). Both pretty good, Zuiko is lighter & smaller and the Ultron optically finer and much better built.

 

[Huss]

If you're gonna do it, do it right:



This is a very sweet set up, my other choice is the Leica R9 which I think is the best manual focus 35mm sir ever made (and I've gone through a lot..) but it is not available with a 40mm lens.

 

[Huss]

Works well with all sorts of lenses...

 

[AlexBG]

If you want a small, classic, daily camera for every day shots then the olympus would be my choice. Get a om2n and the 40mm to try and if you don't like the size and feel don't buy the om3ti.

The Nikon glass is better and the classic Nikons are super cool.

I've had a Nikon FM2 and various olympus OM's, the OM's I prefer but it's just me personally.

On a side note a Konica Hexar RF would be great, all automatic and then your lens options would open up. Obviously not a SLR.