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

40mm-ish pancakes tend to have harsh bokeh, but I would not mind these combos:

1) Nikon F, eye level finder, black repaint by Kanto, 40mm f/2 Ultron SL-II S black nose (bokeh can be harsh)

2) Canon EOS RT, 40mm f/2.8 STM (smooth bokeh)
 
Of course THE high end 35mm SLR which is still available new is the Nikon F6.
It works perfectly with a chipped Ultron 40mm f2.
 
aizan said:
2) Canon EOS RT, 40mm f/2.8 STM (smooth bokeh)
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FWIW, I've used my EF 40 on my RT body as well as my 1V. It's a blast shooting an SLR without finder blackout, but the pellicle mirror in the RT (and the 1N RS) costs 2/3 of a stop. As the lens is only f/2.8 to begin with, that starts to be a problem in many available light settings.
 
svinao said:
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.
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Unfortunately the OM-3 ti does not have aperture priority, it is all manual. It does have a spot meter as well as a center weighted meter. If aperture priority matters you'd want an OM-4 ti. As for the OM-3 ti, it is the only slr I own and I love it. I'm generally an slr-hater. I've never owned one for long because I usually just get annoyed with the cludgy ergonomics. I liked but did not love an OM-4 I had and ended up giving it to my wife. Until I got this OM-3 for almost nothing. I thought I was going to sell it for a nice profit, but it is so nice, and it gives me a lot of pleasure photographing with that I'll likely keep it forever.
 
raid said:
What is special about the LX "2000"?
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It's a limited edition LX that was made in the year 2000. I think mechanically it's no different than a regular late model LX. It does however carry a very "high end" price tag :D
All kidding aside, it's a gorgeous camera. It was originally sold with a special all metal bodied version of the SMC Pentax-A 50/1.2

There's also the LX Titanium, and LX Limited.
 
Thanks, Colton. I have a friend who used the LX while I used Canon cameras, such as the AE1, A1, F1, F1n, F1N, T90.
 
To clarify, I wrote hi-end in the title, just because I had a share of cameras that were plasticky and flimsy and got in a way of shooting. Yashica, Fujica, Ricoh.

For example that Fujica, AX-something, great camera, small, full manual or full auto, I had a very fast 50 on it, it was fun to shoot, I tested it and test roll was fine. Was shooting it for a year, then a few rolls come back from a trip, apparently second curtain developed some issues and all of them got ruined. Bought another body, tested, after a couple rolls meter started underexposing everything drastically, some problem with electronics.

I realize some people might think I'm a rich dude that is looking to just drop some cash, but I've been through my fair share of budget cameras, restricted myself to save up, sold a bunch of gear, and now am ready for that 'one and only'. So pardon me for willing to spend more on a camera made to a higher standard, or of better materials, that would look a little prettier and be more valuable to me and more fun to use.

Anyways, a big surprise to me is that Contax S2b is not getting more recommendations, or the contax Tessar, I've heard it's a beautiful lens and camera looks stunning too, but I see a lot of people say it was made by cosina and quality is not great, but not terrible either.
 
I too love the 40mm focal length and have had a number over the years. (Love my Minolta 40mm on my Leica Ms)

The last SLRs I've used in recent years have been Nikons but my favorite pairing was indeed a 40-45mm lens. I love the Voigtlander Ultron SL (the first one) for some reason it just looked the best and handled really nicely. Some people ***-*** the Nikkor 45mmP but it's actually quite a nice and very small lens but either one paired with an F or F2 would be a delight. I had an FM3A for a spell and that also was a wonderful small SLR.
 
raid said:
I have a beautiful MX, but my Pentax-L lens is in LTM.
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That LTM lens is beautiful... my friend Cal (Calzone on RFF) has one and it was very cool. I'm sure the Pentax version is a lot cheaper...and also more pancake-ish.
 
I for one am a fan of the C-Y Tessar (I own a copy), and also the Ultron (have a copy of the SL II S chrome nose) but if choosing only one, it would be the latter due to the speed. Wasn’t impressed with the Nikkor Tessars (the modern one or the GN. The latter doesn’t focus nearly close enough and just didn’t have much contrast compared to the C-Y.)
 
So far the finest 35mm SLRs that I have either owned or serviced have been boringly familiar: Nikon F, F2, F3, Canon F-1. All feel like they incorporate ball bearings somewhere in their shutter and/or film transports: You can definitely feel the money! The Nikons can be slimmed down somewhat by choosing the meterless prism finders (F, F2) or non-HP finder (F3). Original Canon F-1 is kind of a large brick, but once I quit grumbling and actually go shooting with it, I quickly forget because it handles well.

I only needed to do a partial teardown of the Canon F-1 but what I saw on the inside looked every bit as expensive as you'd think, and a good deal of the weight is due to the sheer thickness of the brass covers. There's an olive-green F-1 variant that I'd like to have but they are kind of pricey.

I haven't taken apart an Olympus OM-3, but OM-1md/OM-1n is kind of interesting: Obviously smaller and lighter than Canon F-1, brass covers are thinner gauge too (not unusually so, just more on par with consumer models). And yet, despite small size, doesn't feel particularly crowded inside, as much got relocated to the bottom of the camera where space is often underutilized.
 
Phil_F_NM said:
A Konica Auto-Reflex T3 with a 40/1.8 is really hard to beat. Super low cost too, in comparison with other brands. And they are absolutely first rate cameras and lenses.
Phil Forrest
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This is it. Get it in black. This setup was my introduction to Konica.
 
Back to the Olympus range; I'd suggest the OM-2 variations. Just which one is hard to say; I tend to like the one I'm using. That's the OM-2, the OM-2N and the OM-2SP but I've no OM 40mm just - on other cameras - the Summicron-c and Pentax pancake (and the Trip 35 and Lomo Cosmic Symbol but they are hardly high-end).

Just recently a lot of cameras of all kinds in the 38/40/42mm focal length seem to have become popular.


Regards, David
 
svinao said:
To clarify, I wrote hi-end in the title, just because I had a share of cameras that were plasticky and flimsy and got in a way of shooting. Yashica, Fujica, Ricoh.

For example that Fujica, AX-something, great camera, small, full manual or full auto, I had a very fast 50 on it, it was fun to shoot, I tested it and test roll was fine. Was shooting it for a year, then a few rolls come back from a trip, apparently second curtain developed some issues and all of them got ruined. Bought another body, tested, after a couple rolls meter started underexposing everything drastically, some problem with electronics.

I realize some people might think I'm a rich dude that is looking to just drop some cash, but I've been through my fair share of budget cameras, restricted myself to save up, sold a bunch of gear, and now am ready for that 'one and only'. So pardon me for willing to spend more on a camera made to a higher standard, or of better materials, that would look a little prettier and be more valuable to me and more fun to use.

Anyways, a big surprise to me is that Contax S2b is not getting more recommendations, or the contax Tessar, I've heard it's a beautiful lens and camera looks stunning too, but I see a lot of people say it was made by cosina and quality is not great, but not terrible either.
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It's kinda funny that most everyone is ignoring your request.

The Contax S2 series really does not have a premium build apart from the shell.

If you want high end then Leica R6/7/8/9, SL2, or Nikon F2 Titan, F3P or F3 Limited.

There are no 40mm lenses for the Leica R series, but there is a very sweet and very expensive 35 1.4 ROM which is about $5000.
With Nikon you've got the fantastic CV 40 Ultron, and the nice 45 2.8P. I have both and prefer the CV.
 
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