Hari
Well-known
No one mentioned Alpa reflex cameras.
They did make a 40mm macro lens or something
They did make a 40mm macro lens or something
raid
Dad Photographer
There is no need to go to more and more expensive cameras and lenses here.
littleearth
Well-known
The S2 is a commemorative model and overpriced for what it is. Unless you already own a bunch of Contax glass it's probably not the best option.
Once again the Tessar is a good walkaround lens if you're shooting Contax cameras, but not a match for the modern Ultron in terms of performance, so overall I can understand why no one is recommending that specific combo.
If I had an unlimited budget I would get a black Voigtlander Bessaflex TM + Voigtlander Ultron 40mm
mike rosenlof
Insufficient information
another vote for Nikon F2 (I use a plain prism) or F3 and the voigtlander 40/2. I'm not crazy about Nikons because everything is backwards 
but once accustomed to that, they work well.
I certainly could not argue against the FM3a either, but I've never touched one. I have the F2/3.
have fun!
but once accustomed to that, they work well.I certainly could not argue against the FM3a either, but I've never touched one. I have the F2/3.
have fun!
raid
Dad Photographer
I used to own Nikon F, FE, FM, FE2, FM2, and Nikkormat. I sold them . I kept the F2. It is a very special camera.
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
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)
KANTO REPAINT ??? Not original ?
The OP said "pretty much unlimited budget" Hmmm Nikon F2 Titan
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
gavinlg
Veteran
For the ultimate 'forever camera' future proof build and design, the f2 titan with 40mm Ultron is pretty ultimate. No metering, but you could put an AS head on it it you really wanted. A normal F2 would be just as good too.
My personal choice would be a Leica r6.2 with a 35mm summicron R. Still pretty small and I know it's not a 40, but.... Leica.
My personal choice would be a Leica r6.2 with a 35mm summicron R. Still pretty small and I know it's not a 40, but.... Leica.
High end, generous budget... what immediately comes to mind is Nikon F6 brand new. The Ultron should do you very well.
And the Ultron, the early version, was made in half a dozen different lens mounts including Pentax KA. You should be able to dig one up somewhere. I have one, and also the 43mm... both are excellent but this Ultron does not support auto focus. I like Pentax, and the LX is the one that stands out, along with the K2. LX also very compact for a pro-level camera. The K2 would be less expensive as less well-known, and should even come in less than the popular but lesser cousin K1000. But they're getting old, like all the other top-level film SLRs. Except the Nikon F6 which is available new.
Enjoy your shopping!
And the Ultron, the early version, was made in half a dozen different lens mounts including Pentax KA. You should be able to dig one up somewhere. I have one, and also the 43mm... both are excellent but this Ultron does not support auto focus. I like Pentax, and the LX is the one that stands out, along with the K2. LX also very compact for a pro-level camera. The K2 would be less expensive as less well-known, and should even come in less than the popular but lesser cousin K1000. But they're getting old, like all the other top-level film SLRs. Except the Nikon F6 which is available new.
Enjoy your shopping!
Huss
Veteran
JeffS7444
Well-known
I got an Alpa 5 in my repair queue and an 11EL which only needed minor repairs. Still looking for a lens (50/1.9 Kern Switar might be nice...). Might be awhile before I can say much about them as picture-taking machines.
aizan
Veteran
JeffS7444
Well-known
Let's not forget that Nikon's F6 is still available new: Maybe the highest-end, most advanced 35 mm SLR ever made? This sort of product is somewhat affordable because it was mass-produced and sold as a professional tool: I shudder to think what it would cost if it were built in small batches and sold as a boutique item.
Hari
Well-known
Jeff, years ago I had the Alpa 6b
with the MicroSwitar 50mm either
the 1.8 or the 1.9, I forget. It
focused to 1:1 without a tube.
with the MicroSwitar 50mm either
the 1.8 or the 1.9, I forget. It
focused to 1:1 without a tube.
Freakscene
Obscure member
Providing recommendations is mostly wasted time. You should buy what you want. I will, however chime in about Contax, and the Contax S2 and S2b and the Zeiss Contax 45mm Tessar.
The Contax S2 and S2b were the most disappointing cameras i ever owned. I bought them because I wanted a manual SLR and had several Zeiss C-Y lenses. I had read that Mike Johnston, from The Online Photographer, wrote that the S2 had "real weaknesses where the needs of actual users are concerned. I hate the thing more than it deserves to be hated". I _love_ Contax SLRs and figured the S2 and S2b couldn't be _that_ bad and bought both the S2 and S2b secondhand but new-in-the-box from eBay.
I was so, so wrong.
I came to hate the S2 and S2b, probably more than Mike. It is a posh shell over a shoddy camera. There are persistent rumours that the S2 cameras were made by Cosina back in the days when Cosina made inexpensive, built-to-a-low-price cameras for other makers like the Olympus OM2000 and Nikon FM10. I am not sure if this is true, but they are built underneath like cheap SLRs. Irrespective of the build, however, the S2 and S2b have much poorer viewfinders than other Contax SLRs, unresponsive controls including a mushy laggy shutter release and a slow to respond meter, and essentially work worse than any decently made SLR that costs 75% less, like a Nikon FM2n. The Contax Aria is a beautiful compact SLR, but it does not feel 'high end'. The Contax ST, RX, RTS and AX cameras feel high end, but are too big and heavy for the 45mm Tessar.
The Zeiss 45mm Tessar for the C-Y cameras is a lovely lens. It has beautiful character and provides very nice tonality on black and white film, or beautiful slightly muted colours. But it is the antithesis of modern lenses - it is slow so the view is dark and therefore it is a little hard to focus, it is not sharp until f4, and even then it is nowhere near a good modern lens, and the ergonomics are poor because it is so tiny. I have one and I love it in bright light outdoors. But it is far from an all-rounder.
Marty
The Contax S2 and S2b were the most disappointing cameras i ever owned. I bought them because I wanted a manual SLR and had several Zeiss C-Y lenses. I had read that Mike Johnston, from The Online Photographer, wrote that the S2 had "real weaknesses where the needs of actual users are concerned. I hate the thing more than it deserves to be hated". I _love_ Contax SLRs and figured the S2 and S2b couldn't be _that_ bad and bought both the S2 and S2b secondhand but new-in-the-box from eBay.
I was so, so wrong.
I came to hate the S2 and S2b, probably more than Mike. It is a posh shell over a shoddy camera. There are persistent rumours that the S2 cameras were made by Cosina back in the days when Cosina made inexpensive, built-to-a-low-price cameras for other makers like the Olympus OM2000 and Nikon FM10. I am not sure if this is true, but they are built underneath like cheap SLRs. Irrespective of the build, however, the S2 and S2b have much poorer viewfinders than other Contax SLRs, unresponsive controls including a mushy laggy shutter release and a slow to respond meter, and essentially work worse than any decently made SLR that costs 75% less, like a Nikon FM2n. The Contax Aria is a beautiful compact SLR, but it does not feel 'high end'. The Contax ST, RX, RTS and AX cameras feel high end, but are too big and heavy for the 45mm Tessar.
The Zeiss 45mm Tessar for the C-Y cameras is a lovely lens. It has beautiful character and provides very nice tonality on black and white film, or beautiful slightly muted colours. But it is the antithesis of modern lenses - it is slow so the view is dark and therefore it is a little hard to focus, it is not sharp until f4, and even then it is nowhere near a good modern lens, and the ergonomics are poor because it is so tiny. I have one and I love it in bright light outdoors. But it is far from an all-rounder.
Marty
Archiver
Veteran
I've heard really good things about the OM4Ti, which is another option.
I was also thinking about getting a Pentax LX, but a friend said that the LX is difficult to get serviced now, and might not be the best camera at this time. He implied that I might end up with an expensive brick.
Definitely have a look at the MX and 40mm f2.8, though. I have the ME and just love it, and plan to get the 40/2.8 to go with my 28/2.8 and 50/1.4. If I didn't need a quiet shutter, the ME with those lenses would suit just about all my film needs. Okay, maybe a fast 85, too.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Wanting a 40mm knocks out all the Leica SLR's but there you are...
If I was rich I'd get either the R5 and send it to Leica to restore to the original specification or else an R8 plus, of course, 3 or 4 lenses.
Regards, David
If I was rich I'd get either the R5 and send it to Leica to restore to the original specification or else an R8 plus, of course, 3 or 4 lenses.
Regards, David
ACullen
Well-known
From my experience the Contax 139q or Aria with the 45/2.8 CZ Tessar. Really great but small cameras and lovely lens. I’ve found it more than sharp / contrasty enough wide open.
sanmich
Veteran
I thought the Ultron in OM mount was a unicorn...
eckhardf
Established
If you are set on the 40mm focal length and not wanting to change; then there are a couple of fixed lens compacts that might be of interest: expensive and perhaps not so reliable? - Leica Minilux and Konica Hexar AF.