If one were to collect cameras, which are the top ten, in your opinion?

[L. M. Tu]

I already have enough Nikon F and F2 bodies, so I'll take the following - however, they would be for shooting rather than collecting.

Leica M2, M3, M4, from when they were built right.
Hasselblad Xpan
Hasselblad Superwide
Nikon F6
Canon F-1, mechanical models
Nikon rangefinders
Canon P
Baby Linhof
Mamiya 7
Bronica C, S, S2 etc.

 

[sreed2006]

Canon 5D Mark II. It takes really nice movies, much better than anything similar that had come before. It is also a very decent digital SLR.

 

[Ezzie]

I´ll probably change my mind tomorrow. If money were no object, I´d have these, some of which I have, in addition to others I already have and would not rid myself of. All cameras would have to be for regular use, I've inherited a shelf queen or two, but I wouldn't buy one.

01. Ebony 4x5 view camera
02. Leica screw
03. Leica M (film)
04. Rolleiflex 3.5E/F or 2.8E/F
05. Linhof Technorama 6x17 IIIs
06. Alpa SWA
07. Hasselblad SWC
08. Nikon D4 (yet to come)
09. Zeiss Ikonta 532/16
10. Nikon FM3a

 

[Roger Hicks]

Purely for collecting (to hell with usability)

Alpa 35mm
Gamma Duflex
Contaflex 35mm TLR
Tessina
Robot

And to use as well as because they're important/interesting cameras

Leica M
Alpa 12
Nikon F
Gandolfi 5x7 or bigger
Baby Linhof

And then of course there are the ones you use but don't collect...

Cheers,

R.

 

[DNG]

Robot Royal 36 with 45 lens
Rollie 35s Titanium
Voigtlander Prominent 1 with 5cm f/1.5 Nokton
Leica MP (Version 1) with 50mm f/1.4 of that period
Canon F1, early 50mm f/1.4 chrome nose
Nikon F black, (early 60's with pentaprism), Early 28mm. 5cm f/1.4, 105mm f/2.5,
Minolta XK with Motor and sports finder, 58mm f/1.2, and a fast short tele of time.
Leica IIIg with Electric motor-drive, and 35mm f/3.5 pancake.
Contax RTS III
Pentax LX

I'd use them all too !!

 

[Blind_spark]

In terms of only collecting, these are in (mostly) historical order...

1. Some sort of wooden LF field camera (in my case, a 5x7 Gundlach Korona).
2. Kodak Plate Camera.
3. Rolleiflex.
4. Leica model I(A) or II(D).
5. Exacta.
6. Leica M3.
7. Pentax Spotmatic.
8. Hasselblad (Either a 1600/1000, or a 500 series).
9. Nikon F (Standard).
10. Canon AE-1.

 

[Vickko]

My ten (not in order):

1 M Leica
2 LTM Leica
3 Nikon F
4 Hasselblad V
5 R Leica
6 Canon 7
7 Nikon RF
8 Contarex
9 Rolleiflex
10 Alpa

 

[Pablito]

None of the above interest me if I were going to COLLECT strictly.

If I were going to collect cameras, I would want box cameras - the sort that you can still find in use in some corners of the world (like India, or Uruguay...). These are big wooden boxes on tripods that produce a paper negative. Then the operator re-photogrpahs the negative to make a positive. The processing is done inside the camera itself. The camera incorporates sleeves, more or less like a changing bag, so the photographer can get his hands inside with no light leaks. These things are found often in parks or public places, with the photographers charging a fee. Unfortunately they are dying out due to lack of availability of materials and also ease of digital. The cameras are gorgeous, they are often decorated or painted bright colors, or covered with sample images. So yeah, I would not mind owning a bunch of those and displaying them in my living room if I had the space!!

 

[Pablito]

here you go, many photos of the itinerant cameras. Would love to collect these...

http://blog.baquephoto.com/?p=132

 

[HuubL]

Call me a monoculturist 😉
Leica I (A)
Leica II
Leica III
Leica IIIa
Leica IIIb
Leica IIIc
Leica IIIf
Leica IIIg
Leica M1
Leica M2
Leica M3
Leica M4
Leica M5
Leica M6
Leica M7

Ooops, that's a few too many... 😉

 

[back alley]

olympus 35rc
canon f1
nikon f2
olympus om1
canon t90
nikon s2
leica m3
canon p
rd1
fuji x100

my top ten list for all time favourite collector/user cameras...and i have owned them all...

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I would "collect" the cameras only to use them. If one becomes a shelf queen, I sell it. I don't have much space and unused gear makes me sad.

I'm not sure about the order of this list but here goes:

Rolleiflex (all three focal length bodies)
Retina IIb (I used to have one and loved it but the cocking mechanism died)
Mamiya Six
Contarex
Contax S
Leica O
Rollei 35S
Nikon RF (S2 or later)
Leica M4 (black paint)
Voigtlander Avus 9x12cm (In pristine condition with the original lens and all the glass plate accessories plus a Rada 6x9 back)
My old Leica M2 and Tom A. M2 rapidwinder that went with me to Iraq in 2004. I sold them and have been looking for them ever since.

Phil Forrest

 

[Tom A]

I would have two sets, one would be what I call milestone cameras:
Leica II (first with a rangefinder built in - a couple of months before the Contax)
Leica M3 from 1954 in the 700xxx range ( the bayonet that changed it all)
Nikon F with the F36 motor ( a true modular system camera)
Nikon SP or S3 in black with the 35f1.8 and the 105f2.5.
Bessa R4M - first multifinder Rf with a 21 mm finder built in.

The there would be the user/collectible set:
M2 (s) - the "logical" M - just three frames 35/50/90 - do you really need any more?
Nikon F with 55f3.5 Micro Nikkor
Current Leica MP with 0,58 finder
Nikon S3 with the 35f1.8, the 50f1.4 and the 105f2.5
Konica Autoreflex for 1/2 frame capability (and the Nikon lens to Konica adapter)
Canon 7 or 7s with the 35f2 and 50f1.4
Robot Royal 36 with the Xenon 50f1.9 (just because it is a mechanical wonder)
Bessa III for 6x6/6x7 - possibly augmented by a Bessa Wide later.

I have all of these and really cant see anything else that I need/want - with the exception of a Hasselblad SWC and a P-Sinar 4x5 (I had these and liked them - but did not really use them sufficiently for my personal pictures to keep them.

As for the truly collectible stuff, original MP's, black M3 's etc. I had them and dont want them again.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Tom, you already collected all the cameras, so we have to wait until you grow bored of one and decide to sell it! 😉

Happy birthday!

Phil Forrest

 

[RedLion]

I would collect funky 120 film cameras:

Rolleiflex: (2.8F, FW, Tele)

120 Folding cameras:

Welta Weltur 6x9

Zeiss 533/16 Super Ikonta

Fuji GF670 (A modern classic!)

 

[Foto-factotum]

I go with what has been listed, but I lust after the Minox TLX ( or any earlier model)

One of the Nikonos models, probalbly V, would make have to be in my collection to be complete.

I wish

Regards

Eugene

 

[Roger Hicks]

I would have two sets, one would be what I call milestone cameras:
Leica II (first with a rangefinder built in - a couple of months before the Contax)
Leica M3 from 1954 in the 700xxx range ( the bayonet that changed it all)
Nikon F with the F36 motor ( a true modular system camera)
Nikon SP or S3 in black with the 35f1.8 and the 105f2.5.
Bessa R4M - first multifinder Rf with a 21 mm finder built in.

The there would be the user/collectible set:
M2 (s) - the "logical" M - just three frames 35/50/90 - do you really need any more?
Nikon F with 55f3.5 Micro Nikkor
Current Leica MP with 0,58 finder
Nikon S3 with the 35f1.8, the 50f1.4 and the 105f2.5
Konica Autoreflex for 1/2 frame capability (and the Nikon lens to Konica adapter)
Canon 7 or 7s with the 35f2 and 50f1.4
Robot Royal 36 with the Xenon 50f1.9 (just because it is a mechanical wonder)
Bessa III for 6x6/6x7 - possibly augmented by a Bessa Wide later.

I have all of these and really cant see anything else that I need/want - with the exception of a Hasselblad SWC and a P-Sinar 4x5 (I had these and liked them - but did not really use them sufficiently for my personal pictures to keep them.

As for the truly collectible stuff, original MP's, black M3 's etc. I had them and dont want them again.

Dear Tom,

You have much clarified what I was trying to say about 'milestones' or 'technically interesting' cameras and 'cameras to use'. The Autoreflex was the camera I chose as the closing date for my History of the 35mm Still Camera.

But as a usable camera, I'd back my Alpa 12 WA with 38 Biogon against the SWC every time. All I have to do now is to persuade Alpa to make me a 46x64 mask (or thereabouts) instead of the 44x66...

Cheers,

R.

 

[raid]

It is a user's collection of cameras over time. Among others, here are some of my favorites in my collection:

1. Leica M3, M6, Standard
2. Zeiss Tenax
3. Voigtlaender Prominent
4. Contax IIa, IIIa
5. Canon P (green, chrome, black)
6. Canon F1N
7. Rolleiflex TLR cameras
8. Graflex XLSW

 

[johannielscom]

That is a real simple question.

I would collect assorted black-paint-over-brass cameras.

It would be so nice to have an extensive collection of factory converted black paint screw mount Leica's, M2, M3, M4, M6, MP, M8.2, M9, Nikon F, Nikkormat, Chinon Memotron CE II, Olympus Pen F, Olympus Trip, Pentax 6x7, and much more.

I love them with battle scars, where the brass shines through. And I would not polish them, I'd take one out and use the heck out of it when its brass got dull!

 

[nobbylon]

For a collecting cabinet
1/ Pentax 67
2/ Hassleblad set up
3/ Contax RTS II
4/ Nikon F3P
5/ Nikon F2 Titan
6/ Pentax K1000 (japan)
7/ Canon F1
8/ Leica R6.2
9/ oh go on then, Leica MP
10/ Leica MP3

For my using wish list I still have a few bits to buy
1/ Nikon F6
2/ Nikon D3x
3/ 17-35 2.8 Nikkor