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

[séamuis]

I like the SV and ES ll.

the SV in my opinion is one of the greatest, possibly the greatest camera Pentax ever designed. the ‘M3’ if you will of the Pentax land. it inherited everything learned from the Asahiflex up to that point while maintaining the classic look of the original AP that arguably set the standard for which the SLR would be modeled on from there on. I had one that I loved very much, but I gave it away as a gift. beautiful camera that is truly a work of art as much as it is a work of design and engineering splendor.

my former beauty. thousands of rolls through this one.

 

[uhoh7]

I'll turn the question over:

of all the suggestions, which single camera would you prefer to own as a collector?

for me , I'll take the Royal Robot 🙂

 

[Vics]

If I were a real collector, and much younger, I'd be a completist, like this guy: http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon-f.html
Only I'd do it with Contax post-war gear (IIa and IIIa and accessories) It would be a much smaller collection, but tough to find it all,I think.

 

[stupid leica]

Nikon F
Nikon F5
Nikon FE2/FM2n
Canon F1 (New)
Canon EOS 1V(HS)
Leica M2/3/4 (the GOOD M's)
Canon P
Nikon S3/SP
Olympus OM4Ti
Pentax LX

Those are the 10 i would go after. All of which, IMO, bring something special to the table- either in class and style, or uniqueness, or history.

 

[stupid leica]

I'll turn the question over:

of all the suggestions, which single camera would you prefer to own as a collector?

for me , I'll take the Royal Robot 🙂

Of all cameras one could have listed as collectable, i'd go for either a REALLY NICE black '64 Nikon F, or a BP Leica M2.

 

[Roger Hicks]

the SV in my opinion is one of the greatest, possibly the greatest camera Pentax ever designed. the ‘M3’ if you will of the Pentax land.

Seconded. Shortly afterwards, too, they moved to a new factory and greatly increased production -- which made, in my view, for cameras that weren't as smooth and 'Leica-like'.

(I still have one).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

One camera? MP + Leicavit, or M9. Black of course.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ChrisN]

In terms of satisfaction per shot or keepers per roll, and sheer pleasure of ownership, I'd say the Hasselblad SWC comes out top of the list for me.

 

[Jamie123]

Can't really say anything about collecting but if I had to chose ten cameras I'd like to own (in order to use) the list would probably look something like this:

Ebony SV45
Hasselblad 503CW (have one)
Alpa 12 Max
Phase One camera with IQ180 back to also fit the Alpa (don't really like the Mamiya/Phase One system but the back is nice)
Mamiya 7II
Leica MP
Contax T3
Canon 5DII (have one)
Packfilm converted Polaroid 110B land camera
Flextight X5 Scanner (I know it's technically not a camera, but it does have a lens and sensor)

But to be perfectly honest, I had a hard time coming up with ten items for the list. Most of these cameras I don't really have a burning desire for. I'd just find them useful.

 

[cambolt]

Personally I couldn't spend any decent amount of money on a camera I couldn't use seriously. So:
1. I could seriously use some leica lenses (anyone interested in giving away a 50mm please pm me! 😛)
2.Black paint M4
2. M3 (already have an M2)
3. Nikon FM2
4. Hasselblad of some description
5. Nikon D3x, for machine gunning 😀
The rest on my list are basically cameras I could have great fun fondling, but would be superfluous because of the above

 

[Lflex]

Nikon F to F6 and Leica M film models m3, m2, m4 (forget m4-2 and m4-p), m5, m6, m7 and mp. Thats more than 10 but who gives.

 

[Dralowid]

So, I admit to being a collector as well as someone who enjoys taking pictures.

I have collected black screw thread Leica factory conversions for many years...but cannot afford any more.

I have collected Contax Is for years but cannot afford any more.

I collect clockwork standard 8 movie cameras...but have run out of space...

So now I am drifting down the back lanes of 35mm history, Edinex, Balda, Welta, Karat, Photavit, Certo Dollina...and Finetta...but why Finetta?!

Madness of course, but at least the selling season is just around the corner!

Michael

 

[LeicaTom]

Seems I'm all alone with collecting those Grey "Kugellager" things 😉

If I had unlimited funds to increase my collection, I'd add:

(1) Buy an original 1942 IIIC K chrome with a wartime "coated" f2/50mm Summitar lens
(2) Buy back my 1942 Kriegsmarine IIIC chrome w/ Original Delivered KM German Navy Leitz Xenon f1.5/50 ~ and find an original 1942 chrome MOOLY C motor to add on this camera.
(3) Find? and buy a 1944 IIIC K Grey Red Curtain with a Grey painted f4/135mm Hektor with a Grey painted VIOOH finder
(4) Buy another 1945 US Army Leica IIIC K Grey w/ matching numbers lens
(5) and another 1945 US Army Leica IIIC K Grey w/ matching numbers lens
(6) and another 1945 US Army Leica IIIC K Grey w/ matching numbers lens
(7) find and buy two original wooden shipping crate's full of 1942 and 1943 Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar T lenses (f2 and f1.5) 50mm lenses in Leica Thread Mount - stamped "Export For Sweden"
(8) find and buy Leni Riefenstahl's 1945 EX-US Army IIIC K Grey w/ original f2/50 Summitar lens
(9) finaly build my "FrankenLeica" M3-6 chrome (1954 Leica M3 styled camera with Leica M6 internal parts) match body to a DAG MODIFIED Canon f0.95/50 "Dream Lens". - would be a *USER CAMERA*
(10) Have Leica personally build me a personallized BP Leica MP-3 "E" with a BP Asph f1.4/50 Summilux in the original classic styled M mount lens style and Classic Leicavit MP BP in the look of the original 1956/7 Leica MP would also be a *USER CAMERA*

That's enough....... 😀

Happy Shooting!

Tom

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Hmmm... the current wishlist, not all of them priceless gems:

1. Another grey Leica IIIcK, with any war-time lens
2. WW2 Graflex Combat Graphic 4x5
3. Leica M2 with period lens
4. Leica M3 with period lens
5. Rolleiflex Automatic (first model)
6. Rollei 35 or 35S
7. Ikoflex III 853/16
8. Airies IIIc
9. Kodak Signet 35
10. Errr...Argus CC

 

[LeicaTom]

Hmmm... the current wishlist, not all of them priceless gems:

1. Another grey Leica IIIcK, with any war-time lens

Hey Rick! ~ You say "another" grey IIIC K? did you finally buy a grey K recently? 🙂

Tom

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Hopefully in October all will be revealed, Tom 😉

 

[mynikonf2]

the ESII was also made in satin chrome, and the chrome is quite rare, as black was the main body color manufactured, but not the only color.

I’m quite surprised that most of the Pentax mentions are of the Spotmatic. Asahi Optical had a few other far more desirable cameras that I would imagine are more collectable. the 1957 ‘AP’ which was arguably more of a ‘photographic milestone’ than the Spotmatic. the Asahiflex, the ‘Electro-Spotmtic, etc.

Thanks for the info, wasn't sure about the chrome ES II. Have always had a attraction to the early Pentax (Spotmatic/ES on back...), just could not afford to follow after it.

 

[mynikonf2]

the SV in my opinion is one of the greatest, possibly the greatest camera Pentax ever designed. the ‘M3’ if you will of the Pentax land. it inherited everything learned from the Asahiflex up to that point while maintaining the classic look of the original AP that arguably set the standard for which the SLR would be modeled on from there on. I had one that I loved very much, but I gave it away as a gift. beautiful camera that is truly a work of art as much as it is a work of design and engineering splendor.

my former beauty. thousands of rolls through this one.

What a beautiful camera! Would have had a hard time giving that one away (perhaps to one of my children, only).

 

[Mohan]

I'm into vintage movie cameras more than still cameras (those I buy to use (mostly))
I have a Bolex h16 rex5, an Arriflex 2C blimp and a Cordin 350 35,000fps high speed camera. I hope to get a Mitchell BNCR at some point soonish, and would love an Arriflex 35BL-1

 

[perudo]

some I already own, others I plan to:

hasselblad 500 c/m
leica m6
leica m2
speed graphic
rolleiflex
rf645
contax t3
yashica t5
widelux