Low End/Bottom dwelling models: your favorites?

[GarageBoy]

I know, everyone loves their OMs, Nikon Fs, Canon F-1s, etc.
But how about the red headed stepchildren?

My personal favorites:
Nikon FG/FG20/EM- full featured, tiny, SLRs that take Nikon lenses and can be had for the price of a cocktail and a half. Takes Nikon lenses

Nikon N2000- takes 4AAAs, built in motor (thats a plus and a minus), love the meter display (lights up the suggested and selected shutter speed)

Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 - has a cool tiny hand grip, really reliable, though it feels fragile, looks really cool with a $3500 Zeiss 85 1.2 60th Anniversary on it

Yashica FX-D- poor-er man's Contax 139 with the shutter dial where it belongs. Gives up DOF preview, though

Yours? Perhaps the N4004, N6006? OM-PC?

 

[Godfrey]

Nikon EMs were nice. Bought one for my mom years ago, my brother used it for twenty years after that. I think it's still around his place somewhere.

G

 

[CliveC]

Well, the Canon AE-1 is certainly a classic. I also own a Pentax K1000, which is a beautiful camera in its simplicity.

 

[kxl]

+1 on the Nikon EM's - used to have a couple of them that I used with cheap 50/1.8 E lenses - I typically left them in the car for daily use.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Pentacon Pentina -- I probably have one of the few working ones!

 

[thegman]

I saw someone carrying around what looked like a brand new Phenix SLR, in photos it looks plasticky and a bit nasty. In real life it's quite a nice looking camera.

 

[f16sunshine]

The Yashica FX-3 2000 is indeed quite a sweet little shooter.
You forgot to mention you can use bulb and self time together in case you forget your shutter cable release.

The Other Yashica I like is the FR.
LED meter like the M6 only with up down arrows at half stops +velvety electro-mag (right) shutter release like the Contax RTS line.
Much heavier and solid build than the FX3 and battery dependent but still all manual.

 

[CameraQuest]

I know, everyone loves their OMs, Nikon Fs, Canon F-1s, etc.
But how about the red headed stepchildren?

My personal favorites:
Nikon FG/FG20/EM- full featured, tiny, SLRs that take Nikon lenses and can be had for the price of a cocktail and a half. Takes Nikon lenses

Nikon N2000- takes 4AAAs, built in motor (thats a plus and a minus), love the meter display (lights up the suggested and selected shutter speed)

Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 - has a cool tiny hand grip, really reliable, though it feels fragile, looks really cool with a $3500 Zeiss 85 1.2 60th Anniversary on it

Yashica FX-D- poor-er man's Contax 139 with the shutter dial where it belongs. Gives up DOF preview, though

Yours? Perhaps the N4004, N6006? OM-PC?

many of the high end film SLRS are so cheap now
cheaper than the low end used to sell for
I would not bother with the low end

Stephen

 

[haempe]

Ouch, this thread is not what I expected after reading the headline... 😎

 

[Livesteamer]

The Pentax screw mount cameras. My favorite is the H3v but last weekend I picked up a lovely Spotmatic F with the proper 50 f1.4 and two other lenses. All working nicely and with a good mercury battery. I think he would have given it to me but I gave him $60 which was all I had. (NO. It's not for sale.) Joe

 

[grapejohnson]

Well, the Canon AE-1 is certainly a classic. I also own a Pentax K1000, which is a beautiful camera in its simplicity.

i prefer the canon AT-1, the K1000 of the FD line. it was my main camera for a few months, only problem is a weak meter.

 

[lam]

The one that sticks out in my memory is the N80.

 

[Livesteamer]

The N80 and N90 are incredible cameras for low cost. I've got an N90. Joe

 

[squareshooter]

I have a Nikon N2000 and it is a workhorse. The batteries last for years. I have a lot newer Nikon SLRS but it's great to have in the trunk of the car just in case. It is small and lightweight, too. When the wind and rain come up I depend on my Nikkormats. They are tanks.

 

[newspaperguy]

My fave "low-end" camera, assuming you meant low-end within the species,

was the Leica 1f. Wide angle lens, 'S-16', pre-focus and you were in business!

Current champion in that vein is the CV Bessa L. Same effect, but easy loading.


I'd also give high marks to the Nikon 2002 & 2000 (Great with std lenses, too.) and the solid little N-80.

 

[Sid836]

I love the Olympus OM10. I have one with a manual adaptor and a Makinon 28mm f2.8 on it (yes, that lens made of white plastic painted black).

 

[dave lackey]

many of the high end film SLRS are so cheap now
cheaper than the low end used to sell for
I would not bother with the low end

Stephen

+1...What he said!

 

[stompyq]

I vote for the Nikon EM. Mostly because I was able to get a mint one for $1. Can't even get a cup of coffee in NYC for that amount

 

[pschauss]

+1 on the Nikon F90x (=N90s), FG, and N2000. The only problem is the cost of the lenses.

 

[sailor]

My vote is for the Nikon F80 (N80 in the USA). It is lightweight, has a great meter and has the quietest, most gentle shutter action of any SLR camera - bar none. I picked mine up for very little and I can confidently use it with slide film and hardly get a duff exposure.