My Ideal SLR

Thanks for all the suggestions. It looks like I will need to compromise but come close with either the Nikon or the Oly. Both look great. I still need to check out some of the other suggestions.

As for lenses, I tend to use the wide to 50mm range most. Who would have the better glass, Nikon or Oly for those cameras? Price is kind of important but I don't mind paying for good glass.
 
Except for shutter speeds on the barrel, several Minolta SLR's would meet the requirements.

The X-570 and X-700 for sure. I believe the XD-11 as well.
 
Contax Aria?
Not sure what is meant by "old school." Does it have to have manual wind? If so, then there's the Contax 159mm. Both cameras are tiny. Zeiss glass....

[If you want a 159mm, i have one to sell, as i'm primarily using a (much larger) RX.]
 
To clarify, the Pentax MX shows both shutter speed and aperture in the finder.
The shutter speed dial is located up on the top deck.
The MX is slightly smaller than the Olympus OM1/2.

Chris
 
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The olympus om1/2 is seriously probably what you're looking for. It has the BEST viewfinder out of any camera I have ever put my eye to - it puts my fm2n viewfinder to shame. You may not get shutter speeds in the viewfinder, however they have made it so you can tell what the speed is from the position of the barrel mounted dial. If the 2 tabs on the dial are sitting perfectly level horizontal, the speed is 1/30th, each click is one stop. It becomes very easy.

The fm2n is also very good but not as good a camera in terms of feel and fun. I find the olympus OM line as fun to use as a decent rangefinder.

As far as lenses, no doubt in my mind at all the olympus has made some of the best wide angle lenses out of anyone value for money, the 21 f2, 24 f2, 35 f2, 40 f2 all absolutely superb. Also superb are the 85 f2 and the 100f. equivalent lenses from nikon/canon are much bigger and usually not as thoroughly sharp/have worse distortion characteristics. In terms of 50's, the nikon 1.4 may be slightly better than the olympus f1.4, however neither lens is a slouch.
 
Kin Lau said:
Except for shutter speeds on the barrel, several Minolta SLR's would meet the requirements.

The X-570 and X-700 for sure. I believe the XD-11 as well.
Click to expand...

I would second the X-700, just because it was the first camera I bought. I don't have it anymore, but I often think about picking one up (wouldn't be expensive I'm sure). And take a look at what lenses are available in your area, I bet you find a lot of Minolta MD.
 
minolta SRT 101 🙂 (or 303 if ou want to see aperture value in the viewfinder)

if the cell/ electronic dies, you can still shoot at all speeds and have speed/aperture indicated in the viewfinder 🙂 (evry thing is mechanical but the meter 🙂 , it is so reliable 🙂 )

minolta shutters are said to be quite reliable 🙂
 
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another vote to look at Minolta

another vote to look at Minolta

I've spent the last six months with an X700 and an XD-11. The XD-11 has all the viewfinder requirements you ask for. And the lenses are pretty amazing. (I can't take a bad shot with the 85mm Rokkor-X, and believe me I'm trying.) I took both cameras in to a local shop in Seattle for testing and repairs and they didn't bat an eye. They see plenty of them, and the XDs are built well. But I've never held a classic Oly or Nikon SLR, so I'm not comparing them at all.
 
Loving all these suggestions. The Pentax, a camera I never would have considered, looks great. Its size is very close to that of the Olympus which is a big bonus. That's the kind of size I'm after.

I own an SRT 101 and 102 with 4 lenses. Both great cameras although a bit bulky. I'm planning a trip to Europe in July and would want something lighter. I also own a couple of Praktika SLR's which again are too bulky.

So with the Oly OM-2SP does the VF show shutter speed in full manual mode? I was concerned it only shows it in Program mode.

The Nikon FM2n also looks great albeit slightly bigger than the Oly.
 
Nikon Fm3a

Nikon Fm3a

I have been shooting a Nikon Fm3a for 3 years now and have really put it to the test. I love it. You should check it out. I don't know what your budget is but the Fm3a Is kind of a dream slr for the old school slr lovers. Has aperture priority exposure or manual. Can also shoot every speed up to 1/4000th without a battery. I USE the hell out of mine in all kinds of weather and it never flinches. Small, well-handling body and some legendary optics to boot. Tons of lenses and accessories available.

Oh yeah, and if you ever want to make those sounds like at the start of Duran Duran's "girls on film", you can buy one of those motor drives off e-bay and let it rip.😀

Being the last great classic film SLR produced by Nikon they will surely go up in value as well. In fact they already are.
 
The OM-2s Program shows the shutter speed in the finder in Manual mode but does not show aperture in any mode, not even in program. Oly never made a 35mm SLR that shows aperture in the finder, not even the OM-4T (the top of the line). I have 2 OM-4T bodies and I love them; I'd suggest them or the OM-2s, though like I said no aperture in the finder. The OM bodies are tiny, light, easy to focus with bright big focusing screens. The lenses are all very good and the best of them are truly exceptional. The lenses are tiny too. I have a Domke 803 messenger bag style camera bag that I keep two OM-4T bodies, a 50mm 1.4, 50mm 1.8, 35mm 2.8, 28 2.8, 24 2.8, and 85mm 2 Zuiko lenses. Thats a lot of stuff in a rather smal bag...shows how tiny the system is, and its not heavy.
 
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