Praise for the lowly Nikon 801/8008s

[FrankS]

Used a couple of these yesterday at a protest, one with 50, one with 28, both manual focus lenses. They just stayed out of my way, did their job, and let me take the pics with no fuss. Crazy that these cameras can be had for $30 or so used.

Easy to reload, even while walking.

 

[Joe Vitessa]

+1
I picked up a 8008 a few years ago to use as my "kayaking camera" and I've used it so much more than I originally thought I would. Just a reliable machine that fits well in the hands. I paid $30 for it from a local photo store.

 

[leica M2 fan]

If I remember correctly when the 8008 came out I bought one right away and like it so much I got the 8000s when it came out and used them both, one with color and one with B&W film and they never let me down. Still have both and pretty much stopped using them 7 years ago when I got the D70. I fired the 8000s a couple weeks ago and thought a gun had been fired, it was so loud. But what a performer! it was what really got me started with SLRs.

 

[TXForester]

I had one, but gave it to a guy on a fly fishing board. Lost his camera in a divorce and was going on a camping trip with his daughters. He needed more than I did.

Here is a shot with a Tamron zoom on the 8008s.

 

[steelydam]

I bought my 8008s new in the early 90s and used it exclusively until about 2007 or so. Dropped it real good once, cracking the plastic over the prism but it still works great. We've been through a lot of years and a lot of places together and it's a camera I'll keep forever.

 

[tj01]

my first camera was an 801 (without the s suffix for spot metering ), paired it with a 50mm E.
Sadly, the electronics failed me a couple of years ago. The only thing I can complain about the camera is the battery life.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

This body used to be the almost pro one Nikon had before the N90.

Now... if the 8008 is "lowly", whaddaya think about the 6006? My brother gave me his (he never was into photography and now he has a digital machine) and it looks like it can take some more 20 years of work.