Return to film-which camera would you service/revive?

[dee]

Just a thought.
I have an excellent Leica IIIc and some rebuilt Contax/Kievs ,and would consider a Minolta SRT as the SLR .

However , given that sorting batteries for metering is becoming a chore , I have just been playing with a Minolta SR1s and SR7v [with external CDS coupled meter ] .

Both have a similar body to an SRT , but are not so tall and lighter .

Either would be the perfect , compact alternative to the vintage classics.

Which camera would you, or have you serviced for further film pleasure ?

dee

[However, that black SRT is stunning !!! ]

 

[B-9]

Enjoying my Nikon SP I got from a member here!

 

[Timmyjoe]

I serviced an SRT a number of years ago, and used one of those CRIS adapters that allows you to use a silver oxide cell in place of the mercury PX625. It was lovely to shoot with after that. IIRC it had a Rokkor 55(??)mm f1.7 lens which created beautiful low contrast B&W negatives.

 

[WJJ3]

I found the black SRT 101 I had been looking for last year, and knew it was the one that was worth the overhaul. I also stumbled across a Pen S with the 3 cm Zuiko that I immediately knew was worth the overhaul...

Which camera would you, or have you serviced for further film pleasure ?

 

[dee]

Seems like a vote for the black SRT !
Have to look out for those adapters , I guess , to check whether the meter will work .
I have several Rokkors ... but I would just love black SR1s !!
dee

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I would send Leica for CLA and give away the rest for free, including whether this SRT means. 🙂

I have my family FED-2 serviced by OLEG and my M4-2 was serviced locally after I dropped it off.
I serviced Agfa Billy Record after I inherited it from my cousin, who (and his wife) gifted me Ihagee folder earlier, before he passed away. This one was also serviced, adopted to 120 by myself.
I have Ikarette camera which FrankS gave me, CLA'd by myself.
I CLA'd Lubitel-2 from ebay, used it and sold for less on e-bay to some lady in Montreal.

Cheers, Ko.

 

[Huss]

Which camera would you, or have you serviced for further film pleasure ?

dee

The Minoltas that I currently have done this to:

Minolta Sr1s (gorgeous camera, the sleek head is much better looking that the bulkier metered heads.)
Minolta XK - AE and AE-S heads.

Plus lots of others..

Currently waiting on a Nikkormat FT2 to do this to. Picked the FT2 over the earlier models as it uses current 1.5V batteries, and the later FT3 as that model does not meter with non AI lenses (unless stop down metering is used). The FT2 meters with all F mount manual focus lenses.

 

[_goodtimez]

The SR7 was my first camera given to me by my parents when I joined the Air Force academy (I was 15). I still have that camera in beautiful condition which was purchased in South Africa and that I took all over the place back to Africa when I started my deployment life in the squadron.
It has never been serviced.

 

[mfogiel]

I have an overhauled black Minolta SRT 303b, and it is very nice to hold in hand, but it has a dim and dirty screen, as my technician would not risk touching it. In general, I would say, if you want to get a film camera that you can really enjoy and depend on, get a Nikon F2 with the plain prism. It is both technically excellent, unbreakable and also very versatile, plus it has lots of sex appeal. You can use it with Nikon lenses if you like these, Voigtlander F, Zeiss ZF lenses or even Leica R lenses on a Leitax stop down adapter. An extra important factor is, that authorised Nikon service is still available for all the "F" professional grade cameras, including the original Nikon F.

 

[Huss]

In general, I would say, if you want to get a film camera that you can really enjoy and depend on, get a Nikon F2 with the plain prism. ... You can use it with .... Leica R lenses on a Leitax stop down adapter.

How else am I supposed to use it?
😉

 

[lynnb]

...get a Nikon F2 with the plain prism. It is both technically excellent, unbreakable and also very versatile, plus it has lots of sex appeal. ... An extra important factor is, that authorised Nikon service is still available for all the "F" professional grade cameras, including the original Nikon F.

Marek, Nikon Tokyo would not service my early Nikon F. Instead, I was referred to Kiitos, who did an excellent job.

 

[Huss]

Marek, Nikon Tokyo would not service my early Nikon F. Instead, I was referred to Kiitos, who did an excellent job.

Sover Wong is the Nikon F/F2 go to guy. I ship my cameras from the USA to England for him to service. He is quicker, cheaper and much better than my local shops.
It's feels strange having to ship overseas and getting it back quicker than giving it to a shop 5 minutes away!

 

[BillBingham2]

Just a thought.
I have an excellent Leica IIIc ......Which camera would you, or have you serviced for further film pleasure ?

dee

For classic looking SLR, Nikon FTn, in my opinion hands down wins as instantly recognizable and solid like a rock. Meter batteries are a bit of a pain but workarounds are reasonable. Pick up an non-ai 24/2.8, 50/1.4, and 105/2.5 and you are retro and well equipped.

The simplicity of a plain prism F is timeless, but not a load visual as the FTn metered prism.

If you are looking for early SLR world looks the Photomic head with it's metering eye (no-TTL here) speaks to the early swings at built in metering for SLRs. I'd ignore trying to make it work and go with a good handheld meter, but I'm a center-weighted or incident metering sort of guy.

You can find clean working FTn today without breaking the bank.

B2 (;->

 

[sebastel]

rf: M3
slr: 500C/M

 

[Erik van Straten]

The Leica M5 is really affordable now. The best build M-Leica and a great shooter.

Erik.

 

[Huss]

For classic looking SLR, Nikon FTn, in my opinion hands down wins as instantly recognizable and solid like a rock. Meter batteries are a bit of a pain but workarounds are reasonable. Pick up an non-ai 24/2.8, 50/1.4, and 105/2.5 and you are retro and well equipped.

The simplicity of a plain prism F is timeless, but not a load visual as the FTn metered prism.

If you are looking for early SLR world looks the Photomic head with it's metering eye (no-TTL here) speaks to the early swings at built in metering for SLRs. I'd ignore trying to make it work and go with a good handheld meter, but I'm a center-weighted or incident metering sort of guy.

You can find clean working FTn today without breaking the bank.

B2 (;->

Why the FTn when you can have the FT2 for the same money? I just made that choice as the FT2 looks just like the FTn, is built just like it, but there is no battery issue. It uses normal, available everywhere 1.5 silver oxide cells.

 

[mfogiel]

I had a Nikon F2 serviced at the Nikon reference repair unit near Turin in Italy and they said they were committed to the whole "F" pro line.

 

[BillBingham2]

Why the FTn when you can have the FT2 for the same money? I just made that choice as the FT2 looks just like the FTn, is built just like it, but there is no battery issue. It uses normal, available everywhere 1.5 silver oxide cells.

No questions the F2 is much easier to find batteries and working accessories for than the F, but the look of the Photomic family of finders for the F just oozes early classic SLR. Easier to get great glass for than many other SLRs of that era.

I love the F2, and while the 70's were long ago, when I think class SLR, I think 60's.

If I were to assemble a classic camera set, I'd go with a Nikon S2 with a 28 and 50 Nikkors and an FTn with a 105. But that's me, he wants to go with a IIIc, FTn.

B2 (;->