SLR with fast suite of primes

[gavinlg]

Canon FD is the best value as far as lenses go I think. The FD L lenses and some of the normal ones (for instance the aforementioned concave 35mm f2) are much nicer than the nikkor/minoltas of the same period.

Olympus OM is one of the nicest systems in that it's dainty and a joy to use, with a huge viewfinder and small lenses. You could go 28mm f2, 35mm f2 and have a great setup.

For the best IQ I would definitely go contax or leica - but more expensive than the japanese cameras/lenses.

 

[jammcat]

Another vote for the Pentax MX, but if you want something else:

Contax Aria is a beautiful camera with a multitude of features, matrix and spot metering, a fantastic viewfinder, and great system of high-quality lenses, but the lenses are all horribly overpriced. You can get an M42 adapter and use old screw mount lenses, including the fantastic old takumars.

The Nikon FA also has a fantastic viewfinder, is great to manual focus, and has matrix metering. You will definitely be able to find a 28mm f2 and a 35mm f2 for it. I prefer the 24mm f2.8, though, and the ais version of the 28mm f2.8 is apparently incredibly sharp.
The lenses are all fairly cheap and easy to come by.

Etc.

 

[sanmich]

If you want a fast and excellent 35 f/2, take the hexar AF and don't look back.
Buying another RF brand+ a fast 35 costs way more.

about SLRs, I would carefully pick a body based on the lenses I want.
For example: Only the Nikkor 35 1.4 seem to be good in that focal, and cheap it is not.
shop for the lenses, you will then know what body to buy..

 

[ktmrider]

Can't Go Wrong with Any of Them

Can't Go Wrong with Any of Them

Nikon 24f2.8 is legendary. The pre AI or AI model can be obtained cheaply if you go with the Nikon system. I have one teamed with a 55 micro and 105f2.5 and these are the lenses that made Nikon famous.

I recently acquired a Leica R6.2 with 28, 50, and 135. Some feel the 50 Summicron for the reflex cameras is equal to any M lens but can be had for much less.

It's funny as I am on a trip to Nepal, Thailand, and Cambodia and left all the film cameras at home. I am using the Digilux 5 and Fuji X100 and think I have fallen hard for the X100 so I may be selling my Leica M and R systems, Nikon F system and Hasselblad. If you would like to try a meterless, classic Nikon F with a couple lenses, let me know. I will make you a smoking deal (am also tempted by the M9 but that is another story).

And by the way, it would be hard to go wrong with any classic SLR film system and they can now be had for pennies on the dollar. I think it comes down mostly to ergonomics as Nikon, Canon, Leica, Olympus, Minolta, Contax were all outstanding (and I don't mean to insult fans of other systems) but the memory is not as good as it used to be.

 

[Ronny]

Nikon F or Pentax MX.

 

[nobbylon]

Nikon F100 and an AF 35 or 50. Old classics are nice but if you want ease of picture taking indoors and want to nail focus then the F100 is the one I'd pick.
The problem I found with a lot of the older cameras was their dim viewfinders.
The biggest finder I have used was the OM's but I still found them a pain in difficult light.

 

[Nokton48]

I recently picked up a Minolta SRT202 body, which has a brighter screen than the SRT101. It was $40 on the RFF classifeds, in perfect condition, even came with a still-fresh Mercury battery.

I don't have a problem focusing this camera even at night. The 35mm F1.8 MC Rokkor, the 28mm F2.5 MC Rokkor, the 50mm F1.2 MC Rokkor, and the 85mm F1.7 MC Rokkor are serious cult optics, although they can sometimes be found at garage sale prices. Last weekend I bought a 35mm F2.8 MD Rokkor for 5 Dollars, and it cleaned up well!

Nothing wrong in my opinion with the SRT202, that is the last model, and the most deluxe SRT ever made. But then, the SRT101 works fine for me, for my work. And I've used Pro Canon, Nikon F/F2, Leica, etc. They all work well.