Suggestions for an everyday carry SLR?

I sold my f6 and found an FE2, for very casual close-up and sport events : nobody needs more if not a professionnal.
 
Praktica MTL-3. Nothing to worry about, tough as nails, M42, simple lightmeter, very cheap what more to want. Or a Yashica Electro XL if you want fancy with mirror lock-up.
 
It would be my film Rebel EOS with modern cheap Canon AF pancake prime lens.
I have no fetish in SLRs, old mechanical bodies makes no sense for me.
Everyday camera must be as easy and fast to use as possible. More keepers.
By the time you set and focus your all mechanical camera the moment is done and gone.
Every days situations are completely different from photo walk.
 
By the time your EOS has booted I have already focussed and shot. Got an RT myself but I wouldn't consider it an everyday walkaround camera.
 
Nikon F (no meter), FM2n (match needle with mechanically timed shutter), FE2 (match needle or aperture AE with electronically timed shutter), or F3hp I match needle or aperture AE with electronically timed shutter) for me, given Nikkor lenses. If you have Nikon AF lenses, I have an N80 body that works very nicely.

Oly OM, Pentax MX, Minolta, etc all made good cameras too, but IME Nikons have always been more robust and more available lenses.

Of course, something like a Leicaflex SL is a wonderful camera but even today they and their lenses carry a premium price, and for good reason.

G
 
Ko.Fe. said:
It would be my film Rebel EOS with modern cheap Canon AF pancake prime lens.
I have no fetish in SLRs, old mechanical bodies makes no sense for me.
Everyday camera must be as easy and fast to use as possible. More keepers.
By the time you set and focus your all mechanical camera the moment is done and gone.
Every days situations are completely different from photo walk.
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That's a rather curious attitude given that most of the best street photography done in the past century was done with entirely mechanical, meterless cameras.

G
 
Godfrey said:
That's a rather curious attitude given that most of the best street photography done in the past century was done with entirely mechanical, meterless cameras.

G
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With Respect Godfrey. I believe quite firmly street photography was much more interesting in the earlier part of this century...prior to the existence of af do all slr's and PS cameras.
Had AF existed in the 40's-60's in a readily available form.... we would see some great works from those cameras.
That's my view. Maybe the view of others.
I love mechanical cameras but, I think the romantic aesthetic comes from a coincidence rather than a reality. Old technology cameras don't make more nostalgic photos IMO

Cheers! :)
 
My favourite small SLR's for everyday use are the Olympus Om1, Pentax Mx and Contax 139Q.
Great build quality, big and bright viewfinders.

I don't recommend the EOS SLR's at all, they are too big and noisy. Great workhorses but not for everyday use.
 
If you already have Olympus lens I'd suggest the OM-2n. It uses commonly available silver oxide batteries.

My favorite carry SLR is the Minolta XE-7 though...and the Rokkor and Rokkor-X lens can't be beat...
 
Ko.Fe. said:
It would be my film Rebel EOS with modern cheap Canon AF pancake prime lens.
I have no fetish in SLRs, old mechanical bodies makes no sense for me.
Everyday camera must be as easy and fast to use as possible. More keepers.
By the time you set and focus your all mechanical camera the moment is done and gone.
Every days situations are completely different from photo walk.
Click to expand...

I used my Yashica TL Super after I got my Fujica ST 901, but mostly so I could have two different types of film handy. Usually b/w in the Yashica. After I got my Yashica MAT 124G, the Yashica got a lot less use. I still use the Fujica because of the great autoexposure, and the really low light SBC cells, as well as the great lenes.

So I agree with all mechanical cameras sometimes needing more fiddling for exact exposure for each shot. But the Fujica and others with manual focus, but good autoexposure do tend to speed things up. Pentax ME Super, Olympus with autoexposure, or others in that class, are worth a try imho. That assuming the OP isn't looking for only match needle or match led and mechanical shutter.
 
Any Nikon FE, FE2, FM will be great for everyday use. They are quick and easy to use with not too much of electronics to obtrude your views. FM is purely mechanical with just a battery powered light meter.
Plus they are inexpensive.
 
My FG is the best camera I've ever had, bang for buck, and I carry it more than anything else I have, so I bought a couple more on Ebay. When one goes, I'll move on to the next. For $45, you can't go wrong, and it's cheaper to buy a new one than get an old one fixed.
 
Spanik said:
By the time your EOS has booted I have already focussed and shot. Got an RT myself but I wouldn't consider it an everyday walkaround camera.
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This is false logic - modern AF film (and digital) cameras are easily as fast or faster than older mf's - the "boot" thing suggests you might walk around with the camera switched off? Makes no sense. Turn it on in the morning - off when done! EOS cameras spring to life instantly and the best examples respond and focus instantly.

That said, I love my old MX - but if it's speed I want I'd use My EOS 1
 
cmc850 said:
This is false logic - modern AF film (and digital) cameras are easily as fast or faster than older mf's - the "boot" thing suggests you might walk around with the camera switched off? Makes no sense. Turn it on in the morning - off when done! EOS cameras spring to life instantly and the best examples respond and focus instantly.

That said, I love my old MX - but if it's speed I want I'd use My EOS 1
Click to expand...

Maybe he meant the EOS 300D. I have one and it's annoying that even if you leave it switched on all day, it goes to sleep and there is still a three to four second 'boot time' after hitting the shutter button before you can take a picture. That's my only SLR that behaves like that.

Ronnie
 
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