Suggestions for an everyday carry SLR?

I just bought an FG and I have to agree. FG with the 50mm Series E is a compact and light combination. The only lighter SLR combo I can think of is perhaps the Canon T60 with a 50mm f/1.8. A Rebel G with 50mm would be pretty featherweight as well and adds autofocus.

However, light and compact isn't everything. The Pentax ME Super and Olympus OM series are nicer feeling cameras to shoot because of those large viewfinders.
 
f16sunshine said:
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
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You're welcome to your opinion. I'll state mine too.

Street photography is all about seeing situations, interactions, and timing, not speed. It's about responsiveness with respect to the equipment. Nothing focuses as responsively as a manual lens set to cover the appropriate DoF for the subject matter ... It doesn't have to do anything at all, so is always ready. Street and situational photography from the equipment point of view is a matter of responsiveness supporting a photographer's timing rather than automation being fast enough to enable picture taking.

Good street photographers generally have one chance, one moment, for a given situation. They don't need a bazillion shots or change distance radically from shot to shot; they need to focus on the subject matter in the zone and keep their eyes open, not fixed to the back of a camera watching focus, meters, histograms, et al. Also, ultimate sharpness is not the issue in such photography. Expression—timing— takes precedence.

I never buy antique gear to do street photography. I buy modern, simple, fast gear. Any gear works best for this purpose when you turn off the focus automation, because focus automation causes lags and mis-fires no matter how fast it is. Street photography means setting a focus zone and working within it to me.

That's my opinion; it's based on my experience. Looking at/making the kinds of photos that I find compelling from other photographers, they all fit this model.

G
 
I agree. an analogy with a word processing program:if you write a casually billions of billions of words, never write a poetry. if you write a few words with the brain and the heart, may be you reach the result.
 
I re-read the OP and realized what you asking is really what older compact slr would be reliable - as your previous choices exhibit age issues. That's a real consideration - we all have favorite cameras, whether for functional or nostalgic reasons, but almost any camera that's been around 20-40 years will have some issues. There a a few good technicians out there that can extend the useful life of these another generation, fortunately.

The all-mechanical slr's would seem to get the nod for reliability - but in my experience nearly any make needs CLA at this point, at least - same for those with electronics - and some of those can have reliability issues with their circuitry. Your OM meter issues are common, but the all mech shutter keeps going. Not so, it seems, for the FG. I love the smaller Nikons but have found their shutters often need work at this point - even the FMs and FEs. The FG is a bit smaller and made of more plastic than the former. Same for Pentax - beautiful little machines that like to gum up sitting on a shelf.

In my experience the great $20-$50 Ebay finds out there usually need another $100 or so to put back in like-new functional order - still a bargain.

Here's a realization I had recently - I used to always choose camera that had motor winders, and kept them attached all the time - fast forward 30 years - I hate them and love the silky thumb-wind lever. Somebody mentioned an F3 - none smoother, and you can leave that big motor grinder at home. They are giving them away, in my opinion. My last one looked like it had been run over by a truck but happily kept shooting.
 
I suggest to pick based on camera size and lens, Stephen.

As an example, I have two cameras like this: Nikon FM to use with Nikkor 50/1.8 or 28/2.8 AIs (both amazing lenses), or one of my OM2 for use with 50/1.2 or 28/2 (for their speed, these lenses are quite small). Most OM-1 bodies have a wonky meter these days. Still, perfectly usable without and the late Zuiko 50/1.8 is cheap and no slouch. And the OM1 is more silent than the FM. Only saying this because the FM literally turns heads when it "clonks".

Roland.
 
Keith said:
Surely it would be very hard to go past a good OM-2 ... better metering would be hard to find and the viewfinder has few equals. My faultless OM-2 with 50mm f1.8 Zuiko cost me the grand sum of fifty dollars.
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+1. I for a long time shot with an OM-2n and loved it. It's small, wonderful to use, and you can get tons of good glass cheap. And the viewfinder is terrific. Had I not sold my soul to Leica somewhere along the way, that would still be my go-to rig.
 
Your cost to purchase the camera should not be your primary criteria for a repair or no repair. In fact, you could probably end up with an absolutely awesome camera that will last for a lifetime, for a very low price, even when you include the additional price to service. I don't personally use them but Nikon has an excellent reputation as a very reliable camera and some of the lenses are almost as good as their Pentax counterparts. :D

However, if all you want is to try out a different camera then take your pick. They are all very good cameras from that era. Pick up several different ones and try them out. Or go visit some local pawnshops and handle the merchandise. :rolleyes:

I personally consider my Pentax K1000, Pentax Spotmatic and Minolta SRT102 to be extremely reliable. Of course the Spottie and the Minolta both used mercury batteries that are no longer available. But that is easily addressed by purchasing the correct adaptor from CRIS. :)
 
Look for something in Nikon or Olympus, since you already have the systems -- the FM/FM2 or the OM series are obvious choices given build quality and small size.

If small size is what counts, you could also look at the Pentax MX or LX -- sturdy, hardy cameras with wonderful lenses and amazingly small body sizes.
 
mdarnton said:
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.
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An excellent camera, but I never recommend it only because it lacks a depth of field preview, which I feel is an essential feature that every SLR should have.
 
I have a Nikkormat I bought in 1972.

Works great, still!

Only has TTL metering.

f stop and shutter set up by photographer.

Bought the Nikkormat rather than Nikon F as I liked the size and wasn't interested in changing prisms.
 
SRT101.........built like a tank and equally heavy; no plastic. Owned mine since 1974. Been CLAed once and has outlived four pastic bodied automated digital wonders!
 
My favorite carry around is a well used and well loved Nikon FE. It just gets out of the way and lets you take pictures.
 
If small and light is a requirement, a leading contender is the Contax Aria (a late Kyocera model). It weighs 460g vs 490g for the FG. The Aria has a plastic exterior, but feels solid as brick. The Tessar 45/2.8 pancake makes a tiny package but one with all the exposure modes: P, Av, Tv, full manual. This is my main film SLR, usually paired with a P50/1.4 or D28/2.8.

Used prices are quite reasonable, but not $27. :)
 
Rico said:
If small and light is a requirement, a leading contender is the Contax Aria (a late Kyocera model). It weighs 460g vs 490g for the FG. The Aria has a plastic exterior, but feels solid as brick. The Tessar 45/2.8 pancake makes a tiny package but one with all the exposure modes: P, Av, Tv, full manual. This is my main film SLR, usually paired with a P50/1.4 or D28/2.8.

Used prices are quite reasonable, but not $27. :)
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Aria is a wonderful body, but way more than $27.

If you liked your FG, and I like mine, suggest you just get another one.
 
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