Suggestions for 'best looking camera poll'

[Rich Silfver]

Thought I'd set up a poll to see what RF camera(s) the RFF community considers to be most esthetically pleasing but wanted to get some suggestions on what cameras should be in the running.

So far, potential candidates are;

35MM
* Ansco Autoset / Minolta Hi-Matic
* Argus C3
* Argus C4
* Bell & Howell Foton
* Bessa L
* Bessa R2
* Bessa R2A/R3A
* Canon II-series
* Canon III-series
* Canon IV-series
* Canon P
* Canon 7
* Canon L-1
* Canon VT
* Canonet QL G-III
* Casca 2
* Contax II/IIa
* Contax III/IIIa
* Contax G2
* Contax T
* Epson RD-1 *Included as a 35mm camera
* Fed 2
* Fed 2e
* Fed 3b
* Ilford Advocate
* Kiev
* Kodak Bantam Special
* Kodak Signet 35
* Konica Hexar AF
* Konica Hexar RF
* Konica S3
* Leica II (D)
* Leica III (F)
* Leica IIIc
* Leica IIIf
* Leica IIIg
* Leica M3
* Leica M2
* Leica M4
* Leica M4-P
* Leica M5
* Leica M6
* Leica M7
* Leica MP
* Leica CL
* Mamiya Super Deluxe
* Minolta CLE
* Minolta 7SII
* Nikon SP
* Nikon S2
* Nikon S3
* Olympus 35RD
* Olympus 35SP/SPn
* Olympus XA
* Revere Eye-Matic
* Rollei XF 35
* Voitglander Prominent
* Voigtlander Vitomatic II
* XPan/Fuji TX *Included as a 35mm camera
* Yashica Lynx 14E
* Zeiss Ikon
* Zorki 3M
* Zorki 5


Folders
* Bessa II
* Ensign Autorange 820
* Mamiya 6
* Plaubel Makina (original)
* Plaubel Makina 67/W67
* Zeiss Contessa
* Zeiss Super Ikonta
* Retina IIc
* Retina IIIc
* Voigtlander Vitessa N




Medium Format, non-folders
* Bronica RF 645
* Mamiya 6/7 MF
* Mamiya Super Press 23


Large Format
* Graflex Speed Graphics
* Linhof Technica 4x5
* Wista 4x5


Welcoming any comments or suggestions on changes to the list.
Please only request camera bodies that YOU feel are great looking - this is not intended to be a complete list of all RF cameras ever made.

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[peterc]

Zorki 3M

Peter

 

[John]

You could add the Contax G2. Pretty nice looking unit, black or titanium.

 

[wlewisiii]

Canon II/III/IV series of cameras.
Argus C4

The other contenders, for me, are already in your list.

Interesting idea. I'll have to think about it for a long while after you set up your poll.

William

 

[back alley]

minolta cle

 

[a.black]

Leica M3 Black Enamel or Black Paint MP for that matter

 

[Rich Silfver]

It will be impossible to take colour into consideration - the voting will be based on the physical aspects of the camera.

 

[a.black]

then just the mp

 

[Little Prince]

I was going to say CLE too (and/or CL).

 

[Gordon Coale]

Leica IIIc

 

[back alley]

rich, will you be dividing the cameras into categories?

 

[dadsm3]

Oh Oh...you're asking for it! Just for the Leicas alone, black/chrome/painted, with/without selftimers or preview levers, which version MP's, and people furious no M6's or M7's, or 'O' series and the other Barnacks.....you'd better specify NO lenses allowed, just plain body caps. Let's face it, a Leica with a Summilux looks a lot better than one with a cheaper lens.
This is going to be better than the ultimate fighting league...let the bloodbath begin! 😀
Gotta love it!!

 

[Finder]

The Hexar AF or RF?

Why none of the Fuji or Mamiya medium-format rangefinders? I don't understand why anyone could forget the Plaubel Makina. The Linhof and Wista 4x5 rangefinders are not going to make the grade? Lots of folding rangefinders are missing as well.

I have a feeling voting is going to be hard - so many choices.

 

[cp_ste.croix]

Leica MP is my vote

 

[Finder]

You should throw in the space camera, the Ansco Autoset (Minolta Hi-matic) that NASA converted for the Friendship 7 flight.

 

[Rich Silfver]

dads,

a) Feel free to request M6, M7 to be added to the list before I setup the poll and I will include them. 🙂
This goes for anyone out there - if there is a camera body YOU feel strongly for and don't see it in the list above - post it here and it will be added.

b) Colour/Leather version will not be taken into consideration - the permutations would be insane

c) Model versions will not be taken into consideration (eg: Leica IIIf BD, Leica IIIf RD w/ or w/out ST will have ONE option: "Leica IIIf". Hopefully the person voting and loving a IIIf, RD and ST will be 'happy enough' if the "Leica IIIf" selection wins 🙂

 

[Rich Silfver]

The Hexar AF or RF?

Why none of the Fuji or Mamiya medium-format rangefinders? I don't understand why anyone could forget the Plaubel Makina. The Linhof and Wista 4x5 rangefinders are not going to make the grade? Lots of folding rangefinders are missing as well.

I have a feeling voting is going to be hard - so many choices.

I will add Mamiya 6/7 as an option.
I will add Linhof as an option
I will add Wista 4x5 as an option

Please feel free to add other specif requests as well (folders, etc) - but please (and this goes for everyone - only request bodies that you truly think are great looking - it's not intended to be a complete list of all RF cameras in existence...

 

[Jon Goodman]

What? Nobody loves the Revere Eye-Matic 127? Gee.

Jon

 

[dadsm3]

Although I have an M6 I'm not going to request it be added....it might take away votes from my fave! 😛
OK...I formally request you add the M6 and M7. Might as well be fair....I just didn't want this to degenerate into a "what camera do you have?" poll......
Big dif between chrome and black aesthetically though.....but I understand you have to draw the line somewhere.
Great idea Rich, this is going to be a hoot.....

 

[sf]

The RF645 is just hot. As much of all attractive attributes as any camera could have :

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=22574&cat=5544

or even better in some ways (another RF645 pic) :

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=19873

So that camera has Medium Format. Though Gordon's Agfa Isolette is pretty too.

But, I actually find the chrome M3/Summilux combination to be quite attractive. All Chrome, of course. Pretty much the obvious choice, I'd say. But in 35mm, it is hard to beat.

M3/Summilux is my final vote.