The best camera you never liked?

Leica M9.

Boxy/hollow cheap feeling construction, plasticky ratchety shutter release, cluttered squinty viewfinder [compared to Zeiss ZM or even Epson R-D1]
Nice pictures come out of it, but not a pleasant camera to use.

-TC
 
The Olympus OM-1. The shutter speed dial is very cool, but hard for me to get used to. The VF is bright, but the thing I don't like about it is the small size of the match-needle for the meter and its off center location. Makes it difficult for me to see, even compared to a K1000 or Spotmatic. OM lenses are backwards except to rangefinder users, but that wasn't even such a big deal.

For my money an MX is just as small and much nicer to use.
 
Hmm, I guess I should add the FM2N to this list also for me. Nice little camera, very capable, and everything you expect from a Nikon, but little things started to be noticeable over time. Basically my M spoiled me, and things like the very loud shutter, light body, and LED metering indicators of the FM2N became more and more noticeable over time to me. All first world, prima donna problems, and nothing that meant that great images could not be made with this camera though.
 
FM3a

FM3a

For me it's a Nikon FM3a.
Lovely camera, but the shutter noise is very loud compared to my M2. In fact it is the loudest Nikon that I have. I'm also not vey keen on the match needle system - almost next to useless in dark situations however I suppose that is what the automatic is for :)
I keep meaning to sell it but just never seem to get round to getting rid of it. I just put it back in its box and put it away in my photography equipment drawer

Best
Harry
 
Rolleiflex, and other TLRs. Nice compact and light, but too much limited especially with close focusing (never had a chance to try the rolleinar, though).


Then, let me suggest you gave up too soon. The Rolleiflex and the Rolleinar are a wonderful combo. Of course, there are plenty more flexible cameras (evem TLRs --think Mamya) but the Rolleinar are really quality close-up lenses.
 
Hexar AF. I tried 3 times with 3 different cameras on and off. Could never get to like it. It handled well but the images were very flat and lifeless
 
Price -- I just don't share the feeling of some who are reluctant to carry such an expensive camera, or stew about the price. As Édith Piaf sang, "Non, je ne regrette rien." It costs what it costs, it either fits the budget or not. As always you look for the best deal. And one goes from there with no looking back, I think. It's just another camera to be used to the best of one's ability.

For me, it's not about price, it's about value, I *could* spend $7k on a new digital Leica, but I could also spend it on a fine bottle of wine, neither are worth the money *to me*. I'm OK spending $7k on a car though.

Also, as I get older, I get less comfortable with spending a lot of money on trivial things, it just feels wrong to me. But that's a personal thing.
 
Back
Top Bottom