The built-like-a-tank SLR of your choice

Nikonos V.
Or a Nikon F2.
Or a Pentax Spotmatic.
Or a Canon F1.

But if I were going on a 'round-the-world boondocking trip where the possibility of anything was to come up: traveling on a river, rock climbing, rucking through desert, rucking through jungle, diving, swimming, rucking through a city, whatever, I would take a green Nikonos V with the 35mm f/2.5 lens, the 85mm lens and a few sets of spare batteries. Before setting off, I'd take out all the seals, clean the grooves then lube them up with silicone grease as the camera should be before diving. This camera can take anything. The means of focusing is something to get used to but that is easy once you get the hang of it. The 35mm lens is very good and an excellent do-all shooter. Really, if rain, river or seawater is going to be a factor, this is the best option.
Then again, a Nikon F2 can be dropped out of a C-130 traveling over 250mph, auger a foot into the desert floor, be dug out, dusted off and go on shooting.

Phil Forrest
 
F2 all the way. Attach some tracks to that thing and invade Russia while you are at it.
 
After years of fettling with canons, Olympus, Pentax, Minolta's, contax, fujifilms, I've come to realise (the hard way) that that toughest film SLRs are the Nikon's.
 
I really don't think there is a camera built that can stand up to continual abuse. Most of the manual metal mechanical monsters will probably handle it for awhile but there is a reason that pros carry back up cameras. Pros also take care of their equipment since without it they won't be making any money.



Backpacking children are rarely (read never) as careful. They may have every intention to be careful but they probably wont be as motivated as they should be. They will still be able to eat even if their camera dies.



Beach sand is particularly vicious and will tear up lenses and cameras alike, even the fabled Nikons. Beach sand will get into the back pack, the food, the clothes, various bodily orifices and the camera. Don't ask me how I know this...I just do.



The best options in my humble opinion are:
1) Totally weatherproof cameras. Unfortunately they are usually bulky and not very easy to use.

2) Very inexpensive cameras (and lenses) that can easily and quickly be replaced.
3) A smartphone with a topnotch warranty.
4) Disposable film cameras that will be used once and the sent to a lab for film development and prints.


If it were my kid I would try to have small caches of disposable cameras waiting for her/him along the route.
 
There's a lot of SLR's that are bullet proof. All the Nikkormat models, the Canon F1, Canon FT QL and FT b, Pentax K1000, etc. If I had to pick one it would be a Nikkormat because not only can you shoot it w/ the great H 50 2 lens, it can also take Leica R lenses w/ a $20 adapter. Not too shabby, and the sound of the Nikkormat shutter is really neat.
 
Cameras I've actually owned and know to be tough: Nikkormat FTn and FE2. I did break the film advance on one of my FE2s, but that was the only problem I've ever had with it. I would have added the Nikon F except that a built-in meter was stipulated.
 
Hi,


My vote's for a box of disposables or else few P&S's from charity shops.


A few cameras might survive everything but the real problem is getting to them once they've landed at the bottom of the cliff or been swept over the waterfall into the crocodile infested river...


Regards, David
 
So far I've seen the Nikons mentioned most and I'm not surprised.

I really thought I had things sorted for daughter w/ regards to cameras. The Chinons I truly love and they are tough as nails so I figured that would be the end of it. But, thing is my daughter's ADD makes it hard for her to keep focused on the wellbeing of her stuff. Daily life often is a constant string of distractions, some days more than others. It's not just cameras that perish, also other equipment like mobile phones and laptops most notably, thank god no laptops are travelling with her currently... 😀

Same time, she loves shooting film and gets real good results that make her happy. But the ADD in the end annihilates every camera so far 😱

The Nikons sure are a good suggestion but recently have grown quite pricy in the Netherlands and EU. Thinking I sorted the camera situation, I sold off my bodies and now only have a few lenses left :bang: A fully functional body shouldn't be more than EUR 75 at the moment. I might try an older model Chinon (M42 lenses, I still have a busload of those) or a Spotmatic. The Prakticas are cheap but I have encountered many that cr4pped out over the years.

Getting her on the way with a back-up isn't very practical due to weight and size but I might pack up another camera as a back-up and send it off to wherever she'll be staying. Currently Mallorca mountains, later Croatia and after that Israel until the end of the year so that would have a post address I suppose.😱 Gotta say I miss having her around but she's doing stuff that's important to her so I'll support!


Last but not least, thanks for all your replies!!
 
FM3a get you the ruggedness and automation, with full mechanical operation in case batteries run out (which has never actually happened to me, and I shoot almost always in auto).

However I actually going the way of ColSebastianMoran for my travel kit on my next trip - the N75 (or N65) + remarkable 28-80G both weigh so little and produce incredible results. It's not flimsy either per se, but certainly no tank and not for hammering in nails or fending off assaults.
The only drawbacks that bother me are inability to set film ISO rating and no metering for vintage lenses.
 
I'm thinking you're fighting a losing battle. If she doesn't destroy the camera, she'll probably leave it behind someplace while trekking the wilderness. Personally, I would have gone with a Nikon F or F2 but the best solution, in my opinion, is a film (or digital) point and shoot model that you can find cheap. Let her use it and beat the devil out of it, lose it or whatever and then just buy another cheap point and shoot. I have no brand suggestions, any of them should suffice.

By the way, in my time in news photography I've had a Nikon F crap out on me from hard use and I've broken three F2's, two of them unrepairable. The F3 and FM models didn't stand up to daily abuse at all. Even the toughest models can break under the right conditions. Sounds like the right conditions exist here.
 
Maybe try to find a few fixed lens compact point and shoots. In this scenario, I think the Olympus XA is the best with other XA variants following close behind.
Get her a lot of Ziploc bags to keep the camera/s inside, protected from whatever may make its way into her pack. Also a few dozen feet of 550 cord to make handy lanyards for cameras and other gear. And a pair of medic shears.

Phil Forrest
 
There is no such thing as a "built-like-a-tank" camera. Cameras are sensitive and delicate instruments.

They are only lucky owners who happened to abuse them, but not critically damage them.
 
Professionals cared for their camera outfits!
It placed food on table, roof over their heads,
especially Photojournalist.
Newspaper were very different..
My choices, Pentax Spotmatic (usually no meter working) $10~25.
Nikomat-Nikkormat $15. Pentax K1000,meters usually work.
Nikon-F with 50mm Nikkor f2 $80. All Canadian Dollars.
Look at camera sales, i most major cities.
No camera is a tank, treat with care and enjoy.
 
I hesitate to say this on the forum but would suggest a phone in a waterproof case, perhaps with an app that replicates camera controls. Alternatively, a ruggedized digital compact.

35mm film and careless users do not work well near water, sand, sun etc..
 
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