The "Worst" Camera You ever Loved?

[Vics]

The Canon Sure Shot Supreme that I bought in the UK to save me from myself. I had come to Europe with nothing but a Rollei TLR (my choice in the "best" and "hated" thread). That Canon p&s (that's about all you can do with it) gave me many fine pictures in the last three weeks we were there.

 

[Chyn]

Leica M8. The trouble of getting 6-bit coding, the workarounds, buying IR cut filters, etc., all indicators suggest that this camera was a beta product. My shutter also crapped out around 30,000 actuations which required a trip to Solms.

Despite all this, I'm a happy camper when looking at those images that I have taken with it. I hope it'll be good for years to come.

 

[Murchu]

All these cameras are far too good. The worst camera I ever loved was a little Vivitar 0.3 megapixel digital camera that had neither a screen on it, nor a memory card slot. In fairness it wasn't mine, but a friends. I sure did love the images that came out of that little camera, but it was probably more the friends eye than the camera itself.

 

[msbarnes]

Rollei 35

But i don't consider it a bad camera by any means. I consider it worse than my other cameras because of it's limitations (scale focus) and odd ergonomics (which i don't mind).

 

[Takkun]

All these cameras are far too good. The worst camera I ever loved was a little Vivitar 0.3 megapixel digital camera that had neither a screen on it, nor a memory card slot. In fairness it wasn't mine, but a friends. I sure did love the images that came out of that little camera, but it was probably more the friends eye than the camera itself.

Two words:
JamCam.

8 640x480 pictures. I loved that thing.

Worst camera I'm currently using? an SQ-A duct taped together. I've shot a few paid shoots with it, which gets a few eyebrows raised.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Everybody's iPhone 4S takes better pics than mine, think mine was put together wrong or something, but I love the fact that it's always with me.

At Catholic Mass last night, my 80+ year old in-laws surprised me by being part of the liturgy, and my wife wasn't present. No worries, dove into my pocket, out with the iPhone 4S, snap, snap, snap, pics taken, iPhone back in pocket, all in less time than it took you to read this. Not the best picture quality, but man is it handy.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Keith]

Possibly the Norita 66.

The camera is difficult to load and use, loud, IMO butt ugly and I don't like the viewfinder much either. However the Noritar 80mm f2 lens that the camera came with is known as the MF Noctilux and rightly so ... the OOF of this lens wide open has to be seen to be believed!

 

[CCCPcamera]

Kiev 4. Piece of garbage - jammed and unusable now. But, great rangefinder, and very quiet shutter. I've taken some of my favourite pictures with it.

 

[Keith]

Another camera that comes to mind is the Iskra. Ergonomically a pig of a camera IMO but so capable when you get it right.

The one I had was without issues and had a stunning lens ... unfortunately I lent it to another RFFer and that's the last I saw of it!

 

[Vince Lupo]

My Pentacon Pentina. I probably have one of the few around that actually works, and it's really a joy to use.

 

[johannielscom]

Shouldn't have sold my Kodak Medalist II.

Although I'm still relieved my ribs healed that nicely since I sold it. There was no photographer-friendly way to carry that thing off your shoulder, it kept hitting me in the ribs and kidneys😛

 

[Moto-Uno]

Keith,I'm surprised,I've had my Iskra 1 for about a half year now and everything about that pocketable camera strikes me as great, the lens continues to surprise me,the ergos fit me to a tee and the rangefinder is light years better than my Mockba-5. But as they say,to each his own. Peter

 

[Keith]

Keith,I'm surprised,I've had my Iskra 1 for about a half year now and everything about that pocketable camera strikes me as great, the lens continues to surprise me,the ergos fit me to a tee and the rangefinder is light years better than my Mockba-5. But as they say,to each his own. Peter

Don't get me wrong, I loved the camera and I agree that the rangefinder is outstanding. I think it was focusing that bugged me from memory (it's been a while since I owned it) In spite of being cleaned and lubricated the focusing ring would constantly tighten up on me and make the camera diffficult to use. I think the other thing I didn't like much was the linked shutter speed and aperture of the lens ... the same thing annoys on my Hasselblad! 😀

 

[BenJT]

Nikon L35AF, plastic brick, no control, loud for what it is, but it just works for me and the images hold their own.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

Leica Minilux (non-zoom). Slow focusing and quirky titanium box, but when matched with Kodak Portra - heaven. Worth living in permanent fear of E02!

 

[thegman]

Lomo LC-A+, atrociously priced for what it is, the cheap plastic would be OK if it was put together OK, but it isn't. But I liked it, it's fun, small, light, and quick to use.

I think the LC-A+ has the potential to be the Rollei 35 for our time, but it needs to be built better, a lot better.

 

[Moto-Uno]

Keith, you're completely correct concerning the lock step that the speed and aperture ring operate in,my Retina 111c also has this arrangement but works in a more polished manner.

And another of my cameras made it on this list, the great Kodak Medalist ! But I must admit it tests ones tolerance. It too though can produce some fine negatives. Peter

 

[t.s.k.]

Alright, I'll play.

Voigtlander Prominent.
An ergonomic nightmare but perhaps the most beautiful rangefinder ever made.
The Nokton 1.5 is pretty special too.

 

[rwintle]

Some Kodak Instamatic 110 or other, one of the all-black ones with a flip-top lid that became a kind of handle. It is long gone, unfortunately, but was my go-to axe when I was in grade school.

 

[thawkins]

Zorki "S" and Industar 22 lens