What camera does make you happy? Why?

kbg32

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Seems that many of us here are never satisfied and are constantly bashing this camera or that, based on minimal reviews, never having even held them, others opinions, and even before they are officially released to the buying public.

Well what cameras does make you happy? Why? It must be a camera that you still use.
 
Currently, the Nikon D800e -- because it does most everything that I want to do with a camera, complemented by a lot of available lenses--AF/MF, prime/zoom, from ultrawides to super teles--and the Nikon CLS system.

The other bodies that I own -- A7R, ZI and FM2N -- make me happy as well, but only for specific uses.
 
Canon FX with 50mm f/1.8 Canon FL mount lens. Pure nostalgia, it was my first 'real' camera, given to me by my late father when I was 12. I'm 55 this year. Still shoot with it. I have many cameras, many lenses, but this is special to me.
 
I'm all film now and own a number of cameras. My three rangefinders consist of a Bessa 667w, Fuji GF670 and Fuji Gw690iii. If I had to keep only one would be the 690III.

It has a beautiful negative, great lens and really nothing to go wrong. Just meter, set your shutter and lens and go. And I don't need to worry about banging it around a little.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 
I've accumulated many cameras over the years. Those that I didn't get along with have been sold.

What I use daily in 35mm is the Leica M7, followed by the Bessa R. They feel great to use, and knock out accurate exposures.

In medium format, the Voigtlander Bessa RF 6 x9, or a Zeiss Super Ikonta IV. They come along due to their compact size when folded.
 
My M9. It just goes.

I've been shooting a Nikon D750 for a while on work assignments, and I'm just so fed up with all the buttons. My Sony A7S is even worse.

Kinda tempted to sell the Sony and a kidney or two so I could buy the new Monochrom, though...
 
Of all the cameras I own, the Fuji x-100t is the most versatile in terms of portability, size, weight, low light performance and ease of use. My Epson r-d1x in combination with voigtlander lenses is the most loved because it often produces something extra.
 
Except for the first two (Yashica 12, Canon VT) I've kept all my cameras over 48 years of shooting. Now in my old age I'm enjoying taking them up in turn and shooting them again, bringing up all those wonderful memories. I couldn't pick a favorite. Today, it's the Pentax K1000 I bought in 1979. I'm shooting Velvia to make the most of these amazing SMC Pentax-M lenses. I love the near-perfect simplicity of this camera!
 
Nikon fm3a. It feels great, works flawlessly, meters impeccably and has all info readily available.
Olympus Pen F with any of the smaller lenses. A tiny solid jewel.
Leica M3, though it's so well crafted it can be intimidating
Rolleiflex MX EVS with a rolleiflex hood and rolleinar s and /or rolleikin
 
When I'm working the D4 makes me happy, because it just works, and always allows me to get the shot.

When I'm not working, lately I'm having fun with a Canon A-1 & Double X (just like the meter, the simplicity, and the way the 50mm 1.4 SSC renders with the 5222), a Nikon F w/FTN & Double X (I like the meter and the simplicity, and the way the old Nikkor-S 50mm 1.4 renders with the 5222), and a Minolta 16QT (which I rebuilt and made a battery for, so now it works like new, and I get to shoot through the 800 ft of 16mm B&W motion picture film I've had stored in the freezer for years).

That's about it.
 
About 6 months ago, I bought a beat up M4 Black Paint, and a 35mm Summicron Ver.III. I've somehow managed to acquire tons of other Leica gear over the years, ranging MPs to M2/M3, but really, this M4/35 is about all I need. I don't know if I could ever sell all of my other gear, but there's just something about a beat up brassed M with a tiny 35 that really does it for me. The size alone is the best reason for me, and with a few rolls of tri-x, I'm a happy shooter.
 
Happy?
Only the fun ones. Yashica GTN and GX, Rolleiflex, Agfa Clack... Happy 🙂

Most used in order
Fuji Xe1-f.4/35, Hexar AF ,Olympus xa3, mju2, Fuji gf670, Yashicamat A
 
My M8.2. More than my M typ 240, more than my M6, more than my Ricoh GR.

It has the perfect size for my large hands (M6 is a bit too slim) and I don't feel like I need to be so careful with it as I am with my M.
 
I have a lot; I ought to by now, having bought and sold so many.

Leica M3 - Leica's best viewfinder for the mighty Summicron 50mm Dual Range, and a thousand other reasons.

Bronica S2A - For the rendering of the old Bronica Nikkor lenses, and because it's like holding a football made out of a Cadillac.

Yashica MAT - The first, best-made, non-metered version - When I want portable medium format and/or the simplicity of one lens, one orientation, just shoot.

Canon T70 - Extreme practicality: AA battery, minimal but well-thought-out feature set, cheap & easy to replace (take it to the crap side of town, or hand it to a child), supports my killer collection of Canon FD lenses.

Fuji X-E2 - My digital sweet-spot.

Koni-Omega Rapid - Huge, preposterous, and surprisingly ergonomic, an image-quality monster.

Minolta X-570 - Perfect 35mm SLR feature set, and the glory of the Rokkor MC 50mm f1.4 keeps me from lusting after a Summilux.

Honorable mentions:

Leica iiic - Once I feel like shelling out $$$ to get it and its lenses serviced.

Konica FP - The old, mechanical F-mount, not the FP-1 - My personal high-water-mark of the visual aspects of SLR design: the curves, the font of the engraving, the off-center lens mount...
 
I'm using FED-2 few times per year just like I used it many years ago, it makes me happy as something which is still the same and usable for decades.
M4-2 makes me happy as well because I like to use it on happy time, which is free time for me.
 
My Zorki 1c and Jupiter-8 for B&W landscapes.

I appreciate the ease of an iPhone for routine photos and iCloud storage now. Conversion of some with the Artista Impresso app on an iPad mini is enjoyable.
 
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