What camera does make you happy? Why?

[jloden]

I'll sidestep the philosophical question of whether any camera actually can make one happy, and stick to the spirit of the thread 😀

I've cycled through a lot of cameras over years and always fallen out of love with at least some part of them eventually. So it's hard to say whether my current choices will stand the test of time either! With that said, some that come to mind:

Ricoh GR (II) - Tiny, pocketable, great quality. The P&S, fixed-lens design means I leave everything out of the equation except framing and timing. This camera re-invigorated my photography by simplifying everything to the minimum necessary so even if it moves on eventually I consider it special for that alone.

Leica M3 - Not always my camera of choice because I like wide angles quite a bit, but the particular M3 I own was loaned to me by a good friend and constituted my first serious foray into shooting film. I eventually bought it from him, and I don't plan on ever selling it. I love its simplicity, and the smooth mechanical precision in use. The sentimental value makes me appreciate it on another level every time I put a roll of film through it.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

The camera that makes me "happy" is the one I happen to have with me the rare times inspiration to shoot is there. When that happens, I feel high no matter if it's a Holga, a Leica or whatever else..

 

[mfogiel]

I've got so many great cameras, that any of them makes me happy, when I have it in hand and am around using it. However, for reasons of weight and convenience, some smaller format cameras get used more:
Leica(s) M7
Nikon(s) FM3A
Bronica(s) RF
Contax 645
Rolleiflex(es)
Hasselblad(s)

 

[YouAreHere]

In no particular order -

Minolta CLE, because it fits my hand so well.

Olympus XA, pocketable silent shutter.

Canon L1, for days when I don't need a meter.

On the digital side, the Dlux5. To take a break from film.

 

[ijesato]

From the many cameras that I own, I feel that 2 of them are special, not only because the pictures that produce also because of the sensation that I have whenever I use them.

My two "happy cameras" are the Fujifilm x10 and a Zenit 12 with an industar 50-2.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I'm easily pleased, my SD1000's get a lot of use and rarely turn out a bad exposure.

 

[goamules]

- My old black Leica II with Hektor - It's just so small and old, yet works fine!
- My 1890s wholeplate Rochester Universal - fantastic wood and enough movements, it's the precursor to a Deardorff.

 

[barnwulf]

My Sony A7r because of the I like the detailed image that I can get and the highlights are easily controlled. I also like my M3, M4, my lllc and I am just delighted with my black Leica II. They are all keepers. - jim.

 

[d__b]

My Leica M4-P with either my CV 35/1.4 SC or the ZM 50/2.0 Planar and some Tri-X. Pure simplicity.

 

[xayraa33]

Right now my Canon IIS2 with the 5cm Nikkor f1.4 lens is my favourite.

I like using the camera and I am finding out the the 1.4 Nikkor is actually sharper than my Canon f1.5 lens.

 

[Ronny]

Happy:
Leica MD, M2, M3
Pentax MX, ME
Nikon F, F2
Canon F-1, F-1N

Unhappy:
Leica M4-2, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9
Pentax MV
Nikon F3, F4
Canon EF
Digital Cameras

 

[awbphotog]

Of all the cameras I've used, I would say that to date my most fun has been had with the Ricoh GR series cameras. I've own three of the original GRD cameras which were incredibly fun despite their relatively short life span (during my ownership, anyways). I have a Ricoh GR now that is still awaiting repair but that combined with a nice 28mm VF is digital bliss for me. I shoot now with the X-Pro 1 but it doesn't compare, even with the 28mm lens and the optical finder. Go figure. If I had to choose a film camera, it would be with out a single shred of a doubt the Fuji G690BL (+100mm f/3.5 lens) because of its robust build and fool-proofness. It also just happens to produce some of the most romantic, beautiful negatives I could ever ask for.

 

[richard_l]

Leica M2
Leica M6
Nikon FM2

They are simple and intuitive to operate, and I can depend on them to work flawlessly.

 

[Spanik]

There are a couple of cameras that I really like to use:
- Mamiya 645 ProTL is my go-to camera. I know how it will look when I press that button. Fits my hands, everything at the right place, nothing that isn't needed around.
- Fuji G690BL with the 65mm, can keep the grin of my face when taking it out of the bag
- 5DII, bland maybe but dependable

 

[Bill Clark]

Honestly, none.

It's in front of the camera that makes me happy!

The camera that makes most happy is a Barnack. I use it to make photographs of my family, especially grandchildren.

 

[RichL]

Minox III

It is (As Mr. Zapp intended.) the perfect precision always with you camera.

With focusing from eight inches to infinity you can, with reasonable care in film choice and processing, produce prints up to 5x7 of anything from a pansy to Half Dome without a problem. With unreasonable care of the above it can produce quite acceptable prints up to 11x14.

Being able to carry two cartridges (100 shots) in my watch pocket is a nice bonus.

 

[CMur12]

My main 35mm cameras are 5 Minolta manual-focus SLRs (early black-dial SR-T 101, early SR-T 102, very last of the SR-T 201, and two X-570s. I have a nice range of Minolta Rokkor primes for these cameras.

I like the SR-Ts because they are much like my first SLR and I just like working with the effective simplicity of an all-metal match-needle SLR. The X-570 has great aperture-priority automation, a very bright finder, a nice "Touch Switch" shutter release, and the ability to work with an autowinder (handy for a left-eyed photographer). I also like Minolta optics.

In medium format, I have always loved TLRs, going back to the days of my Kodak Duaflex IV when I was a boy. I really like their rugged, vibrationless simplicity and their handling. I have Minolta Autocords, Mamiyas (simply brilliant!), Rolleiflexes, Yashicas, and a Ricohflex.

- Murray

 

[Nokton48]

My Minolta SRT's. I started with the SRT-100 when I was seventeen (first -really- good camera). A while back I bought another one to experience it again and it's still my favorite SRT.

Plaubel Makina III. This camera makes me smile 🙂 In all sorts of ways. And my Plaubel Makiflexes.

 

[edge100]

Leica MP, because it's an absolute joy to hold and shoot.

Mamiya 7, because the images are simply incredible.

 

[Spavinaw]

I think the cameras that make me the happiest are the ones I consider to be my most versatile: Canon A-1, Canon Kiss IIIL, and Pentax 24EW. Why I like each one: Canon A-1 because of all the different body programs and my large lens collection; Canon Kiss IIIL because of lighted display, panoramic mode, and all the different lenses I can adapt to it; and Pentax 24EW because it is 24mm at the wide end.