What camera in your collection do you hate to love (or love to hate)

[capitalK]

I was thinking about this subject when developing some of my backlogged rolls of 35mm... some going back a few years and I came across a few rolls from my Contax 137 MA Quartz.

I stopped using it because the motor drive is so loud and I didn't like not having a manual advance. Also, it's an SLR... but it can't help that it was born that way 😉

But here's the thing... every frame looks great. Usually I hand meter, but all of the negs from this camera look perfectly exposed. Many more 'keepers' than I am accustomed to.

I shot candids with this camera at a friend's wedding about three years ago and was very happy with the results, but still ended up putting it in the junk drawer.

Looking at the most recent negs, I may have to give this camera another chance — but it's so dang loud!

What camera do you have the same kind of love/hate relationship with?

 

[DMA1965]

For me it’s my Mamiya 7ii. It is, by far, the biggest pain in the butt camera I have ever used. Just changing lenses requires 4 steps. It is cantankerous and loves to fail randomly, despite having gone through a full overhaul. Everything is crazy expensive.

However, it produces the sharpest and most breathtaking photos I have ever seen come out of a film camera. Every time I process a roll from it I end up caressing it like a child.

 

[skucera]

I've got a Nikon F2 that aggravates me for several reasons, but it captures beautiful pictures despite having lenses that turn the wrong way, being incredibly heavy, and having an inoperative light meter. Also, I like many cameras so much more, but when I'm out walking around with the F2 people come out of the woodwork to say how much they loved their old Nikon F, or F2, or F3, or Fwhatever... they just don't comment that way when I have my beloved old rangefinders or my dad's beloved Konica T3n or my gadgety little 110 cameras.

Scott

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Nikon FG. It's a toy. It is analogous to one of the new Nikon DXXXX digital cameras that offers a billion pixels and ISO250000. The FG is a computerized plastic wonder that gives fantastic images, offers program, aperture priority, shutter priority and fully manual modes with all the lenses I own. It's almost an FA but not quite. Just a great, small little camera to carry around with a lightweight lens.
At the same time it's almost embarrassing to carry. Given a few more years, carrying one will be a symbol of pride as no one will work on them anymore and they are known to have some electronic issues.

Phil Forrest

 

[bayernfan]

for me it's the F3 that I hate to love. ergonomically, it's near perfect and feels fantastic in the hand. the viewfinder is so good and the film advance is perfectly weighted.

what drives me nuts is the terrible little LCD meter readout. it's never really easy to read (even in broad daylight), and the illumination lamp is a joke. if it was possible, i'd take out the batteries and force myself to use it like my M4. however, that's not possible, and i constantly find myself foolishly relying on the built-in meter instead of using a handheld.

if there were some way to combine the F3's body with the F4's meter readout and the F2's mechanical operation, i'd be in SLR heaven.

 

[Dogman]

I have an Olympus OMD EM-1 that produces excellent images. It's lightweight and has image stabilization that is reliable and a joy to use. It's also the camera I hate to use. Every control feels like it's in the wrong place, every button is somewhere I manage to press without intent. The EVF is not very sharp and AF is pretty wonky at times. Setting it up was a test of my patience but, thankfully, I don't have to go into the menus very often. And thankfully I could set it for 3:2 aspect ratio for Raw and Lightroom recognizes the crop when imported--I'm not a fan of the native 4:3 aspect ratio.

Why do I tolerate using it? Because it lets me to use my old excellent Olympus standard 4/3 lenses with an adapter and allows AF to work decently. Especially the 50-200 f/2.8-3.5 zoom--who else makes a 100-400mm equivalent lens with this speed and small size that you can handhold all day long? I can also use the very nice Panasonic Leica lenses. And did I mention the Olympus produces excellent images?

 

[pk851667]

My love/hate relationship started with my Canonet QL17 (non-GIII version). It's often sticky, overexposes (average on lens metering), and batteries fall often and without reason. I see no point in getting it serviced as the cost will actually turn out more than just buying another one.

But, it produces wonderfully crisp images and is light and tiny. The throw is short, has shutter priority shooting. It was without question my first foray into serious photography, and completely changed my understanding of what it is like to take photos.

 

[PaulDalex]

Hi CapitalK,
with the same lenses we have so many options
For example the delicious mechanical S2
Or the else the best slr ever: the RTSIII.
The RTSIII wispers. A friend of mine dubbed it "zeeee zeee"

 

[CliveC]

I would have to say the Minox 35. Love the compactness and lens, hate the build, feel, and reliability.

The Rollei 35 too to a degree. Wish it had a rangefinder and a wind lever on the right (yes I realize you can hold it upside down).

 

[Michael I.]

Iskra. Leaky bellows need fixing, shut advance mechanism replaced by red window,
weak-ish rf patch, but its a mean portrait machine

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhYJJ_5hYgH/?taken-by=mikeivnitsky

 

[capitalK]

Hi CapitalK,
with the same lenses we have so many options
For example the delicious mechanical S2
Or the else the best slr ever: the RTSIII.
The RTSIII wispers. A friend of mine dubbed it "zeeee zeee"

I'll look into those. I bought a used Contax 139 with manual winder, but the shutter is seized.

The Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 on my Contax is probably my favourite lens I own, which is a big part of the love part of the relationship I have with this camera.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

If there were some way to combine the F3's body with the F4's meter readout and the F2's mechanical operation, i'd be in SLR heaven.

This is called a Pentax LX.
Otherwise, maybe try an FA.
Phil Forrest

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Currently none. Every time I have this mixed feel the camera is getting sold.
I sold very many cameras...

 

[ForestCap]

Rollei 35 SE

Love the size.
Hate the anti-human ergonomics.

 

[jamin-b]

Voigtlander Bessa I - 6x9 + 6x4.5 insert
Voigtlander Perkeo

For both I love the form factor, the clever German engineering features, like for loading the film, and the pocketability. It's just that every time I use them I find the image quality to be just adequate, with a few OK photos that don't justify the medium format and I ask myself why I didn't just use a 35mm camera with a meter and many more exposures, like my Bessa or Leica RFs, FM3a etc. or a MF with some wow factor, like the GF670 or Rolleiflex / Rolleicord or Mamiya C330...

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

For me it’s my Mamiya 7ii. It is, by far, the biggest pain in the butt camera I have ever used. Just changing lenses requires 4 steps. It is cantankerous and loves to fail randomly, despite having gone through a full overhaul. Everything is crazy expensive.

However, it produces the sharpest and most breathtaking photos I have ever seen come out of a film camera. Every time I process a roll from it I end up caressing it like a child.

My choice as well, hands down.

I'm in the process of putting mine up for sale for the same reason. Astonishing negatives with resultant gorgeous prints from a cantankerous beast. Every time I think I'll sell it I just look at the output, and put the camera back in its bag...

 

[RichC]

My pricey professional Polaroid Land camera conversion using a 127mm lens... I had this made for me in Japan and shipped over to the UK.

Fuji, now completely disinterested in film (apart from Instax), killed off instant film, so my custom, one-off camera is now completely useless.
:bang:

If anyone any idea what I can do with it, let me know - not interested in converting it for Instax (a gimmick) or medium format (not worth the effort - a typical folding camera would be cheaper and better).

 

[mynikonf2]

Guess I'm fortunate in that I currently do not own a camera that I hate or even dislike. In my working inventory there are 6 Nikon F's in varying configuration, as well 6 F2's. I love using some more than others & when I'm out shooting I kinda resemble the photojournalist in "Apocalypse Now".

My rangefinder cameras provide a different approach & a reprieve from the heavy SLR gear. Perhaps this why I feel more casual when using them. Though different from the SLR's that I grew up with I enjoy each one or I would not own them.

 

[Canyongazer]

Sony NEX7

Love part: Produced truly excellent images

Hate part: Navigating the ^%&# menus

Sold it: Hate part won out

 

[Pioneer]

My Nikon F.

I bought it because it is a piece of history.

It takes decent pictures but they are really no better then the pictures that my other cameras provide. I hate to break it to the Nikon fans out there but the lenses really aren't magic, anymore than Leica lenses are.

The ergonomics are very frustrating to me. The big one is that the aperture ring on the lenses turn just from the way I typically hold a camera steady. So, when I think I am exposing at f/8 I am probably actually using f/16 because the aperture ring has already turned.

For another the shutter button is in a very inconvenient location. Of course this never bothers me until I am trying to use the camera quickly.

The camera is also heavy. The shutter is loud enough to scare young children and piss off large dogs, and the lens mounts backwards. There are other things but you get the idea.

And the lenses are a nightmare! Yes I know, all Nikon lenses fit all Nikon cameras. Except for certain lenses won't fit on certain cameras or you will BREAK the silly camera. Whoever thought that was a good idea?? Or the camera just won't do what it is supposed to do. You know, little things. Like auto expose. Another brilliant engineering and marketing move by the geniuses at Nikon. Of course none of this really applies to the Nikon F since it was the first to use this Rube Goldberg lens mount system. I guess it is nice to be first.

I will probably sell it.

BUT...it isn't worth much so I won't get a lot of money for it if I do sell it. It actually doesn't cost me anything to own it. I don't even have to worry about batteries going bad or corroding. I have a full set of lenses from 28mm to 135mm to use with it, including a nice little Macro Lens. Did I mention it is also a piece of history?

AND...wait for it...it is the only 35mm SLR I have EVER been able to successfully repair, and now I have done it twice. Which is a good thing because the cost to fix any mechanical camera these days is outrageous! That alone makes this camera worth keeping. I think.

Of course Nikon F cameras are actually supposed to be bullet proof if you believe what you read on the internut forums, so the fact that I have HAD to repair mine not once, but twice, is just one more reason I love to hate it!

EDIT - I think I have to keep it. What other camera do I own that has so many things wrong with it and still works...sometimes. Of course there is that Contarex I have...