What Cameras Are the most and least FUN?

Cameras that I have loved but don't use anymore - Leica M6, Leica M4 Nikon F and a Nikon D300.

Now when I leave for a day of photo shooting I pick up my Sony NEX 7 or my Sony A7r and my beautiful black Leica II film camera. On occasion I will take out my M2 or M3 cameras.

I have a beautiful Nikon S3 Limited Edition black that I haven't used in awhile and must do so soon. I loved the S3 when I was shooting with it a few years ago.
- jim

EDIT: OK, that's what I wrote on 08-28-2016. Now, 3-12-2017, I would say that the most fun cameras are the Zeiss folding cameras. Second to those would be my NEX 7 and A7r. Another fun thing is any full frame camera with a 21mm lens on it.
- jb
 
Not in any particular order:

Nikon F
Leica M3, M2
Canon F-1n
Nikon F3HP w/MD4

Honorable Mention:

Leica M-E, M6
Nikon D4
Canon 6D

Best,
-Tim
 
Fun Cameras:

Hasselblad XPAN
Hasselblad SWC
Fuji X100
Nikon D700 with 15/3.5 Nikkor
Nikon FE2
Nikon FM3a
Nikon N90s
All my Leica M cameras, but especially M7

Fun at times: Hasselblad 500C/M

No fun: Mamiya 7ii, Nikon FA
 
Most fun:

Mamiya C330f: This camera system is brilliant and I am awed by what it enables me to do. Such a beautifully flexible and functional camera.

Minolta Autocord CdS-III: I would be very hard pressed to choose between my Autocord and the Mamiya for favorite camera. The semi-spot/zone meter on this Autocord is so precise that I never use a handheld meter with this machine (unless I need an incident light reading).

I have other TLRs that I really like, too, but these are my favorites.

Minolta SR-Ts (101, 102, and 201), of which my favorite is the 102. These are so simple and straight-forward, and they work!

Minolta X-570 with winder: This is my only computerized camera and I feel that it was the best of Minolta's pre-autofocus SLRs with electronic shutters. Compared to the X-700, it has no program mode (didn't want it, anyway) and it has an enhanced manual metering mode and TTL flash.

Not fun: Any camera that requires a long instruction manual to manage shutter speed, aperture, and shutter release.

- Murray
 
Most fun: Any Leica M with a meter. Current M fun: Leica MM v1

I like using the Leica S(006), but that's mostly for jobs ... and while work can be fulfilling, it isn't always "fun".

Least Fun: Any Sony A7 Series camera. Currently own A7R & A7R-II which does the job but I find no joy in using. These are a "Gamers" idea of a camera.
 
Most fun
Nikon df
Any 1 series canon
Nikon rf
Leica m
Nikon f
Olympus om

Not so much fun
Canon older eos
Canon t series
Nikkormats
 
fotografz said:
Most fun: Any Leica M with a meter. Current M fun: Leica MM v1

I like using the Leica S(006), but that's mostly for jobs ... and while work can be fulfilling, it isn't always "fun".

Least Fun: Any Sony A7 Series camera. Currently own A7R & A7R-II which does the job but I find no joy in using. These are a "Gamers" idea of a camera.
Click to expand...

i agree about the Leica M with meter(or R3A / R4A) or a lightweight TLR.

But actually the cameras that I have found i have actually had fun with, especially with others around me, have been underwater film cameras. I have used them on the beach, usually in but above water, or in a pool and have always thought about using them in the rain (but never do). They are basic point and shoots with autofocus and exposure, but have good optics, optional flash are lightweight and even float, and can be had for cheap - so no worries about equipment damage... I have a couple of Canons and a Minolta in this category and have made some memorable shots over the years...
 
I have the most fun from small cameras that are low tech: the lower, the better. Top of the list is the Leica IIIb with SCNOO rapid winder. Honorable mention goes to the Contax T (optical RF folder).
 
The cameras which are my go-to in terms of usage and results are:
- Leica M2
- Canon 6D (low-light monster and meshes well with the vintage Olympus Zuiko lenses)
- Canon 7DII (its autofocus seems like magic when one is used to focusing manually)
- Rolleiflex Automat
- Leica M8 (clunky but its images still charm)
- Olympus OM4-Ti

The cameras which are still great, but just don't bring me as much as fun when in use:
-Hasselblad 500cm (heavy relative to the Rolleiflex but love the results)
-Pentax *istDS (small and light, but has hokey autofocus)
-Olympus Mju-II (sometimes worry whether or not my last shot was in focus)
 
Most Fun Film cameras (fun for different reasons):

Kodak Monitor, Mamiya Six, Rollei 35S, Retina's, Konica IIIA, F3, XA2/3/4

Least Fun Film:

XA
8008S
Olympus Stylus Epic/Infinity

Most Fun Digital:
X Pro 1/2
Nikon CoolPix A (fits in a shirt pocket with better IQ than my old D700)
Pentax WG3 (in the water)
Pentax Q


Least Fun Digital:
Sony RX100III
Sigma DP Merrils (awesome IQ though)

Shawn
 
MOST FUN:

Leica I w/close focus 5cm Elmar
Graflex Speed Graphic 4x5 w/Carl Meyer Speed 5 1/2 inch f/2.0 lens
Leica M3 w/50mm Summicron APO or Summliux
Leica M2 w/35mm Summicron 8-element version 1


LEAST FUN:

Konica Big Mini
Nikon DSLR
 
Most fun is with any camera that works.


Least fun is a camera that doesn't work, especially if it would happen during a gig!

At a wedding Saturday I used a 1936 Leica IIIa as my main camera but I also had with me a M-3. All black and white (Tri-X) with the camera, one lens, a 50 Summitar. Just finished developing the first roll, D-76. Exposure looks great. Another photographer used digital.
 
Most Fun? Leica M6, Nikon F2, Leica Minilux, Fujifilm X100 Series, Fuji X-Pro series, Nikon DF

Most reliable? Anything, but a Leica M8

Least Fun... Nikon D700 / D800e, iPhone
 
"What Cameras Are the most and least FUN for you?"

I have the most fun making and shooting pinhole cameras.

I had the least fun trying to shoot with my first SLR (a Miranda Sensorex) that broke once too often.


Pinhole Cameras by Narsuitus, on Flickr
 
I bought my OM-4T in 1987, used it a lot until digital took over.

went head over heels into RFF a few years ago
since then have owned and still own, Leica MP, Nikon SP/S2/S3 , Contax IIa, Nikon FM2n, Nikon FM3a, Nikon F

so far, The OM-4T and OM-3 bring the biggest smile to my face when I pick up the camera
ergonomically wonderfully, features - just what you need, focus - bright and crisp

funny how things work
 
Most Fun: Film - Leica M4, Digital - Leica M9

Least fun: anything that I can't figure out how to set shutter speed aperture and focus after 5 minutes without the manual - that's a lot these days.
 
Most fun - M3/2/4, Plaubel Makina, Mamiya 6/7, Rolleiflex 2.8/3.5, the various LF cameras I've used have all been fun, Yashica T4/5.

Least fun - F100, F6, EOS 3, EOS 1N, EOS 1V, Pentax 6x7/67/67II, RZ67.

My least fun cameras are mostly cameras that are really good but they are just boring. They are great at being work cameras when you just need to get $h!t done but otherwise no fun. And the Pentax 67 is thrown in there just because of the weight. It's a fantastic camera and I wouldn't mind owning one but I hate lugging them around. Same with the RZ except I don't have any desire to own one ever again.
 
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