rx7photog
Newbie
@Zuiko-logist,
Have you tried a SMC K (non-M) 50 f/1.4 on your MX? If not, I think you will be pleased.
rx7photog
What is your 'camera for life'?
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Have you tried a SMC K (non-M) 50 f/1.4 on your MX? If not, I think you will be pleased.
rx7photog
Wenge
Registered User
Q2 seems like keeper. even test shots without trying,
while it's exp bracket 3+ to test that. I like how it doesn't over do it.
while it's exp bracket 3+ to test that. I like how it doesn't over do it.
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Bolo Kukus
Well-known
Hm. Going by all the posts in this thread, and having just now read thru the entire lot, I am more confused than ever.
Every camera I've ever used long-term in my long life (two longs = a long long, ha!!) has been, in one way or another, my chosen lifetime camera - at the time.
So I'm now considering whether to renominate my Rolleiflex, my Nikkormats, my Contax Gs, my Leica iif, or my collection of Nikons - D700 D800, Z5, Z6, oh, and the D90 I bought new 17 years ago which we still use (with the original kit lens, no less) for our at home cat casual snaps - as my 'For Life' camera.
Never mind my recurring thought of why should be have only ONE camera as the bestest and mostest? Let's be democratic about this, could we bend, flex, loosen, stretch or whatever the rules here a little to provide a multiple options escape clause.
No matter. I will again remind myself that like most things in life, it's all a game, and I enjoy playing it.
Another thought. Whatever the outcome of all this, me being me, I will now opt to have the entire lot of my gear buried with me...
Every camera I've ever used long-term in my long life (two longs = a long long, ha!!) has been, in one way or another, my chosen lifetime camera - at the time.
So I'm now considering whether to renominate my Rolleiflex, my Nikkormats, my Contax Gs, my Leica iif, or my collection of Nikons - D700 D800, Z5, Z6, oh, and the D90 I bought new 17 years ago which we still use (with the original kit lens, no less) for our at home cat casual snaps - as my 'For Life' camera.
Never mind my recurring thought of why should be have only ONE camera as the bestest and mostest? Let's be democratic about this, could we bend, flex, loosen, stretch or whatever the rules here a little to provide a multiple options escape clause.
No matter. I will again remind myself that like most things in life, it's all a game, and I enjoy playing it.
Another thought. Whatever the outcome of all this, me being me, I will now opt to have the entire lot of my gear buried with me...
Pioneer
Veteran
My wife said something similar to me a couple of years ago but I could have sworn she used the word "landfill."
laservampire
Member
From the cameras I own, if I had to choose one that I think might outlive me it would be my trusty black Nikon F
Much like Johnny Cash's "One Piece At A Time", it's been assembled from a range of parts spanning nearly the entire production run of F's.
1960 - advance lever and self timer lever
1963 - black prism and name plate
1966 - black rewind lever
1968 - black back cover and frame counter cover
1969 - black top left and right panels
1971 - red text fine matte A-Type focus screen
1972 - main camera body (originally silver with an FTN meter!)
The shutter speeds are spot on, the mirror is spotless, the titanium curtains are clean, the frame spacing is perfect and the advance feels great.
Much like Johnny Cash's "One Piece At A Time", it's been assembled from a range of parts spanning nearly the entire production run of F's.
1960 - advance lever and self timer lever
1963 - black prism and name plate
1966 - black rewind lever
1968 - black back cover and frame counter cover
1969 - black top left and right panels
1971 - red text fine matte A-Type focus screen
1972 - main camera body (originally silver with an FTN meter!)
The shutter speeds are spot on, the mirror is spotless, the titanium curtains are clean, the frame spacing is perfect and the advance feels great.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
An original plain-prism Nikon F is pretty much eternal.
I love mine too. 😉
Nikon F - three lens kit
G
I love mine too. 😉
Nikon F - three lens kit
G
wlewisiii
Veteran
My choice has become my Pentax K3 with a nice selection of Pentax "Limited" APS-C lenses.
Archiver
Veteran
Oh, but of course! Society dictates that we must have only one partner at a time, but this does not apply to cameras.
Thing is, I have many favoured cameras at the time, but few that I've thought I could shoot indefinitely. When I bought my Canon 5D Mark II, I had been shooting with the 30D for a couple of years, and felt that if I bought the 5D Mark II, I could pair that with my 35/1.4 L and shoot with it forever, never needing to buy another camera. Fancy that! But this lead to a 24-105L, a 16-35 f2.8 L, a 70-200 f4 L. I used this set for a few years, winding down after getting into micro four thirds, and now I only use the Canon kit on rare occasions.
At another time, I thought I could shoot video with the Panasonic GH4 indefinitely. But this gave way to the G9, the S5, the S1, the Leica SL2-S. And there may be another on the horizon, we shall see.
But I like the romantic notion of a camera for life. A few others here have this, and not unsurprisingly, they are film cameras. Film technology peaked decades ago. But some digital cameras are 'enough' that one could conceivably shoot with them indefinitely, assuming longevity and repairability.
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FotohuisR
Member
I think it will be my Leica M7. The combination with the Summicron F/2,0-50mm is very compact and light in weight.
The other lenses are also fine: CV SWH 15mm, Elmarit 21mm, 28mm Summicron 50mm and Summarit 75mm and I have the CV zoom view finder.
The other lenses are also fine: CV SWH 15mm, Elmarit 21mm, 28mm Summicron 50mm and Summarit 75mm and I have the CV zoom view finder.
petronius
Veteran
As I wrote, I was quite surprised myself. The Polaroid-option is a best-of-all-worlds scenario with unlimited free film ;-) But since then I think about a regular camera that has the features of this Polaroid and in my collection the Yashica T comes closest, followed by the Konica Recorder.
Ray Kilby
Established
M6
FotohuisR
Member
Alternative my Cosina Voigtlander Bessa III 667. It has the same weight as the M7 with Summicron ± 1000g. And it has medium format 6x6cm or 6x7cm. But not so heavy build then the Leica.
Zuiko-logist
Well-known
I tend to keep lenses/cameras period correct, so the SMC 50/1.4 lives on a KX 😊
JeffS7444
Well-known
Slightly off-topic, I strive to make the cameras that I repair a bit more "archival" with longer-lasting lubricants, non-drying adhesives, solid tantalum capacitors, and where possible, reduced friction + minimal spring tensioning.
And a recent find, which I hope to apply universally: Non-deteriorating flannel as a replacement for moltopren foam.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803550676010.html
I realize that textiles have long been used in this way, but usually in the form of velvet or yarn. I've previously experimented with sheets of felt from a craft store, but found that if cut too finely, it simply disintegrated into a loose pile of fibers.
And a recent find, which I hope to apply universally: Non-deteriorating flannel as a replacement for moltopren foam.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803550676010.html
I realize that textiles have long been used in this way, but usually in the form of velvet or yarn. I've previously experimented with sheets of felt from a craft store, but found that if cut too finely, it simply disintegrated into a loose pile of fibers.
Pioneer
Veteran
Might outlive you. I think the chance that one of these manual metal mechanical monsters will outlast you is VERY high unless you decide never to clean it or repair it when the need arises. Even some of the better built electronic film and digital cameras will probably outlast us any of us unless parts become an issue. I don't think parts availability problems are very likely with a Spotmatic, K1000 or the Nikon F or F2 and a few others.
JeffS7444
Well-known
"I'm sorry, did you say 'Treasure'? I thought I heard 'Trash, sure'"
Archiver
Veteran
At the recent burial of Australian cinematographer and director Mark Toia, one of his friends placed a camera in the soil of his grave site, and his son placed the watch that Mark gave him into the soil, too.
Like an Egyptian Pharoah or Chinese Emperor, your crypt will be a vast underground chamber with a central sarcophagus on a dais, surrounded by scores of bodies and lenses from Nikon, Contax, Fuji, Leica and Rolleiflex, standing in perfect arrangement, silent soldiers protecting their master and being his eyes into eternity. 👑🙏
valdas
Veteran
During the First Dynasty, pharaohs often had servants and officials sacrificed and buried with them to serve in the afterlife. I hope this will not happen to the assistants of photographers 🙃
Beemermark
Veteran
Leica M4
CMur12
Veteran
I've been shooting more digital lately, but I don't tend to think of my digital cameras as "forever cameras." (Which is probably illogical, because, at my age, most any camera would qualify.)
The above being the case, I think my idea of a forever camera would be my Mamiya C330f or my Minolta Autocord CdS-III. I've just never been able to conceive of not having either one of these. (I rather like the Rolleiflex T, also.)
- Murray
The above being the case, I think my idea of a forever camera would be my Mamiya C330f or my Minolta Autocord CdS-III. I've just never been able to conceive of not having either one of these. (I rather like the Rolleiflex T, also.)
- Murray
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