What is your most tactile camera

[CK Dexter Haven]

Pentax SP1000, ME Super, MX
Olympus OM1n
Leica M4-P

Best for me is the Pentax ME Super, the smallest of them all and the best for balanced coordinated manual wrap-around sensuous quality that at the same time has the most natural, gentle and soothing lift-to-the-eye sensation with an infallible accuracy of eye positioning, all of which seamlessly integrate with visual composition, mental timing and shutter-clicking. A masterpiece of design.

I don't like the shutter speed buttons, but you're right about the viewfinder. It's amazing. Makes other cameras seem like they're defective.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

The most tactile camera become my Nikon F100 literally, the rubber cladding became bit sticky. I sold it and regrated selling it. My Leica M 240 in a halve case is tactile in a different sense of the word.

I agree about the F100. Seems weird to say so, though. It's a modern-era, rubbery thing. But, with the chunky but light 50/1.8 G, it feels fantastic. A sweet, efficient little machine.

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Makina III. Love it to bits. A joy to work with.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[lxmike]

this thread just gets better and better thanks for sharing everyone

 

[Tim Murphy]

Interesting, few modern cameras and few tiny little or lightweight ones. Most seem elderly and so, perhaps, from the days of brass gears? And how about rounded vs square ends?

If I get a spare hour I'll be listing and checking them...

Regards, David

Dear David,

I'm a middle aged big galoot. I am used to having to work levers and dials to make something happen and I am also rather ham-handed so I'm more than a little afraid of small and fragile things.

Give me something 10 years old or more and I'll figure out how to make it work by fiddling with it. Give me something new and shiny and I have to read the manual and that's no fun. 😀

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[David Hughes]

Dear David,

I'm a middle aged big galoot. I am used to having to work levers and dials to make something happen and I am also rather ham-handed so I'm more than a little afraid of small and fragile things.

Give me something 10 years old or more and I'll figure out how to make it work by fiddling with it. Give me something new and shiny and I have to read the manual and that's no fun. 😀

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Hi,

I'm with you there, it's nice to see how things work; rather than try and guess what they are going to do. And they are not always consistent. I think things peaked in the mid 90's when the programmers did what they were asked, instead of showing off all their tricks...

Regards, David

 

[DaveTaylor]

I have not had the opportunity to hold in my hands many of the great classic cameras mentioned by many here. I do have several older film SLR cameras from Minolta, Nikon and Canon as will as rangefinders from Yashica, Canon and Minolta. I am never tempted to sit and enjoy holding any of them, as suggested by the original post, but, I often find myself sitting with my X100. Maybe it is because it is my go-to camera these days.

 

[lxmike]

I have not had the opportunity to hold in my hands many of the great classic cameras mentioned by many here. I do have several older film SLR cameras from Minolta, Nikon and Canon as will as rangefinders from Yashica, Canon and Minolta. I am never tempted to sit and enjoy holding any of them, as suggested by the original post, but, I often find myself sitting with my X100. Maybe it is because it is my go-to camera these days.

x100 is a fine camera🙂

 

[p.giannakis]

I will agree with everyone wh suggested the Barnack Leicas and i will add two more:

 

[Santtu Määttänen]

I will agree with everyone wh suggested the Barnack Leicas and i will add two more:

Funny but for me the F4 is one of the least tactile Nikon F:s 🙂 Shows how much personal "feel" affects our perceptions. Same as D700 feels lighter for me then D810 even if it's actually heavier (as one earlier poster pointed out). Must be about the balance and the ergonomics.

Best Nikon F for my hands have been from original to F3 (with out battery grips). Haven't tried F5 or F6, but would love to. I bet F6 with out battery grip would be pretty much spot on for me. But they're still quite expensive. And since I mainly shoot with RF:s in 35mm I can't justify the purchase.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

For me, the most pleasingly tactile camera was a Leica IIIg, until it was edged out slightly by a IIIb. Then, a Leicaflex SL2. Then, coming in third, the Pentax 67II. All three not just for how they feel to hold them, but how they feel in use. Odd group, I know.

 

[raydm6]

1. IIIf's with or w/o a Luigi case 😛
2. M's
3. Miss my Hasselblad 501 C/M w/80 CF Planar (I may pick one up one of these days)

 

[jsrockit]

Nikon Df... for real. Any Leica.

 

[krötenblender]

Any of the film cameras. There's something about that shutter advance lever that calms me. Probably the main reason I've had 3 Epson R-D1 cameras.

HA! Just found this thread. Exact the same to me. I had 3 Epson R-D1s cameras and it is still the most impressive one in this regard. Very closely followed by Fuji GF670 and M6/Zeiss Ikon ZM, which are on par for different reasons.

In this category the M240 is simply crap, but still, it is currently my most used camera. But I always miss the right feeling while using it.

 

[lxmike]

been shooting quite a bit with my Rollei 35 lately and in a crazy sort of way l like how this camera feels in my hand

 

[JOneZero]

Without question it was (unfortunately, was) the Ebony 4x5....all with those knurled titanium knobs...the leather bellows...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Lyn]

OM 2-S, Vito B, Bolsey (just to hold, no patirence to actually load it, learn it and use it)

 

[richard_l]

The Leica M film cameras do it for me, such as the M2 and M6, and I also enjoy the Nikon FM2.

 

[Gary E]

Many pleasures...

Many pleasures...

Nikon F2, Leicaflex SL and Leica M for mechanicals.

Nikon F3, Leica R8/9 and Voigtlander R3a for electronics.

 

[Doug]

It would have to be the Pentax 6x7 / 67 / 67II as there is just so much area to fondle, and it's just the right size to move one's fingers over. 🙂 This is a great chunk of camera to handle, the controls are all easily located, and it sounds magnificent too.