whats your favorite classic 35mm slr?

[FrankS]

Nikon F4S. Not too old, but definitely a classic. Traditional controls on a tough electronic body. This camera is my workhorse wedding 35mm camera, with a 50mm f1.4 lens and a flip flash bracket holding an SB-24. When I want a vintage SLR experience I'll load up my black Nikon F with photomic finder. These are both serious looking cameras. I also have an FG which is wonderfully compact and competent.

In Pentax I've got an ME, an MG, and a K1000. The ME and MG I'm keeping for my kids as their first SLR cameras when they get a little older. The K1000 with 50mm f2, I have in my desk drawer at work.

 

[bmattock]

I'm an old Canon hand; my first SLR was a Canon FX from a pawnshop. I've since upgraded all the way to the Canon FTbN (black) and the Canon T60. I love Canon FD-mount glass as well as Vivitar Series 1 primes for FD-mount.

However, I've recently been seduced by my CV Bessaflex TM. I'm enjoying both.

I do have some Minolta SRT stuff - but I've decided to lay off that and concentrate on only TWO SLR systems (grin)!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - This was taken today in the Wilson Rose Garden - Canon T60, Vivitar 90mm f2.5 Series 1 Macro with Vivitar Focusing Teleconverter. Kodak Ultra 400. 1/125 @ f4.0.

 

[Kris]

My favourite classic SLR is Miranda Auto Sensorex EE. It's my second camera and I will never sell this one. Made in 1972 with interchangable prism, spot metering, shutter priority and finely made.

 

[back alley]

i had one of those!

sold it to buy my first canon f1 i think.

joe

 

[Kris]

😱
How could you Joe?! She's such a beauty and you got rid of her?! Shame on you!

Oh well maybe it's not a really great camera but I have a soft spot with someone named Miranda 😛

 

[jauregui]

My favorites are a nikon F2 with waist level, nikkormat ft3 and olympus OMG with zuiko lens.

 

[back alley]

kris, part of my 'problem' is that i don't usually form a close attachment to my cameras and every now and then i get bored and sell them all off and start all over again.

the canon 'p' might be different tho.

joe

 

[Rich Silfver]

Tough question...
Would have two pick two - one that I have...and one that I want to get: 🙂
- Olympus OM-2n (have it),
- Topcon Super D (would like to have it)

(Also on my SLR-wish-list would be a black Olympus Pen FT and a Contarex 'Bullseye') Yum...

 

[Doug]

Classic SLRs huh... I've got a bunch, but I mostly reach for one of the Pentax ME Supers. But I've also been enjoying using this 1958 model K...

 

[Jeroen]

A big, ugly '65 Nikon F. Plus a 28-50/3.5 or a 55/2.8...

 

[Stu :)]

Hasselblad 500C, 150mm/4 Sonar with 35mm back 🙂

It's a SLR and uses 35mm film... kinda...

Stu 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

Favorite one? Like most here who still have and or still use slr's, I have more than one. My first was a Yashica TL Super. Talk about tanks. I always thought of it as the poor man's Nikon. Stop down aperture metering that was always accurate.

I then got a Fujica ST901. Wanted to move up to the latest auto-exposure camera! What a beauty. Compact, and with its sbc blue cell metering, would accurately measure exposure of a black cat in a coal bin (rated to EV -3, but acutally better). Btw, the lenses on the Yashica and the Fuji's never got the public acceptance they deserved. Especially the Fuji's. Their Electron Beam Coating (the SBC on the lenses) made flare almost impossible to acquire even it you wanted it. And they were sharp.

More recently (about 3 years ago) I purchased a Fujica ST801 off eb*y along with two of the old (and real) Vivitar Series 1 lenses. (If you ever get a chance to buy a 35-85 varifocal at a reasonable price, do so, you will love it). I don't think I ever used the 801 as I let my daughter use it to try and get her off P&S's. Unfortunately as well as fortunately, it worked. I can't pry if out of her hands, and don't really want to.

After my Contax 139 went on the fritz, I could only use the f/1.4 Zeiss lens on a Yashica FX3 until I discovered that the FX 103 was a cheaper 139. I now have three as well as three less expensive (but surprisingly good) zooms from 18 to 150. Wonderfully small kit for a 35mm take anywhere.

I also have one of the old Pentax SP' pictured above by I forget who. Wonderfully classic, and fun especially with the accessory prism mounted light meter. That will get you some comments!

Now of course, if I want to take some seriously large negatives, it is still my Mamiya Super Press 23 with a normal and two wide lenses. I just never lusted so much for a telephoto with it like I do with my SLR's. Strange perhaps, because it has viewfinder frame lines for the two telephotos available for it. Still struggling to fall in love with my Olympus SP. I like it ok, just not one I reach for first.

Now you know more than you could ever possibly want to about my photo likes and dislikes. 😀

 

[pshinkaw]

Does this date me? I don't think of anything with an instant return mirror as a classic SLR.

For a classic I would like to go back to one of my VX series Exaktas, but they are hard to keep running at their age. However, the equally aged Exa and Exa 1 from the same time period, circa 1954 are still good solid cameras. With a manual diaphragm Carl Zeiss Tessar lens it's hard to get more classic slr.

-Paul

 

[khingdheano]

I like my Zenit TTL with the Moscow Olympics logo on it. Built like a tank...

 

[Laika]

I'm a big fan of the manual focus Nikon SLR's and have several (F, F3, F4, FM3a, Nikkormat FTN) of them. The one that I got first and as a teenager lusted after for years before I could afford it was the F3. Here is a pic of mine decked out with a MD-4 & MK-1. It’s a heavy beast in this setup, if I'm travelling the motor stays home 🙂

 

[sfaust]

Topcon Super D (would like to have it)

The first camera I ever had was a Topcon my father gave me for my high school photography class. I'd love to find one in nice shape and buy it even if only for nostagic reasons. I can't remember what model it was, but havent found one yet that looks like it. I've only done a cursory search though.

 

[Doug]

Doug, that old Alpa clearly has some special significance to you! Wonderful that you finally have it yourself and you will treasure it now.

My uncle was a photo enthusiast, using a Retina IIIc. I recall he dreamed of owning an Alpa, but never did.

 

[Kin Lau]

I don't list my SLR's on my sig since it's an RF forum, but my favourite is my Zeiss Contaflex IV but unfortunately, it's shutter is acting up right now.

I've got 6 M42 SLR's, a Pentax SP II, Yashica Electro TL, Fujica ST701, Practika MTL3, Vivitar 220/SL & 450/SLD. All tanks but the SP II is my favourite of this bunch.

Main classic SLR's and my workhorses are Minolta's, SRT101, 200, XG-M, X-570, X-700 & XD-11. The XD-11 is really smooth and the SRT101 with the 58/1.4 is just a classic. I'm finding that it's easier to get quality Rokkors than quality M42's.

A recent acquisition has been a Canon AE-1 with a FL 55/1.2 and a Yashica FX-3 Super2000. I'm surprised at how light the FX-3 is and it's totally mechanical shutter is a pleasant surprise but this will end up as a gift to a friend.

Somewhere along the line, I'll probably get a MF SLR like the Kiev 60, 88 or Practisix.

 

[StuartR]

Though my T90 is probably the most functional classic SLR (it is an incredible camera), I would put my Canon F1-N ahead of it for a favorite. The focusing screen is incredibly bright, match needle metering is very intuitive, and the camera just has a solid as a rock feeling that is unbeatable. Stick the 50mm f/1.2L on there, and you have a great low-light, high quality setup that is extremely easy to focus and use.

 

[nwcanonman]

I, too, love my Nikon F3HP (I wear glasses). The FE2 is a great back-up and goes great with MD-12 mounted.
Still, when I go out the door (rain or shine) I keep a small RF in a pocket.
Remember, the best camera you have, is the one you have with you at the time. ~ ; - )