What's your personal holy grail camera?

Canon EF - FD 50 3.5 macro and Canon A1 - FD 50 1.4.jpg


Of all the cameras I have/had, the one I remember to have been most in love with was my Canon EF back in 1973. Although as a poor student I absolutely couldn't afford it, I just had to have one. It took me two months before I had enough money again to have the first films developed that I shot with it. Five years later I sold it to fund an A-1 and immediately regretted it. The mystique of the EF never returned with any of its successors. Three years ago with prices for second hand SLRs dropping to below 75$ on Ebay I bought a like new EF back. When I close my eyes and fondle it I feel like my hair falls over my shoulders again 🙂

I must say, the M3 I got a week ago induces warm underbelly feelings too!
 
The one with replaceable sensor/back, open source software, adaptable RF and SLR mechanism like the Viso but much lighter and compact, full frame sonsor, adaptable lens mount. A camera that can function either like an SLR or an RF, with the choice left to the user.
 
The holy grail for me is the Zeiss Ikon with a 35mm lens - I use Nokton 35/1.2 for interiors and Biogon 35/2 for street and landscape. The reason? This is the best photographic tool I've ever used, by far - the vf vision is incomparable to anything else, the focusing precision as well, and the resulting image quality is always very high. Close contenders? Nikon FM3A for the longer lenses and precise dof shots and Leica M7 for shooting in public places.
 
leica MP + noctilux + 35 mm 1.2

SLR : contax RTS + 50mm 1.4 + 35mm 1.4 but I am already enjoying my contax 159 witch is quite a fantastic camera 🙂
 
I suppose my perfect SLR would be my Nikon FM3A with the exposure compensation control moved to the shutter speed dial, a la Voigtlander R3A; a full-frame viewfinder; and possibly - just possibly - a digital back bearing the D3's sensor, without increasing the camera body size.

Perfect rangefinder? It's either my M3 or M4, but I can't quite decide which.
 
While reading another thread I remembered which one would be my "Holy Grail" camera...
The Nikon F3HP w/MD-4...(this combo deserves to be worshipped)
Yeah, I know they can still be had and there are still some "Like New" ones out there...It's just that unless I get rid of a few other bodies that I have and rarely use, I can't see getting yet another body that might sit on a shelf.
I would not get this camera unless I was going to put it to work...
 
oftheherd said:
Thanks. I looked and there does appear to be a door there, but I don't see how to open it. It looks like it is under some kind of bar on one side and held by something else on the other. Can you explain a little more please?
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You're almost there. The door on the floor of the camera cavity has a little tab. Slide it a little to the left (I think) and the spring-loaded door should pop up. The battery is underneath. (The EL was my first camera and I had it for years until it was stolen on a vacation. Great camera.)
 
Very recently I obtained a beautiful "baby" Crown Graphic 23 from a friend and I think that this is the best thing to come my way in a very long time. I have two Graphic 22 rollfilm backs for it and I love shooting it with only the rangefinder and the viewfinder (2x2) (not ground glass). It also attracts much attention and lots of conversations. I use it with a simple side grip (I removed the small hand strap), and a 1.5 inch nylon neck strap. Love it.
 
dmr said:
When I first got serious about photography, the Nikon F and the Leica (RF or SLR) were the holy grail.

I've learned to live (and to photograph) without either.

Now my personal holy grail is a so-far-unmade reasonably-priced camera with the option to use either film or digital, with the digital being full frame.

I'm not holding my breath.
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When I had an AE-1, it was the A-1. I now have two of them. At times I wanted medium format, but after I acquired a Yashicamat I decided I didn't like the square format. I still think of getting a 6 by 7, but what I really want is something like dmr's unmade camera in FD mount, and I'd be happy.

I did want something like an MP, but I'm not sure I will live long enough to justify the cost of a new one.
 
FrankS said:
When I first sarted out in photography, it was a Nikon slr. Later on it was a Hasselblad. Then it was a Leica. How about you?
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I started out with my father's Zeiss Contina. It was my only camera for many years until I came to the USA. Then, I got into using Canon FD cameras. This lasted until I got my university position in Pensacola. Then I added a Leica M4 MOT followed by a Leica M3 and then M5, and I enjoyed RF photography. I still use SLR cameras side by side with RF cameras.

I enjoy most taking photos.I enjoy "the act of taking photos" more than looking at the results. I find it very exiting to hear the "click".

What else is there to get and use? I really don't have any set goals for additions as my "holy grail of camera". So much depends on my life. Will I have the time to take more photos? Will I have time to travel? Factors such as these will decide whether I will next have a holy grail choice for a camera one day or not.

I once thought that only a large format camera will do the job for me. I wanted incredible details in the photos. I bought a linhof 4x5 camera a few years ago. I still have not used it. Maybe this is my "postponed holy grail camera"?

Happy New Year.
 
Put me down for the ALPA SW12 (with film and digi backs and a nice range of lenses). This is my holy grail because my chances of getting it are about the same as acquiring the revered Challice.

A lot of people have sited the FM3A. Very nice too, but why o why no spot meter?



Happy New Year to all.

Richard Marks
 
I'd have to say that for me, as far as having a camera in my hands and feeling as if it was meant to be, it was the Nikon F5 bodies I had. These days, it's the M8s and I don't think I'll ever shoot SLRs again.
 
My personal "holy grail" was originally a Nikon F (plain prism variety). Ideally it would be black. However, I've got a chrome one and I'm very happy with it. Later, it was an M3, but I got an SP instead.
Now, I would like a rangefinder DIGITAL (forgot that part) manual focus camera with a 35mm (or equivalent) 2.0. The camera must have a viewfinder. I don't care if it has a lcd on the back.
Cheers
Ed
 
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