Which camera would you like that is not available?

[Darthfeeble]

Wouldn't there have to be some sort of re-programing of the camera's chip? I don't know if a firmware upgrade can go clear up to a total sensor replacement. Maybe?

 

[zhanteh]

I am with all those that mentioned Fuji medium formats. A modern 670 or 690 would be great.
I currently have a GW690iii and dread the day it fails. Capable repairmen are hard to find in my area.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

A film SLR with the following features: (1) integrated motor drive; (2) bright finder ala the Nikon F3/F4; (3) M42 mount; (4) full autoexposure with all M42 lenses like the Chinon CE system (no metering switches, blah blah); and (5) top shutter speed of at least 1/4000. Basically a M42-mount Contax Aria.

“Basically a M42 mount Contax Aria”

For $15 to buy an adapter this can be yours today, provided you have the Aria. No dreaming necessary.
I realize I have beat this to death, but the best M42 body is a Contax with an adapter. Works like they were made for each other.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

“Basically a M42 mount Contax Aria”

For $15 to buy an adapter this can be yours today, provided you have the Aria. No dreaming necessary.
I realize I have beat this to death, but the best M42 body is a Contax with an adapter. Works like they were made for each other.

This won't work unless the M42 lens is machined to sit deeper in the C/Y flange, unless you have no desire to focus to infinity. The lens registration is close but not close enough.
Also, stop down metering isn't for everyone. It's fun for a bit, but in the end, a PITA when really wanting to just go out and shoot.

Phil Forrest

 

[hap]

The idea of the perfect camera is a bit terrifying. First, I'd have no excuses for my failed photos. Second, all my other little darlings would languish from neglect.
That being said, however, I wouldn't say "no" to a Nikon S3 with M-mount and the MP-style .58 viewfinder and framelines. And throw in a TTL spotmeter. Not asking for much!

You mean...an M5?

 

[das]

I do shoot M42 on Contax. I have never noticed any infinity focusing issues on either the CZJ or Pentax lenses I have. Yes, Contax shooting is close enough, but a dream camera that doesn't exist is an M42 autoexposure body that works like a Contax. 🙂. Cosina had a chance to make one but chose instead to make a modern Spotmatic.

 

[mudhaus]

Leica M10T. "T" for Tri-X. The sensor perfectly renders the Tri-X aesthetic.

Sensibly priced, of course

John

Exactly! Without an LCD of course. I'm surprised this isn't the most popular request ;-)

 

[Larry Cloetta]

This won't work unless the M42 lens is machined to sit deeper in the C/Y flange, unless you have no desire to focus to infinity. The lens registration is close but not close enough.
Also, stop down metering isn't for everyone. It's fun for a bit, but in the end, a PITA when really wanting to just go out and shoot.

Phil Forrest

Phil,

Not sure if this is coming from specs published somewhere, but I have used many M42 lenses, Helios, Pentax, Yashica, Mamiya Sekor, Porst, Fujica, and who knows what else, on Contax 139, ST, 159, RX, Aria, and RTSIII, with a variety of different adapters, for years, and there has never once been a combination that didn’t focus to infinity.
And stop down metering on these cameras is also a complete non issue because the viewfinders are so bright. Normally, I won’t put up with stopped down metering for very long either, but it was never a bother on these bodies. Anything from wide open down to f/5.6, focusing and metering and shooting at those apertures is easy to do, and was never a problem for me. Anything more closed down than that, yes, you’d have to meter more open then set the aperture, but most of the time it’s just set it to aperture priority, point and shoot. That small, rare inconvenience, is more than compensated for by the fact that the bodies are so far ahead of any other M42 body one could name in terms of viewfinder brightness, available shutter speeds, shutter speed accuracy and metering accuracy. They’re just more modern cameras, and the registrations are definitely close enough.

 

[cboy]

I do dream for an updated rd1 with 40+MP ccd sensor...That or a FF fuji x100 f1.4 with clutch manual focus ring and 1:1 viewfinder magnification.

Alas we dont often get what we wish for. We can always dream in this thread ��

The perfect camera is always out of our reach but it seems with lenses its reaching perfection with more apo lenses comin out. I wonder whats the future for lenses

 

[Rayt]

A compact monochrome camera with really good autofocus sort of like a Q2M with interchangeable lenses and good AF technology like a CL2-M maybe.

 

[sanmich]

Pano-Leica M6 / mechanical Xpan

 

[narsuitus]

$600 won't buy you a decent P&S, so that's unreasonable.

In 2002, after I purchased my first digital camera, I began developing my list. At that time, I based the price on a new Nikon FM3a.

In 2002, the $600 price really seemed unreasonable for a digital camera. Today, you can buy some very good digital cameras for about $1200.

Soon, the $600 price may become a reality.

 

[Dogman]

Full frame Fuji X-Pro2. With a full range of Fujinon lenses to match, of course.

And maybe to be the winner of that $20,000 raffle mentioned in the earlier thread. That way I might be able to afford it.

 

[ccstearns]

Contax G3. Digital. Takes all existing G-Mount lenses + a new line up. But only if that peep-hole of finder is made useful.

 

[Rob-F]

An XPAN designed the way I'd like it: Permanently mounted 38mm Biogon and image width sized for the Biogon, about 54 to 56mm or so. That would leave enough image height for a decent foreground and enough sky. The aspect ratio would then be similar to Panavision at around 2.25 to 2.33 to 1.

 

[robert blu]

Maybe I don't have so much imagination because I seem to be the only one satisfied with what the market offers!
But ... a nikon DF2 small and slim would be a temptation ...
Interesting thread anyway 🙂

 

[LukasB]

the Mju 2 as it was, no difference, at the right price.

Ah, if I could have an unlimited supply of them I'd be the happiest boy in the world. The prices they fetch now make me feel uneasy using them. Too fragile. Can't afford paperweights.

Now, if I could have a Konica Hexar AF with the option for manual focus and 1/1000 I would truly be the happiest boy in the world.

 

[lynnb]

Any interchangeable lens camera from micro-4/3 sensor size upwards that uses cell phone image processing and connectivity would be tempting.
Edit: another vote for a FF Foveon in the FP. Come on, Sigma.

 

[colemanfrancis]

The RF645 is my favorite camera. If it had f/2.8 lenses, a minimum focus distance of .7m, and an ultra wide lens I think it would have a claim on being the greatest film camera of all time.

 

[Nokton48]

DSC02697 (2) by Nokton48, on Flickr

I'm slowly building a 4x5 Sinar Norma Twin Lens Camera. I intend to use it for studio portraiture

That's a matched pair of 250mm Rodenstock Imagons, one in barrel, one in shutter. It also works with the Norma Shutter in the camera