Your favorite camera that you do not want to buy?

jsrockit

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What is your favorite film camera and your favorite digital camera that you cannot bring yourself to buy for whatever reason (i.e. too expensive, too fragile, no use for it, etc.)? Also, what is the reason...
 
Lomo LC-A 120.
Absolutely love the images from it, love the concept, don't actually mind the price, but I tested one (thanks Stephen Gandy) and it dropped 2-3 frames per roll which I can't live with.

Also Leica M4... only because I can't afford one :(
 
Digital: Fuji GFX 50R
Would love to buy one, but I know I just won't use it to it's potential. Additionally, it is extremely expensive. I loved my M9 for about a year, and then got rid of it. It'd most likely be the same with the Fuji.

Film:Contax 645 + 80mm
Too darn expensive, but a beautiful system with amazing results!
 
Ilford Witness. Beautiful form, but toooo expensive...

Fujifilm X-Pro. Sometimes want 'rangefinder' with autofocus capability, but already have M8.
 
Leica Q. Handled one in store. Even tried out the hand grip and half case for handling. Preferred the hand grip. Just too expensive for me by a factor of at least 3 :(

For film, almost all of the now hysterically collectible compacts, despite many of them being unrepairable. Nikon 28ti and 35ti, Contax T2 and T3, Fuji Natura, Leica Minilux and others. Now frequently selling at four figure sums, far too expensive for the actual capabilities and long term reliability of the cameras. If not for this, I would have them all!
 
Nikon SP 2005 black paint, because I don’t really need it and there are limited lens options.

Olympus E-1, because it’s too outdated.
 
Leica Q for me too. Tried it and almost bought it a couple of times but just too expensive. Great IQ, handling, responsiveness, fast focus. I still think about it from time to time...

Konica Hexar RF. Had one, loved it, sold it. Just not doing film anymore so wouldn't buy it.
 
Hasselblad SWC. Brilliant camera, fantastic image quality. But, just too expensive and I just never seem to use my medium format cameras enough to justify them. Never found a good scanning option -- in terms of quality, cost, and ease of use -- for MF negs, so I tend to not shoot MF cameras much and so I talk myself out of buying another one.
 
Film: the Jaeger-LeCoultre Compass.
Digital: Epson R-D1

Both are superlative feats of engineering. Both are hopelessly fragile and and impractical. Both are hopelessly obsolete. And I want them.

I actually owned the Epson R-D1 and had a well-known website on it - now donated to RFF's owner: here.

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Leica Monochrome,

Way out of my league, ever, and I couldn’t afford a new summicron. The day I could is the day I start donating to charity.

Stay Humble.
 
Nikon F6. Just because its such a great camera and the last of a breed and I'd like to buy a new camera for once (rather than used). But there's no good rationale for me to buy one , I already have 3 Nikon F2 bodies that are perfect for my needs. So I really can't justify the expense for the body and the AF lens I'd have to buy with it . Also: Leica M-A for similar reasons .
 
Your favorite camera that you do not want to buy?

Mamiya 7ii...
but I have the consolation prizes - two of Koni-Omega Rapid-M and thousands of dollars for film.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I guess a Leica M as I seem to prefer rangefinder cameras. I have never seen one so I'm just a little scared of trying one out and finding that I hate the thing ... not likely but it would be the end of a dream. No camera stores locally any more so no chance of a chance encounter.
 
For a long time mine was anything Leica. Too expensive, if you got a use one it immediately had to be sent to DAG (or so most of the pundits here said so), and there was way too much snob appeal.


After messing around with various versions of Leica type cameras, I finally jumped at a deal on an R7 with the 28mm lens. I was now hopelessly hooked.


I've just about run through most any other brand of camera, so there aren't many more out there I would not buy. Okay, maybe a Linhof Technica. It's one of those cameras one could lust after because they are so technically beautiful, but man do they have some issues, such as having to change a focus cam when you change lenses. You'd need something like a filter wallet to hold all the cams, that is if you could find the ones you need now days.



So there it is. Linhof Technica. I wanted one, but not anymore.


PF
 
1949 MG-TC in red, with brown leather.
I maybe could afford one if I financed it, and then sold it after a year or so, but they are so impractical, delicate, and I couldn't get it out but a couple of times a month. Also I don't have a garage to keep it in.
Leicas are way more practical, and much more affordable. With a Leica you can have what is considered "the best" and find out that while they are nice, it really isn't a big deal.
 
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