(Your) Most Beautiful Camera

A

andens2

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I'm a bit of a camera collector, and have recently been looking on the net as to what people think is "the" most beautiful camera. After looking at the Flickr "thread" on this I wonder what the members here would consider to be their or indeed the most beautiful camera (if they don' already possess it)? As my current particular preference tends to go towards the old simple mechanical cameras such as the Leica IIIf, I also wondered whether others had a similar view?

............................UPDATE !!!!...................

At the outset of this poll which is my first, if I did not specify or encourage the upload of images then that was by error. The uploading of images of beautiful cameras is all the better as far as I'm concerned.

Anyhow, I was hoping to collate all the various details and then post the results by camera model rather than manufacturer. However, not surprisingly really I suppose given the preferences expressed, that would be quite difficult without spending a lot of time.

Just to give you guys an update of the results so far, up to and including Post No. 91 the preferences expressed can be broken down by manufacturer to the following.

Not surprisingly !!!!

Leica 64%
(The most popular choices being M3 = 11, MP & IIIf = 8, M2 & M4 =7)

Nikon 19%
Rolleiflex 17%
Canon 12%
Contax 9%
Olympus 7%
Zeiss 5%
Kodak 5%
Voigtlander 4%
Mamiya 3%
Alpa 3%
Hasselblad 3%
Yashica 2%
Zorki 2%
Zone VI 2%
fed >1%
Reid
Deardorff
Braun
Lumix
Linhof
Gundlach Korona


But really stats don't matter it is the sheer enjoyment and pleasure that we get from these stunning pieces of equipment.

Thanks for you contributions, if we could get more photo's posted that would be great.

Many thanks once again.
 
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Just looking at the outside: Canon P. Simple, clean, beautiful lines.

Stefan.

andens2 said:
I'm a bit of a camera collector, and have recently been looking on the net as to what people think is "the" most beautiful camera. After looking at the Flickr "thread" on this I wonder what the members here would consider to be their or indeed the most beautiful camera (if they don' already possess it)? As my current particular preference tends to go towards the old simple mechanical cameras such as the Leica IIIf, I also wondered whether others had a similar view?
Click to expand...
 
My top candidates:

- Leica M4
- Nikon F with eye level pentaprism, in black
- Hasselblad 501cm
- Rolleiflex 2.8F Aurum
 
My black Bessa-T with the 35mm Voigtlander VF. It's an eyecatcher, many people ask me what camera it is and how it works.
 
My Zone VI field camera is most beautiful. Something about mahogany and leather bellows.

Early Leica M come next.
 
The camera that epitomizes the inherent beauty of a camera is a Rolleiflex. Mine was a post-war f/3.5 Tessar variety with the small focus knob. They look so good, because you get twice as glass showing as any other type of camera. And the big screen on the top just adds to the beauty.

People notice photographers with a Rollei in their hands, staring down into the viewfinder, lost in concentration of the sort that is only seen on the faces of those lost in texting today.
 
In no particular order:

Most any vintage brass-bound field camera; Gundlach-Korona are very nice, with their nickel hardware; I'm partial to Rochester Optical / Premo

35mm: Nikon S; Contax IIa; Retina I; Leica M3; Black & Nickel Barnacks
 
Nikon S2
Any Rolleiflex TLR New standard forward (old one is beautiful too)
Brassed up black Leica screw mount IIX
 
andens2 said:
I'm a bit of a camera collector, and have recently been looking on the net as to what people think is "the" most beautiful camera. After looking at the Flickr "thread" on this I wonder what the members here would consider to be their or indeed the most beautiful camera (if they don' already possess it)? As my current particular preference tends to go towards the old simple mechanical cameras such as the Leica IIIf, I also wondered whether others had a similar view?
Click to expand...

I can agree on your statement, and the IIIf is indeed a wonderful mechanic piece of equipment, however in terms of being beautiful I like the BP IIa sync more :)
ain't she pretty: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zorki_2007/5273095779/in/set-72157606282236657/lightbox/
 
Ronald M said:
My Zone VI field camera is most beautiful. Something about mahogany and leather bellows.
Click to expand...

I forgot about the Zone VI...

First choice...Zone VI 4x5 in Black Walnut with gold plated hardware...
Next...Nikon F2a (Black Body) with MD-2 & MB-1 and a Nikkor-SC 50mm 1.4 lens attached...purrrrrty...:cool:
I also like the looks of the Mamiya m645 with the WLF...

Camera I don't own but I find most excellent...Nikon F3 with the MD-4...OMG...perfection...
 
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