Your Top 5 Favorite Cameras Ever!

I feel like I should update my post based on what's left my possession and what's come back. I had to do a lot of experimenting with various systems and cameras to find what really works for me.

What I originally posted:

  • Leica MP / M-A (basically the same camera)
  • Konica Hexar AF
  • Ricoh GR
  • Fuji X-Pro 2 (it's a new relationship, but we're bonding exceptionally well)
  • Mamiya 7II

How I feel now:
  • Leica M-A (it's one of my favorites for a number of reasons and I sold the MP so....)
  • Leica M240 (I sold my first one, tried a myriad of various cameras and came back, as a digital body this one just works for me)
  • Ricoh GR (still feel just as strongly about this one)
  • Nikon F (I've bought and sold this camera no less than 4 times and now I have two)
  • Mamiya 7II (I don't have it anymore but I have nothing but praise for that beast)

My honorable mention is the Hasselblad 500CM purely for sentimental reasons, I wish I used it more.
 
1. First real camera bought in 1982 and still on my shelf:
Pentax K1000

2. In my opinion, the apex of usable SLR design and ergonomics combined with AF and modern metering:
Nikon F4

3. The rangefinder which taught me composition, patience and vision:
Leica M6

4. My current go-to camera; the tones and clarity are exceptional:
Leica M Monochrom (CCD)

5. Modern/vintage fun:
Fuji GF670 /Bessa III
 
For Cameras I've actually owned:
1: Argus C33, great shutter, still looking for other lenses. its big and heavy, but I love it.
2: Universal Mercury II, fun to use, fast shutter, great depth of field, economical.
3: Argus 40- easy to use, double exposure prevention, surprisingly decent lens, even though shutter speeds are a bit limited. I have better TLRs, but they don't have DE prevention. I find that I really need that feature.
4: Canon Tlb, favorite user of the few SLRs Ive collected. I'm spoiled by the open aperture metering on this, its hard for me to use my m42 SLRs that have to be stopped down.
5: Graflex Jet Graphic 35. Great (if big and heavy) rangefinder, with working meter. Mine has the troublesome CO2 film advance system deleted from it. Really good lens.

other cameras I love but have yet to acquire: Super Ikonta, Kodak Reflex II, Kodak Medalist, Bolsey C, Ansco Automatic Reflex, Kodak Signet 80. I'm mostly into American rangefinders and TLRs.
 
Personal update:

Analogue...

- Nikon F3
- Leica M6
- Fuji GW690
- Pentax Spotmatic SPII
- Kodak Retina IIIc

Digital...

- Sony A7 II
- Nikon Df
- Leica M8
- Leica D-LUX (109)
- Fuji X-E2

And those 10 are the ones that I shoot the most. Perhaps except the Retina and the Spotmatic. In their place I could have listed about 10 other film cameras that I shoot as frequently.
 
John,

Here are my five top cameras: Nikon F3P; Leica Monochrom; Leica SL; Leica M6; Rollie 3.5F "Whiteface" Xenotar.

Still own them and shoot them. I have SLR, film rangefinder, digital rangefinder, and medium format film covered for B&W, and the Leica SL is my color digital camera.

Thanks for this thread. I really had to limit myself, and this exercise really pointed to what really is important. The extra ten cameras or so that I own are kinda luxury.

Cal
 
jsrockit said:
I believe you too... though I think the Plaubel is the wildcard.
Click to expand...

John,

The Plaubel is one of them, but somehow now I have three Linhof's. LOL.

A 2x3 Technika IV is getting overhauled. A 2x3 Technika V requires Christian's help because I have to cam a lens (Zeiss 53/4.5 Biogon). I also now own Christians old 4x5 Tech IV.

Anyways since you left town I kinda went crazy. LOL.

Cal
 
only chosing based on cameras i have personally owned

1. Nikon F3
2. Leica M4-P
3. Hasselblad 503
4. Nikon FA
5. Rollei 2.8F
 
1) Olympus OM-4T. My favorite 35mm camera, I have had one since 1994. Tiny, light, incredible metering system (the only camera I have ever owned that I didn't use a handheld meter with), and wonderful lenses.

Though I have owned a couple of Leicas, looking through my work, most of my best 35mm work was done with the Olympus system.

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2) Kodak DCS 14N. An early fullframe digital camera, 14mp, used Nikon lenses. A deeply flawed camera that was unusable above the base ISO of 80 and gave terrible image quality with long exposures. Yet, when used in the right conditions, it gave the most incredible color of any digital camera I have ever used.

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The Kodak 14N files also converted to black and white better than any digital camera files I have worked with!

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3) Mamiya 6. The modern interchangeable lens Mamiya 6, not the old 1950s folder. I have always loved square format, and shot Hasselblad for years. With my health problems, I couldn't carry the Hasselblad anymore, and sold it for the Mamiya 6.

The Mamiya is so lightweight and compact, I can carry the camera and all three lenses that were made for the system in a small messenger bag, along with a meter and film, and I can do so all day without getting tired and without pain. I could even handhold it!

The lenses are incredibly sharp; I sacrificed nothing in ditching the Hasselblad.

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I don't have a 4th and 5th to add. I haven't owned many cameras in my lifetime, and these are my favorites. I currently shoot all my color work with a Canon 5DmkII. It is a great camera, but there's nothing 'special' about it.
 
I love square format too, Chris, and a Mamiya 6 would complement my TLRs nicely.

I favor SLRs for 35mm photography, but when it gets to medium format I don't like having such a big mirror flopping around. So, for medium format, I like TLRs and RFs.

- Murray

PS. I like the photos you used to illustrate.
 
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