What's your favorite camera body of years past?

[cactusclay]

I know, I know, I'm suppose to be letting this computer collect some dust and get out and shoot, but for some reason my mind took a little trip down memory lane and I was reminising about my favorite camera bodies through my life and here they are. Well first of all I have to say that I really like the all mechanical ones that could still be used if the battery went south and I liked the small inconspicious ones as well. ( wheres that dang spell check). 1. Leica M6
2.Olympus OM1
3.Nikon FM2
What's yours?

[mikesd]

Back in the horse and buggy days[well at least before we had a color tv and air conditioning] when I was in grade school for Christmas one year I got a brand new just produced Polaroid Swinger. I believe it was the first Polaroid introduced as it was black and white pics only, but the ability to get instant pictures was beyond everyones belief. Surely technology could not advance any farther than this. Sure wish I had hung on to it for sentimental reasons.

[cactusclay]

I never held one of those, but I saw pictures. The looked like they were pretty stoutly built.

[Scottes]

The 10D.

Hey, I'm new at this stuff. :-)

[iwatkins]

Olly OM10 for me, it was my introduction to photography.

But the best camera I bought was the EOS 650 back in 1988. It was my introduction to Canon and I've never looked back. :)

I still have every camera I ever bought except for the EOS100 I traded in against my 10D.

Cheers

Ian

[CoolToolGuy]

Today I would say my F1 - but back in the day, I parked it in my bag when I got my A1, and dragged it out only when I needed a second body. Still have them both. I would like to sell them, but they just don't get a good resale price lately.

Picking up the F1 and dry firing it is a real rush - very solid and substantial.

Have Fun,

[PacAce]

The closest I ever got to a really serious camera during my "film" days was the Canon A-1. I really miss its compact and sleek styling.

[mblanton]

I have to throw this one in for sheer ruggedness: Pentax K-1000. This camera was completely mechanical (no batteries except to power the interal meter) and tuff as a hammer. I used to take it backpacking.

I also liked the Canon T-90 and Nikon F3HP.

[Gus00]

Canon A1 *1978* It's still considered by many (including me) to be the best 35mm camera ever.

http://images.ciao.com/ide/images/products/normal/212/product-366212.jpg
(not my photo)

Ulitmate Canon A1 information site (http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/SLRs/a1/)

[KennyG]

I had an A1 just after it was launched and loved it to bits. Believe it or not, it is still in use today in the hands of a friend of mine. Never a problem and over 250,000 shots.

A close second had to be my Leica M series with only two fixed focal length lenses and a lot of B&W film. I used that from 68 until 78 when I bought the Canon.

[cactusclay]

Yea, my first camera was a Minota x700, then I bought a Canon A1 and I really liked that too, but they both got stolen at the same time. It's been so long, I forgot what it looked like till you posted that picture.

[Bruce Watson]

Miranda Sensorex. Still have it, along with a bunch of lenses.

I was/am very attached to this brand. When my daughter was born 22 or so years ago (I forget exactly, don't tell her!) I insisted she be named..........guess?

[psk4363]

Difficult this one - I really do like the feel and features of my EOS 1n with the PBE-1, and this one comes close to my all-time favourite the Canon T90. I had a brace of these beauties in the late 80's with a shed full of Canon FD lenses. Multi-spot metering, DX reading that recognised the film's sensitivity, truly dedicated to its very own 300TL flash and superb in the hand - way ahead of its time.

Cheers,
Barry

[where1]

I still have my A-1 and AT-1 cameras, and use the AT-1 with a fisheye lense once in a while. The A-1 is equiped with a motor drive, but I haven't tried it in several years. The MD takes 12 AA batteries, throw a zoom lense on it and you have quite a heavy camera.

[Belmondo]

Any Pentax screw-mount or early K-mount. They're compact, solid, and feel like bricks.

Oh....they take pretty good pictures, too.

[PacAce]

I still have my A-1 and AT-1 cameras, and use the AT-1 with a fisheye lense once in a while. The A-1 is equiped with a motor drive, but I haven't tried it in several years. The MD takes 12 AA batteries, throw a zoom lense on it and you have quite a heavy camera.

12 AA batteries? :shock: Why did it need so many? Mine only took 4.

[Bodryn]

Oh, don't get me started! I bought a Pentax K-1000 at a rummage sale for $5 and it worked perfectly! Unfortunately my interest in 35mm photography was waning by then. Years earlier I bought a Certo-Dollina 35mm bellows camera (yes you heard right, the bellows helped it fold up to a smaller size) at a secondhand store for $11. I used it for b/w photography. It had a T setting for leaving the shutter open, so I took lots of time exposures; and when winding the film to the next frame you had to watch the counter carefully so your exposures didn't overlap. You could double-expose whenever you wished. It wouldn't know what to do with a battery. My Petri 7s served well for years as a reliable color slide camera; it had a built-in light meter, never needed batteries. My earliest learning took place using a 120 film bellows camera that folded up to about the size of a VCR cassette. The f/64 aperture setting and T shutter setting made for lots of time exposure experimentation. Fun stuff, in retrospect. Oh, I haven't told you about my sister's Brownie... I used that to take photos through my Dad's 10x transit as a crude telephoto.

More recently: Ricoh KR5 and KR30 -compatible with my Pentax lenses. But they need batteries. :(

[CoolToolGuy]

12 AA batteries? :shock: Why did it need so many? Mine only took 4.

Leo, you may be thinking of the Power Winder A, which is what I have for my A1. It takes 4 AAs. There was also a full-fledged motor drive for the A1, but I was not aware that it took AAs.

Have Fun,

[Belmondo]

I had the motor winder on my A-1, and I forget how many batteries it used, but it was definitely more than 4. A dozen sounds a lot closer to the actual number.

[cactusclay]

I came across some thread, somewhere earlier today that mentioned the old M3's and that made me think of my M6, which in turn made me think of my little OM1 and the FM2 and how I missed the sound of the film winder and the mechanical shutter going clunk and that is whay I started this thred. I heard a couple years ago that some company was going to make digital backs for some of the old bodies, but then I guess the idea fell through. I really wish someone would figure out a good way to do that, because I miss the old metal camera's that just felt good in your hands.......... Ok, I'm better now.

[HJMinard]

I will always have a soft spot for my first SLR - the Olympus OM-1. Until relatively recently, it was my only SLR (prior to going digital ... G-1 ---> DRebel ---> 20D) - I had some prosumer type point and shoots in between.

[CoolToolGuy]

I heard a couple years ago that some company was going to make digital backs for some of the old bodies, but then I guess the idea fell through. I really wish someone would figure out a good way to do that, because I miss the old metal camera's that just felt good in your hands.......... Ok, I'm better now.

Here you go:

http://www.siliconfilm.com/default.htm

I have been watching this site for a year or so. The company has changed hands, and they have added some specs to the Web site, but nothing about an introduction. If they don't get something out soon, it will be too late - everybody that wants digital will have a DSLR.

This is similar to what Leica is doing - they have a 'digital back' that will supposedly be out this year, but it is (of course) only for Leica SLRs.

Have Fun,

[fslshooter]

Canon FT QL that I bought in 1969 and I still have it. A few years ago I had it serviced --- that cost more than it did new.

[robertwgross]

(I'm dating myself on these.)

Argus C3

Konica Autoreflex T


---Bob Gross---

[neil_r]

Any Pentax screw-mount or early K-mount. They're compact, solid, and feel like bricks.

Oh....they take pretty good pictures, too.

I am with you there I used a pair of Pentax MX for over 20 years, we wont see that in this digital world!

N

[PacAce]

Leo, you may be thinking of the Power Winder A, which is what I have for my A1. It takes 4 AAs. There was also a full-fledged motor drive for the A1, but I was not aware that it took AAs.

Have Fun,

Thanks, Rick. Now I remember the motor drive. I always wanted one of those but could never afford (or should I say, justify) it so I settled for the cheaper Power Winder. :)

I think I'll go take my A1 out of the case now and play with it for a while, just so it doesn't feel neglected (hope it's not too late).

[PacAce]

I had the motor winder on my A-1, and I forget how many batteries it used, but it was definitely more than 4. A dozen sounds a lot closer to the actual number.

How did they work with the Pentax cameras, Tom? Or did you also have an A-1?

And speaking of Pentax, my first SLR camera ever (that was in college) was the Pentax Spotmatic. It didn't have a freaking hot shoe on top of the penta-prism housing so it was always a pain to take flash pictures. I tried the L brackets but they just got in my way most of the time and was awkward to work with. I also tried the hot shoe adapters that went on top of the housing but it always managed to work its way loose, especially when there was a flash hooked up to it. Good thing the PC cord kept the flash from crashing to the floor. :rolleyes:

[Belmondo]

Leo:
I never had a motor/power winder on any of my Pentaxes. I suppose I should get one for my collection, but at this moment, For now, I don't have one, and can't tell you anytthing about them.

On the early Asahi Pentaxes, S1, S2, & S3, (as well as the versions sold under the Honeywell brand name and others), the match-needle metering system was an accessory that clipped onto the top of the camera. I have a couple of those, and they still work well. They're a little funky looking, though.

Ironically, a lot of later Pentaxes have been scrapped because the built-in meter has failed and the only place to get parts is from another Pentax. They can still be used as fully manual, though.

[BoySpot]

It may not have been a great camera but the Pentax P30n was my first SLR and I loved it for that reason alone. It also put up with me for a number of years. I sold it on when I got my EOS600. That is still a great camera for me and it was doing just fine up until the time I got my 10D. Maybe it is upset that it doesn't get used much any more but I consider it more of a well earned retirement.

[PacAce]

Ironically, a lot of later Pentaxes have been scrapped because the built-in meter has failed and the only place to get parts is from another Pentax. They can still be used as fully manual, though.
I think that's the one thing that make these old camera so good. They work even without the batteries. :shock:

My A-1, if I remember correctly, will only work at 1/60 shutter speed, if I lose the battery.

[thomascanty]

The camera I got started with was an old Argus (I don't know the model number) that my dad gave me in the early 70's. I still have it, but the shutter sticks on long exposures, so it doesn't get used any more.

[Bruce Watson]

Bruce:
You named your daughter SENSOREX!?
Of course, that would be the middle name.

Miranda S Watson.

Naw, just kidding....about the middle name.

She likes her name but once in a while pokes at me about being named after a camera.

I told her to be grateful that I didn't name her Canon or Nikon or even Argus........

[imanewbie]

I started with my Pentax MX. I recently had to pull her out of the closet, since my digital hit the pavement :( :( :(
Rugged, dependable camera, that MX. May not be pretty, but it never lets ya down.

[Jon]

F-1n, then the T90, but the F-1 was better; just the T90 let me shoot faster. For some reason the New F-1 just wasn't the same . . .
80-200 FD and 100-300 FD, also the Vivitar Series 1 90-180 macro.

[hawgerdawger]

I second the vote for the Pentax K-1000, my first SLR. That thing could take a beating. Won the first photography award with it and a Sears 70-200 5.6 lens, both purchased at a pawn shop for under $150. Ahh, the good ol' days. I still have it sitting on my desk -- provides nice decoration and makes me feel secure. If the digital world comes crashing down, I'll still be snapping away.

[gramps]

My first choice is any body that Charles shots with his camera..............#2 is my A1.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Growing up,. we were a Pentax family.. three in total,. all big manual bricks.. though I could not say for sure what the model numbers are... I have to admit,. I hardly ever used them at all. But My Father and Sister used them.

There all still going strong too... though I think we are down to two in the Family now.. one was given away.

[Andy_T]

Actually, no matter how long I think, nothing I ever had comes close to my 20D. It's the camera I have always wanted...

I've owned SLR's (Nikon 601, Olympus, Praktica, Rolleiflex) and more modern 'compact' cameras (Olympus mju, Canon Ixus) before, but after some time, they ended up in the closet because it was too cumbersome to take the pictures and then wait too long to see the actual shots.

My G2, on the other hand, has been accompanying me for the last 2 years, and the 20D has taken its place now.

Best regards,
Andy

[Barb42]

I had, and loved, a Mamiya 35mm - picked it up used in about 1979-80. It was stolen and that broke my heart. Had to move to Canon after I recovered. I love my Canons but I still think about my poor little lost Mamiya.

[ssim]

I've actually pondered this question for a day and I keep coming back to my Pentax 6X7. Now I realize that this is larger format but it gave awesome quality and was a workhorse of a camera.

If I had to pick my favorite 35mm I have a difficult time choosing between my Olympus OM-1 or my Canon A-1. Both very good quality and reliable.

I still have all of these. Duh!

[kevinma]

I wish I still had my first SLR - a meterless Praktica from East Germany with a Pentacon lens. Everyone should begin taking pictures with a meterless camera! Another favorite, the Nikon FE.
Kevin.

[PhotosGuy]

Nikon Ftn. This one has about 40,000 miles on it & still works great! :D

[BearSummer]

Hmmm, wasnt that long ago actually,

My fave camera was the EOS3 with vertical grip. I just love the eye controlled focus, it worked for me and just made things that much easier. It's the one feature I really miss on canons digital cameras. It was very hard to sell my pair of 3's but they hadn't been outside the house in months and it made no sense to keep them, ho hum...

all the best

BearSummer