What's Your Favorite Camera Of All Time?

Question

Sorry I asked this, but it's getting kind of slow around here. Well, what it is?

My favorite camera that I have ever had the pleasure of using was the Nikon F4s. My next choice would be the Nikon D70s. Just Tried out the new Nikon D3 and the 14-24mm, yesterday, but the F4s remains my favorite. The Canon 5D comes close, too.

What's your favorite?

Answer 1

I have a collection of old cameras. Most of them were mine. some I've bought recently just to add to my collection.

As for my favorite - it's a toss up. It's either the Nikon F100 I bought and then destroyed in less than 8 months. Or it's the Pentax I bought in Viet Nam in 1968.

The F 100 I destroyed with sea water. I now use it for a doorstop in my studio. Yeah a $1300 camera is a doorstop!

The Pentax actually still works, which is a miracle considering that it went through my last six months in Viet Nam with me. (Jungles are not nice places for cameras ... or people!) It's paint has peeled. It's chrome is pitted, and it's leather is dried out and rotting (yes, they really did make cameras back then with real leather!)

But I guess it's the Pentax. It was my only camera for several years. I took the first pictures of my children with it, shot the first picture I ever sold with it, fell in love with photography with it.

Thanks for the nostalgia trip!

Answer 2

The Canon F-1N. I have two-one has an AE finder and looks like it was run over by a dump truck, but after I had it CLAed nearly a year ago, it works great. The other is a near-mint example of one of only 7000 or so made for the LA 1984 Olympics. Mine has the standard finder. Although I use both, the beat up one gets most of the use.

I also have a really strong preference for the PJ super bright matte partial-metering focusing screen. I also have motor drives for both, although I don't use these all that often.

A very, very close second would be any model Rolleiflex from the first Automat to the later F models. If I could have my choice, I'd take a 3.5E(without a meter), but my budget such as it is, I've settled on a very, very nice Automat 3 with a coated Xenar lens. The Rolleiflexes have a level of mechanical precision that you just don't see in any Japanese cameras, and superb Schneider or Zeiss optics. The only thing which demotes them to second place for me is that they only have a fixed normal lens. Even the rare wide and tele models, which are too expensive for the normal person's budget, only offer moderate wide and moderate tele lenses.

Answer 3

Of my film cameras I'd have to go with the F3HP, which I still have a couple. It's a tank and served my photojournalism well. One of my F3's has had three prisms smashed but the camera is still working fine. The FM2N comes real close but the removable finder on the F3 has allowed me to get some great shots without having to kneel or get on my back. Sorry to say, the F4S was not as reliable as the F3; the AF needs periodic adjustment and the shutter doesn't last as long. The F5 is fantastic but way too heavy. I had a Leica M6 but quality control isn't what it once was – the shutter has pinhole light leaks in it! (At least Leica customer support is still good.)

People may laugh at this but my fave digital SLR is the original EOS Digital Rebel (300D). With the Russian firmware hack it has most of the 10D feature set and this camera has much less mirror slap than the 20/30/40D. I can handhold shots with this camera that would not be possible on my other cameras. It's light, quiet, compact and image quality is still quite good up to ISO 1600. It's still my top travel camera for the above reasons.

Answer 4

My Minolta X-7A is my favorite hands down. I have 2 of them and both have been well-used and much-loved. They have been my constant companions since day one and have taught me everything I know about photography.......mostly through trial and error. I always carried two for the simple fact that one was loaded with b&w film and the other color.
I now also have a Canon Rebel GII (2) 35mm and a Nikon Coolpix L10 digital to my collection.

Answer 5

I must say that I love my Canon Eos which I first started using about 20 years ago. I came upon a Hassalblad in a resale shop which I am eager to begin using. So I will have to let you know. I have a Nikon also, but old habit makes me grab....well actually.. my little digital now days.

Answer 6

Minolta XE-7 closely followed by the Minolta X-700. When I feel real nostalgic though I love to take the 100% manual SRT-202 out.

Answer 7

Canon AE-1 with a good selection of lens. It actually only took three for the average novice. Got some really good shots with the unit and was easy to use once you understood the settings. One of the best 35mm ever made.

Answer 8

The Camera Eye-Rush Kodachrome-Paul Simon

Answer 9

I bought a Minolta SRT 101 with a 58mm 1.4 normal lens in 1971 while I was stationed in Korea. It was my first SLR and still my favorite camera. Uncounted thousands of rolls of film later it was still going strong when it was stolen in 1992. Sometimes I think about buying another one, just for old time's sake.

Answer 10

Canon AE-1P - Had it since 1983 and I just sold it and a couple of lenses for $400. She was a beauty and I hated to see her go but I haven't shot film in three years so it was just collecting dust and deserved a better home.