So, what film camera will be serviceable for the longest time ?

With the recent news that Nikon will be no longer putting out quality film cameras,( The F6

not withstanding. I just can't afford it. ) what camera will be able to be repaired for the

longest time ?

 

F3s were made for a LONG time, so spares and parts cameras my be around for awhile.

What about the F4 or F5 ? Same with the FM2 series. It was manufactured for a long time

too. I am thinking of the older style simply because I don't know the longevity of the newer

all electronic bodies.

 

It's a strange week. Apple puts out computers with Intel chips and Nikon stops making

film cameras.

 

Not long ago, I started a thread about what to get as my last film camera, but I didn't think

it would be because of them not being made for much longer. ( Yeah, yeah, I know. There

are other camera companies. But, I have a collection of lenses that work with Nikon and

nothing for the other platforms. )

F2. Get a spare body, repair manual and the tools.

I was told by a camera repairman that he could make just about any part for a all mechanical camera (F or F2 ) that could break. I think people 50 yrs from now might have to worry about getting parts for cameras, I will be dead long before that.

Hasselblad 503 series will see me out. If it doesn't, I think my wife will have something to say about it!

 

Brian

"F2. Get a spare body, repair manual and the tools."

 

Well, with that idea, I could get a few spare bodies of what ever camera and keep them in

boxes until the current one goes. My FG can be replaced VERY cheaply.

 

Perhapse I should say I'de like a little bit more modern camera than my FG. Let's say, the F3

and newer.

The FG is a newer model than the F3. A FM2 should be useable for a long time.

There are a lot of Fs around so they should be repairable for a long time (even though the meters might be questionable). I've got a like new F3, an F4 and an FM. As I stated in another thread, they should keep me going as long as I need them. Will be interesting to see if auction prices on Nikon film cameras go up or down.

More than once I've commented I should call Nikon's parts department and buy 4-5 of those glass resistor plates for the F3's metering system that broke on my F3HP a couple of times while I owned it. With that one exception the F3 is almost indestructible. One day soon Nikon will stop making them and lots of broken, unfixable F3's will start popping up. A $24.95 part (last time I checked) will be priceless a few years down the road.

I'll give you a different type of answer. Used film bodies will become (or in fact they already are) so cheap that for the most part, it doesn't make sense to repair them any more. If one breaks, just buy another used one.

 

The real concern for film users is how expensive film and processing will gradually become, and whether the types of films you'd like to use will continue to be available.

Single stroke Leica M3 from the late '50's.

I agree with Shun.

 

Canon are still making EOS film bodies but I have 3 old ones. I picked them up for essentially nothing. You can get older models like the EOS 630 (almost a pro level body) for about $50 these days.

 

Just pick a Nikon model you like, buy a bunch and when they break, move on to the next one and use the broken one for spares.

I dont think so Shun. (such a pesimistic attitude from somebody who supposedly has no bias) :)

 

(Frankly Shun being in the technology sector for 25+ I have more of a concern with my 100,000+ digital images than I do with my film images.)

 

Tubes are still beng produced and those that are are far superior to those that were made in the 50' and 60's ( Even though organic computers are around the corner. )

 

I just bought my wife ( an audiophile) a high tech turntable/arm/cartridge for Christmas. Had no problem finding one to her exact specs.

 

Film will be around and it will be purchased by people who choose to use it either in addition to digital or as a replacement for digital or whatever comes after digital.

 

As to cameras: the more mechancial the camera the easier it is to fix. For example: I just restored a 1947 Speed Graphic to better than factory spec. Used tools and materials found at Home Depot. ( Excluding shutter and lens or course) I am also working on a Crown Graphic 4x5 and a Burke and James 5x7. I see no problems in fixing these old cameras. As to film and chemicals I dont worry.

I have more worries about my digital images.

From a Nikon perspective - Either a F/F2 or the F3 or F5 is my guess, outside of metering issues have never had a problem with a Nikkormat/Nikomat - Or go with a Nikon S2, etc. rangefinder.

 

For any 35mm maker I would say go for Leica M series bodies for sure & if buying now for a good value I would buy a used classic M6.

 

Hasselblads for MF; Linhof for LF

I have to speak up for the F4. Mine is 16 years old and never a repair. I still love the feel of it

in the hand and it's very rugged. If you can find one in good condition that belonged to an

average user not a full time proffesional that's the one that gets my vote. I was in a camera

store today and while waiting I checked out the used section. Lots of cameras, not one F4,

most people don't want to part with it. I know I don't, even though I have my F100 and D70S.

Good luck.

The clock on factory parts availability starts ticking when a model is officially discontinued, so since you are ruling out the F6 that would be a dead heat between the FM3a and the F100. Is it 7 years or 10? But a good used F5 would probably beat either, if you can put up with its gawdawful size and weight.

 

I think Shun is right on about the cost of film and paper, and that bothers me much more than the cameras themselves. I work all day at a computer and the last thing I want do do with my evenings is adjusting curves in Photoshop -I loath the digital workflow in its every aspect. I also think that custom labs that work expertly with film will be gone ahead of the materials.

Here's the thing that puts some doubt in my thinking.

 

Many folks do not reccomend getting an FA, because it had so many electronic parts in it and they can't be found any more. I would think that the same thing could happen to F4s, F5, and just about any electronic camera, such as the N90 or F100. But in the long thread about Nikon no longer producing film bodies, many thought the digitals could last for decades...well. How can electronics in the camera be bad for some and good for others ? Would the F4 be longer lasting because it has less chips than the F6 or any digital series that has LOTS ? I think that is why I'm thinking of FM2n or F3 or F4 or maybe an FM3a.

What will be more serviceable? A 1965 Ford Mustang; or a the newer AMC Pacer?. How about some obscure 1980's or 1970's car with a transisional emission control, poorly documented, that was a total kludge when built? The used Nikon F I bought in 1962 still has never had a CLA. Folks, experts want to add mirror foam to my camera, that never ever has had any. The lifetime of consumer products is often inversely proportional to the number of repair chaps/hackers that slowly modify; butcher, create problems in their repair efforts.

Loren, I certainly have my opinions, and you may have yours that are totally different from mine. I have no problems with different opinions; in fact, that is normal.

 

Yes, you can still buy turn tables, but they are high-end, niche stuff now. Meanwhile, you can buy a CD/DVD player for $30. The same thing will happen to film. In fact, film and processing cost is already on its ways up. My point is that you can continue to shoot film for a long long time to come, but you will have to pay more to do so.

 

As far as camera bodies go, if you really want to shoot film, just stock up a few e.g. FM2n's and you should be all set for a long time. Replacement cost will be so low that it is not really worthwhile to repair any more.

 

I have been in high tech for over 20 years as well, and I have zero concerns about future compatibility of my digital files. So many people have them now that there will always be a need to read old images files. And when there is a need, there will be a product to facilitate that need. By the same token, so many people have old negatives and they have a need to print or scan them, and therefore there will continue to be services to make prints from negatives. It may cost a bit more but you won't get stuck.

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<em>Replacement cost will be so low that it is not really worthwhile to repair any

more.</em></p>

<p>

In all due respect, Shun, I feel that's a sad statement. The reason why I like like shooting

my F2AS is because it such a jewel of a camera. When it needs a CLA or if something

breaks, I'm not going to just throw it away and buy a new one. Perhaps I'm over-

romantizing my F2, but I have too much respect for the craftsmanship and its history to be

so cavalier about it.</p>

<p>

I have no problem replacing my computer every couple of years but in my opinion, my F2

is worthy of a better fate than in the garbage bin of history.</p>

Sorry Dean, I guess I'll never understand what the big difference between your compuer and your camera is. To me, they are both tools, so are hammers and screw drivers. Some tools may be more expensive than others; some may be more complex than others, but they are nothing more than tools.

That's cool, Shun... our values, in terms of cameras, are perhaps not the same. I love my

Powerbook but in two years, I'll have to stop using it and buy a new one and I'm totally fine

with that. Ah... but my 30 year old Nikon... yes, it's a tool to take photographs but I think

if you look a little deeper, it's much more than that.

 

Like you and just about every member in PN, we love photography. And with that, comes a

certain affinity for our "tools". Further, I think that there's something about a camera -- it's

workmanship, the way it was built; the fact that it'll probably still be usable 30 years from

now (provided film still exists...); its history -- makes it very special in my eyes.

 

But then again, I'm an overly-romantic fool... :)

I think rather than worrying about what may or may not be servicable and what may or may not last buy cameras that you enjoy using. There is no point buying and FM2n because it will last a long time if what you really like to shoot with is an F100.

If you mean realy, really, really long time - a pinhole camera. Possibly not the answer you wanted though!

Quite true, Alan ! :)

 

The reason I ask is that there are no camera shops in my area. I don't consider Best Buy a

camera shop. To be able to put any of these cameras in my hand, just to get the feel of

them, will require a trip of about 50 miles, if the small shop in Redlands has anything or

about 100 miles to go into the Los Angeles area. I'd like to narrow my candidates to a

select few so I don't walk up to the counter and say..." Hi! I'd like to try every Nikon film

camera you've got. "

I don't know about that Shun.....my Nikon F which I bought new in '67, which was my principle camera until 3 years ago, is not just a tool....its my BABY!