tony_lockerbie Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Just musing, but I was trying to think of the best built cameras of all time.Limited to the top three only and I am not including the really old brass andwood beasts ( because I know so little about them). I'm going to stick my head out and list these in no particular order. Any RolleiF, Leica M3 and the Zeiss Contarex. Ok, so now lets hear your picks! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralf_j. Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Nikon F2, Canonflex, Contax IIa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucecahn Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I have not used a Contarex, but would agree with M3, Rollei twin and pick Deardorff as the third (it would be Ebony but I do not believe that they qualify as classics yet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronald_moravec1 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Leica up to and Including M4 and SL2. Hasselblad. Zeiss cams were nice but have not stood the test of time Rollie tlr and the SLR 2 1/4 were better than average. Nikons and Canons were made to last, but not as good as Leica. Also materials and workmanship were less... I have a few almost new Nikon lenses from 1960 that I got for use on my D200. They do not hold a candle to my Leica SLR lenses from the same period, optically or materials or workmanship. My first Pentax Takumars were better than the Nikons for focus and workmanship, but every time one got shocked, the diaphragm would start to stick. When you get right down to it measuring life span, engineering, craftsmanship, its Leica and Hasselblad. Nikon and Canon are sort of like Russian military equipment, tough to a point, functional, poor workmanship, not counting the aircraft which is much better, but not like US Aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_oleson Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I'd have to agree with the Leica M3, I've never seen anything built better than that. The Nikon SP might be in the ballpark. ZI made beautiful stuff, but "best built" has to imply a degree of reliability that seems to have escaped most of them. The Contaflex TLR would seem to be a high water mark, and I agree with the Rollei F. It's pretty hard to come up with something that would equal the M3 for design and workmanship though..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_lofquist Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 There was a 70mm camera made for the military by Folmer & Schweig who also made the Speed Graphic and Graphlex. It was a rangefinder brute that looked as though it could stand up to major earthquakes, tornados, and nuclear testing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franklin_polk Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Topcon Super D. They both look like and act like tanks. The camera that should have been what the Nikon F(2) was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Collins Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 If we're talking best built of all time, I'd have to say the Canon EOS 1v. It's the most solid camera I've ever held or used and can withstand anything you throw at it-or throw it at. BUT since this is the classic forum I'll assume we're talking about classics. I've not had any experience with the finer cameras like Leicas or Contax cameras (yet!), just the ordinary varieties. That being said, I think the Canon FT is a very well built camera that has lasted for decades and will last for a long time to come. I also think that the Kodak Retinas rate highly as being very well built and artistically engineered (but with some potential frailties), as do many of the Olympus rangefinders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_supplee Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Ok, I have to go with the Leica M3 also. It is one of the most beautiful cameras to me as far as engineering, but to hold it and actually take pictures, well, it is not the most agreeable camera for ergomomics. I find it very hard to pick up, bring to the eye, and get off a shot without sticking a finger where it doesn't belong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelging Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I will go with the Nikon F2 and F3, Contax IIIa, Konica SLR and rangefinders of the 1970's,Speed Graphic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_brainard Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I'd have to cast my vote for the Pentax Spotmatic and its descendant, the K-1000. Thousands of aspiring photography students learned their craft using and abusing these cameras and never got the better of them. A true 'hockey puck' of a camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randmcnatt Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Alpa 11i was probably the finest, and possibly the most expensive piece of engineering to ever hold a roll of film. I think they even made one gold-plated model. On the other end, the howitzer of hand-held cameras: Koni-Omega Rapid. Built like a cinderblock, heavy as a guilty conscience. What REAL photographer doesn't appreciate the solid *ker-chunk!* of a bolt-action advance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-man1 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 leica iiif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrick j dempsey Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 You can't buy film for them anymore, but the original line of roll-film Polaroid cameras are not only built like tanks but the shutters seem to be magically peppy. I mean, they weigh a solid 4 pounds, but it's all muscle baby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_lockerbie Posted February 23, 2008 Author Share Posted February 23, 2008 Interesting answers, knew the Leica M3 was a no brainer, but the other are quite open to contention. I had forgotten about the Alpa, never owned one unfortunately and agree that the Topcon super D is up there. Surprised that the Nikon F2 didn't get more votes, although Ronald may have hit a point with the Russian analogy. Rand, heavy as a guilty conscience....good one! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_m Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I'd say Nikon F, Nikon F2 and Canon F-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohir_ali Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Leica pre-M4 except they all have 'dainty' rangefinders. Nikon F2, Canon F1 with prism finders are indestructible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony_brookes5 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 From experience : Ikonta, Contarex, Leica 1 to 111, Leica IIIG, M3, Canon A1, Nikon F1 - not Rolleiflex and no Nikon, Canon, or Leica since. Just from personal use of the cameras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_e Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I'll add my vote to David's for the Spotmatic. My current SPs are identical in looks and performance to the ones I owned 40 years ago. They don't appear to age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene m Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Diana, Holga and Dick Tracy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles_stobbs3 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I thought my Retina IIa was a goner when the little leaf spring in the exposure counter broke in 1970 but Kodak sent me the last spare they had and itt's still going strong. I bought a surplus M2-R in 1970 as a backup but left it on the shelf for 15 years waiting for the Retina to die and then figured I would probably go first so I started to use the Leica once in a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay2 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Nikon F2 Canon F-1 Topcon Super D /Clay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Currie Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 In my own arsenal, I'd put the Nikon F and the Leica III-whatevers. I've been inside a Nikon F, and the construction and design are pretty impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony_brookes5 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Of course if we are to believe the experts the Contarex was the best built camera since it is supposed that it was so expensive to make it brought Zeiss down. It certainly is an extremely well made camera and the F2 Planar is supposed to be the sharpest 50mm lens ever. I don't know whether it it still is. It is certainly sharper than my M6 Summicron at any aperture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_moseley1 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Hi, I would suggest that only a serious repair man who strips them down could answer this with any real authority. We as users are just going by the outward feel and lots of heresay.. cheers Steve.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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