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The ugliest cameras


yann1

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<p>Voigtländer Vitomatic and other 60's cameras of that style. Zeiss Ikon Continette, Contessamat, Agfa Optima...<br>

http://www.marriottworld.com/stock_pics/pictures/vitos/vitomatic2b01x.JPG<br>

http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/optima/originaloptima/orgoptima.jpg<br>

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/146324742_033e1cf4da.jpg</p>

<p>And, yeah, the Canon T80 and most 80's P&S cameras.</p>

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<p>While some of the examples above are certainly not beautiful, I don't think "ugliest" really should apply either. The Photomic F's, for instance, while ungainly, at least get their appearance from a functional addition, rather from an abortive stab at styling.</p>

<p>For pure ugliness, I think the 60's and 70's are the best resource. Some I don't even remember the names of, but a classic example of unbridled, rampant ugliness might be the various Imperial box and box/flash cameras, with odd colored plastic cases, and aluminum grille panels, usually imprinted with some pattern, all designed, apparently, to look like....well, maybe a vacuum cleaner or a table radio of the sort that was itself designed to look vaguely like something the Jetsons might have on their space ship. </p>

<p>Many of the plastic Polaroids are of a high level of ugliness, but I think the Kodak instant cameras outdid them. </p>

<p>But finally, how about one whose name I can never remember, but it comes up here from time to time - some time in the 70's, a hugely overpriced automatic camera that used a proprietary film cartridge that had to go back to the manufacturer, and a hefty rechargeable battery. I'm sure someone will remember the one I mean and find a link. It was a monster of a thing, ugly to the bone.</p>

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<p>I love my Kodak Medalist II, and have convinced myself that it's so ugly that it's beautiful, but I guess it IS pretty ugly. However I think the prize for ugliest MF rangefinder goes to the original Omega 120 (not the later Koni-Omegas). Many years ago I read a description of it as a 'bombsight for vultures".</p>
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<p>this might be a little off topic...but how could something as amazing and wonderful as a camera be ugly?<br>

considering that beauty is an abstract idea, never right or wrong, but simply color, shapes or ideas themselves that appeal to our eyes; it's very hard to call anything ugly.<br>

but then to call something you are suppose to love ugly seems kind of shallow and off point. Manual cameras (along with there digital counterparts) are amazing tools to express your opinions, thoughts and emotions with...how could that be ugly?</p>

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