The most beautiful camera ever made.......

<p>Beauty is, of course, relative and subjective, but I might have to go for an Ernemann (I think) plate camera, which unfortunately now belongs to my ex wife, not seen for the last 25 years or so. A 6x9 of the general form of a Zeiss Maximar or a Voigtlander Avus, this one had all its metal in polished brass, with red leather bellows and rear hood, and body in laminated varnished wood with the front in parquet style. Unlike most of this sort that I've seen, the lens was also in brass, and had a unique bayonet mount for some unknown replaceable lens system. </p>

<p>The thing was gorgeous. </p>

Any camera crafted by Martin Belger. Especially

his skull cameras.

 

http://www.luminous-lint.com/app/vexhibit/_THEME_Contemporary_Pinhole_01/6/13/7535581448113758304466/

<p>Though I think the Pentax Spotmatic shows clean, compact functionality, my vote would go to the Hasselblad Flexbody.</p>

<p>Carl Zeiss Jena Werra in olive green.</p>

<p>http://lippisches-kameramuseum.de/Zeiss_Carl_Jena/Zeiss_Jena_Werra_1.htm</p>

<p>Any selection has to be so personal and related to our own unique experiences. I certainly have my own preferences and opinions but what would they mean to anyone else?<br>

That having been said, personally I like;<br>

The already mentioned Olympus Pen F, but the original F, not the FT or FV because the lolly pop self timer lever spoils the clean lines of the original. (See, I told you it was very personal)<br>

The Nikon F with a plain prism finder. I've never owned one but always thought they look just so "right".<br>

Besides these two I could go on and on, but why? It is just my personal opinion.</p>

<p>I do have strong feelings about the most butt ugly 35mm SLR;<br>

The Zeiss Contarex bullseye, hands down. (Better quickly get into my flame retardant under garments now)</p>

<p>Bruce C, I can't speak for Robin, but to me, Cameras are like women. Once you fondle one, you want to fondle them all!!</p>

<a href= "http://www.osa-opn.org/home/articles/volume_24/october_2013/features/spy_in_the_sky_the_kh-9_hexagon/#.VOaIIEI-B0I">PerkinElmer rotating twin stereoscopic</a>. Film of course. 60 miles of it...

<p>The first model of the Contaflex (no. 1) has everything a camera needs to function (other than the light meter) and is refined in its form. The second version of the Plaubel (actually the Doi company of Japan) Makina (670) was very attractive and an excellent image maker, matched later by the Mamiya 6 (New model) with its normal (75mm) lens. Great in the hands for operation as well.</p>

<p>Any of Maitano's creations were great examples of form follows function and the economy of size. Or how about the revolutionary Rollei 35 SE ot TE, or the svelt little Minox GT or GTE?</p>

<p>Outside of the time frame is the Voigtlander Vito B, a beautiful little 35mm fixed lens camera with satin chrome finish (still amazingly fresh after 50+ years) and real leather body wrap. Impressive quality of build, solidity and appearance at 1/5th or less the price of an M3 with an equivalent optic (f2.8).</p>

<p>A detail, but what spoils the aesthetics M3 for me (and I have used this otherwise functionally excellent camera) are the kitsh- like framed windows instead of the simple rectangular openings seen on the M2 and later models.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Bruce! You've touched upon a subject very close to my heart. Just two weeks ago I compiled a list of ten most beautiful cameras. Before I list them, a few comments:</p>

<p>Firstly, I am a Contax and Pentax fan and in particular I love the Contax designs. But they don't quite make it onto my list. They would come way ahead of the Nikon F100, though.</p>

<p>Arthur, about that Shintaro Leica: nothing wrong with it, but it actually does not look as nice as the factory ones, despite being more sophisticated in its details. I won't disagree with the M4-2, though!</p>

<p>Colin, thanks for the video about the Rolleiflex. I didn't know it had eye-level focusing. I do want one. :-)</p>

<p><br />Charles, that Zeiss Wera is quite the thing. Like it was designed by Jonathan Ive. :-)</p>

<p>For what it's worth, I find myself disagreeing with most cameras listed so far. So here's my list, in no particular order:</p>

<p>Leica III, black<br>

<br />Nikon F with eye-level prism, black<br>

<br />Leica MP<br>

<br />Leica 0-Series<br>

<br />Nikon SP, black<br>

<br />Zeiss Contax I<br>

<br />Nikon F4s<br>

<br />Hasselblad 500C/M, black, lens with later housing design<br>

<br />Agfa Iso-Pak<br>

<br />Leica D-Lux 7</p>

<p>(Bonus: Arriflex 435)</p>

<p>Here's the thing I can see from the responses so far. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Some seem to see beauty in machine like functionality, while others (myself included) prefer a cleaner less encumbered look. I don't like when cameras get Wart hoggish. That's my main complaint with the modern DSLR. There's just too many darn buttons, and knobs. At the same time I do like functional beauty. I don't think of cameras as "tools" like some, I think of them as "instruments." Cameras are little gems of precision, and beauty. I mean a camera is not to a photographer what a hammer is to a carpenter. It has far more in common with the devices ships once used to guide themselves across oceans, than a pair of pliers. <br /> There are those who seem to like wood construction over metal, and those who like the reverse. To be honest I hadn't even considered large format when I asked the question, but yes, they're beautiful too. I remember once wanting a Toyo when I was young, and at the time thought it was the Bee's Knee's. I got a Toyota Corolla instead because I was young, and foolish. It's freaking 1 degree outside my window this morning. ;) ;)</p>

<p>Following upon Bruce's comments and Karim's suggestion of the Leica O series, it is true that the most unencumbered designs are often the best. The "O" series", despite its early "shortcomings" (as seen in hindsight), is a beauty, as was Barnack's 1911 or so prototype. Its rounded ends, like later Leicas, the Vito B and others, add to the aesthetic appeal as well as natural fitting of the hands</p>

<p>Eye of the beholder is right. I would probably swap the "ugly duck" (my subjective view) VF of the Nikon SP for a cleaner styled S2, S3 or S4. Karim, the original Leica black III (which I could never afford in near mint condition) is no doubt nicer than the Shintaro mod, but I understand the finish did not last as long as that of the more modern professional conversions.</p>

<p>The Canham metal series of 4x5 or 5x7 cameras seem to be architectural delights, although I have never been closer to one than a photograph. </p>

<p><img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm100/amoebahydra/Photo%20Equipment/Alpa11el.jpg~original" alt="" /></p>

<p>Olympus OM-1...</p>

<p>Range Finder: <strong>Leica M-3</strong><br>

SLR: Olympus <strong>OM-3/Om-4</strong>, with <strong>Nikon FE-2</strong> coming in a close second <br>

Medium Format (Film): <strong>Hasselblad 500 C/M</strong> <br>

Large Format(field) - <strong>Tachihara 4X5 field camera</strong><br>

DSLR: <strong>Pentax K3</strong>, tie with <strong>Nikon DF</strong><br>

Large Format(Mono-rail)<strong> : Linhoff Kardan</strong><br>

SLR AF(film) : <strong>Canon Elan II silver</strong>.</p>

<p>Okay, you Guys need to see some pictures. Feast your eyes on these two beauties. The Contax ST, and the Pentax LX. ;)<br>

<a data-bm="361"><img src="http://www.fotopelloni.it/affari/contaxST.jpg" alt="" data-bm="360" /></a><a data-bm="264"><img src="http://www.adorama.com/alc/files/71a9592a641b8ef23039d5d3f5f525c5.jpg" alt="" data-bm="326" /></a></p>

<p>I forgot Alpa - what a beauty!</p>

<p>Well that's easy, my M3...</p><div></div>

<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/1rQ0qfS.png" alt="" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>I like my Contax 3A. The body was recently refurbished.</p><div></div>

<p>The Minox subminiature is a beautiful piece of design, with perhaps the original stainless steel Riga the nicest of all:<br>

http://www.cryptomuseum.com/covert/camera/minox/<br>

The Compass is another great subminiature for fans of watchlike precision: http://fotographiqa.tumblr.com/post/31250600833/1940s-jaeger-lecoultre-compass-35mm-camera-on<br>

Hard to pick a Leica, but I'd rate the pre-war models highest - maybe a Nickel/black Leica II or perhaps a chrome IIIa.<br>

The F100 is my favourite Nikon.</p>

 

<p>The first Leica digital. The M8.</p>

<p>Still holds its own against any camera and it has all that brass and pure quality of build. One step into the past and one step into the future.</p>

<p>All those tiny things....really tiny things lost in the past compared to a camera which still walks proud in the present.</p>

<p>Hey, what is really nicer than a Leica M...real world.</p>

Canon T90...with vivitar series one 70 210.....better then strawberry shortcake...you know, the ones that grandma used to make...when

she was alive

Oh..and a Canon 630...best 10 dollar camera in the secondary market, at less then the cost of a couple rolls of film, fits my hand...and

budget very well.

<p>Im obviously biased but dare apply</p><div></div>

<p>THE LITTMAN EMPIRE STATE MMXV</p><div></div>