Great film cameras you always meant to try but never got around to it.

My list: Nikon F2, Pentax LX, Olympus Ti, Canon T90...

Nikon F6 and FM3a

 

Incidentally, those are probably the two most expensive/valuable standard production Nikon film cameras made.

F6, though used are coming into my $ range. Wouldn't mind trying Leica MA, MP or M7, though I wouldn't buy one. Hasselblad?

I always wondered about the Canon f/0.95 lens, which I believe is made for the Canon 7 camera.

 

I got to use my father's Canon VI after he bought a Pellix, and he had a manual with a picture of the f/0.95 lens.

 

I might have wondered about a medium format SLR, though not too specific on which model.

 

When I inherited much of my grandfather's photography equipment in 1968, I didn't inherit his

Topcon Auto-100, which instead was sold to my uncle. I might also have thought about

that one in years after that.

I've still got a few to actually shoot film with, but I have pretty much got the cameras I always wanted to have. Only a few of them cost more than a fancy large, thin crust, anchovy and garlic pizza nowadays

 

Plus, I do have a bunch of others that few people have used twice, if they could help it. o_O

 

Maybe the one, would be to try the Bell & Howell Foton. We shall see.

I also might have always meant to try a real fish-eye lens, which again requires a camera that can work with it.

 

As I remember, the early Nikon fish-eyes require a lock-up mirror and external viewfinder.

At the time, that would have been a Nikon F. I am not sure which later models they would work with.

I also might have always meant to try a real fish-eye lens, which again requires a camera that can work with it.

 

As I remember, the early Nikon fish-eyes require a lock-up mirror and external viewfinder.

At the time, that would have been a Nikon F. I am not sure which later models they would work with.

 

Any single-digit F-series camera except the F6. All the various Nikkormats and the EL2 also have real full-time MLU. The ones I'm familiar with are preset lenses, so there's no need to worry about a flip-up aperture tab on an AI body(although the F3, F4, EL2, and Nikkormat FT3 have one, and Nikon will still put one on an F5 if you're set on using it).

 

Even though an F is period-correct MLU is a pain and you lose a frame in each direction-you have to engage MLU and then fire the shutter. The mirror doesn't return. When you're done with MLU, you have to turn the MLU knob to the unlock position, and the mirror will come down when you advance the film. The F2, F3, and F4 all have the same basic MLU-type mechanism where there's a button and small lever that will naturally fall under your right index finger. The F5 has a lever in about the same place, but it works a bit differently. The Nikkormats(including the EL2) have a slider on the side of the pentaprism housing.

 

One thing to consider-IIRC, the supplied external finder is designed to slip over the rewind crank of an F. Anything that will fit over the crank of an F will fit an F2, but I believe the F3 is designed differently and the F4 eliminates the over-crank stuff completely.

 

So, on the whole, an F2 is PROBABLY your best bet.

 

If you want metering(non-TTL) you'll need to use an F with an original Photomic and it will be uncoupled. You'll need to use the slider on the front of the prism until you center the needle, and then read the aperture off the window at the back(or through the viewfinder) and transfer it to the lens. Alternatively, set your aperture on the lens, move the slider on the meter to match that set aperture, and turn the shutter speed dial to center the needle.

 

Isn't all of this fun? :)

I've been fortunate in having either owned or had access to a ton of film cameras. The Mamiya C330 Pro F was once on my bucket list, but after owning and using a Rolliflex, 2 Yashicas, and 2 Ricoh TLRs I realized that I didn't want to go that route. The only other one on my list was a Minox B, but having owned other sub-minis it was merely curiosity. I'm still narrowing down my film camera "collection" although not very successfully, as I love them all and hate the anxiety which goes with disposing of them.

Hasselblad 2000FC, Linhof Technikardan.

Plaubel Makina, Ermanox, Mamiya 6/7

All the American classics like Deardorff, Gowland TLR, Graflex

Better CaNikon RFs

EOS 50 or 1

Gowland TLR

Wasn't that a "Gowlandflex"? That takes me back in time - couple of his books somewhere in the box room. Thanks for reminding me!

Never got around to any of these because most are rare and/or expensive. (Or hard to find in good condition)

• Kiev 5
  
• KMZ Start; Zenit D, 14, 16, APk
  
• Almaz 101, 102, 104
  
• Pentacon Super
  
• Exakta RTL 1000
  
• Konica F
  
• Alpa 11 Si
  

Nikon Rangefinders, Leica SLRs, Olympus OM-1, Leica Monochrom (either version), Fuji X100 (some version). Not all are expensive, but I've been lucky to get to try a lot of cameras that look interesting.

A LInhof 4 x 5 Master Technika

&

16mm Arri (OK, a movie camera)

@Sandy Vongries Yes! you are right.

I forgot to mention: Rolleiflex with Rolleikin. and a Baby Speedgraphic

Contax N1

Any Rolleiflex

Fujica 35 SE

Any LTM rangefinder

(snip regarding mirror lock-up fisheye lenses)

 

Any single-digit F-series camera except the F6. All the various Nikkormats and the EL2 also have real full-time MLU. The ones I'm familiar with are preset lenses, so there's no need to worry about a flip-up aperture tab on an AI body(although the F3, F4, EL2, and Nikkormat FT3 have one, and Nikon will still put one on an F5 if you're set on using it).

 

Even though an F is period-correct MLU is a pain and you lose a frame in each direction-you have to engage MLU and then fire the shutter. The mirror doesn't return. When you're done with MLU, you have to turn the MLU knob to the unlock position, and the mirror will come down when you advance the film.

 

(snip)

 

So, on the whole, an F2 is PROBABLY your best bet.

 

(snip)

 

Isn't all of this fun? :)

 

Well, I don't have one of the lenses, which is probably why I added to this thread.

 

I do have an F, though I believe the meter doesn't work. (But as you say, that doesn't matter here.)

 

I have an F2 and I think the meter does work. Both F and F2 are from Goodwill, not the place

to buy the most reliable cameras. I have never tried the MLU, even without film.

I should read the manuals more carefully for them.

 

I also have an FT3 and EL2, I believe also from Goodwill. (A great place to buy low-priced

cameras.)

 

My first Nikon is an FM, that I remember from the manual saying not to use those

MLU fish-eye lenses.

My first Nikon is an FM, that I remember from the manual saying not to use those

MLU fish-eye lenses.

 

The "compact" series bodies(FM, FM2(n), FM3a, FE, FE2, FA) have mirror pre-fire associated with the self timer, but do not have real, full time MLU.

Bronica RF645 would be interesting to try out...

I went through a period when medium format film cameras were suddenly becoming inexpensive, where I would buy one camera and then, if it was not exactly what I was searching for, resell it on eBay, turn around and buy another camera on eBay. I bought and sold a Mamiya C33, C330, 645, RB67, and 7, Fuji GS645S, GS645SW, and GW690, and a Rolleiflex E2. I finally settled down with the Fuji GS645S because of it's small size and superb lens, and used it along with my Canon F1 and 4x5 Wista field camera for several years before switching to DSLR. I finally sold the Fuji. I still own a few Canon 35mm SLR film cameras, a bunch of FL and FD lenses, and the Wista field camera. Although I once owned a Canon IVSB rangefinder camera, I have never owned a Leica, and would like to try an M2 or M3. Also, a Hasselblad, since I have never owned one, and a Linhof Technikardan.

Not that it would ever even be possible since the film is no longer available and complete sets are hard to come by, but I was always fascinated by the Cirkut Camera.

Arriflex 435

Panavision XL

Leica M7

Leica M4

Olympus OM-4 Ti

Contax RTS III

Leica R4

Minolta A9

Mamiya 6

Nikon F4

Nikon F3 HS

Canon F1 HS

I thought about the Canon T90, but didn't bite. I wish I would have bought a Canon EOS film camera.

I've also lusted after Deardorffs, Linhoff Technikardan or Technika, and Canham DLC.

Leica M6 or MP and an Alpa.

Kodak Medalist