JDMvW Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 A Canon T90 with a working shutter. But maybe, the Canon EOS 3, But on the other hand, the Nikkormat EL is sweet...... No I just can't do it. I can't choose. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodeo_joe1 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Seriously JDM? You'd consider keeping either of those ugly Canons as your only camera? My similarly ugly F-801s returned really excellent results and has excellent metering, but if I had to choose between that and one of my F2As, it would be absolutely no contest. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_foreman1 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 I too like very much the ZI 532/16. This is the Super Ikonota. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruslan Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Pentax LX 2000 or Nikon FM 3a I have never taken those in my hands so it would be tempting. :rolleyes: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin McAmera Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 My Zenit 3 (it would be the original Zenit if I could rely on its shutter): but I'll be tormented by the thought of my Super Sport Dolly left outside the shelter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul ron Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 what classifies as classic?... age, popularity in its day, or just discontinued? i see a plastic body eos posted as classic? its been that long ago? 1 The more you say, the less people listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryaneberly Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Despite liking my old Nikons The OM2n is a little gem. Compact, huge viewfinder and again very nice on the eyes. A very pretty camera in chrome. The reason I would keep the Oly over the Nikons comes down to this. The 28mm 3.5 lens. Good at all stops but for scenic work crank it down to F8-F11 and it is one of the best lenses on film I've ever used. IMO world class as is the fine construction of Olympus prime lenses. Because of versatility and portability, in the end The OM2n with the 28 3,5 and a 50mm would be my choice if I could just keep one. Would have to agree with you here. Despite the great selections in my collection, the Olympus OM-2n is my favorite. Of course the following Zuiko lenses would stay with it: 24mm f2.8 35mm f2.8 50mm f1.8 MIJ 135mm f3.5 200mm f4 Probably would exchange the 50 and 135 with an 85mm f2, though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyfalsetta Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Seriously JDM? You'd consider keeping either of those ugly Canons as your only camera? My similarly ugly F-801s returned really excellent results and has excellent metering, but if I had to choose between that and one of my F2As, it would be absolutely no contest. Quick Canon story; in 1989 I joined Canon (on the copier side of the company) and showed up at the company Christmas Party with my wife's Minolta Hi-matic. I got so much crap because i didn't have a Canon. I told them when they give me one I'll use one. With good intentions I looked into the employee discount program. I found out you could buy one cheaper at a big box store. Ultimately in 2004 we broke $10 billion in sales and everyone got a Powershot. Up to that point I was using anything but a Canon just to rub their noses in it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moving On Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 what classifies as classic?. Simple well seasoned quality, attractive in form, reliable in function. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 Adaptability is good to have as well. The M42 to Minolta SR adapter allows all of my screw mount lenses to fit and infinity focus on my Minolta bodies. In addition to the Minolta brand adapter I have the Pentax adapter that also allows use of screw mount lenses on my Pentax MX. While I do have a Pentax Spotmatic F, I find the Pentax lenses easier to focus on the MX and SRT cameras. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham_evans2 Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 This one. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_cooper9 Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Technika IV 4x5 with 120 150 and 210 lenses and a 6x9 back. A tank that will survive an EMP blast, and it can be used to club the zombies. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_gallimore1 Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 So hard to choose between rangefinder and SLR, 35mm or a larger format, but for all round use, flexibility, size, I think it would have to be this one: Zenit with Industar-50 50mm f3.5, Mir-1 37mm f2.8, Helios-44 58mm f2 and Jupiter-9 80mm f2. Some of the more exotic f1.5 lenses would be nice too, but I'm not sure they were made in M39 mount? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin McAmera Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 I have a 39mm Helios-40 (85/1.5); it's big, but nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 those ugly Canons It's function, not form, that is the purest beauty. Besides, the form of the Canons was that of the cameras that came after them, they were harbingers not retro. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m42dave Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 Some of the more exotic f1.5 lenses would be nice too, but I'm not sure they were made in M39 mount? Nice Zenit outfit! The Helios-40 85mm f/1.5 was made in M39 mount, and is fairly common to find. It takes 66mm filters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsetto Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 It was really hard to pick just one, since I love 'em all for different things (Hasselblad, Mamiya C220f, Konica T3 with its incredible Hexanon f/1.4, super-quiet Olympus OM1n). But if I could keep only a single camera, it would have to be the one I've had the longest and tend to grab first: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 reliable in function Unfortunately, it's this 'reliability of function' criterion that so often fails us when choosing our 'desert island' cameras.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted December 22, 2018 Share Posted December 22, 2018 If stranded on a desert island I'd worry more about running out film than camera reliability issues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moving On Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Unfortunately, it's this 'reliability of function' criterion that so often fails us when choosing our 'desert island' cameras.... I guess I have been fortunate in that regard. Probably too easy on them but except for seals being replaced, all of my old stuff continues to function as it did 40 years ago. But the oldest I have is a Kodak Retina from around 1960 or so. Dad just gave me his Mother’s Kodak Brownie from ‘41 and it appears to be functional, at least until I get the spool adapters to check it out for certain. I have however worn out several later models between 1990 and 2015, including 3 Olympus Stylus models, film and digital. I am sure you have used many older and longer than I though, in rougher conditions as well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Claude Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 Just a fun survey. In my case it would probably come down to my 1957 Yashicamat or my Olympus OM2n. In favor of the Yashica would be the 100% all metal construction and the overall beauty of the camera itself. It is an attention getter for sure. Not to mention the nice MF image quality. Despite liking my old Nikons The OM2n is a little gem. Compact, huge viewfinder and again very nice on the eyes. A very pretty camera in chrome. The reason I would keep the Oly over the Nikons comes down to this. The 28mm 3.5 lens. Good at all stops but for scenic work crank it down to F8-F11 and it is one of the best lenses on film I've ever used. IMO world class as is the fine construction of Olympus prime lenses. Because of versatility and portability, in the end The OM2n with the 28 3,5 and a 50mm would be my choice if I could just keep one. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertgiles Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 If just one, my Fed 1 and lie about my SRT 101 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto1 Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 Would have to agree with you here. Despite the great selections in my collection, the Olympus OM-2n is my favorite. Of course the following Zuiko lenses would stay with it: 24mm f2.8 35mm f2.8 50mm f1.8 MIJ 135mm f3.5 200mm f4 Probably would exchange the 50 and 135 with an 85mm f2, though. And that is my most basic kit, a 24 f2.8 with an 85 f2. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_withers Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 Kodak Retina Reflex III 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomspielman Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 I have a problem with commitment. :) Film and film cameras are fun for me, - repairing as well as using. But so far, none have stayed around for more than a couple of years since I've taken up the hobby. Still trying to figure out what I'm going to use long term. If forced to choose one that I'd keep a long time, it would be the OM-1n. Simple, compact, and versatile. But there's a real possibility that I'd opt for the Nikonos instead. It's a unique camera and the lenses have the best scale focusing mechanism I've seen. The little moving pincers clearly show the effects of aperture on focus and depth of field. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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