orsetto Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 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. Perhaps inspired by the similar nifty red coupled DOF pincers on the original Hasselblad C lenses, only Nikon went even further by making them more visible and dust/water sealed! The later Hassy CF and CFi lenses (which dropped the moving DOF pincers) always seemed less unique, more ordinary. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomspielman Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 Perhaps inspired by the similar nifty red coupled DOF pincers on the original Hasselblad C lenses, only Nikon went even further by making them more visible and dust/water sealed! The later Hassy CF and CFi lenses (which dropped the moving DOF pincers) always seemed less unique, more ordinary. The Hassy lenses are much prettier. The Nikonos lenses are more Frankensteinish by comparison with their two prominent knobs, - but it's part of their appeal to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiddlefye Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 From a purely practical picture-taking standpoint I suppose I'd have to go with my Nikon F4. I have vastly more Nikkors in the stable than any others and the F4 works happily with all of them. It allows me to work however I want at the moment, quickly or in deliberate contemplation, and does it all with grace, ease and composure. There is the issue of carting all of that mass around, but I've not become feeble as yet so it isn't a huge problem. From a joy-of-use standpoint I'd keep the Leicaflex SL-2, but a shortage of funds to expand the lens selection limits possibilities. If image quality were the prime consideration it would be the Hasselblad 500C (for which I only have the 100 f3.5 Planar), Rolleiflex 3.5 Xenotar or SL-66 with 80 f2.8 Planar. Choosing between those would be nigh unto impossible... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen_h Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 Canon VI I now have the Canon VI that my father bough (new) when I was one year old, so is the first camera I knew. It still works fairly well, too. 2 -- glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_shriver Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 Just one? Well, there's really nothing more classic than my Leica IIIa, and I can totally rebuild it at will. The Pentax LX is more flexible, but not as repairable (by a long shot). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Meyer Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Pentax Spotmatic F 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charles_stobbs3 Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 My Kodak Retina IIa. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_lockhart Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Rollei 35. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andylynn Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 That’s tough, but I’d have to say my XD11. The one with brown replacement leather. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcelRomviel Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Canon P 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_reid Posted October 26, 2019 Share Posted October 26, 2019 Mamiya Press 23. It's as big as a suitcase and weighs a ton, but is lovely to use and gives great results. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 I would keep the Exakta VX or VX IIa. It works even if some of the subsystems fail. It is designed like the old beetle VW in modules. So easy to repair and renew. has a range of high quality lenses made by almost everyone for Korea, Japan to Germany eats and West. SP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug grosjean Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 A Widelux & a Rolleiflex. Widelux photo attached. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendell_kelly Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 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. 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. 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendell_kelly Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 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. I'm a bit late joining this discussion; that being said- First choice: a Leica IIIF with a Canon(aka Serenar) 50mm f1.8 and any decent meter ( a Weston Ranger is really nice). I've had this gear on hand/in hand since 1964. In a pinch a Leica IIIc will do - I rarely, if ever, use a flash. If you have problems with this set of gear, the problem isn't in the hardware. Second choice: A Leica M3 with a Hexanon M 50mm/f2 (50mm Summicron V3 or Zeiss Planar 50mm/f2 also OK). This combination is easier to reload the film in dim light and after dark. Second choice only because the camera and lens are bulkier and heavier to carry all day. Good light all- 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis triguez Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cary_chin1 Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 1st choice would be a Leicaflex SL 2nd choice, Nikon F 3rd choice, any Minolta SRT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polka Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 My zenza bronica S2 with 50mm and 75mm nikkors and 150mm zenzanon (and also - cheating - my minox 35, hidden in my pocket) POLKa 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMar Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_eskridge Posted April 27, 2020 Share Posted April 27, 2020 Miniature Crown Graphic with 100mm Apo-Symmar and 65mm Super Angulon 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_mcewan Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 A dead heat for me between my Voigtlander Vitomatic 11a with the Ultron 50mm f2 lens, and my Voigtlander Prominent 1a fitted with the same lens. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_walmsley Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Likely my original Olympus OM-1 which I still have since 1976. My Yashica Mat 124G might be my second choice. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_murphy5 Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 My Hasselblad 500CM 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwmcbroom Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 My Canon F-1n with its complete suite of accessories. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_mounier Posted May 7, 2020 Share Posted May 7, 2020 My Voigtlander Vitessa with Ultron 2/50 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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