If you were to add a 35mm 'manual' SLR...

Old style 'manual' SLRs like Canon AE-1, Nikon F's of various sorts,

even Contax's are falling and falling in prices. Many times I found

myself prefering using a SLR (apart from that mirror slap). If you

were to add a ol'-skool SLR this day and age -- what would you pick

and why?

 

I'm thinking of a basic set up - 3 fast primes - a 24-28mm, a 50/1.4

and a nice portrait lens.

 

Cheers,

I did this, and sold it. Just personal preference, don't like SLR's for most of what I shoot. What I had was a Nikon FM2n, tough as nails. I'd get the AE model though if I were to do it again.

Olympus OM. Take your pick among the 1, 2, 3, or 4. You can get an OM2SP (with spotmeter) for around $250 in excellent shape, plus the primes you want for not terribly much money.

Just bought one last week, Patrick. It seems I always regret selling a camera. When I got back into Leica in the mid-90's I sold my Nikon F3. That's what I bought back, along with a 24 f2, 35 f1.4, and a 105 Micro. It is a well made camera, manual with aperture-priority auto if you want it. I always liked the lenses, one drawback is the hot shoe is non-standard. I paid $275 for the body on Ebay, it's in good shape.

Pentax LX. One of the nicest photography machines ever built.

Exceptional low light metering capability, off the film metering,

sealed against dust and water, removable viewfinder with

numerous choices, many accessories including 5 fps motor

drive, and those great Pentax SMC lenses.

I'd probably buy a new Bessaflex and look around for a Vivitar Series 1 90mm macro and a 180/2.8 C.Z. Jena Sonnar, an older single coated one. Those are two lenses I regret selling!

I'd probably buy a new Bessaflex and look around for a Vivitar Series 1 90mm macro and a 180/2.8 C.Z. Jena Sonnar, an older single coated one. Those are two lenses I regret selling!

I would look at the Contax SLRs and their Zeiss manual lenses.

1st choice: Canon F-1n (second style) tough, quiet for an SLR, clearly demarcated 12% semispot meter, doesn't have the shutter squeek that afflicts the subsequent generation Canons, good build quality (i.e., black enamel over brass, not painted polycarbonate; 2d choice: Canon A-1: full aperture or shutter priority auto exposure, metered manual, compact and light, many available and cheaply. Lenses: 24mm f2.0 is a gem; see Erwin Puts Leica site for reviews of the Canon 50s and take your choice; I have owned the 85mm f1.8 for decades and love it -- others speak highly of the 100mm f2.0.

Pentax MX. Best SLR I ever had.

I would go for a Bessaflex and some of the excellent super multi coated asahi pentax takumar lenses.

Contax RX SLR, Contax/Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.4, Contax Distagon 28mm F2.8 and 85mm Planar F1.4

 

All of these can be found at reasonable prices (even in the UK!) in Mint or E++ condition.

I use a F3hp with 28/2.8, 55/2.8 micro and 105/2.5 lenses. Exquisit kit really, the F801s is a darn good camera too, just not as tough as the F3. The F3hp is one of my "all time greatest" cameras. Someone mentioned Olympus OM, very good stuff also, especially the OM3 and OM4. BTW thanks for the saltsjöbaden tip, i do know where it´s at, didn´t know it was still in use though.

This is a no-brainer: Nikon F Photomic FTn, 24/2.8, 50/1.4 and 105/2.5. I've got 3 of them, had them since new, never serviced, still in specs. Had the meters rebuilt, new cells and recalibrated for 1.5v, just because I found someone who does it right and didn't want to let the oppty pass by. I've got a 20/3.5, 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 50/2, 135/3.5, 200/4 and 300/4.5 also, all original non-AI which I had factory-converted when it was offered, but the 24-50-105 are the ones I've used the most. They aren't the lightest or the quietest SLR's around but they are the toughest. Wore out 2 F2's and 3 F3's over the years, the F's still keep going.

Something along the lines of the FM2 series with 1/4000 and 1/250 sync. I used them to shoot high school & college graduation photos, and often shot 30+ rolls of film per day for weeks at a time.<br><br> The work was boring and results mediocre because of the subject matter, but families were ecstatic about their "grad." <br><br>

 

Other than an occasional rewind knob falling off, they were great cameras with little to fault. I thought the 50/1.8, 35/2, and the 105 Micro were my favorite lenses until I started using the M system...

You have to consider what lenses you want with this setup. Otherwise you will have too many incompatible outfits. The EOS suggestion is a good way to go considering you already have Canon digital.

 

I have been with a Nikon Manual outfit for years and don't see a reason to change. Three bodies, F2AS Photomic, FE, and newly acquired FM3a. All are still running perfectly.

 

A friend has a Leica R4 with a R-60mm Macro lens. Swears by it.

 

Look at this SPECTACULAR portfolio, all done with a Nikon F90 and not so expensive lenses. Try doing this with Leica-M:

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/member-photos?include=all&photo_id=1856414

If money were no object? F3HP titanium, 28/1.4, 58/1.2 Noct, 85/1.4. The F3HP feels great, has a very nice VF, is ultra-durable. The lenses listed are basically the best fast primes Nikon ever made - the 58/1.2 Noct and 85/1.4 both have good bokeh as well as sharpness.

 

More affordably: FM3a, 24/2.8, 35/1.4 and 85/1.4. The FM3A is well made, has a nice VF and just enough automation. The 24/2.8 has performed well for me, and is affordable. The 35/1.4 is an older lens, but it is close enough to normal, and very fast - plus, it doesn't have the ugly bokeh of the 50/1.4.

Frank, I whole-heartly agree that adding a simple Elan 7/33 is the "right" thing to do, but then again, they are so darn plasticy, if you know what I mean. </p>

 

I still want an old style film based system to drag around/enjoy using, but since it is more on a hobby/love base, I cannot motivate to keep a M with a set up of 3 glasses as I mention above. With all my appreciation for Leica sharpness, bokeh and low light capabilities, sometimes reality must set in as well... </p>

 

I've already have John Peri 'bookmarked' in My Workspace. Interesting folder to bring up at the office... </p>

 

<center><img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1859996&size=md"></center> </p>

 

I guess I'm looking for part of the old world charm where it all began. This photo was taken over 20 yrs ago, when I started dabbling with my father's AE-1. At the same time, I do want the AE option/function, sharp glass and preferrably a shutter that is faster than 1/2000.

If you want the old world charm then you ought to consider either the Leicaflex or Leicaflex SL. They're nearly indestructible, use fairly inexpensive 1- or 2-cam lenses with great optics, and the sensory feedback is 100% Leica. The Nikon F is rough and crude in comparison.

apart from leica i use a pentax lx. great camera. i normally use it with a 50mm

f1.4 A lens, an 85mm f1.8 takumar and my favorite, a 50mm f4 macro lens.

my god, how can the answer be anything but nikon???!!! the range of lenses produced over the years is staggering, and all work with any camera. all the mechanical bodies are built like tanks and will last forever.

 

my advice is to find a nice f2 with an as meter head (last type). this is the last handbuilt nikon. beautiful. then get a 20mm f2.8, 28mm f2.8, 55mm micro, and an 80-200 f4.5. hog heaven. heck, you might even find that you don't need/want your leica.

 

needless to say, if you weren't a leicaphile, with all the prohibited words that implies (well, 2 anyway), you'd just get an fm3a, the camera the m7 should have been.

Contax Aria, with three Zeiss primes. Small, light, quiet, fast,

great meter, great lenses, and a wonderful high eye-point finder.

Nikons focus backwards, so they aren't a good choice if you're using both Leica and another brand. I'll keep my Canon F-1, last version. It's super reliable, has lots of viewfinder options (I typically use the rotating speed finder) the focusing screens are the brightest I've ever seen, and the lenses are terrific. Among others, I use the 24mm f:2, 50mm f:1.4 and the 85mm f:1.8

 

PJW

Nikon F2AS or F2A. Primes, 24 or 28, 50, 84 or 105. The 75-150 Series E is a very good quality zoom, and I frequently use a 200/4 prime for my kids' sports. The AS (DP-12) meter with the diodes is excellent. I also have the Photomic A (DP-11) meter. It is slightly less sensitive, but quick to use with the match needle design.

 

I use it as often as my M6. Usually chromes on the Nikon, Tri-X on the Leica.

>>>Look at this SPECTACULAR portfolio, all done with a Nikon F90 and not

so expensive lenses. Try doing this with Leica-M<<<

 

Vic--Why couldn't those have been done with an M? Interesting photographs

plus a bunch of post-production work. Or am I missing something?