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

<p>In my book was the Contax ST, but I was also very fond of the ever underrated Pentax LX. The ST was just a stunner, but the LX had an understated elegance in addition to it's unrivaled abilities in my humble opinion.<br>

Anyway, I was curious what cameras the rest of you might nominate for the last forty or fifty years? We're talking beauty contest here. Let's face it there have been a lot of ugly ducklings in that time. ;)</p>

<p>Leica M4-2.</p>

<p>Not only beautiful in its semi-matte black metal and specific type of body covering, but also the camera that rescued the Leica rangefinder from oblivion after the M5, otherwise a fine camera, proved to be a market flop.</p>

<p>For a post production painted camera somewhat older than your dates, this IIIc/f Leica painted in the early 2000s by Shintaro of Japan:</p>

<div></div>

The Leica's a looker indeed. I would also suggest the Nikon F2 with the DE-1 eye

level finder - best looking SLR ever, IMO

<p>The Olympus OM1-D, without the optional hot shoe, was beautiful, both in how it looked and how it felt in my hands. Whether it is the most beautiful was not something I wouldn't try to determine.</p>

<p>The Exakta VX series.<br>

Sturdy and fit the hands.<br>

The left hand operation let the stronger right hand free for a more stable platform.</p>

<p>Are you forgetting the Hasselblad Lunar?</p>

<p>"<em>With its evocative retro look, the Hasselblad Lunar revives the timeless charm of the 500C through its famous chrome-plated frame, made smooth and supple by the total absence of edges.</em></p>

<p><em>An aesthetically compelling piece of camera art, the Lunar is a gorgeous object to both behold and to hold. For its ergonomics, its weight and its design all make it irresistible to the touch.</em></p>

<p><em>Developed in the traditional way, using handmade wooden prototypes, the Lunar’s specifications are naturally without parallel. However, it is the innovative use of materials that really puts this model in a class of its own</em>"</p>

<p>It's got a wooden grip and no edges. How can you beat that?</p><div></div>

<p>I quite like the simplicity of the last few iterations of the Leica M, but ultimately my vote goes for the Rolleiflex F-series TLR:<br>

<a href="

<p>I agree with nominations for the Leica M and Pentax LX but also...</p>

<p>Doesn't quite quaify for the last 40 years but how about the original 1960's -70's Olympus Pen F and FT series? </p><div></div>

<p>I'm with David, the F2 is my favorite though I prefer the any of the Photomic finders and an MD-2.</p>

<p>Rick H.</p>

<p>Yes these definitely look like some of the finer specimens in Camography. Bob's choice looks like it belongs in the Museum of Modern Art. I forgot to mention the Nikon F100 which I thought fairly handsome at the end of the film era. I almost got one while debating whether or not to go digital. I didn't really want to go digital, and the F100 nearly stopped me.<br>

I don't know about you Guys, but I've always had trouble getting emotionally invested in a camera if I didn't like the way it looked. Does that make me shallow? ;) ;)</p>

My vote would be for a jade green Toyo VX125 4x5 view camera. When I was doing large format photography, I always

wanted one because it is compact, functional, and quite gorgeous. But I could never justify the rather large expense (still

available for about $5K).

<p>I'd be embarrassed to show up in public with that Hasselblad Lunar.<br>

<br>

It's like adding burl-wood to the dash of a Porsche. </p>

Not the Lunar. The Hasselblad 500 series. That's the most beautiful camera.

Olive green Zeiss Werra 1. Runner up, Olympus Trip 35.

<p>Do we have enough room on this site to take my list. I doubt it. NIKONF-LEICAFLEXSL-LEICAR4-LEICAM3-FUJIFILMX10-X20-X100-CONTAXD-ROLLEIFLEXSL35E-Etc, Etc, Etc AD INFINITUM.</p>

<p>Leica M3, IIIg. Nikon F, Pentax Spotmatic, Zeiss Ikon Contarex Special. I'd probably pick the IIIg if I had to make a choice...</p>

<p>Really tough choice. Putting aside the Leicas (which I think win hands down), I think the lines and functionality of this version of the Ricoh 500 earn it a top spot in the beauty category (even though I prefer an earlier version for use).</p><div></div>

<p>I don't know Ken, and Robin appear to be camera floozies. Do ya think you could narrow it down a bit to say two or three cameras. ;) ;)</p>

<p>A large number of cameras bearing the name "Contax" are among the most beautiful <em>ever </em>made, but my personal favorites are the Contax S and later post-WWII Dresden eye-level SLRs, here in the D form</p><div></div>

<p>How about the <a href="http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/camera/popup/zoom_o-product.html">Olympus O-Product</a>?<br /><img src="http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/image-archives/camera/popup/image/pop_zoom_o-product.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="360" /></p>

<p>Henry Posner<br /><strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

<p>Leicas are indeed top notch when it comes to aesthetic (though I am excluding all screw-mounts) - with the M9 Titanium Special Edition taking the crown: <a href="http://www.blessthisstuff.com/imagens/stuff/img_leica_m9_titanium.jpg">http://www.blessthisstuff.com/imagens/stuff/img_leica_m9_titanium.jpg </a></p>

<p>Most pleasing SLR to to look at - Nikon F2 Titan: <a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8247156472_d5d2d54d6d_c.jpg">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8247156472_d5d2d54d6d_c.jpg</a></p>

 

<p>Olympus Pen F series for me. Maitani's other designs are not far behind, IMO.</p>

<p>You are all kidding, right?</p>

<p>http://deardorffcameras.0catch.com/V4-V5_FS/V4_wa.jpg</p>

<p>If the essence of beauty is that form must follow function, and that the function must be as simple yet efficient as possible, then the sleekest and most beautiful camera ever made is the Leica M4 in chrome, with one of the jewel-like Leitz lenses attached.</p>

<p>I don't have one of those--I do have an M3, which I dearly love and am not going to get rid of anytime soon. But the M4 is slightly more ravishing because it has done away with the superfluous projecting frames around the windows on the front of the camera, it has a more efficient film loading and rewinding system than the M3, and it has 35mm frame lines--the focal length of God Himself.</p>

<p>Now, if we're talking cameras I actually own, then my Rolleiflex T, in sexy grey, is the one, with its stunning Art Deco styling. If I can only find the wanton folding mirrored-chrome lens cap to replace the dowdy black plastic one it currently wears, it would be perfection incarnate. (Speaking of Rolleiflex, has anyone else ever noticed how beautiful are the patterned cardboard boxes that the vintage Rollei cameras and accessories came in? And how sensuous--and fragrant--are the genuine leather filter cases and leather straps? Who would have thought the austere Germans would have made such erotically charged camera gear??)</p>