What are your picks for the most beautiful SLRs?

As I said on another thread on why one collects, I think that the original prism

35mm SLR,the Contax S, is one of three cameras I would say are the most

beautiful SLRs ever made. It was made by Zeiss Ikon in the Russian occupied

zone,what became VEB Pentacon later.

 

The other two are the Asahi Pentax S2 and the Nikon F without the meter.

 

Of course, there were many later versions with essentially the same bodies, but

there's always something about the first of a kind, isn't there?

 

 

I'm curious to see what other collectors consider the "most beautiful" SLRs.<div></div>

1. Nikon F3

2. Pentax Spotmatic

3. Canon FTb

4. Minolta XD-11

5. Nikon FE2

The original Canon F1 looks great. It has class.

Not technically a "classic" by the forum standards, OM1. Later versions got progressively more cluttered. Early SLRs with the "naked" prism without the flash shoe on top def have a higher esthetic quality to me.

1. Exakta VXIIa: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/exakta-vx2a.jpg

 

2. Olympus Pen F: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/penfs.jpg

 

3. Olympus OM1: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/oms.jpg

 

4. Contax (Pentacon) F: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/pcon-fm.jpg

I think the Agfaflex cameras are some of the most beautiful ever made, as are the Retina Reflex family of cameras. I currently have the Agfaflex IV with the removable mirror to turn it into a waist-level finder camera. To me this camera looks like camera art, and has such a high-quality feel to it, not to mention the very satisfying ker-chunk of the shutter when it's fired. I find Retinas to be beautiful in an ungainly sort of way. They don't have the sexy curves and lines of some slr cameras, but their design shouts top-notch engineering and durability. The Retinas I have are the Reflex III and IV models, along with the Instamatic Reflex (or Retina Instamatic as it's sometimes referred to). I have yet to foray into the Zeiss Ikon and Contax territory, but someday...<div></div>

I can't think of ANY beautiful SLRs (Pentax LX and Nikon F3, not HP) would come closest. But IMHO there's no doubt at all about the most beautiful 35mm.

i guess that's why it's in the eye of the beholder, and there have been some very interesting and very different responses. i can't argue with you on the Contax II, though....

Alpa 11 series - http://www.alpareflex.com/Cameras/11.htm

 

Exacta VX series - http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/ihagee/vx.htm

 

Contax RTS series - http://www.hugorodriguez.com/articulos/contaxrts3.htm

 

Olympus Pen F series - http://www.cameraquest.com/olypenf.htm

 

Topcon RE Super - http://www.vermontel.net/~wsalati/CasualCollector/topcon.htm

 

Konica AutoReflex TC - http://www.pbase.com/equipment/image/51288448

Nikon F2AS with a Motor Drive because I always dreamed of owning one when I was learning photography as a teenager.

IMHO to be truly beautiful you have to be wearing black

 

Steve<div></div>

Although many might consider them ugly, I think the most beautiful cameras I own are the Topcon Unirex, the Exacta RTL1000 and the Nikon F with plain prism.<div></div>

I'll say Contax S, Minolta XD11, Miranda (F/G/Sensomat), Pentax Spotmatic, and Topcon R Automatic.

Nice to see a mention for the RTL1000, one of my earliest SRLs, seen by many as something of an ugly duckling, though I liked it for its versatility. Since the original query was on the most beautiful SLR ever made, I'd argue that that necessarily must include later models than would be normal for this forum, so I'd have to mention the Contax RX as one of the finest I've ever handled, and lovely to look at, closely followed by the RTS. There's also something about the feel of the early Pentax Spotmatic and its sister cameras. I'm afraid I never thought the early Nikons were beautiful in any way, though their quality was never in doubt. I'd also add a mention for the Contaflex.

Hasselblad 500C

 

I'd swear I already said that...

Thanks, all. I said SLR because there are truly some classic and beautiful RFs and others. I too like the Contax II, even in its Kiev rags.

 

I confess,too, that there are some named above that I never thought to see on such a list. Still, looking at some of them I can almost see why someone would choose them ;)

KW Pilot Super<br>

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex

An original silver Olympus OM-1 The detailing is beautiful. Classic: an Alpa.

Topcon Super D

Pentax Spotmatic F

Nikkormat FT2

Olympus OM1 or 2

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3519078-lg.jpg">

well, that has to qualify as the most beautiful LENS anyway! I do like the Zenit, though I'm not sure I'd call it a work of art...

That lens looks like the Rolls Royce jet engine that powered the old Lockheed TriStars!

Topcon Super D with the beautiful 58 1.4 Topcor. Simple styling, obviously robust, no frills, just form, function, and class (IMO).

My vote would have to go for a Retina Reflex III. Its beautifully finished.