tony_lockerbie Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>While posting a reply in the thread about the Nikon F3, I was wondering which camera in your opinion, has the nicest wind on action.<br> The F3 is up there, but my vote goes to the Minolta XE1/ Leica R3.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw12dz Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Tony,</p> <p>Are we going to limit this to SLR's? If so, then my vote goes to my Nikon F3HP. The film advance is like butter. Can't think of a better way to describe it. However, the only SLR's that I have ever owned are Canon and Nikon (that limits my objectivity) so I'll give 2nd place to my Canon F1. I'm sure any of the so called "pro" bodies from the different manufacturers will have a nice wind on feel. Probably due to the materials used in building the cameras.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjscharp Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 M3 single stroke. Brass, custom fitted geartrain for smooth movement, ribbed end of the handle for perfect grip. You can carry the camera by the wind lever, and with a quick flick of the wrist advance to the next frame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>I find the old Praktica 1950s Knob wind smoother than most of the lever winds of the latter years. sp.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canfred Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>I think Subbarayan has got it right, my experience is the Leica IIIf no need to move the camera away form your eye just run your finger along the wind knob for the next shot.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry_zet Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>leicaflex sl2 - like running a hot knife through cold butter.</p> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry_zet Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>leicaflex sl2 - like running a hot knife through cold butter.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendell_kelly Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>A recently CLA'd Leica IIIc/IIIf.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Nikon FM2n and right behind it the Canon F-1n. My Nikon F3 is very smooth but the camera is well worn from heavy motordrive use so the FM2n just feels better on manual wind. Silky but firm. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn_rahman Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>I concur with the F3 - the advance on my F3HP is as smooth as I can imagine. <br> But I've recently purcahsed an M7, and am very impressed with the advance on it. A little more friction on the M7 than the F3, but very quiet and smooth in its own right.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_502260 Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>A properly working Minolta SRT is very smooth. Between the Canon F-1 and F-1n I prefer the smoothness of the F-1. The stroke is longer. The winding stroke of the F-1n is overgeared so it's shorter. Without film both are smooth. With film the F-1 feels smoother to me. The Minolta x-700's advamce is also smooth.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Currie Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>II haven't found anything yet to outdo the F3HP. However, some of the old Voigtlanders have a nice kind of clockworky feel, tight and precise, with the audible ratcheting providing a nice reminder that this is a <em>machine</em> full of little German gears and pawls and cams and levers.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauren_macintosh Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p><em>I think the Contaflex With its wind is very good and smooth my other contaflex with its stroke lever nice but not like the wined one</em></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Collins Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>I agree with Tony and think that the smoothest ever is the Minolta XE-series. Sometimes I like when my XE-7 has no film in it just so I can play with the film advance and hear and feel the smooth shutter sound and action. The F-1 is certainly nice, but the XE is even nicer. The XD-series is almost just as nice.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_robison3 Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Minolta XE7 among Japanese cameras. Of course this camera was developed when Leica and Minolta had fruitful trade agreements and I think the Leica R series and this camera share components. My OM-1 is OK, not the greatest but perhaps a 6.5 or 7 on a scale of 10. I also have a OM-2sp that's just awful, with an odd divided cycle that feels like I'm trying to grind coffee beans and advance the film at the same time. The old Nikon F didn't feel great but by all reports were quite rugged and long lived so I guess smoothness isn't everything.</p> <p>Oh yes. Moving away from SLR's the little wheel advance on the Oly Pen VF cameras can be very nice and is also fast. A smooth, clean design that actually works.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furcafe Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Canon P.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m smith Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <blockquote> <p>but my vote goes to the Minolta XE1/ Leica R3.</p> </blockquote> <p>I have an XE-1 tooand it's currently my favourite 35mm SLR.<br> I suppose the fact that I can't comment on the film wind mechanism (without going and playing with it) means that it is good. i.e. I have no reason to think anything bad of it.<br> I'm going off to play with it now to see what you are referring to!</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_bergman1 Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Graflex Grafmatic.</p> <p>Moving those 4x5 sheets of film was never easier.</p> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lazzari Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Well being a technician who has serviced a multitude of cameras since 1977, the smoothest advance in my memory is the true ball bearing advance; <a href="http://www.vermontel.net/~wsalati/CasualCollector/topcon.htm">Topcon Super D aka Super RE</a> </p> <p>IMHO I feel that the Leica R3/Minolta XE is a <strong>distant</strong> second...</p> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_marvin Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Canon VI T</p> <p>Although my Leica IIIf is almost as fast when I wind by running my index finger along the knob.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ty_mickan Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Had f3, f4, f5 and other various brands but nothing I've owned compared with the leica m3. The m4, m6, m7, and mp are also good, but not quite. I haven't had the double stroker, but I understand that it is even better than the single stroker. The old Leitz craftsman rated the d.s. M3 as the peak of all the m's. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Another vote for the Minolta XE series.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_lockerbie Posted October 7, 2009 Author Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Very interesting replies, and I must admit I was thinking of SLR's when I posed the question, however all must be considered!<br> Which brings in the Leicas, and you are right about the M3, and the 111G was very sweet if my memory serves me correctly.<br> Seems that the F3 is very highly rated, and I must admit that I had forgotten about the Topcon RE Super, so I dragged it out and must agree that it is up there, and beats the Nikon...but just....and the Minolta...juries still out.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iliafarniev Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>I am surprised nobody mentioned Contax RTS III which is the best, probably.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Luttmann Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 <p>Minolta X700</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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