Worlds best film advance?

<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>

<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>

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.

<p>I find the old Praktica 1950s Knob wind smoother than most of the lever winds of the latter years. sp.</p>

<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>

<p>leicaflex sl2 - like running a hot knife through cold butter.</p>

<p>leicaflex sl2 - like running a hot knife through cold butter.</p>

<p>A recently CLA'd Leica IIIc/IIIf.</p>

<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>

<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>

<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>

<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>

<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>

<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>

<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>

<p>Canon P.</p>

<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>

<p>Graflex Grafmatic.</p>

<p>Moving those 4x5 sheets of film was never easier.</p>

<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>

<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>

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.

<p>Another vote for the Minolta XE series.</p>

<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>

<p>I am surprised nobody mentioned Contax RTS III which is the best, probably.</p>

<p>Minolta X700</p>