what is your favorite "beater" camera?

[david_kelly1]

Nikon FM, late production, bought on closeout when the FM2 appeared

circa 1982. Replaced the seals as a precaution when the camera became

old enough to vote. Meter and shutter still perfect. I use it with the

light, plastic, disposable 50mm 1.8 nikkor AF and the almost

disposable 24mm 2.8 AF, both fitted with Lutz's ten-cent cable tie

focusing tabs for one-handing..........

[jeffpolaski]

I have a Kodak Retina II and a Retina IIa. Unfolded, they sport

50/f2.0 Schneider lenses. Folded, they fit in my hip pocket and are

excellent for self defence.

[bobtodrick]

Konica Big Mini. It's the only camera I have, that, as someone

stated earlier, If I lost I'd really not care. Problem is, though it

actually takes a reasonable photo (snap!?) it is so automatic that I

don't enjoy using it, hence it sits in the cupboard. So if I loose

or damage a camera it's going to probably be a Leica :-(

[ivor_quaggin]

Rollei 35. Dropped on pavement long ago and suffering a

massive ding, but still capable of great pictures. Also a 111F,

but now at Kindermann for CLA, thus maybe moving out of the

beater class. Finally a Voigtlander Vito 111 folder with the great

Ultron f2 lens. This one acquired used for sentimental reasons.

I had one new in 1953, but sold it many years ago and regretted

it.

[luther_berry]

I admire C H Tso's casual disregard for financial expense. My

photo gear is similar to his (R8 w/50, 90, 180, 280 and will add 80

soon) BUT they definitely are NOT considered beaters. I use them but

also treat them very carefully as I do all my equipment. As a

result, my gear lasts a long time. I still have a fully functional

Nikon F2 Photomic that I bought over 30 years ago. Guess I don't

really have any beaters in my photo gear. Good shooting! :-)

LB

[richie chishty]

Leicaflex SL with a 50mm Summicron lens. Bought the lot for $350 on

EBAY! Everything works perfectly! :-)

[robert_chambers]

I recently bought a Tessar lens Rolleiflex to keep under the front

seat of my car. It cost $100, makes a great weapon if necessary and

that big negative offers lots of information.

[douglas k.]

In the sense that I am not too concerned about whether they get beat

up or stolen, all of my cameras are beaters. Just can't be bothered

to worry about 'em.

[alfie wang]

Leicaflex SL with a 50mm Summicron lens. Bought the lot for $350 on

EBAY! Everything works perfectly! :-)

 

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-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), December 07, 2001.

 

<p>

 

Wow, I remember you :) I was bidding on the same Leicaflex SL and you

won by 1-2 dollars over me on that same ebay auction :) I am happy

that you enjoyed the SL. I opted for the R4 instead the week

afterwards :)

 

<p>

 

Alfie

[tom_bryant]

M3 and 50mm f/2 Collapsible Canon Serenar. This isn't so much a

"beater" (Why would you want to use an inferior camera?) as a

"portable". Print film. No meter.

[mostly sports]

Rolleicord V, Yashica T-4, Nikon FE.

[iván]

Hi, Greg:

 

<p>

 

I'm afraid I don't really understand the "beater camera" concept. I

know you explained it well but still there is no camera I could think

of like "well used, but stays around do to it's long standing use,

inability to die, and the lack of overall concern if it gets dinged

or stolen"

 

<p>

 

If it had all the characteristis you explain I'd actually be

concerned about it getting stolen and excercise all reasonable effort

to avoid it from getting dinged or damaged in any way . . .

 

<p>

 

Now, based exclusively on the "well used, but stays around do to it's

long standing use, inability to die" part of the concept, it would be

my DS M3, I guess. But shure I wouldn't like it to be stolen . . .

 

<p>

 

Regards, Greg.

 

<p>

 

-Iván

[mostly sports]

I call them "beach cameras" instead of "beaters," and the idea is

that you may have cameras which you wish to keep out of harm's way.

Valuable as collectable, or just very valuable. But a friend

says "let's go for a sail!" Capsizing in small sail boats is no big

deal, especially if you like to ride on the edge. Might get some

great shots, which camera do you take?

[michael_kastner]

The best camera I ever had till I sold them all (Nikons) and got my

TTL was the Nikonos III inclusive of underwater flash (each shot meant

addition of a new bulb). The nicest thing I ever heard about this was

that it remained the best Nikonos of all time, especially after the

Nikonos IV appeared.

[rush]

I am actually trying to find a so called beater camera. I use to carry my Nikon FM10 everywhere before it got stolen on a bus back from NY. Since then I either carry my Canon FT-QL or Rollieflex. The Rollei is my favorite when I have film, and I like to take it everywhere, and it has been good to me, but I am too scared of somthing happening to my favorite camera (not to mention it was given to me by my dad, and was is camera in HS, along with the Canon). I am thinking of mayby buying an old Exakta on E-Bay to carry around as they seem to go around $50, but I want to find somthing a little cheaper (I know, it doesn't get much less), and less antique so that I won't feel like I am carrying around a piece of history. It does not have to be an SLR, but I need to have adjustable apatures, F-stops, etc. Any suggestions?

[jose f.]

My current walk around-and-not worry camera is a very experienced Nikon FM with a 35/2.5E, with a replacement value well short of US$200. The alternative is a CLE, if I'm not in a close-focus mood. The criteria are light and easy-to-handle. A Nikon FE and a 35/2 might be a good choice.

[andrew_c2]

Around a year ago-- when the last post to this thread was made!! I sold a

Mamiya C33 to a guy on Ebay. I didn't know it at the time, as I hadn't even

shot with it (picked up on a lark), but it had quite a few things wrong with it. I

said to myself, what the hell, I'll refund his money and he can keep the damn

thing; he sounded like he could do some repairs on it, while I'd just hoist it

back onto Ebay as a $10 parts camera.

 

But he offered me a Canonet GIII QL-17 in return for his money and the C33;

this was, he claimed, a beater to him, but it still functioned well. I said thanks,

no thanks, no need. He told me to ask for it anytime.

 

Fast forward to a month ago: I was saying to myself, I could use a beater that I

could take down to Honduras when my wife-to-be and I go on our honeymoon

in July. So, hey, I emailed the guy and asked if he still had the camera; he

did! The meter underexposes, so you just have to set the ISO to a slower

speed, but the speeds are good and the seals haven't gummed up yet. So,

there's the beater!