summitar Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 As a depression baby born into a working class family, I haven't really had much opportunity to indulge mypassion for classic cameras until fairly recently. I bought my first 35 mm camera when I was stationed inVietnam in 1966 as a 30 year old captain (a beloved Konica auto S2 brand new at the exhange for $35). A monthbefore I left vietnam, I bought a Canon FT-QL with 50 mm f1.8 lens for $65. I have always enjoyed imagery andkind of grew up with Life magazine and National Geographic. For you youngsters that have no pre-TV experience,you can hardly imagine the impact of these publications. I have had some unusual experiences regarding imagery. The air force sent me to MIT in the early 60s, and I atttended some presentations by Doc Edgerton, the father ofhigh speed strobe photos. Prior to Vietnam, I spent two years as liaison to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center(center for unmanned satellites) and analyzed data from the TIROS and Nimbus satellites. As far as I know, I amthe first person to analyze imaging infrared data from space which was sensed by Nimbus I. While in Vietnam, Iwas in charge of a ground station for a then-classified air force weather satellite which was the final filterfor targetting air strikes against North Vietnam. In that era (1966-67), before smart munitions, targetacquisition was dependent on the pilot's vision and so was his avoidance of surface to air missiles. After thatassignment, for the next six years, I was sort of a photographers assistant to the NRO, and my primary functionwas to limit very very expensive, very very high resolution photographs of clouds, no matter how beautiful. During that era of the late 60s-early 70s, the air force upgraded its weather satellites from snapshotters thatuse commercial photographic lenses to a rotating mirror that was a line by line scanner with the satellite'smotion providing the advance. It operated in both the visible and infrared at high resolution (by weathersatellite standards) and the IR was independent of external illumination and for the visible, high quality cloudphotography was possible with illumination as low as half-moonlight. When there was no moonlight, we were amazedand delighted to see the photos of nighttime city lights that all of you have seen in various magazines. We wereeven more amazed at the beautiful photos of northern lights that wrapped around the north pole. Totallyunexpected by anyone I knew. I was debriefed over 30 years ago and I know better than to divulge secrets. Youcan learn more by googling "NRO corona", a very success overhead recon program of the 60s. Now with kids grown up and out of the coop, and being a quadruple dipper (military and Boeing pensions, socsecurity for spouse and moi), I can more fully indulge my interest in photography. Started with a Kodak RetinaIIa in 1980, then a Canon F1 (original) in 1996, and really took off thanks to the internet in 2001. I stillremembered the first photography book I checked out as a 12 year old from the public library. It was one of theannual Leica manuals, and the dust jacket had a photo of a Leica IIIc with a 50mm Summitar lens. The cost wasclose to what my father made in a month, so it was out of the question then. I now own that camera and lens anda copy of that manual plus a dozen of its siblings, and 6 other Leicas. In the event of my demise, and a wifewho doesn't know a Leica from a light bulb, you may have an opportunity for a fantastic garage sale. I also haveanother hundred or so cameras, but in nearly all cases, they were bought at bargain basement prices. I greatly enjoyed the reponses to my suggestion that the Nikon F3HP was the tops among Nikon's film cameras, andso I will offer my recommendations (top 3) for other manufacturers, with the caveat that I will only list camerasI own. I have already taken up too much of your time, so I will not go into my reasons at this point, except tosay that my criteria are image quality, convenience and portability. Nikon: F3HP, FE2, F100 (don't own a FM3a) Canon: T90, F-1 (original), FTb Minolta: XD11, XE7, SRT 101 Pentax: Spotmatic F, Spotmatic, K1000 Kodak: IIIC, IIIc, IIa Zeiss: Contax IIa, Contessa 35, Contina Voigtlander: Vito III, Vitessa L, Vitessa T Leica: M3, M6(classic), IIIf Have never owned an Olympus -- have to draw the line somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCL Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Canon T90, Leica M4, Leica SL2, Nikon F100. I've owned and still own, digital cameras, but they aren't my favorites for a variety of reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summitar Posted September 14, 2008 Author Share Posted September 14, 2008 I neglected to mention in my long winded opening, that in terms of sheer elegance and marvelous design and workmanship, my overall favorite is probably the Contax IIa. 50+ years old, and still beautiful. In this age of digital throwaways, it is still instructive to consider designs and workmanship that are long lived. In this category, I would mention "true genius" John Browning's auto-5 shotgun, in production 1903-1998 and his 1911 Colt 45, still in production. Also the Walther PPK, in production since 1929. Some things, like the 250 million year old shark species, are so perfect that they don't need to evolve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelchristensen Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Kerry what an interesting bio .. I won't list my guns but share your observations of the 1911, Browning's shotguns, ... hey, what about the Browning HiPower (sweet shooter) .. I digress. Never cared much for the M16 or the Beretta 92 (military issue) .. carried both for many years. Cameras, .. Canon F1, F1N; A1, AE1Program, Nikon F5, F100, D200, Mamiya RB67ProS, Rolleiflex TLR, Yashica Electro35, Yashica T4 (point and shoot excellence), Contax G2, Voigtlander's Vitessa T, own 'em and use 'em. Some of the older folding cameras while not money-makers are so much fun to shoot. I'm acquiring a few now; and a Tachihara 4x5 just for landscape is on my wish list .. maybe this year! If I had to only have one, well I would not be as happy, but I would be content with the Canon F1N or a Nikon F5 as my fundamental camera for picture taking fun with 35mm film. In medium format, I've shot quite a few, but only own the RBproS right now.. amazing what a camera without a battery can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john carter Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Olympus: many many great small cameras, two of my favorites Olympus 35RC and the auto everything Olympus Stylus Infinity. Actually, even though I have only owned three Olympus cameras, all small, I think the Olympus Company provided the best product range and the best overall products to the general public of any camera company, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve salmons Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 OK Kerry, here is a short list from my experience so far. My criteria are like yours,image quality and portability but for convenience I have substituted joy of ownership.<br> <b>Leitz: Leica M2, Leica Standard<br> Canon: Canon 7<br> Konishiroku: Konica III<br> Nikon: Nikon F2 (plain prism)<br> Asahi Pentax: Spotmatic F (black)!<br> Hasselblad: 500CM with 80mm Planar<br> Rollei: Rolleiflex 2.8, Rolleiflex T (grey)<br> Graflex: Crown Graphic<br> Voigtlander: Bergheil, Vito B, Bessamatic Deluxe<br> Plaubel: Makina III <br> Zeiss Ikon: Contaflex Rapid, Nettar 517/2 (6x9) </b><br> Like you, I started picking up film cameras in large quantities around 2000/2001. I have bought and sold many more than I currently own ;about 45 at present. My feeling is that good quality film equipment is now becoming harder to find at those bargain prices common 3 or 4 years ago. Photo.net members have now bought up all the good stuff ! <br> Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_moore5 Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I only own and collect German cameras but my favourite users of different makes are: Voigtlander: Bessamatic CS with Septon, Vito B, Vitomatic IIa; Zeiss Ikon: Contina IIa, Ikoflex IIa; Rollei: Rolleicord Va, Rollei 35S; Diax: Diax IIa Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene m Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I like Canon. My Ftb was my first real camera that I got to use. I bought a used Leica something or other in Vietnam but I left it on a bar stool in Saigon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minhnguyen9113 Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I love my Olympus Pen half fame, I got exhausted to finish a 36 frame roll. Unfortunately it's destroyed in a fire when I stationed at the Quang Tri citadel in 1973 (Vietnam war) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_e Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 My photography is handheld, casual, candid. Due to some physical issues with my hands, handholdability is critical for me. So, most used are: Pentax Spotmatic, Leica IIIF, Olympus Trip 35 There are three rangefinders I like and use, but not as much: Agfa Optima IIs, Yashica Electro G, Canonet GIII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Your CV is most enviable. I empathize with the imagery passion a lot. I worked with the Remote Sensing Lab in UWashington and did some detailed research on the Columbia Basin farmings communities and did the route alignment for EL Paso LNG Pipe line from Fairbanks to Juno, Alaska for the Fed Power Commission. Today I enjoy flying Google Earth to different parts of the World. Have no camera collection to speak of, except a few Exaktas, Prakticas, Zorkis and a Fed . I like learning to refurbish East German and Soviet cameras and take some pictures now and then. Regards.sp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 My first 35mm camera was a Konica Auto S2 that I bought brand new in high school. Our family had a camera store so I got it at dealer cost. Late in college I bought a Minolta SRT 201 with 50mm f1.7 and a Tamron Adaptall 85-210 zoom. Later added Konica 35, Canonet GIII 17, Minolta XD-5-- too many to list! Nice thing about having dealerships for Minolta, Konica, Yashica, Contax, Canon, and Olympus was I got to "play" with the goodies that I couldn't afford to buy for myself. Now, I pick many of them up used. Great thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_lockerbie Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 It is a good thread, great to read your bio. Favourites as below, like the others, these are ones that I own Asahi..... Spotmatic F Minolta....XE1 Canon....FTb Nikon.....F2 Olympus.....Om1 Yashica.....Lynx 1000 Voigtlander.....Vitessa L Zeiss..... Contarex Rolleiflex....3.5 F Kodak...... Retina 111S Agfa...... Ambi Silette I guess that about does it! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Collins Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Wow, Kerry...what an impressive bio! I feel like I want to show my friends what you wrote and tell them, "I know him. We chat sometimes." As far as favorite cameras by manufacturers, that could take a while, but I'll start with these, not necessarily in this order... Olympus--35RC & DC, XA, Stylus Epic, original Infinity (AF-1 overseas) Yashica--Lynx 1000 Canon--G-III QL17, FT-QL, F-1N (New), a lot of EOS film/digital stuff I won't list here Minolta--AL, A5, Hi-Matic 7S Kodak--Retina IIa, IIIc, Reflex III, Instamatic 500 Agfa/Ansco--Super Memar/Super Silette f/2 Solagon, Agfaflex IV, Karat 36 Fujica--Compact Deluxe, 35-SE, 35-EE Vivitar--35ES Pentax--ME Super Nikon--FE I suppose I could go on, but these are my favorites from these manufacturers although I've used quite a few more from each one. If I had to get rid of all of my cameras and keep just one though, It would be my Canon EOS 1v, my all-time favorite camera of any kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yefei_he1 Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Pentax: LX, MZ-S Nikon: FM3A Canon: FTb Konica: Autoreflex T3N Olympus: OM4T, 35RD Minolta: CLE Fujica: STX-1 Mamiya: 7II Petri: 1.9 Bronica: RF645 Yashica: Electro 35 GX Contax: RTS II Kodak: Signet 35, Retina IIIc Voigtlaender: Vitessa L Agfa: Ambi Silette Leica: M6TTL Braun: Paxette Super IIL Voss: Diax IIb Aka: Akarex III King: Regula Cita Wirgin: Edinex III Werra: Werramatic III Praktina: IIa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmcelroy Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 Great thread, who doesn't love talking about their cameras and photography! My interest in cameras began so far back I cannot remember not having a camera in my hands--and I just turned 53! My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic that took 126 film and used flashcubes. It was a great, solid little camera that was perfect for a young person. Later cameras include: Konica rangefinder (not sure which model, it was in 1973), Nikkormat FT3 (loved it but someone stole it), Canon AT-1 and AE-1 Program, Nikon N90, traded that for an N90s (which I still have), Nikon F5, Leica M6, Voigtlander Bessa R3M, Mamiya 7, Pentax 645 and Konica Hexar Silver. Now for the collectables: Crown Graphic 4x5, Voigtlander Bessa II 6x9, Agfa Isolette III, Rolleiflex TLR with f3.5 Tessar, Yashica Electro 35 GSN, Yashica Atoron, Pentax 110 SLR with lenses, flash and power winder, Minolta SRT 201, Canon IIb, Canon AE-1, Brownie Reflex, Polaroid Land Camera (can't remember the model, my parents camera), Olympus Chrome Six. All are my favorites and I try to bring them out of the cabinet and use them, except for the Polaroid because they don't make film for it any more. :o( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_hazelton Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Pentax LX, MX, both for their small size, handling characteristics, versatility, and quality. Kodak's Retina IIIc. My first camera was a Retina I, bought used when I was about 12. I still have it. The IIIc is a pleasure to use, the viewfinder/rangefinder is adequate, and the Schneider Xenon compares favorably with modern glass. The feel of these three cameras, the leather, solid metal, and fine finishes, makes them aesthetic pleasures, something my Pentax K10d does not evoke, regardless of its abilities. Recently I passed up a 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 Speed Graphic in good condition. Why I didn't snap it up I'll never know. I'd used one in my teens shooting for the local weekly and had enjoyed it, especially the sense of connection to the press photographers of the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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