Your favorite SLR

[david_carroll4]

<p>F3HP for the simplicity, viewfinder and "gravitas".<br>

OM-4T for the compactness, metering and beautiful design. Maitani was a genius.</p>

[lornesunley]

<p>F2 then F4</p>

[mark_drutz]

<p>N80. I loved everything about it.</p>

[david_carroll4]

<p>F3HP for the simplicity, viewfinder and "gravitas".<br>

OM-4T for the compactness, metering and beautiful design. Maitani was a genius.</p>

[luis_g]

<p> Nikon F with prism.</p>

<p> Nikon F2 with prism.</p>

<p> Not a Nikon? Olympus OM-3</p>

[lex_jenkins]

<p>If I could choose only one, the Olympus OM-1. Simple, compact and unsurpassed portability with a kit featuring the 49mm filter thread sized Zuikos. The same bags that once comfortably accommodated my entire OM-1 and Zuiko kit of four lenses plus accessories will barely hold my FM2N and two Nikkors. The slight difference in barrel diameter translates to a huge difference in terms of portability. And with the much fatter and heavier autofocus lenses... fuggedabowdit.</p>

<p>Runners up: Nikon FM2N, Canon FTbn.</p>

[yog_sothoth]

My Yashica F-X 3 super 2000 is becoming my favorite. The real test would be to get a Contax S2 for comparison.

[blumesan]

<p>Well since so many have ignored the OP's restriction to Nikon, I have to add the Contax 139Q. An ergonomic marvel, All the bells & whistles you need, and none you don't. Small, light, reliable, and that beautiful Zeiss glass.</p>

[dave_l.]

<p>My favorite was a Canon AE-1. but only because it was my first! My favorite Nikon was my F3. Never had a better camera.</p>

[GerrySiegel]

<p>Olympus E-1 a la 2004 and since, and for much longer time, my Canon F-1. I liked the defined manual metering area to lock on to a medium gray tone. I enjoyed the heft and quality and elegant feel of the F-1 original and all the goodies that came out to support that first ever top to bottom modular pro Canon. At the time,recall, Nikon had a clunky FTN finder as I remememver and the lenses had to ve rotated in the mount to get the adustment for the f stop right, it worked well enough and was a fine system but it didn't have the style of the Canon nor hand balance. My liitle personal take on your Q.</p>

[unangelino]

<p><strong>Pentax MX</strong> .</p>

<p>Bought a silver one in 1980 and a black one in 2009.</p>

<p><strong><em>Sleek, light and rugged. </em> </strong></p>

<p>All the things I'm not.</p>

[Ray House]

<p>Nikon F3HP.</p>

[edwardchen]

<p>Nikon F80.</p>

[hjoseph7]

Nikon FE2, Black. It's small, beautiful(not as small as the olympus OM-4) but small enough.

[john schroeder]

<p>My Dad's Nikon F. </p>

[acarodp]

<p>If by SLR you mean film, F5. If digital bodies are admitted, D700 is my favorite so far, then F5.</p>

<p>L.</p>

[papasan]

<p><em>The best camera is the one you have with you.</em> -- Chase Jarvis...</p>

<p>but that's not what you asked is it? I loved my Nikon FM to death. I liked it's simplicity of use and it's reliability (It replaced my second favorite, an old Nikormat which i had bought second hand in 1974 this was a real workhorse, the Timex of Nikon: "it takes a beating and keeps on clicking...") I bought the FM circa 1978 and I still own it although i haven't used it since picking up a DSLR. On the other hand i also own a F4 which i barely used. I just found it too complicated for my taste. But of course compared to todays DSLR it was a very simple camera...</p>

[ty_mickan]

<p>Of bodies I've owned, the F4 wins hands down, then the F3, then F5, then D3......</p>

[jason]

<p>Asahi Spotmatic then my Nikon F's. Prefer the Photomic Head that actually still works..Then my new F3. Yes! I still shoot film. But maybe not much longer unless I scan myself.Actual results? The Nikon-F way ahead of any of my many cameras..many gifts.All my portfolio work and exhibition stuff, The "F"'s. Coming in close now my point and shoot digitals,my pro cameras..</p>

[mjferron]

<p>FM3a and F100.... No make that F100 and then FM3a....Ahh....Each has it's own charm.</p>

[xxloverxx]

<p>Nikon FM</p>

[ted_raper1]

<p>Nikon - F100. Otherwise, my Pentax K1000. I loved the simplicity of that camera, and the match needle metering display always let me know EXACTLY how much I was under or overexposing the slide film.</p>

[lachaine]

<p>Nikon F for it's longevity, and total absence of electronics. I still have one. I did like the F80 (N80 in the US), though. That was a really well-behaved, practical 35 mm SLR, with a nice feel. Ultimately though, all-mechanical lives forever.</p>

<p>I would take any all-mechanical 35 mm SLR. I loved my Pentaxes too (SP1000, K2, MX, K1000)... anything that doesn't have a zoom lens hanging on it.</p>

[wogears]

<p>Nikon? F or 8000s.</p>

<p>All brands? Olympus OM3. The only camera I deeply regret selling.</p>

[lauren_macintosh]

<p>I have not owned many SLR's But the Orginal F-1 is my favorite to this day,aslo have a Contax 137md then its rangefinders and folders and one loverly Rollieflex:</p>