Niels - NHSN Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 11 hours ago, Sreek said: Hi all, can you please suggestme a reliable slr camera today,... something more reliable than F3, if i purchase nowadays.. There are few cameras more reliable than the F3. You'll find loads of threads on the internet from people having issues with the other cameras mentioned in this thread, or any "reliable" camera for that matter. A mechanical camera is only "better" if you are willing to find and pay for a competent tech to adjust/fix it. In most cases it will cost you more than you paid for the camera. A electronic SLR is not less reliable than mechanical one*. Besides in many cases an electronic camera can also be repaired, if needed. With the exception of Leica R9, Nikon F6 and Nikon FM3a, all serious SLR's are more than 20 years old by now and cannot be considered "reliable" as a generalisation. Your best bet is to find a functioning camera you like and fulfils your needs. If it breaks, you check the cost of repair vs. the cost of replacement. *I am currently helping a local camera shop sorting and testing a batch of 300 used SLR cameras for functionality. The failure rate of the mechanical cameras appears to be higher than the electronic cameras at this point. Niels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lazzari Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 "There are few cameras more reliable than the F3. - A electronic SLR is not less reliable than mechanical one* - Besides in many cases an electronic camera can also be repaired - The failure rate of the mechanical cameras appears to be higher than the electronic cameras" NHSN Wait, WHAT ? - Sorry, but in the 'eyes' of this Technician, these comments are patently absurd...👀 - - - - - Okay Picture #1 - I can economically fix this Water ravaged Leica M3 (over six decade old, mechanical camera). Picture #2 - It isn't economical to replace the corroded (buried by electronics; follow the Red Wire) battery chamber on 'Your reliable' Nikon F3. Not to mention the only parts remedy is to scavenge off of another labor intensive tear-down donor... Picture #3 - Look at all the delicate complexity of this Leica R8; these are now close to being uneconomical to repair. Picture #4 - Here's a Nikon F6 which required service even after very little use ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels - NHSN Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 1 hour ago, Gus Lazzari said: "There are few cameras more reliable than the F3. - A electronic SLR is not less reliable than mechanical one* - Besides in many cases an electronic camera can also be repaired - The failure rate of the mechanical cameras appears to be higher than the electronic cameras" NHSN Wait, WHAT ? - Sorry, but in the 'eyes' of this Technician, these comments are patently absurd...👀 - - - - - Okay Picture #1 - I can economically fix this Water ravaged Leica M3 (over six decade old, mechanical camera). Picture #2 - It isn't economical to replace the corroded (buried by electronics; follow the Red Wire) battery chamber on 'Your reliable' Nikon F3. Not to mention the only parts remedy is to scavenge off of another labor intensive tear-down donor... Picture #3 - Look at all the delicate complexity of this Leica R8; these are now close to being uneconomical to repair. Picture #4 - Here's a Nikon F6 which required service even after very little use ! I am sorry to hear that you are unhappy to work on those cameras, Gus. Fortunately there are others that will work on them with a more enthusiasm if required. Claiming a Leica M is reliable is somewhat of a stretch - I would rather call them repairable. Over the past 22 years I have owned 11 M cameras and every single one has needed at least one trip to the shop. That they can be "economically fixed" only holds true when comparing the repair cost to the going rate of Leica on the used market. What do you charge for a Leica CLA these days? Not less than $400 plus parts I presume? I have owned, and currently own, many more Nikon cameras since the early 80's and only a fraction of those have needed service. If I worried about total cost of ownership I would never buy a Leica. Niels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sreek Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 21 hours ago, James Bryant said: Nikon FM2n, I have 3 and they all work. Thanks dear... ☺️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sreek Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 10 hours ago, NHSN said: There are few cameras more reliable than the F3. You'll find loads of threads on the internet from people having issues with the other cameras mentioned in this thread, or any "reliable" camera for that matter. A mechanical camera is only "better" if you are willing to find and pay for a competent tech to adjust/fix it. In most cases it will cost you more than you paid for the camera. A electronic SLR is not less reliable than mechanical one*. Besides in many cases an electronic camera can also be repaired, if needed. With the exception of Leica R9, Nikon F6 and Nikon FM3a, all serious SLR's are more than 20 years old by now and cannot be considered "reliable" as a generalisation. Your best bet is to find a functioning camera you like and fulfils your needs. If it breaks, you check the cost of repair vs. the cost of replacement. *I am currently helping a local camera shop sorting and testing a batch of 300 used SLR cameras for functionality. The failure rate of the mechanical cameras appears to be higher than the electronic cameras at this point. Thank you....☺️ Very helpful.... 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sreek Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 11 minutes ago, Sreek said: Thanks dear... ☺️ I think more mechanical means more chances of getting it repaired compared to the electronic components.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sreek Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 Hi all.. Good day to you all..! I recently saw some videos about Minolta XG M., Pentax K1000, and Canon AE 1, when I was searching for an alternative to NIKON F3 on the web.... Also saw some models from Olympus OM1 & 2. After the videos, I lean more towards the Pentax K1000 and Canon AE 1.... Specifically speaking more towards the Pentax.... I don't know if my decision is correct.... Is Canon and Minolta models specified here are good..? Is pentax is really a good camera or its just my misunderstanding, considering the hype in social media about the Pentax...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lazzari Posted November 22, 2022 Share Posted November 22, 2022 (edited) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) If that is your name ? "you are unhappy to work on those cameras" - "will work on them with a more enthusiasm" NHSN Huh? Who mentioned anything about my feelings or preferences ? I instead addressed with MUCH more proof than you, a debunking of your WILD claims : "failure rate of the mechanical cameras appears to be higher than the electronic cameras" & "A electronic SLR is not less reliable than mechanical" - Okay I got it, so now let's have some fun; you'd rather take a Mamiya 6 over a Hasselblad 500C/M ? or a Minolta XD over a Nikon F2 ? - i.e. See the mirrorbox pictures (1, 2 & 3) of the Nikon F2 vs. the Minolta XD11/Leica R4 "Claiming a Leica M is reliable is somewhat of a stretch" - Claiming ? Funny how there are hundreds of shutter block assemblies for modern SLR's offered on Ebay, but NO shutter kits or assemblies for Leica M models... "Over the past 22 years I have owned 11 M cameras and every single one has needed at least one trip to the shop" - Yeah sure. Even if I believe you, when you occasionally service a Rolex, it will no doubt last a lifetime… "currently own, many more Nikon cameras since the early 80's and only a fraction of those have needed service" - Well then, you don't own many electronic SLR Nikon's (I do, manual & Electronic - Last picture is 'the stuff' that doesn't fit in my showcases). Oh yeah, let's not forget the 'great & reliable' modern AF electronic lenses (see picture). "worried about total cost of ownership I would never buy a Leica" - Yeah whatever, I say buy Gold, but for you Crypto is the future… Finally. unlike the rather opaque NHSN, readers either know who I am or can easily look me up. They can certainly make the judgement on who is more credible in this 'proof filled' discussion… Edited November 22, 2022 by Gus Lazzari 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJG Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 Pentax K 1000's were a decent value for money when they were made, but they are way over priced today due to internet "wisdom." If you want a Pentax from that era a film KX model is a better choice and probably cheaper. The community college where I teach owns 30 or more K 1000 cameras which hold up fairly well although the meters are increasingly likely to die and they don't seem to be easily repairable. Any 30+ year old camera will be a bit of a crap shoot--some have had heavy use or abuse or have sat unused long enough for lubricants to harden or evaporate and may fail at any time. Some are worse than others and some are more expensive due to hype rather than performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels - NHSN Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 7 hours ago, Gus Lazzari said: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) If that is your name ? "you are unhappy to work on those cameras" - "will work on them with a more enthusiasm" NHSN Huh? Who mentioned anything about my feelings or preferences ? I instead addressed with MUCH more proof than you, a debunking of your WILD claims : "failure rate of the mechanical cameras appears to be higher than the electronic cameras" & "A electronic SLR is not less reliable than mechanical" - Okay I got it, so now let's have some fun; you'd rather take a Mamiya 6 over a Hasselblad 500C/M ? or a Minolta XD over a Nikon F2 ? - i.e. See the mirrorbox pictures (1, 2 & 3) of the Nikon F2 vs. the Minolta XD11/Leica R4 "Claiming a Leica M is reliable is somewhat of a stretch" - Claiming ? Funny how there are hundreds of shutter block assemblies for modern SLR's offered on Ebay, but NO shutter kits or assemblies for Leica M models... "Over the past 22 years I have owned 11 M cameras and every single one has needed at least one trip to the shop" - Yeah sure. Even if I believe you, when you occasionally service a Rolex, it will no doubt last a lifetime… "currently own, many more Nikon cameras since the early 80's and only a fraction of those have needed service" - Well then, you don't own many electronic SLR Nikon's (I do, manual & Electronic - Last picture is 'the stuff' that doesn't fit in my showcases). Oh yeah, let's not forget the 'great & reliable' modern AF electronic lenses (see picture). "worried about total cost of ownership I would never buy a Leica" - Yeah whatever, I say buy Gold, but for you Crypto is the future… Finally. unlike the rather opaque NHSN, readers either know who I am or can easily look me up. They can certainly make the judgement on who is more credible in this 'proof filled' discussion… My apologies for concluding on your feelings or preferences, although when re-reading your posts in this tread, I still fail to se your enthusiasm about the electronic cameras discussed. I can see from this response that you are certainly also master of the art of putting words in someone's mouth. Anyway, 25 years on photo.net have taught me not to engage with toxicity. Peace. 1 Niels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_foreman1 Posted November 23, 2022 Share Posted November 23, 2022 James... without trying to be snarky.. but with all the other (reliable) Nikons..... you don'T really need to replace the F3,,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent T Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 On 11/22/2022 at 10:28 PM, AJG said: Pentax K 1000's were a decent value for money when they were made, but they are way over priced today due to internet "wisdom." If you want a Pentax from that era a film KX model is a better choice and probably cheaper. The community college where I teach owns 30 or more K 1000 cameras which hold up fairly well although the meters are increasingly likely to die and they don't seem to be easily repairable. Any 30+ year old camera will be a bit of a crap shoot--some have had heavy use or abuse or have sat unused long enough for lubricants to harden or evaporate and may fail at any time. Some are worse than others and some are more expensive due to hype rather than performance. I agree with these thoughts. I like a good Pentax, but the KX is a much better built camera than a K 1000, and usually less expensive used in top condition. KX for me all the way. I also like the Pentax Takumar lenses a lot (some of my favorite lenses). I like old Nikkormats, the FTn and later mechanical models. However, I use them with a hand held meter (I favor the Gossen Luna Pro meters). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lazzari Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 (edited) Remember this (refused by factory service) Leica M3 ? Over 60 years of past questionable 'other techs' working on it, then only to have the poor thing dunked in liquid : Edited November 30, 2022 by Gus Lazzari 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lazzari Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 (edited) As proof that fine mechanical cameras can in fact be brought back to factory era specifications, here's the end result - - - And yes, that's a factory Wax "L" seal... Not perfect, but it will now again provide the owner with years of rangefinder "Wow" factor and accurate shutter speeds etc... Edited November 30, 2022 by Gus Lazzari Added missing word that made more sense. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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