godfrey Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 My <b>favorite</b> non-Leica camera is the Hasselblad 903SWC ... I love everything about it, it's even more Luddite than an M6, and the photos it makes are simply beyond anything my Leica Ms ever could produce in raw technical quality. If you're talking 35mm, however, it's the Rollei 35S ... 1/3 the size of a Leica CL plus 40mm lens, identical lens performance, albeit 1 stop slower, flash sync at any speed, and a combination of its small size, image quality and focal length makes it the combination that I used more than 75% of the time I shot with Leica M anyway. <br><br>But the camera that actually replaced my use of the Leica M kit is a Sony DSC-F707 digital camera. Once I bought that one, I never took the Leica out of the closet again until I traded it for the Hasselblad 903SWC. I find the F707 such a capable picture taker, 1 year and 3 months - 12,000+ exposures into its life, that I just ordered the F717 updated model to complement it for the several small, incremental improvements that it has. Image quality, responsiveness, flexibility, ease of use, and again quality of these cameras have left me 100% satisfied with them. <br><br>Godfrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awahlster Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 I got two favorites and both beat out my two Leicas as favorites: 1. Canon T-90 I don't care what anyone else says this is the finest best featured manual focus full system camera ever made. 2. Canonet G-III QL-17 be cause it can do every thing a 40mm lens is able to with AE speed. And the optics are superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hil3 Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Nikon F2. I use both the DP-11 and the DP-12 finders, and which ever one is on the camera is my favorite that day. Completely reliable camera and metering. I've trained it to accept only Kodachrome film. May have to teach the old dog a new trick soon, I guess. I had it so long that everything about it is second nature. My favorite lens on that camera? [Commence laughter now] 100mm f/2.8 Nikon Series E. It is my "normal" SLR lens. [Continue laughter optional] I would weld it on if I didn't rarely use the 50/2 Nikkor or 75-150 Series E zoom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britt_park Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 <p>I love all my equipment (practically to the point of fetishism). I'd have to say my favorite is my Contax G2s. So like and unlike Leica.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sciencething.org/photos/photos.html">Blatant Plug</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psychophoto Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Deardorff 8x10 WFS. I've never used another camera that is so easy, simple, and intuitive to use. Mine is about 60 years old, and has plenyty of character. After refinishing the wood and replacing the bellows, everything is as smooth as butter. I can't imagine any piece of equipment being more pleasing to use. Throw in a Process-Nikkor 240mm f/10, 8x10 HP5+, and pyro, and I figure that's about the nicest negative you can hope to get. Put it on a Ries A-series and life is beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie999 Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Contax SLRs (RX/NX) and the Contax G2. Zeiss glass is just great for color! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_gilbert Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Canon L1 Rangefinder. I managed to get one of the 7500 on the planet cheap - and a few lenses to go with it. It is fabulously functional. I have scanned negatives from it, and the results blow my D100, F100, and any other camera I have used away. Of course, the Sekonic Zoom Master helps... ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_piper2 Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 My favorite non-Leica camera is a fantasy - sort of a cross between a Hasselblad SWC and an old Zeiss Ikonta B. It would be ultra-simple: straight-line 120 film path, knob wind, red-window frame 'counter', 50-to-60mm f/4-ish scale-focus leaf-shutter lens on collapsible bellows, direct viewfinder, body just large enough to hold 120 film - and, of course, new construction with warranty and spare parts/servicing easily available. It would fold down to a package the size of a paperback book. Don't think I'll ever see one. The Plaubel Makina 67W came close - the Mamiya 6 w/50mm lens does, too, but is bigger than my ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger_michel Posted April 10, 2003 Author Share Posted April 10, 2003 andy -- i have thought about the same thing. i have even toyed with asking sk grimes to see if he couldn't shoehorn a 47mm super angulon into a bessa ii body, correcting the front standard for proper infinity replcment and recalibrating the RF. i actually think it could be done on the existing bessa frame. in the meantime, the XLSW paqpro is very compact, and they can put any schneider or rodenstock lens you want on -- from 35 grandagon up to, say, 90mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_horn Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 My favorite non-Leica camera is also a fantasy. Even its film size is a fantasy. It is simply the 6x45mm format in horizontal mode, perforated each side (like 35mm) and in metal cassettes (also like 35mm). It might produce pictures of 44x55mm, in 15 & 30 exp. rolls. Camera would be just a bit larger than a Leica M5. It would have a between-the-lens shutter, to 1/500 sec. Standard lens would probably be 60-65mm. For a non-fantasy next favorite, after the Leica, I have a difficult time deciding between the Rollei 35S, the Retina IIIC, or the Fuji GW670III. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h._p. Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Hard one this. First thoughts are the same as many others: Nikon F and Hasselblad 500cm - but I don't have them any more. Which begs the question, why not? It's got to be my Eos 5 - fast quiet, light, easy to use (most of the time) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el_fang Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Nikon FM2N... the camera that the R6.2 wishes it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee_shively Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 I've had several favorites over the years. The Nikon F2 ranks as the all-time, longest love affair I've ever had with a camera. I've owned a half dozen or more of them, killed a couple of them and wore out the others only to have NPS bring them back to perfect operating condition. I still have a couple of them but I only keep them for the memories involved. I loved the Wista 45SP field camera. I no longer have one but it was about as versatile as a 4x5 field camera could be, folded into a compact package with a short lens attached and neither of them ever so much as had a screw back out during the time I owned them. My current favorite SLR is the Canon EOS A2E. It has decent autofocus, a fast-enough motor drive, bright viewfinder and it's quiet and lightweight. Other than having the Command Dials replaced on both mine, it's as reliable as wunderplastik can be. I'd also throw in the Olympus XA because it's tiny and sharp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feli Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Probably a Nikon F2. I have never owned one, but have used them. Great, great cameras. A true classic. A few days ago I got a Rolleiflex 2.8F and must admit that it's managed to charm the heck out of me, so it may turn out to be another contender... cheers, feli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografz Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Contax 645 and Kodak 645C DCS ProBack using a Hasselblad110/2 F lens or 120/4 Contax Zeiss Macro. The digital back is multi-format, shooting square 4X4, vertical or horizonal rectangleso you need not turn the camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen_w. Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Hasselblad SWC, in no particular order: Sheer image Quality Build Quality Reliable Big Square Neg/Slide Very Compact Interchangable Backs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen_w. Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Oh, in 35mm - Minolta CLE, in no particular order: Takes My Existing Lenses Compact AE = Quick Handling Cheap For Me - $100 (estate sale) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick roberts Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Favourite INCLUDING my Leicas is my Rolleiflex 3.5F Xenotar. Second favourite: 2.8F Xenotar. Third favourite: 3.5F Planar. ;) Other non-Leica favourites include: Contax 137, Canon EOS 3, 5 & 100, Pentax MX, Nikon FE. Least favourite to use: Nikon F. Nice object, awful camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wbesz Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 This is like saying, "which is your favorite finger?", Oops, perhaps the question is more like, "which finger can you do without?". Well, really, all my cameras are my favorites, but at different times. William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shambrick007 Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Have - <p> Nikon F: simple, classic, rugged. <p> <p> Had - <p>Nikon F2 w/motor drive and battery pack: just downright intimidating!<p> Fuji GSW III 6x9: sharp lens, huge negative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg_mason Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 minolta maxxum 9 with the 85f1.4 for adults and the 100f2 for children. other loves include my olympus om2n (my first)the contax IIIa with the 50 f1.5 (surprisly sharp lens) and my fuji g690 bl with the 150mm lens (a recent addition). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_kaminsky1 Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Kodak Medalist 2...superb lens, built well, easy to use..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_lee2 Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Hmm...I'm surprised there aren't more responses for the Rolleiflex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin m. Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Olympus Stylus Epic. Smaller and lighter than a bar of soap; slips into a pocket; (A real pocket, not the kind Leicas are alleged to fit into.) f2.8 lens focuses to 1ft. It has limitations, natch, but for $90, I'm willing to forgive quite a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bas1 Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Hasselblad 503CW. Image quality off course, but the fill flash is great as well. The square is nice and printing large negs is so much easier in my darkroom as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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