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Jayrock26v2
·Nikon FM2 and a compliment of prime lenses and the one decent zoom lens they did which was the 35-70 AI- I used that lens for wedding work for 10 years and it was killer.
Vintage Watches are great, but let’s see some Vintage Cameras
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SkunkPrince
·thank you so much! sounds like the Nikon would be a wise choice to add to my kit.
I myself almost always shoot 50mm, and my preference is for rangefinder. That's just me, a personal choice, easier for me to focus.
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JwRosenthal
·thank you so much! sounds like the Nikon would be a wise choice to add to my kit.
Nikon prime lenses were excellent, some better than others. Most Nikon zooms sucked, although there were a few stand-outs from the mid-late 80’s that were very good. Like watches, lots of web reading is your best tool.
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Jayrock26v2
·Either SLR or rangefinder. Each has their place. If you find you shoot wide, choose the rangefinder. If you find yourself shooting tele, choose the SLR.
I myself almost always shoot 50mm, and my preference is for rangefinder. That's just me, a personal choice, easier for me to focus.
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SkunkPrince
·I do like tele I find that's more my style however for my use case I would like to only carry around one lens with me. ive flirted with getting a fuji x100v for that purpose but its too expensive for what I need it for and can't justify it. plus I really want the true film experience. i wa looking at a Nikon f3 for awhile before this as well
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sxl2004
·Cabinet 35 or 28 rangefinder. Compact and easy to use
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JwRosenthal
·I do like tele I find that's more my style however for my use case I would like to only carry around one lens with me. ive flirted with getting a fuji x100v for that purpose but its too expensive for what I need it for and can't justify it. plus I really want the true film experience. i wa looking at a Nikon f3 for awhile before this as well
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Jayrock26v2
·F3 was a sensational camera, I still own my F3HP-Pro which was the last gasp of the F3 line in the 90’s. On the motor drive it’s a beast and can burn through a roll of film in about 6 seconds and rewind it about as fast. I used the F3’s for fast action wedding work until 2007. I had gone to an F5 for 2 seasons but ended up going back to the F3 as the automation of the F5’s didn’t work for my style of shooting and disabling the auto features, matrix metering etc just slowed me down.
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JwRosenthal
·I own both. The F3 was a huge jump over the F2 in terms of performance but make sure it has the HP (high point) finder- which allows you to see the entire finder without your eye being slammed against the diopter. The Pro model was weatherized with more gaskets and rubber fittings for extreme conditions- for me that was champagne, fruit punch and wedding cake being dumped on me and my camera during events- yes- that happened many times. In reality- the F3 HP Pro can take being in a light rain or humid conditions better- although all that rubber is 40 years old now,
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JwRosenthal
·The FM2 (and last gasp was the FM2n- which I own) was a slightly smaller form factor and on the MD12 motor drive is ergonomically one of the nicest cameras to handle- far nicer than the F3 on drive ever was (it’s bulky, heavy, angular and loud). The FM2/MD12 combo is also the “sound” you hear when you hear a motor driven camera in movies or music (think Duran Duran Girls on Film )
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JwRosenthal
·Also, the older manual focus Nikon Tele
Lenses are a steal for what they are. The 180 2.8 for example was a sensational lens.
Lenses are a steal for what they are. The 180 2.8 for example was a sensational lens.
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JayBe
·I have lots of love for old photo equipment and will share some. For now, only my go to, simple Minolta SRT 101. I love the simple metering system and mechanics. The Rokkor lenses are amazing as well and I don't get why they don't get more recognition.
This is from this years summer vacation.
This is from this years summer vacation.
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gnuyork
·I have lots of love for old photo equipment and will share some. For now, only my go to, simple Minolta SRT 101. I love the simple metering system and mechanics. The Rokkor lenses are amazing as well and I don't get why they don't get more recognition.
This is from this years summer vacation.
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tikkathree
·Totally agree- but can’t forget the more compact Mamiya 7
Don’t own one, but have used them and they handle beautifully...like a Leica on steroids.
Had one, loved it, flipped it for something else, regretted it.
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JayBe
·The three goats of the beginning of the 80s and arguably the peak of 35mm SLR. I love each for a different reason. The Nikon for being my fathers camera, the Olympus for its size and metering system and the Minolta for its incredibly smooth operation. The Minolta has the 50mm Rokkors going for it, the Olympus the wide Zuikos.
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JwRosenthal
·The three goats of the beginning of the 80s and arguably the peak of 35mm SLR. I love each for a different reason. The Nikon for being my fathers camera, the Olympus for its size and metering system and the Minolta for its incredibly smooth operation. The Minolta has the 50mm Rokkors going for it, the Olympus the wide Zuikos.
They had very complicated electronics for their day and tended to fry out- I lost 2 that way. I still have one FA that’s going strong, and of course my FM2n and F3HP-Pro which is probably the best film SLR ever made IMO (yes I have 2 Leica R’s that I love and the F3 wipes the floor with them for event photography- gotta love that auto rewind when you are mid isle with a bride coming and you need to reload fast!)
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JayBe
·FA on MD12 or MD15 is THE sounds of a motor driven camera for everything you think of when you hear motor driven cameras in film or media (think the intro to Girls on Film by Duran Duran). One would think the FM2 is that’s sound but it’s a distinctly electronically controlled shutter sound and not fully mechanical like the FM.
They had very complicated electronics for their day and tended to fry out- I lost 2 that way. I still have one FA that’s going strong, and of course my FM2n and F3HP-Pro which is probably the best film SLR ever made IMO (yes I have 2 Leica R’s that I love and the F3 wipes the floor with them for event photography- gotta love that auto rewind when you are mid isle with a bride coming and you need to reload fast!)
But the main reason for my preference is that I am afraid of it breaking on me. It has been for around 35 years in the family, so I keep it locked away.
The Minolta XD should share much of the internals with the R4 and its shutter and advance lever operation is a treat.
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JwRosenthal
·Indeed. I grew up with the this specific Nikon and its sounds and looks have left a lasting impression. In general, I agree this line of cameras have affected a whole generation. Now, that we mostly use film cameras as an artist tool in contrast to a workhorse, I feel that its strengths have turned into weaknesses. The then sophisticated matrix system does not give me as much control as a spot or multi spot meter.
But the main reason for my preference is that I am afraid of it breaking on me. It has been for around 35 years in the family, so I keep it locked away.
The Minolta XD should share much of the internals with the R4 and its shutter and advance lever operation is a treat.
I know it’s heresy to say, but the current Leica SL2/S mirrorless is truly the rebirth of the R series as we knew it up to the R7. Working with it is more deliberate than a Nikon or Sony, but if you really work that way (as I do- not spray & pray but single shot and composition aware in fast action), it handles like an R. I even got a leather hand strap for the grip so it has the same feel as the R with their leather hand straps.
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davidswiss
·I've never used the Nikon F3 but have an F2 which is excellent. If you're in the UK a camera tech Sover Wong has a website dedicated to them and services them to a good as new condition.
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JayBe
·Yup, I have an R4 and an R5 and both cameras are wonderful to use. If I were doing more deliberate work or stationary press work (like sports) the Leica’s would have been my preference. But for fast moving events where I and the subjects were on the go the Nikon’s were spectacular (8 years of wedding receptions with the above F3 and FM with Metz 45CT-4’s on them).
I know it’s heresy to say, but the current Leica SL2/S mirrorless is truly the rebirth of the R series as we knew it up to the R7. Working with it is more deliberate than a Nikon or Sony, but if you really work that way (as I do- not spray & pray but single shot and composition aware in fast action), it handles like an R. I even got a leather hand strap for the grip so it has the same feel as the R with their leather hand straps.
I believe that the R models don't have such a fantastic following as the M models, so we don't have to be too careful. I've never considered a mirrorless, as I have almost exclusively manual focus lenses and I'm afraid that it would be a hassle without a real viewfinder.
In this regard, the Leica SL2 would be a great candidate, but then, given its size, there's not saving compared to a DSLR.
The Leica bodies are all great and even though they are expensive, this have never been the main issue. It's the lenses that would put a too big of a hole in my bank account to justify.
Digital is more of a substitute for me, so I have been using an A900 Sony (great viewfinder) for the last 12 years and a friend offers me a A7 iii to try it out. Maybe I will give the Sony a go, despite its subpar viewfinder screen.
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