There are some terrible cameras out there, but sometimes a camera that has a huge following and produces some amazing images. And several of these cameras are owned or rather were owned by members of the team, but they just didn’t fit our style. These cameras often sit on our shelves just not used anymore, they’re part of the lonely camera band.
Pentax 6×7
Now the Pentax 6×7 isn’t a bad camera, especially if you get one of the newer models, like the 67 or 67II. But these are newer models. But for John, his 6×7 began to give him problems. Mostly due to the weight and the serious vibration when the mirror slaps. Not to mention the need for batteries and that it ate through them and loading wasn’t exactly the easiest out there. But the glass is amazing especially the 105mm f/2.4. But for John, the final straw was the breaking of the mirror chain, a common issue on the early models.
Hasselblad 500c/m
Promise you won’t go out and lynch us on this one, at least that’s what Bill asks. Now the Hasselblad is an amazing camera, but they aren’t cheap. Both for the initial investment and maintaining the beasts. But for Bill, it came down to not bonding with the ergonomics and the cost of replacing a borked lens. Besides, Bill much prefers his TLRs. Thankfully, the new owner is loving the camera.
Kodak Retina Reflex III
You have to admit that the Reflex III is an awesome looking camera, James certainly thought so when he got the beast. However, he quickly learned that the cameras are not exactly the most reliable and getting them repaired is down to a single person in the world. The biggest problem is the shutter, being a leaf shutter, it is one of many different systems that can go wrong. The Reflex III is the third SLR version of the Retina line and coming from the Kodak AG (Germany) plant they are over-engineered monsters. But if you get one that works you won’t be disappointed, the Schenider-Kruznak glass produces excellent images.
Polaroid Instant Integral Film
When it comes to Polaroid Integral film, Matt has no issues with the cameras. The cameras he sees as an engineering marvel, especially the original folding SX-70 SLR. The problem is the film itself. These days the OG Polaroid films are getting on in age and often prone to failure more than working. And while the newer stuff from Impossible and Polaroid Originals do work, they’re often are prone to failure, hard to handle, and costly.
Leica III
Here’s another one that might get a lynching, but you do need to have a certain frame of mind when working with these early Leica bodies. But for Alex, the biggest issue came when loading the camera. Combine bottom loading with trimming down the leader made the camera almost impossible to get just right. And then there’s the focusing, the super tiny rangefinder window combined with glasses isn’t the best. Now, when the camera worked the images produced were excellent, using either the Elmar 50/3.5 or Summitar 50/2.
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