{"id":834,"date":"2018-12-31T07:05:56","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T12:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/07\/classic-camera-revival-the-one-hundred\/"},"modified":"2023-02-16T12:40:30","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T17:40:30","slug":"classic-camera-revival-the-one-hundred","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/31\/classic-camera-revival-the-one-hundred\/","title":{"rendered":"Classic Camera Revival – The One Hundred"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s taken me nearly three years, but I have now reviewed one hundred film cameras! Even though the review rules have slipped a couple times (namely review a sheet film camera and a pair of polaroids), so it’s only fair that I distil these one hundred cameras down into a few top five lists! Just note that there’s no particular order for these top five lists and certainly are my own personal opinions! Also of note, I’ve done my best to not double-dip, that means if a camera appears in one list, that means it won’t appear in any other list.<\/p>\n

Top Five 35mm Single Lens Reflex Cameras<\/strong>
\nThese are, by far the best 35mm single lens reflex cameras that I’ve reviewed over the course of the first 100 cameras.<\/p>\n

Nikon F6<\/a><\/em>
\nIf the Leica is the ultimate word in Rangefinders than the F6 is the ultimate is SLR,. Shooting an F6 is like shooting a digital SLR with all the perks, but the joy of shooting traditional film. But honestly the F6 takes everything good about every Pro SLR from Nikon and combines it in one wicked photography machine.<\/p>\n

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If you’re going to spend the coin on an F6, be sure to spend the extra and add an MB-40 grip, you won’t regret it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta XE-7<\/a><\/em>
\nFunny how the XE-7’s cousin appears on a not-so-good list later on in this post, but where Leica complicated things, Minolta made a smooth operator with the XE-7, shame it only got three years of production.<\/p>\n

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It just looks awesome in the morning light. It’s an SLR, without any bells or whistles, but it takes fine photos!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Olympus OM-1<\/a><\/em>
\nWhile some would put the K1000 forward as a student camera, I bet to differ and would recommend the OM-1 as the perfect place to start, again an all mechanical camera but has a dedicated on\/off switch to save the battery. Not to mention, you can get an OM-1 kit for a lot less than a K1000 these days.<\/p>\n

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Even with the small form factor, the OM-1 certainly packs a punch and doesn’t take up too much room in your bag.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nikon F90<\/a><\/em>
\nYou don’t have to break the bank to get a solid performer, and the F90 (or N90) also with its sub-models F90x\/N90s you can pick up for under 50$ and have an amazing autofocus SLR with a meter that you can find in the professional bodies, without the professional price tag. The F90 is the AF SLR I carry when I don’t want the attention or weight of the F5.<\/p>\n

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The one downside to the F90 is that you’ll get that aweful grip coating, just strip it off to avoid getting your nose stuck to the back.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Letiz Leicaflex SL2<\/a><\/em>
\nIf Darth Vader had a camera it would be the black SL2. Before Leica joined forces with Minolta to start the R-Series of SLRs, the SL2 is the peek of their mechanical cameras, while they don’t come cheap, they feel amazing in the hand and produce excellent images.<\/p>\n

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While they do come in chrome, I think the black version looks far better.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Top Five Medium Format Single Lens Reflex Cameras<\/strong>
\nI couldn’t just have a single list for SLR cameras, so I split them up into two, these are the best medium format SLRs I’ve reviewed!<\/p>\n

Pentax 67II<\/a><\/em>
\nIt is truly a beast of a camera and probably the best 6×7 camera I’ve shot in SLR format. When Pentax redesigned their 67 cameras, they made the 67II for the photographer not to mention a huge range of amazing optics. Again I only shot a single roll, fearing I’d go out and buy the system.<\/p>\n

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What makes the 67II stand out, it looks and feels like a 35mm SLR.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mamiya m645<\/a><\/em>
\nA wedding photographer’s workhorse, and don’t let the detractors say anything the Mamiya m645 is a solid performer, not to mention they can be had for a song these days and that includes the glass, but I’d stick to the N-series. Certainly a worthwhile entry into medium format photography.<\/p>\n

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the L-Grip certainly makes the camera far easier to use with an eye-level finder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bronica SQ-Ai<\/a><\/em>
\nLooking for a 6×6 SLR but don’t want to drop the coin on a Hasselblad, then the Bronica SQ-Ai is certainly a camera for you. While they don’t have a good reputation, if set up right they can give you a good performance. It was a tough choice on this one, but I went with the SQ-Ai due to its age, but the Bronica EC<\/a> is certainly is a tie with the SQ-Ai.<\/p>\n

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The stealth black certainly sets it appart from Hasselblad cameras.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fuji GX680iii<\/a><\/em>
\nThere are beastly cameras, and then there are beastly cameras. It was a tough choice here as well between the GX680 and the RB67 when it comes to studio cameras that really shouldn’t go out in the field but you bring them anyways, but that beautiful 6×8 negative and smooth operations certainly but the GX680 into a top spot.<\/p>\n

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I mean look at this thing, you cannot believe it was designed for field work, yet I lugged it around a hiking path in the winter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bronica GS-1<\/a><\/em>
\nMike is going to love this, I’ve already put two Bronica cameras into a top spot, and this goes to the GS-1, like the Pentax 67II it shoots the beautiful 6×7 format negative and does a decent job of it, while not my choice for a 6×7 shooter, the accessories make it a lot easier to shoot in the field than the RB67.<\/p>\n

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It’s the L-Grip, I’m telling you, makes life so much easier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Top Five Rangefinder Cameras<\/strong>
\nWhile my rangefinder game isn’t strong in the reviews, I’ve shot some awesome ones!<\/p>\n

Leica M6<\/a><\/em>
\nIf you want the best, you pay for the best, and that would be Leica. And while price certainly is a stopping mark for acquiring such a camera, if you have the cash and want the best. You’ll need to drop the money on an M6.<\/p>\n

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You don’t need to get a special edition to get a winner in the M6, but that 35mm f\/1.4 Summilux certainly helps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Contax IIIa<\/a><\/em>
\nCompared to the contemporary Leicas, the Contax IIIa certainly sat much better with me than the Leica IIIc I also reviewed during the same time as the Contax. Mostly over the ease of loading and a better rangefinder system.<\/p>\n

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The Zeiss Ikon Contax IIIa, built as direct competition to the Leica Rangefinders, built between 1951 and 1962<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta Hi-Matic 7s<\/a><\/em>
\nThe Hi-Matic 7s is certainly an underdog when it came to the fixed lens rangefinders of the 1960s, but combine a quick EV metering system with full automation and mechanical options. But what sets the Hi-Matic 7s apart is the beautiful Rokkor lens, which I came to continue to enjoy with the Minolta SLR systems.<\/p>\n

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The Hi-Matic 7s was my first film camera, purchased for 5$ at a garage sale, today it continues to see use with its new owner, FPP’s John Fedele!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fuji GSW690II<\/a><\/em>
\nIt’s the Texas Leica, how can I put up a top-five rangefinder and not include the GSW690II, despite its size and low frame count the GSW fits my style of city shooting perfectly with the ultrawide lens, panoramic format it makes any situation sing.<\/p>\n

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Size matters lots when it comes to the GSW series.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Voigtlander Bessa R2M<\/a><\/em>
\nIf you’re looking for an M-Mount camera without having to pay the prices for the red-dot, then the Bessa line from Voigtlander is your best bet! Not to mention full open backloading which is another plus. I only shot a single roll through this one, fearing I would go out and drop cash on one and a full lens system.<\/p>\n

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While it’s a Leica M-Mount camera, you don’t have to drop thousands on Leica glass, the Voigtlander glass works just as well<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Top Five Point-And-Shoot Cameras<\/strong>
\nJust because the camera does most of the work for you doesn’t make it a solid operator, in fact, you might find a few sleepers or cult cameras in this list.<\/p>\n

Olympus Trip 35<\/a><\/em>
\nStrangely iconic, the Trip 35, brought solid optics, amazing automation and simplicity of use into a package that could fit in a pocket or small bag. It made taking pictures on a trip simple. And the Trip 35 introduced me to the world of cult cameras.<\/p>\n

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The camera that made point-and-shoot cameras a cult symbol, the Trip 35, a point-and-shoot with some amazing optics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Olympus Stylus Epic<\/a><\/em>
\nAnother cult camera from Olympus, the Stylus Epic was the continuation of amazing optics in a compact package started with the Trip 35. And at an even smaller size, you don’t even need a camera bag to bring the Epic along, you may even forget you have it with you!<\/p>\n

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Taking autofocus into account, and the clamshell design of the XA series, the Stylus series took Olympus Cult Cameras into the 1990s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Holga 120N<\/a><\/em>
\nYou got it, this is a toy camera but it’s still a simple point-and-shoot, probably one of my favourite cameras to work with if I don’t want to go in with anything overly complex and it also gives a magical look to any of your images.<\/p>\n

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There was the danger of Holgas going away for good, thankfully someone purchased the molds and started making them again, this is one of the ‘new’ Hoglas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Agfa Isoly Junior<\/a><\/em>
\nIf you want something along the same lines as a Diana or a Holga with something a little more upper crust than the Isoly Junior is your camera. You get that same toy camera look in a camera that was not designed to be a toy in the first place, it just looks that way.<\/p>\n

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The basic model from the Isoly line, it might shoot 120 film, but your images are actually 4×4 giving you more images per roll.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta Minoltina P<\/a><\/em>
\nLike the Trip 35, the Minoltina took things to a whole other level with the Minoltina P, a slimmer design, stunning Rokkor optics, the P was Minolta’s answer to the Trip 35, the sad part is the camera never gained the same recognition as the Trip.<\/p>\n

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It doesn’t look like a Trip, nor does it feel like a Trip, but it certainly behaves like one<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Top Five K-Car Cameras<\/strong>
\nJust because it gets the job done without any flare, doesn’t make the camera less awesome. These are the K-Car cameras, ones that don’t look exciting, but they get the job done and well.<\/p>\n

Minolta Maxxum 7000<\/a><\/em>
\nWhile a historically significant camera there’s nothing really flashy about the Maxxum 7000, at least now, when it was first released this camera that looks more like a 1980s VCR would have been a major shift. And while today it’s nothing special it’s still a fun little camera to bomb around in, think of it more like a Chrysler LeBaron.<\/p>\n

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See what I mean about that 1980s VCR look?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pentax K1000<\/a><\/em>
\nBefore you give hate, I’m not saying there’s anything bad about the K1000, it is just that there’s nothing overly exciting about shooting a K1000, if you need a basic, no-nonsense barebones mechanical camera than the K1000 is your camera.<\/p>\n

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A true classic camera if I ever saw one, but they are getting pricey on the used market these days.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canon EOS A2<\/a><\/em>
\nIf you’re looking for a cheap way to get in 35mm photography and have some nice primes or zoom EF lenses (not EF-S<\/strong>) than the EOS A2 is a great entry level camera that will get the job done and to see if you like the format before going up to something better like an Elan 7ne<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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I personally find the flash\/prism rather odd looking.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nikon Nikkormat FT3<\/a><\/em>
\nThe Nikkormats were designed to be the simple camera, big, heavy, match-needle and totally mechanical. It’s a bigger version of an FM (the FM is based on the FT3) and can use all your Ai and AI-S Lenses even the ones without the claw!<\/p>\n

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There’s something about a sleek black camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yashica 108 MultiProgram<\/a><\/em>
\nI wasn’t sure where I would put this camera, either under K-Car or Worst, it ended up in K-Car because there’s nothing wrong with the camera, the C\/Y mount give you access to some amazing lenses. The only problem I had with this camera was that I used a cheap lens.<\/p>\n

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Don’t mind the lens!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Top Five Cameras<\/strong>
\nOf course, it had to come to this list, these are, by far, the cream of the crop, my favourites of all the cameras I’ve reviewed.<\/p>\n

Nikon F2<\/a><\/em>
\nThe F2 has to make the top five list, a stunning upgrade to the original F, the Nikon F2 will easily outlast any other camera on the market today and still take amazing shots well after any metering head it has kicks it. Plus you can use the camera as a personal defence weapon if needed.<\/p>\n

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While I would enjoy having an all black unit, and a newer metering prism, I like my F2 Photomic just the way it is.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hasselblad 500c<\/a><\/em>
\nThese days the earlier 500c model Hasselblad can be had for a fair price (under 1000$ with a lens, magazine, and WLF), and while I’ve had to put mine on the shelf until I can get a full CLA done on the body and both lenses, it’s an amazing camera!<\/p>\n

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It takes amazing photos and looks amazing also!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nikon F5<\/a><\/em>
\nIf you know me, you know that the F5, like the F2 would land in the top five spot for these lists. The camera I had wanted since I first started shooting Nikon SLRs, and the one that comes out with me the most. And today they can be hand in decent shape for under 500$ so if you want the iconic modern professional camera, now is the time.<\/p>\n

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