Its an interesting thought, what it would be like going back to film. I've been in DSLR's now for almost 10yrs. I really loved the Canon AE-1. I wish I still had it. What I do still have is the first autofocus SLR, the Minolta Maxxum vintage about 1981. I also bought it when it first came out with the double 'xx' icon in violation of Exxon's copyright. Been Canon ever since. I did some b/w darkroom work as a hobby when I was a teen. Fun stuff. Digital has got so good, but film is still very sexy!
Way OT - film camera recommendations
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Yeah the big G690 is a monster, weighs like 5 lbs. But the 645s are quite light (probably a fair amount lighter than a 124) and have really great glass. The 124G is a classic for sure, as are the Rolleis.
If you want to get into it just for the sake of playing with gear there are some interesting adventures out there. At one point I wanted to try the pentax screw mount stuff, because there are so many different lenses out there. After doing quite bit of study about potentially good bodies that weren't getting inflated like the Pentax stuff, I ended up buying some 35mm screw mount slr body off ebay for like $20 - maybe some kind of Ricoh? One day I opened it up and also opened up my Nikomat and realized that they were virtually the identical camera, both with that awesome Nikkormat shutter and just different lens mounts.
The Soviet rangefinders can be fun too, with some very good glass for cheap and the option to mount Leica or Contax RF lenses depending upon the type you buy (FED/Zorki or Kiev) - if you are willing to redo the mechanical stuff, which gets sticky and grungy with time.
But i'm just sayin'...You can get a Hassy for so cheap these days. Kinda bulky but man the glass is amazing.
If you want to get into it just for the sake of playing with gear there are some interesting adventures out there. At one point I wanted to try the pentax screw mount stuff, because there are so many different lenses out there. After doing quite bit of study about potentially good bodies that weren't getting inflated like the Pentax stuff, I ended up buying some 35mm screw mount slr body off ebay for like $20 - maybe some kind of Ricoh? One day I opened it up and also opened up my Nikomat and realized that they were virtually the identical camera, both with that awesome Nikkormat shutter and just different lens mounts.
The Soviet rangefinders can be fun too, with some very good glass for cheap and the option to mount Leica or Contax RF lenses depending upon the type you buy (FED/Zorki or Kiev) - if you are willing to redo the mechanical stuff, which gets sticky and grungy with time.
But i'm just sayin'...You can get a Hassy for so cheap these days. Kinda bulky but man the glass is amazing.
The Fuji GA645 is a great camera - the world's best point-and-shoot (autofocus and autoexposure), but probably not well-suited for full manual usage. But it has a great lens in a light body.
If you want a REAL Texas Leica, go for a Koni Omega Rapid 200. Indestructible, great ergonomics (I'm serious - they are ugly as hell, but a real pleasure to use in practice), interchangeable lenses and backs, no mirror slap, and amazing lenses too. But heavy. On the upside, I think prices are so low that people will actually pay you to take one off their hands...
If you want a REAL Texas Leica, go for a Koni Omega Rapid 200. Indestructible, great ergonomics (I'm serious - they are ugly as hell, but a real pleasure to use in practice), interchangeable lenses and backs, no mirror slap, and amazing lenses too. But heavy. On the upside, I think prices are so low that people will actually pay you to take one off their hands...
Thanks I was trying to think of the name of the square shutter. It really is a great design.
The Koni Omega is a neat one too. I remember seeing a lot of wedding photographers using them when I was younger. I didn't realize at the time how strong those guys must have been lugging that thing around with a Norman flash on a bracket and the battery pack hanging over their shoulder.A frend of mine picked one up for a song a few years ago and loved it. Another camera that is so rugged you can use it as a hammer in a pinch.
The Koni Omega is a neat one too. I remember seeing a lot of wedding photographers using them when I was younger. I didn't realize at the time how strong those guys must have been lugging that thing around with a Norman flash on a bracket and the battery pack hanging over their shoulder.A frend of mine picked one up for a song a few years ago and loved it. Another camera that is so rugged you can use it as a hammer in a pinch.
Most definitely. See here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Format_120&ci=2545&N=4093113317+4130468173+4130468174
Best regards,
Adam
Best regards,
Adam
I'd recommend a few different ones. For class you want manual capability.
Nikon FE. Amazing camera that also has auto exposure. It is light, and the lenses are good. You can buy cheaper E series lenses that are very good, for very little. The batteries do very well in these (not true of FE2). This is one of the best cameras ever made for easy use.
Olympus OM2n. Feels amazing, the size is awesome, the viewfinder out classes the size of Nikons and most things, operation is solid. The lenses are very good too. The 50mm 1.8 MIJ (says "made in japan" on front) are like $20-40 and excellent quality. Many other lenses available. Few SLR's feel as good as these do. It also has auto exposure (I love having it, often)
If you want to buy an old tank that weighs a ton, Nikkormats are fine, F and F2's are alright but the meters are not great, and the bodies are not cheap for F's. Most people don't like the metered viewfinder on the F's because it makes it weigh as much as an FE. They feel nice but... If I'm faced with wanting an older Tank I'm more interested in a Pentax Spotmatic F because they are dirt cheap, and the old lenses for them have a look that I think serves black and white way better than other brands.
If you want to be a real nut... I also have a Minolta XE-7 that Leica ended up buying the guts for, for their R3 camera. It is the smoothest winding camera ever. I only like a few of the lenses. Personally I only use it for the 58mm 1.4 because it is a portrait lens (soft in beautiful ways), but a little low contrast. I have an M42 adapter that I like to use Pentax lenses on and some Russian. (35mm f3.5 is very good looking)
I switched to a Leica M2, with a really old Canon 50mm 1.8 lens (actually better than old summicrons). I need to get a top mount meter (VCII from Voigtlander). I traded a lens and some money for it, and got a smokin deal on the Canon. Otherwise it'd be too spendy.
Nikon FE
50mm 1.8 E
100mm 2.8 E
Pentax Spotmatic
35mm f3.5
55mm 1.8
Could go on forever....
Nikon FE. Amazing camera that also has auto exposure. It is light, and the lenses are good. You can buy cheaper E series lenses that are very good, for very little. The batteries do very well in these (not true of FE2). This is one of the best cameras ever made for easy use.
Olympus OM2n. Feels amazing, the size is awesome, the viewfinder out classes the size of Nikons and most things, operation is solid. The lenses are very good too. The 50mm 1.8 MIJ (says "made in japan" on front) are like $20-40 and excellent quality. Many other lenses available. Few SLR's feel as good as these do. It also has auto exposure (I love having it, often)
If you want to buy an old tank that weighs a ton, Nikkormats are fine, F and F2's are alright but the meters are not great, and the bodies are not cheap for F's. Most people don't like the metered viewfinder on the F's because it makes it weigh as much as an FE. They feel nice but... If I'm faced with wanting an older Tank I'm more interested in a Pentax Spotmatic F because they are dirt cheap, and the old lenses for them have a look that I think serves black and white way better than other brands.
If you want to be a real nut... I also have a Minolta XE-7 that Leica ended up buying the guts for, for their R3 camera. It is the smoothest winding camera ever. I only like a few of the lenses. Personally I only use it for the 58mm 1.4 because it is a portrait lens (soft in beautiful ways), but a little low contrast. I have an M42 adapter that I like to use Pentax lenses on and some Russian. (35mm f3.5 is very good looking)
I switched to a Leica M2, with a really old Canon 50mm 1.8 lens (actually better than old summicrons). I need to get a top mount meter (VCII from Voigtlander). I traded a lens and some money for it, and got a smokin deal on the Canon. Otherwise it'd be too spendy.
Nikon FE
50mm 1.8 E
100mm 2.8 E
Pentax Spotmatic
35mm f3.5
55mm 1.8
Could go on forever....