My List of Perfect Film Cameras

[@thevoiceman6192]

The perfect camera are the ones you like.

[@jw48335]

EOS 3, Canon New F1 w/ Speed Finder prism, Leica M5, Konica Genba Kantoku Zoom, Mamiya C330 with Rick Oleson focus screen and Kiev 88 metered prism, Bronica ETRSI with AE prism 3 and Oleson screen, Fujica GW680iii, Lerouge pinhole 66, Keystone A15 16mm, Elmo 2600AF Super8, Fuji SQ10 hybrid digital Instax I've used nearly everything in every category. These are the ones that stayed. I'm happy to elaborate on why if anyone wants more details😂

[@jw48335]

Also, if I want to indulge my gas, I still do, I just treat it as an evaluation versus whatever currently occupies that slot. I currently plan to evaluate the Pentax ME-F against the Canon F1, because I am curious about the focus confirmation on the ME-F.

[@areallyrealisticguyd4333]

my perfect camera list for what I do would probably be: 35mm SLR - Minolta Alpha 9 35mm Rangefinder - Minolta CLE 35mm Compact - Rollei 35 Medium Format - Mamiya RB67 Large Format - Graflex 3x4 SLR Super D

[@gregoryroscoe3818]

Rolleicord Vb. I agree it’s good to process why you want something first. At the same time, life is short and even if you don’t “need” it wanting it bad enough is sometimes enough.

[@generic0000]

I'm not a photographer. I got into film cameras because it was so neat to take apart and fix an OM-1 my wife brought home from a Goodwill outlet. I too went through a bottom-feeder phase, mainly to experiment and find what I like. The cameras I will probably never get rid of: OM-1 its such a joy to shoot, good size and started it all. Minolta SRT love the mechanics, my favorite type of exposure meter, easy enough to work on, and affordable enough to have a cabniet full. Pentax ME Super as a SLR point and shoot, and I use it with my bellows for macro shots Olympus 35 RC super small camera for capturing moments where I don't have a big camera Olympus Pen same as above but with less guilt about taking lots of pictures Minolta 16 MG & Zoom 110 SLR because my wife and I like odd things. I don't think I've spent more than $35-40 on a single camera. So if you already know what you like and don't have expensive tastes, you can get a usable array of cameras for not a ton of money. Assuming you are willing to work on them yourself, or just have bronco here work on them.

[@ComblessMan]

I am a Pentax guy, a real fanboy. I love how old lenses will work on newer digital cameras and they seem to provide a film quality to the images. But the Pentax film cameras are a favorite since a K1000 was my first and I am loyal to that romance. I use a KM and a Super Program. But my favorite film camera, which I abuse by not using enough is my Rolleiflex TLR. Bright images, clean sharp and working with the square format is a challenge and a joy.

[@andykphoto]

12:29 that was the EXACT thought I was having… about my FM2N 😂 when you mentioned the FM2

[@mynameisnotcory]

The older film eos cameras are my absolute favorite, someday the ehoddy electronics may fail, but until then they produce some of my favorites

[@pleiadianfrequencies]

I used to have digital SLRs from canon and sold/donated all of it during lockdown and went minimalistic with Ricoh GR II and GR III. Then thought about film again and about 20-30 years ago when I shot Nikon F50 and Canon Elan II. That Elan was fantastic! So started collecting film cameras again. Pentax K1000, Program A, Super A, Program +, Super Program, 645N - have 2 of each! Canonet QL17 GIII and 28 Minolta SR505 2x Still kept some of my digital stuff: Ricoh GR II - converted to infrared 590nm Ricoh GR III Street Edition - fits in my shirt pocket and never leave the house without it Pentax K-3 II with Sigma glass 10-20, 17-50 and Pentax Limited prime glass What I love the most is what I find myself shooting with the most - the numbers don't lie.: Ricoh GR III - amazing for street Ricoh GR II when I do infrared landscapes and street Minolta SR505 - such a sweet camera. Heavy. Pentax Super A black - small and light SLR I can shoot in AV mode, set focus to infinity and snap away! Almost like a point and shoot, but SLR quality! I wanted to love the Canonet, but it just doesn't somehow fit me. I love the simplicity of the 28 with literally no dials other than the shutter and love the focus lever on the QL17, which I somehow ended up not liking as much as I thought. I wish the 28 had the focusing lever of the QL17! That would make the Canonet perfect for travel! But alas....

[@PhotoshootGuy]

I’d recommend giving the Hasselblad SWC a try if you haven’t. Completely different way of shooting than any other camera out there. So fun. My list would also include the Fujifilm GF670. All around fantastic camera that’s great to travel with as well.

[@Fat-totoro-cat]

My list that I have lusted after as "the perfect camera" and convinced myself that I needed: - Olympus OM4T - Still love this camera, and the Olympus lenses. Normally take it with me - OM1, OM2. Amazing cameras. If I take the OM4 out, one of these boys normally comes with. :) - Nikon F3 - Have two, and yes it is worth it. Like it over the other manual focus Nikons that have that dumb design of needing the film advance lever out to shoot. Hate that) - Nikon F2 - Immediately became a fan, but the more I used it, the more I preferred the F3. Its an exceptional camera, but a bit of brick. The metering on mine is a little off as well. - Canon F1 - Love it just for the sound of the shutter, rarely gets used. - Canon F1 new - Probably as almost nice as the F3, but mine has a problem with the finder meter not working in manual mode. Amazing achievement but probably too complicated? - Canon T90 - Hated it. Obnoxiously Noisy brick that I hated using. Gave it to the former YTuber Aziel Knight :) - Pentax LX - bit of a money pit to be honest, and probably not worth it for 99% of people, but since I have a bunch of Pentax glass I use it a bit. - Pentax ME Super - was my first SLR that I got when the ME Super actually came out :) Got it for my Birthday in 1984 or so. Since I have the LX I dont use it as much - Minolta X700 - Not really sure why I lusted after one but I love the VF and minimalist operation. I dont have enough Minolta glass to use it enough. - Pentax 67 - Love it. Lots of glass that is awesome and affordable as well. Highly recommended. - Pentax 645 - Love it. Lots of glass that is awesome and affordable as well. Highly recommended. :) - Contax Aria - A little plasticy, but pretty nice. My brother has an RTS ][ but that is a brick. wrt to the CZ lenses, in general they are are only a little better than Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Canon, but I feel they are the nicest handling manual focus lenses made, so I always love shooting with them. - Contax RX - Since I got the Aria I leave it at home, but it is very nice. - Leica R7 - Nice enough camera. Mechanically I dont find it superior the F3 or F1 new. I only have one lens for it, the Summicron 50mm F2, and its marginally better than the average 50 F2, but not enough to want me to get more R lenses. At one point I decided that I needed to get into rangefinders, even though I have never liked how they work: - Minolta CLE. Got it with some lovely Minolta lenses. Camera is nice, but the finder is not as nice as I was expecting. - Konica RF - actually extremely nice camera! Kind of loud film advance. - Leica M4-p - as a long term Leica skeptic I knew I had to own one just for the experience. Its quite nice in a lot of ways and I can see the attraction. The flim loading is just dumb though, and the lenses are massively overrated. If I am in a rangefinder mood I normally grab this for street cred. Will probably keep it for the investment ;) Still lusting after a 6x6 camera - probably will get a Bronica...

[@RascalKyng]

Thanks for putting the playback numbering & subject in the description.

[@MakersTeleMark]

Hasselblad 500c, Leica M3, Fujica GL690 Pro, Nikon Fm2n, Oly 35rc, mamiya 645 1000s. And that is why I own them and use them all the time for many many years. Nothing outside of large format or digital is needed or better.

[@CMCSenior]

Very good dissertation on film cameras, all of which are great for “you”. I realize you are a Pentax SLR fan and was surprised to not find more in your list. Was also surprised that No Canon SLR was included, at least the F1 or FTb, but then again, it’s your favorites and I can accept that. Very good video. Thank you!

[@RompingBronco]

I’ve always enjoyed the FTb, TX and even F1 but they never quite clicked with me, kind of similar to the canonet except for the SLR’s I haven’t really sought them out in the same way, it could change though but glad you enjoyed it!

[@gojira99]

The perfect camera for me at the moment is the Olympus Pen FT: - economical on film due to being a half-frame camera - helps me slow down and be more mindful with my shots since it’s fully mechanical and it allows me to think about diptych layouts - timeless cool design - the lens selection is very nice I hope someday for one camera company to release a half-frame rangefinder like those unofficial Leica M2 and M4 releases.

[@zacharyjames3091]

I’ve had dreams of an SWC with the viewfinder off and replaced with a small flash -a set up I’ve seen a couple times in Tokyo camera style. It could be a kind of medium format rollei 35, a candid photography beast

[@justinlosefsky2578]

My dream team of cameras, each serving a niche; Primary SLRs: Nikon F3, Nikon F5, and Nikon D850. F3 for its versatility/customizability, F5 for its matrix metering and auto focus, and the D850 as my one concession to digital. Bonus of this lineup is that all three can share the same set of lenses. Everyday Carry point-and-shoot: Ricoh GR1V. Beautiful lens, many manual controls/manual overrides, and the flash has a dedicated off switch that will STAY off. Medium format: Fujica GL690 (Added benefit of serving as a dirt cheap X-Pan if you load it with 35mm.)

[@Narsuitus]

Here is a list of the perfect cameras I have owned and used: 1. Nikon F2 35mm SLR with non-metered standard viewfinder and 14mm to 1000mm lenses 2. Leica M6 35mm rangefinder with 21/35/90mm lenses 3. Pentax Spotmatic 35mm SLR with 28 to 300mm lenses 4. Fuji ST705 35mm SLR with 28/50/135mm lenses 5. Fuji GW670iii medium format rangefinder with fixed 90mm normal lens 6. Fuji GSW690iii medium format rangefinder with fixed 65mm lens 7. Mamiya 220 medium format TLR with 55/80/180mm lenses 8. Mamiya RB67 medium format SLR with 50/90/180mm lenses 9. Calumet 4x5 inch large format monorail view camera with 47/65/90/135mm lenses All the cameras on my list are manual/mechanical as opposed to automatic/electronic. Except for the Mamiya TLR, I still own and use all the cameras on my list. Most of these cameras do not have a built-in light meter. None of these cameras require batteries for the actual picture taking. A few of these cameras require batteries for their built-in light meters.

[@thecaveofthedead]

Fun to listen to and good caveats at the end. My favourite cameras that I've used and owned: My MX that I've used since '94. My 6x7 (it's a giant spotmatic - put the 45mm lens on it and you've got your 'ultra'-wide MF camera). My Fujifilm XE1 is the digital that makes me not feel like I'm missing out shooting my MX so much (and yes, I know the later models are more responsive but I got it for $100 with another $150 in delightful manual focus Chinese lenses). The camera I keep on feeling a yen for since forever: the LX. I got put off when they were _kinda_ affordable by tales of decaying foam and such. But I think I should have got one in those days when film cameras were cheap as chips in the early 2000s when I picked up my 6x7. I sometimes think about the Plaubel Makina, but that's largely worn off. I am going to get myself an OM2n. That's almost like an LX-lite and, because of the MX, I love small cameras and the ergonomics of the OM cameras are just delightful. Oh. And a shout-out for the Spotmatic F which I sourced for my old man after watching this channel. He used to use Spotmatics from the mid-'60s through the mid-'70s when he got an MX. I was pretty blown away by the feel of that camera and the delightful wind-on lever. The old boy's 83 and has been having great fun with that camera.

[@Anthony-fz9ye]

Would be cool if you put the name and or pictures of the cameras when you mention them on the screen! I know that would take more work tho

[@Jazzy-kz6wd]

do you have any recommendations for viable 6x6 cameras that aren't just an awkward box shape? i own a yashica TLR but the form factor really does not do it for me and i'm looking for an alternative...

[@llbit]

Pentacon Six - similar to Pentax 6x7 but it's square format

[@skucera8116]

I understand a lot of these choices. I think we're fond of the first cameras we were exposed to. My dad was a camera nut when I was growing up, and I became a Konica fan because of that. My mom had an Instamatic, and I enjoy odd little Kodaks as a result too. Also, I love my first camera, the Pentax Auto 110, but it isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. However, I haven't found a "perfect" camera yet. I have a lot of really good cameras that I enjoy a lot, though: Canon T90, even if I occasionally get the shutter error Konica Autoreflex T3n Canon New Cannoned QL17 (sometimes referred to as the G2) or the G3 (I have both) Canon EOS 650 Olympus IS-3dlx iPhone 16 Pro Leica M3 with a Leica Meter M Why? Just 'cuz.... They work with me, not against me like most Nikon F-whatevers because their lenses twist the opposite way to my muscle memory.

[@stephenkruft2213]

I think a Pentax Spotmatic or its meterless predecessor is perfect to handle and use, for a manual camera. Fits the human hand.

[@thecaveofthedead]

BTW, wrt your G2 paperweight comments, I'd love to see you do a video on which cameras have the biggest potential to keep shooting in the decades ahead with regular use.

[@fatherheer]

Canon A-1 Pentax Spotmatic F Pentax SV Pentax K “King” Nikkormat FTN Nikon F3 Nikon FM2

[@acddejklor]

My list would be the Minolta XD in black, the Minolta TC-1 (perfect until I broke it), Pentax ME Super, Nikon F2 Titan and Minolta Alpha 9 Would really like to try the Pentax LX and I'd guess it would get a high place on the list

[@j.c.103]

Mostly expensive cameras, too expensive .