Which Brand Film Camera System Should You Buy?? Review The Options

Are you ready to build the perfect film camera system but wonder which brand you should go with. Let's review the manual focus options and come up with a great system built for everyday use. We'll go over some of the better choices in a premium system that you could use everyday whether you're shooting weddings on film, portraits or looking for an everyday user.
Rob Skeoch is a career photographer, working for five newspapers and wire services before joining the team at Major League Baseball for 17 seasons and the NFL for 14 seasons. Then he was a national manager for the camera group at Sony North America before going back to shooting.
Now he shoots for gallery shows around the world, mostly portraits and street work.For 35mm shooting he uses a Nikon F3 and a couple M-mount Leica cameras and shoots mostly Ilford film.
HP5 FP4Pan F Ilford Zeiss ZM Distagon Summaron Biogon Leica Leica R6.2 R6.2 R6 Nikon Nikon F3 Nikon F3T Nikon FM3A Pentax Pentax LX Pentax MX Canon Canon F1 Canon New F1Minolta Minolta X-700 Olympus Olympus OM4 Olympus OM3 Olympus OM4T Olympus OM3T Contax Kodak Fiilmprocessing darkroom black and white b&w developing film at home developing black and white filmdeveloping 35mm filmdeveloping roll film loading film developing reels loading 35mm film on reel loading 35mm film loading 35mm into development tank #blackandwhitephotography, #filmphotography, #blackandwhite, #filmprocessing, #film,, #bw, , #filmisnotdead, #blackandwhitephoto, #filmcamera, #35mmfilm, #leica, #nikon, #darkroom, #darkrooms, #film, #filmcamera, , #leica, #leicasociety, #ilford, #120film, #rolleiflex #rollei, #gitzo #kodak, #streetphotography,, photo, photography, picture, 135mm lens, 35mm film, black and white, rollei, ilford, portrait, #nikon, #canon, #pentax, #zeiss #distagon #18mm #zeisslens #leicaphotography #leica_world #leicaimages #leicalens, #leica_camera #leicam6 #nikonf3 #nikonfm2 #canon_official #minolta #olympus

[@whfowle]

I found your analysis of choices to be very useful. I have been using Nikon film cameras since 1966 and use all six pro bodies, F thru F6 as well as a FM2n. Love them all. My original F is still being used on a regular basis and has been in several car wrecks but is still working just fine without any repairs.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That gear is so well made. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@DirectRegister]

What a wonderful string of unvarnished real talk, from someone how actually lived through the era when these cameras were used in earnest. Thanks for sharing this! And I completely agree, Nikon F3HP is my favorite (and I think the best) manual SLR.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks, I'm glad the post was useful to you.

[@stuartgraham5055]

I totally agree with you!

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@kbarrett1844]

Agree with Nikon as a choice for durability, reliability and consistency in the field. I am more of a casual film shooter and went with Minolta for the nostalgia. It was the camera I used as a student. Great content. New subscriber

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks for subscribing. Glad you could tolerate me.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@stuleeds6104]

Fascinating video … I have the F3 and love it

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Such a great camera, and system to build on.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@ruedigermerz9525]

Great video and I 100% agree. I am shooting Nikon since 40 years. Started with an FG and FM2, could not afford a F3 at the time. Today I have a F3HP, which I have since 20 years, and recently I bought a mint F3P. Love them both, my all time favorite. And they have not been hyped up, yet. So, one can get them for a reasonable price. Best is to buy them from a company who gives 6 month warranty, like KEH or Used Photo Pro. Keep making great videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I don't think there are a lot of F3P out there. Enjoy it. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@rhywive]

Great video, thank you. What I really loved about it is that it was like a history overview of the different views of professional photographers about different working style and cameras, likes and dislikes. I would really like to see some more videos like that where you share anecdotes and just bits of history. For instance, you mentioned rangefinder cameras are only good for certain scenarios, but obviously they were used a lot, still in your area of work, it seemed you preferred SLRs

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I have a few more videos planned for this year. I use rangefinders a lot but they're useless for good macro, sports, critical framing, but good for street work and carrying around.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@randyk1919]

Great overview! I don't shoot film heavily, and certainly not to the degree I once did, but decided on a Nikon FE and am very happy! This choice was also driven -- primarily, really -- by Nikon's impressive selection of AI, AI-S and pre-AI lenses that I absolutely love using on my Fujifilm digital cameras.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

It's amazing that we can use those old lenses on the modern mirrorless cameras.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@dishboy14]

Great video. I would recommend getting a Yeti tabletop mic to clear up the audio echo in the videos. I have an F3 and a FM2/T love both of them. The F3 with the MD-4 Motordrive is a a tank and a dream to shoot. Some really great AI / AIS lenses out there online. These cameras have soul compared to my Z8 and Z6 I use for wedding photography.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

The F3 with the motordrive sounds like a camera should sound. They keep the user experience fun. I haven't tried the new Nikon mirrorless yet.. we'll have to see. I'm looking into mic's but it's a slow moving train.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@winternimbus]

Great review. I agree with everything you said and I have the FM3A and the F3 They are the very best 🌟🙏🏽👍🏽

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Glad you like them!

[@Larpy1933]

Your whole series of videos should be preserved by the Library of Congress. Yes, I’m Canadian. I get it. Superb work. Thanks. I’m in Victoria, BC.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Well at least I'm having fun.

[@pipebear7036]

I really enjoyed your video. I used OM10's from the late 80's, mainly macro and microscope work. Used Tamron lens with the Adaptall converters. Then in retirement got into Nikon via the F301 and acquired an F3 later. Then got a Nikon 50mm 1.8 and the 28mm 2.8 E series). Of course my old Tamron's will fit too. Then I saw your video! Picked up a 135mm 2.8 today. Thanks for the tip. Regards, Peter

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Glad I could help.

[@rockartistet]

Fantastic summary. I went through some of the same cameras Pentax screw mount K mount cameras then Nikon ended up with a Nikon F3

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

See, I'm not the only one. lol

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@anselbresson]

A big shout out for the F3 and the Leica R6. I use both a lot and love both.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Nice, like I said I never owned the R6, but it always interested me.

[@blakemartin9445]

I just bought the F3, prior to your video, so that feels good. I have had a Pentax MX since new in 1977 too. But loving my F3, with the 50mm 1.2. I have a couple older Nikons, the F and a Nikomat, with other lenses I can use too. But loving the F3!

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Glad you're enjoying it. I'm enjoying mine as well.

[@ianolafsenn]

Nice in depth video! I shot nikon for a few years, had the f2, f3 and f100 bodies. While they were fantastic shooters they never quite did it for me. The f3 worked great but its ergonomics never felt right in my hand (sacrilege I know). I also always felt that some of the lenses lacked a little quality but thats just me. I ended up recently switching over to a contax rx and a few lenses and I couldn't be happier. Like you I still wanted a manual focus system but was also looking for more modern features of the 90s pro film cameras. Contax was literally the perfect answer to this need and the ergonomics are incredible. Not to mention the carl zeiss glass which is on par with leica at a fraction of the price (mostly).

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes, they are nice. In Canada they were never a major brand and few retailers stocked anything, so it was always hard to get excited about them since you didn't see them often.

[@terencelaubach6565]

Went digital in 2014 and traded in my Nikon F2 I bought in '74 while in the service for a Fuji XPro2. Both good cameras. Last year I bought a used Nikon D700 so I could use my Nikkor lenses: 28mm, 55mm, 105mm and 200mm. This year I'll look for a Nikon F3HP and load up some Tri-X. Should be fun! Thanks for the video, especially from a working pro's perspective.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Enjoy the F3 and that Tri-X. It's a great combo!!

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@itsjim2875]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite- absolutely! (especially with a 100' roll 😁)

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That's a lot of film... better get shooting.

[@itsjim2875]

Thanks, Rob - great review and presentation. I really like the cowboy photos, seeing you outdoor studio setup, and of course almost anything Nikon. Though as a child, I shot with some Brownies, etc., I began my more serious photo journey (I am not a professional) with Nikkormats back in the early 70's. I have never had any other company show me a compelling reason to switch. I must admit that since retiring and giving my much beloved F2 to a friend's son, I have kept a Nikkormat FT3 for film and now mostly use a D700 (aka The Legend), while my newer D850 sits in a box on the shelf. Nikon has always worked for me.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Nikon has done a great job over the years.

[@georgesterland2010]

Great video, I look forward to hearing more about your experiences (past and present). I've tried (and still own) a variety of SLR cameras as I have started into film photography, but I have mostly settled on Olympus with a small but growing collection of lenses. I have an OM-4TI (mine was manufactured in 1999) and fortunately it works really well! Ergonomically I have definitely gotten settled with the single digit OM control layout - being able to access all your main controls with your left hand without removing it from supporting the lens is fantastic. Besides that, I appreciate the simple LCD interface in the OM-4TI and the manual mode display is especially useful in conjunction with the spot meter. It's only really missing aperture information. The main downside I would say with the OM System is that some of the professional quality lenses can get very expensive as they were not manufactured in as large numbers as competing brands, simply because Olympus was serving a much smaller professional market share than Nikon or Canon.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes, Olympus made some great lenses, they just didn't sell enough of them and now some of the really cool ones are rare, and expensive. Nice system for sure.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@robdixon5016]

I love my Nikon F6. Bought it brand new in 2006. Shot dozens of weddings and it was paid for in a week or 2.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

It’s such a nice camera

[@gurhanpekuz1813]

Great Video! And great information. I prefered Canon Eos system . Which i can use the same lenses with Mirrorless cameras and over all very happy about the film photography and dijital photography. Canon 7e is my go to camera . Canon 1v is also great but heavy so I Mostly use the 7e . Thanks for the video 🎉

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, the Canon AF stuff is really great.

[@cabbelos]

Great video, nice to hear the pro perspective from back in the day. With the prices nowadays the playing field is very skewed, with some of the previously cheap-as-dirt cameras like the K1000 fetching more money than other brands' pro bodies. For myself, I didn't choose the Nikon system, I was born into it. My father bought a Nikkormat FT3 when he was studying journalism (pretty interesting stopgap model actually, FM in Nikkormat's clothing before the FM was ready for release). He kept it as his personal camera even when working newspapers. Most everybody where he worked had a F3 as the work camera. A quote from one of his colleagues about somebody using Canon cameras back then: "It looks like a camera, apart from the spot on the front where it's supposed to say Nikon". I still have his FT3 (quite brassed after 40+ years), and I've also bought the F2 and F4. The autofocus lenses for the F4 are excellent but quite sterile. The manual focus lenses have countless legendary lenses. My 3 lens set to go: 28mm 2.8 Ai-S CRC, 50mm 1.2 Ai-S and 105mm 2.5 ai-converted (the old scalloped Vietnam war reporter special).

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

When I first started the Nikkormat's were the entry point to Nikon but I went with a Pentax Spotmatic F, which was a mistake in hindsight as I ended up switching a few years later and starting over. Canon was off the radar where I lived. The cool photographers had Nikon. Weird when you think of it.

[@kookaburramundi9395]

I do love the Olympus, especially my OM-1 as the view finder shows you actually about 97 per cent of the actual picture field, it's beautiful to use and frame with.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I had a few friends who used them. They seemed to love them, plus the colour from the lenses was very nice and subtle.

[@markdandeneau2904]

I’m looking at film cameras but just to shoot B&W. I’m looking heavily at the K1000 since that was my first camera. Anyway I’m looking at the F3 now as well. Thanks for the video.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

The F3 is way more camera than the K1000. Almost every camera is, lol. Enjoy the search.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@JeffreyHauser]

Have a Canon F1 with a power winder & several Canon FD lens. Still works as good as the day I bought it. One of the few cameras that will still work if the battery dies, although with limited shutter speeds. Built like a tank. I have sold many cameras over the last 40 years, but have no plans to sell the F1.😊

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

They were so well built. Will work forever

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@colinmorris949]

Hi there, Great video covers 99% off the cameras I would use my family owned a pro camera store in the UK from the 1970s to 2014 and I would say you have done a great job. A camera that i was told sold well in the states to pros was the Minolta XM ? one of the only cameras i have not used. we sold tons of olympus and the fault ratw after the om2n was very bad so i would agree with you there. in the UK the Canon was sold as the F1n , but as you say i also came down to nikon we can get repaired most here so a serviced and seals replaced on some of the older cameras are still great purcases if you are not shooting tons of film . well done on the video used an F3 for all of the 1980s wish i had kept it just use film for fun now FE2/FM2 or a M2 sometimes and Olympus for digital wieght seems more of a problem for me now. well done great advise.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@linjicakonikon7666]

I was gifted a Canon FTb back in 1971 as a high school graduation gift. I eventually shifted to Nikon F2 and FM2 cameras for editorial assignments. I added medium format 6x9 and 6x17 cameras for exhibit format book projects until I went digital in 2004. I added analog back in my workflow in 2011 for archival reasons. My current favorite camera companions are an assortment of Canon VT and VT Deluxe rangefinders from the late '50s. A joy to shoot with (with 21 and 25 mm Voightlander Color Skopar LTM lenses.)loaded with black and white film.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

For me it's always the 'user experience'!!! How much fun is it to shoot with a certain camera. Those Canon rangefinders sound like fun.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@johnstride9642]

Great video advice based on all your experience. Thank you. Me? I’ve gone down the F3 route and I love the quality of the camera and lenses….brings back memories when I was a huge Nikon fan many years ago. Memories eh….I’ve just picked up a mint Pentax MX for old times sake. I had one when they first came out and loved it and picking it up now I realise why. So I guess I’m going to running two systems now🙄

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Sounds like you have two great systems on the go. Have fun shooting.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@benvoyons626]

Great video and I agree with most of what you say. I’m a Nikon guy, and I own an F2, F3, 2 F5’s, a couple of F100’s, Nikormat EL2, FE. I agree with you, with autofocus lenses the F5 is a beast that can also be used with manual lenses. But it is big and heavy. The F3 I like a lot and use regularly. Unfortunately it has developed lately a problem with the lcd readout which becomes more and more difficult to see. It does not prevent the camera from being used but it is annoying. It is also something that cannot be repaired as there are no spare parts for it anymore. Most important in the end is being able to use these AIS lenses that I love.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Looks like you have lots of options. I never tried the Nikormat, the name was ending just as I was buying into cameras.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@mattwhite9887]

Good advice. I was lucky with my Pentax LX. I'm no pro, but medium use and regular servicing have kept it going well. It's worked pretty much without major problems since I bought it new in the early 1980s. I know the electronics will die sooner or later, and I will be very sad when that happens. I love that camera. The MX I bought at the same time shows every sign of going on forever - and, unlike the LX, there's a good supply of old donor cameras for spares (I have three!) and plenty of techs who can service it. But I wouldn't buy any of the older electronics-dependent SLRs now. Once the no-longer-available electronics fail - which they will sooner or later - they'll all be bricks, sadly. My day-to-day user is now an FM3a - more than twenty years younger and with its fully mechanical shutter option, I just feel more confident that it'll last to the end of each shooting day. I'm still on the lookout for a good late model FM2N as back-up though!

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That sounds like a pretty good kit!!

[@Mike-vd2qt]

Re: The Canon F-1. The second Rev. was F-1N which had a shorter throw film advance with plastic end. Then the F-1- New followed with updates to the meter ASA range, and motor drive speeds were increased. Problems can happen with the old Canon shutter mech, it was a thin foil titanium so that the shutter speed could be increased to 1/2,000 second. My copy developed a few pinholes in the shutter. A service tech repaired it by painting over the holes. Today I'd probably look for a Nikon F series, like you advised the F3, the F2A, and F2AS were great too.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

As long as it works, and you're out shooting and having fun. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@viktorpantazis4441]

Nice video! How about the Contax RTS & S2?

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes, a few people have asked about them. They didn't have a strong following in Canada for some reason.

[@alanhaenni]

You've just motivated me to dust off my FE, replace the seals, and give er a spin.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I'm glad you're dusting it off. Go out and enjoy it.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@neilpiper9889]

I used a Pentax Spotmatic screw lens camera and then moved to a Nikon FM . I use digital mostly now using a D300s and a Nikon D75O. The digital and manual lenses are all compatible and interchangeable. If young people are just starting out a good cheap start into manual cameraid is a K mount camera The MX is the best choice. I also have a couple of Rich KR 10 K mount cameras which also have auto mode. They are so cheap and the Rikenon lenses are great. If they break down, keep the lenses and buy another body for £30 or so. I have never had any trouble with Nikon Cameras. Great informative video sir, from your own experience.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@Dieboltphoto96]

Nice video and summary. I have owned the Canon F1 and found that the FD glass is very soft wide open even when focus was hit. Also I couldn’t stand how dirt got in between the removable prism and focusing screen. It was always a pain to clean. I have since sold it for a Nikon FM2 and have picked up the Zeiss 35mm f2 and Zeiss 50mm f1.4. The 85mm is next on my list and then the 28mm f2.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Those Zeiss lenses are really great. Heavy but great. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@Dieboltphoto96]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite haha ain’t that the truth. I have had the opportunity to try a M6 paired with the same 35mm f2 Zeiss and it was 1/3 the size and weight of the f mount version. These things are chunky but nothing the 50 1.8 pancake Nikkor cant fix when you want a light setup

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

You need at least one lite lens.

[@DartzIRL]

I've used an F-1 for a while. Every now and then it gets to 'work' - usually at conventions and the like. A bit like taking an old steam locomotive on the mainline every now and then. It still has a better cold-weather rating that a modern 1Dx. Some of the photo's on a local anime con's website came from that F-1, with an old electronic flash. 10 rolls a weekend is probably not a lot from a professional standpoint - but it works. With the flash, flashcoupler, lightmeter, motordrive and databack - all told, I've counted a total of 11 batteries, fully dressed. It's been joined by a T70 and T90 which are a lot more modern.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I had friends who used the T90, they loved it.

[@KimHojbergJensen]

I bought a K1000 at my 20 years birthday in 1978, because it was the only one I could afford. A couple of years later I changed to the MX. The hype about K1000 is just created by some influencers to have something to post about. I also ended with Nikon from which I have more than 20 scattered around the house 🙂

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Sounds like you're all set. Of course there's always one more camera that a person needs. lol

[@eesuuorundide]

I went through a similar process. I bought the Pentax MX, Olympus OM-1, Leica R4 and I ended up with the Nikon F3 as well.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

See I'm not the only one out there, lol.

[@skipmersereau1014]

You asked: My Nikon F4's kit has a 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm. These are all the Nikkor AF D versions. Sold off the rest - especially the extra heavy 200mm. Everyone hated the F4.... but I love mine and found it worked better for me to have a bit more bulk than the lighter models - even the F100. Oddly, there are times when shooting your hands can do weird things with a camera body that's too small, and more bulk or weight actually becomes easier to hold rock steady. So as much as I think a fair amount about whether to return to the FM2n (or maybe on your rec looking at an F3 varietal) but then remember I can always "manual everything" with my current glass without making a purchase. And I just don't want the clutter of 2 systems to achieve the same thing. Two bodies can make sense as back-up in a prime camera, but that can be a luxury, too. When I shoot events in digital, I'm ALWAYS shooting 100% manual except for a few, rare group shots. Generally this avoids the wonky thing of exposure floating all over and adjusting when the light ISN'T changing but the camera thinks it is. Finally I've found I'm using wide lenses a lot more - even for portraits. And so for me, I like AF because there's nothing worse than missing a shot you thought you'd nailed because you were moving too fast... and now your subject's unsharp. It still happens.... but one of those things you beat yourself up about.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

For sure, I shot AF for years. For certain situations nothing is better. I just don't shoot in those situations much any more. Keep having fun.

[@me109g4zaku]

I was looking for a full manual camera, it was a toss up between a nikon f2 and original Canon f1. Ended up getting the f1 because it was absolutely mint.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

They sure are nice to use.

[@stefan_becker]

I'm a little bit irritated that you don't like Miinolta, but like Leica R that contained at the time a lot of Minolta knowledge/technolofy and parts as Minolta was working closely with Leica at the time when they were relasing for example the R4. Having tried Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Fuji and most of the brands over the decades I can say the Minolta cameras are in my opinion really great. If I had the choice among the manual focus slr systems I'd probably pick Minolta. One reason would also be the lenses. Some of them are really amazing. For example the had one of the few fast "50ish" lenses with a great bokeh of the manual age. Canon didn't have any and even the Nikkor Noct is not that much better or even worse. What I've seen from Nikon, Canon, Pentax and a lot of other camera manufacturers did not convince me, but the Minolta Rokkor 58mm f1.2 is a great lens with amazing bokeh (at f2 and higher): soft and round bokeh balls. After having tried also quite a few Nikon and Canon lenses of that age I can say the Minolta lenses were in my experience the best ones. Saying "pros didn't use them" doesn't mean they were not good. I particularly like the Minolta XD-7 (which is by the way a kind of Leica R4 with Minolta printed on it).

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks for your comments. That 58mm sounds like a fun lens to use. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@tjh44961]

I started with a Nikon FG in about 1984 or 85, I think, as a birthday gift. Probably in '87, I bought an FE2, just to get the 1/4000th shutter speed. I was really interested in stopping motion, like raindrops falling in a puddle, etc. I still have both of those cameras. I've had numerous bodies since then. The newest film camera I have is an N90 (F90 outside the US). I have an N80 sitting in front of me now, I just loaded it up earlier this week, and plan to start carrying it around with me, maybe wander around downtown during my lunch hours. I have a couple of DSLRs, but digital photography just doesn't do it for me. I guess I need the more contemplative process of film -- it makes me slow down, and just take (I think) better pictures on film.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

The thing I like about film is less computer time and more time in the darkroom!

[@GirdHerd]

My first SLR was a Pentax Spotmatic with the M42 screw mount lenses. A couple years later I switched to a Nikon F2AS and have stuck with Nikon ever since. I shoot both film and digital and have recently purchased an F4s and F100 for their auto focus capability. I also have an F, F2AS, & Nikkormat that I love to shoot but appreciate the auto focusing F4s and F100 because film and processing are so expensive today I hate missing a shot because I didn't manually focus properly. I also have a Nikon D70s, D80 for their "film like" CCD sensors, a D600 mainly used for DSLR film scanning, and a D850 with the trinity of Tamron G2 lenses fir my serious landscape photography. BTW, I love using the Tamron G2 lenses on my F100. It's the best of all worlds.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That's a nice kit!!

[@michaelmygind5061]

I decided on both Canon and Nikon. I own 70 film cameras and around 140 lenses and enjoy all of them. I’m an amateur, but have photographed since 1976 and still love film. ❤❤❤

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Sounds like you have both systems covered pretty good. Enjoy them!

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@naturligfunktion4232]

I will get a F3 at some point. Have a FM and it is crazy how well it works considering that its from the 70s! But I really want a camera that control the shutter speed. And the F3 is just so good looking

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

They are a sharp looking camera, and with the motor drive they sound like a camera should. lol

[@jjaylad]

Interesting video. Thanks. You missed a good one though ...the Konica Autoreflex T3n, from 1975. Popular professionally, shutter priority AE, patented faster film loading system, huge selection of pro lenses including those from top 3rd party suppliers, hot shoe, eyepiece shutter, virtually indestructible, excellent image quality and incredible reliability. Only drawback today is the meter ran on 1.25v mercury batteries which are no longer available. The good thing is the metering system is professionally adjustable. Mine recently got re-calibrated for 1.5v and alkalines that fit are available everywhere.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Konica wasn't really popular in Canada for some reason but I'm sure they were great.

[@jjaylad]

@stillshootinginblackandwhite I live in Winnipeg, and the shop I purchased from kept running out, as customers spread word. I did some work with Nikons we had at work as well, and for 'consistency' should have been using those, but the T3n worked so well it was always my go-to. I'd cut my 35mm teeth on Konica's Auto S2, so was kind of a Konica fan boy. Cheers.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Glad they worked out for you!!

[@adriancozma6102]

Went with an F4 after using an FE, because I like having the option of using the autofocus sometimes, and also use all my manual lenses. I also have a D5300 DSLR that I use, so it only made more sense to stick to Nikon. Tried the Fujica ST605N for a few years, and built quite a collection of lenses for it, all with their own character, which I fully enjoyed playing and experimenting with.But I'm not doing any professional work, and this is mostly for my own amusement.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

The F4 is a great camera. I used one for years, then went to the F5 when it came out. Nikon's such a solid system.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@Zurich_for_Beginners]

The great thing about Nikon you can use your manual lenses with the newest digital SLR. I have lenses from the 60's that can be used with my d500.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, they're one of the only brands that have been true to their lens mount.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@heinzknorzel2966]

I agree with almost everything: Nikon F3 fits into my hand perfectly. You did not mention the Contax S1 which is so simple ... until I found a Leica R8. You can't find a camera easier to use. But the thing with the lensprices is definitely something to consider.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I haven't used a Contax S1. Sounds interesting. The Leica cameras are very nice but when I priced out the lenses I wanted, I knew it wasn't going to happen. They make a sweet 135mm as well. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@heinzknorzel2966]

I've owned a Rollei 3003 and I just liked it because of the 2 viewfinders. But it was not robust. When I've used the Zeiss Distagon 35/1.4 on it (I guess it is the same as Leicas 35mm) I could use a degree softer enlarging paper than when I've used a japanese lens (Rolleinar 21 made by Konica I guess). This is why I prefer german made lenses. I'll have a look at your pictures. Thank you! @@stillshootinginblackandwhite

[@heinzknorzel2966]

Contax S2 is the camera I've tested. I'm sorry. It's been a long time ... ;)@@stillshootinginblackandwhite

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Sounds like a fun setup.

[@scottparis6355]

The Nikon F prism finder (no meter) that you mentioned is a bit rare and very expensive. ($200 range) Costs more than the FTN meter finder. (Which often doesn't work now.) Absolutely agree on the Nikon F3 as the best all around film camera. Another advantage is the thousands of used Nikkor lenses that are available.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes, there are certainly a lot of Nikon lenses out there. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@kenschwarz8057]

Thanks for this. Good, realistic talk. Yeah, it’s sad to drop from consideration some models like the OM-1, Nikon F2 or FM for being too old, but they really can be a PITA when meters fail or shutter speeds go out, and they can get fungus in their prisms, etc., etc. I had an F2 CLA’d back to spec, but the shutter speeds are off again with minimal use. By contrast, my F3, which I bought new in 1990, works perfectly. The Nikon glass from this era is generally pretty good, but is simply blown away by today’s top mirrorless primes. There’s no contest, they are so crisp and the blacks and colors are so rich. I’m still a medium format fan, though. Medium format film still looks awesome, and you can get a nice old Mamiya or Yashica for small money and get such great results.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I agree with you about the MF kit. That big negative is hard to beat.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@mrca2004]

My mamiya 645 pro tl neg is 3x 35 mm and rb67 neg is nearly 5x. The tonal transitions, are gorgeous. Getting a larger neg also reduces grain relative size. I easily make 20" prints on 645 and would max out on my 24" printer with the RB that almost feels like I can walk into the image. But my auto focus lenses work on my f100, 5 and 6 and the metering is dead on. @@stillshootinginblackandwhite

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Those big negs are nice to print.

[@aldazio642]

I’ve been shooting Nikons, as a serious amateur, for almost 50 years now. My collection consists of a Nikon F, F2, F3T, F4, F5, F6 and a Nikon FM3A. I guess you can say that I am also a collector of sorts. In the past 15 years or so I purchased a used Leica M7 in mint condition. I also have a Leica MP also as part of my film 0:36 🎉arsenal. While I enjoy the quality and images from my Leica’s, I miss shooting my SLR’s. These days I shoot mainly digital, owning a Leica M-11 and M10 Monochrome. ,

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That's a nice kit. Similar to what I have used, although currently my only Nikon is the F3. I used the F5 a lot, and had an F6 for a while but was shooting mostly digital and moved it on. Should have kept it.

[@DominicRulikowski]

I own 50 cameras.The vast majority are 35mm SLR manual focus, To build a system with three bodies and 3, 4 or 5 lenses my preferred system is Nikon. FA, FE & FM are a great trio. F401, F501, F601 give you some interesting feature options. I have a refurbished Olympus M-1, an OM-1 that could do with a new prism and the lovely Pen F half frame SLR with an OM adapter from 1963 (I've also had that refurbished). The Minolta XD-7 (XD-11), I have two and three SRT minoltas from the early 1970's, built like tanks. I would love to get a Nikon F3HP and a Minolta Alpha/Dynax/Maxxum 9, the Holy Grail in my opinion. It all depends whether you're doing action photography or landscape/still life, the latter doesn't put any time constraints on your work.And let's face it, film photography is now about slowing down and honing in on the image instead of "spray & pray" with digital.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I bought two rolls of film yesterday at a store since I'm on the road and couldn't order directly, it was $37. I think the spray and pray days are over for me. lol

[@davidjb9199]

When the market went digital in the late 90' early 2000's, and the market dropped out for film equipment, I found myself trying to snap up what I could afford just because I had always wanted so many of these cameras. So, I have ended up with many of the cameras you describe (Pentax, Minolta, Leica R, Olympus, Canon and Nikon). I will leave medium format for another post. By far and away my most acquired though is Nikon. To me they have always been the epitome of camera design and quality. This has extended into my digital stable as well. Of the ones I have (F2a, F3, F4, F5, F100, FE2, FA) it is difficult to pick a favorite as each has their strengths and weaknesses. For strictly manual focus the FA is hard to beat with its viewfinder clarity. None of them are bad, I am just splitting hairs here. On the Olympus's, I have to say my 4T works flawlessly with multi-spot metering, and the M-1 I have (refurbished from Japan) is just jewel like in operation. It just feels right. None are bad, just different flavors, so to speak. Also, my Leica R's do not include the R6/R6.2, but do include the SL, SL2 and R7. All work fine, but the focusing screen in the R7 just makes it a standout in use. And honestly, I never fully bought into the hype about the Leica glass until I used that 50mm F2 Sumicron. Now I understand a little bit better. Question is, given the cost difference is the performance enhancement really worth it? I have made that investment in glass, I just need to shoot more. Great topic and conversation.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I think we all need to shoot more. It looks like you have a great variety to work with. Of course we all know any simple 120 camera will out perform any of these 35mm systems, no matter how sharp the lenses are supposed to be.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@bishopcolenso]

I started photography when in my teens in the 60's and had to settle for brands such as Yashica which were affordable but always yearned for Nikon; way too expensive for me then. Since then I've owned Minolta, and a Fed 2. Now that old Nikon are relatively inexpensive I've fulfilled my wish to own an FM2N and an FE2, both of which are bullet proof and fun to use. Lenses are plentiful and not too costly and there are many out there to be gotten. I would have bought an Olympus SLR, they're so neat and with excellent lenses, but batteries are an issue, not a problem with the Nikons! I'm a very happy camper now using the Nikon system complemented by a Fujifilm X-T1.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That's one of the great things about buying older gear, the prices are so low compared to when they were current. The price has dropped and our ability to make the money has gone up.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@anthonydavis4829]

FM and F1 are the two that never let me down in the tropics of Hawaii.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Those are great choices and fun to use.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@donwhite332]

And then there is medium format. I wonder what you would pick?

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

We'll see in a couple weeks.

[@johnbragg]

I have a Nikon FM 2n which I have owned since new. Also an F5, F4, F100, and F90x. I love them all, and at todays prices they are a great investment. F4 is equally at home with manual and af lenses, espescially given that it can matrix meter with manual (ais) lenses. It also means it can do that with my Tamron lenses. That's a super power in my book.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I never had the FM2, but did have the original FM and FE.. Also the F100, and F4. The F5 was my workhorse as a pro sports photographer while the F6 came out after most of us switched to digital. I did have one, thought it was great, (too heavy with the motordrive) One of the greatest AF film cameras of all time, just came out too late for the main party.

[@johnbragg]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite I try to use my cameras in rotation. Today is the FM2n 's turn as it is my camera for travelling light. Last week and over Christmas was the F4 and next week I will use my F5. I am still amazed that I have been able to obtain such a stable of thoroughbred cameras that were a mere pipe dream when I was young. I shoot mainly available light portraits so the mirror damping on the F4 and F5 is a real advantage.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@johnbragg]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite Thanks so much for the link Rob. Great portraits by the way. I also use HP5+ and develop in Ilfosol 3. I was a Tri-X man for many years, but price has put paid to that. HP5+ is in my opinion the best all rounder out there and bar its untimely demise, I will always use it.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, Kodak's priced themselves out of my life. I wish I could have afforded those old cameras in the day when I really needed them. Or kept a few. We always traded our gear against the cost of the new ones, but I wish I would have hung onto certain things.

[@wlewisiii]

I have a Nikon S2. F4, D810 & a nice pile of Nikkors of MF & AF. I also have a Leica M 240 to go with it. Combine those with a Rolleicord and there is little that cant's be done.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Sounds like a fun combo

[@orion7741]

I love my Nikon F3!! it is absolutely the BEST totally manual camera available out there right now. but having said that, I would not suggest that people buy that camera because of a couple reasons. First is that the used market prices are getting out of hand for the F3 currently, and secondly there is a different Nikon 35mm camera that literally outshines the F3 in every concievable way. I would suggest people looking to get into 35mm film to buy a Nikon F100. They are dirt cheap still and they are a flawless camera.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, I owned the F100, it's a nice camera if you want AF.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

Few years ago my daughter bought me an Olympus OM1n as a replacement for a OM2sp that my dad gave me back in the day (which begun to fail), and I'm happy with it like a pig in the mud. I'm a casual film shooter, so I don't need anything but a bare bone camera. BTW, OM1n was allegedly produced until 1987. Now I gotta say, you could go for the OM3, a non-titan version, which is cheaper, if you can find a clean one, just remember to take batteries out of the camera if not in use, course that thing will chew thru it within days. And if things had turned differently, I'd go for the Nikon FM2 (agin 😁)...

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes, the OM3 might have been a good choice, I had read many times about the batteries going dead, so I stayed clear. It's such a nice system.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@thenexthobby]

For manual focus vintage, my criteria have always included condition, battery availability, features. I would not be as concerned about pro build quality because unless there are known issues even the "best" will need a CLA sooner rather than later.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, batteries are a key issue, some of those batteries are no longer available for some of the old cameras.

[@sigmargorbad7071]

Thank you so much for your advices and this great video. I have a mystery for you because I own a Nikon F3 Hp which is quite special and maybe your knowledge will help to solve this mystery: I bought the camera body with the hp prism two years ago in a junk shop and it is perfectly working since then. I was surprised when I found it because the body didn't show any marks of brassing or wearing. Two years later after some serious daily use I saw that the metal appearing behind the black paint is not golden like brass would be, but grey. So I searched some informations and found out that my prism is a titanium version (DE-4) but I didn"t find anything about the camera body composition. On the front of the camera it's not mentioned "F3/T" but only F3 but I didn't found any information about some F3 bodies that were made out of another type of metal that was not brass so I guess it's titanium, like the prism. Impossible of course for me to know if the prism and the body were bought together originally. So yeah, I saw in the youtube miniature of the video that you own a black F3/T and there I am explaining all this. Thank you so much to anyone that can help me !

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

There's an interesting article about the F3 on Nikon's site.... imaging.nikon.com/imaging/information/chronicle/history-f3/ Maybe that will help.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@Dahrenhorst]

I ended up with Olympus, in particular the OM-1. Reliable, excellent lenses, small, light weight, and the brightest viewfinder. The OM-3 and the OM-4 are not really worth the additional money over the OM-1 and OM-2. I personally have a Leica R6 and a Leicaflex, but the lenses are not really better than the Olympus ones, and definitely vastly overpriced. Minolta was absolutely not a pure consumer product. Especially in Asia many professionals used Minolta, and Minolta even partnered with and produced for Leica. My camera of choice in the 80s was the Minolta CLE, an improved Leica CL clone. The Minolta lenses were on par with all the best ones. The professional Canon and Nikon cameras are simply to large and to heavy for my taste. Pentax cameras are similar to Minolta, excellent lenses, but only ok bodies. All in all, all camera makes mentioned are excellent choices and you won't do wrong with either of them. The main factor is to find a camera and lenses for it in the best working condition possible. Insider tipp, btw: Miranda - beautiful cameras. However, I don't shoot analog cameras in 35mm anymore, they do not make any sense compared of today's digital cameras. I use medium and large format cameras though, which still outperform digital technology. And here are other brands to be discussed.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I'm glad the Olympus worked out for you. I always liked the lenses, I just couldn't find a body that I trusted. Maybe I should have looked closer at the OM1 and OM3.

[@johnstride9642]

Miranda! That a name you don’t hear often…at least in the UK. I has an F model…my first SLR. A solid camera.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@Fat-totoro-cat]

As an owner of all these systems (yeah I am a collector) I can nit pick, but good choice. The system I actually shoot with is Olympus. I have the OM4T, and it has a wonderful meter. I have an OM1 and OM2 as back ups, and I love the small size of the bodies and the lens range is hard to beat on the secondhand market. Have the Leica R7 - nice camera, but no better than anything else, and the lenses are hideously expensive. I do like the F3, but prefer the smaller size of the Olympuses. Really dont like the LCD display on the F3 Viewfinder. In that regard I prefer the FE2, but HATE that you need to have the film advance leaver out to turn on the meter. (pokes me in the eye). Good lens range, but prefer Olympus F2.8 primes. (24, 28, 35, 50, 100) On the Pentaxes - nothing wrong with the screw mount system - excellent lens range, and the old spotmatics are extremely reliable mechanically apart from the meters which are useless. Yes the K1000 is over hyped. The LX is great, but is prone to some issues with lubricant failure. For me the sweet spot is either the MX or ME Super. K mount lens range is awesome. You didnt mention Contax. I like the 159MM. Lens range is good, and you have the option of expenive Carl Zeiss lenses or cheaper Yashica ones which are very good. The RTS cameras are tanks, but way to heavy for the non professional use. Like the Canon F1 and F1 new, but both of my samples have mechanical issues, so I am a bit sour on them. I've had about 5 AE-1 Programs and all of them failed over time. Minolta X700 is a great camera, but have heard of them having electronic issues. Mine is still going strong.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Sounds like you have things covered. Contax are great but had very small distribution in Canada and remained a minor player.

[@mkshffr4936]

I am thinking perhaps Mamiya C330. :)

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That big negative will beat any 35mm negative. I've not shot with the C330 but have used a few TLR in the past.

[@frstesiste7670]

IMO all the fully manual pre-electronics early/mid-seventies cameras like Canon F1 and Ftb, Olympus OM-1, Minolta Srt (several versions), Nikon F/F2 and Nikkormat and Pentax from that area can work well but might need service/adjustments. These might not be suited for pro use but how many do pro film photography today? As soon as you move to models from the late seventies and newer you get cameras with more and more electronics that get harder and harder to service if something go wrong. Of course, while they work newer models have more features and are generally newer which might mean less mechanical problems. Personally, I've started shooting some film again (amateur both with film and digital) and looked at getting something fully manual (currently using a late Canon Eos SLR). Olympus OM3 (Ti) is tempting, as is a Canon F1 or Ftb or a Nikon FM3a. Both the Olympus and the Nikon has electronics but were produced much longer than most other fully manual cameras so a late production camera would most likely be fine. Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of demand for these models and currently higher prices than I'm willing to pay for shooting a couple of films each year. The exception might be the Ftb, but it's so old now that it almost certainly would need service which would bring up the cost again.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes of course getting them serviced adds to the cost, but as long as they don't need any parts, they should go on for years after.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@ytuberization]

The F3 is a great camera, but meanwhile getting problems with the bleeding LEDs. Not an issue with the FM3A.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I haven't had any issues with the F3 but if I add another body it will be the FM3A. It looks pretty good.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@trulsdirio]

For me it would be Pentax K. Simply because it was used by so many companies, has awesome glass available and it is still relatively inexpensive. Minolta would be a close second for me.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Pentax made some great lenses. I had the 85mm f1.4 and the 135mm f1.8 when I shot with Pentax. Also I had a 50mm f1.2 towards the end.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@Narsuitus]

Over the years, I have used the following film camera systems: 1. Leica 35mm film cameras with 21/35/90mm prime lenses 2. Contax 35mm film cameras with 21/28/45/90mm prime lenses 3. Pentax Spotmatic 35mm film SLR cameras with 28/35/50/105/135/200/300mm prime lenses 4. Nikon 35mm film SLR cameras with 24 prime lenses that ranged from 14mm to 1000mm focal lengths and 4 zoom lenses 5. Mamiya RB67 medium format SLRs with 50/90/140/150/180/250mm prime lenses and a 100-200mm zoom lens 6. Calumet 4x5 inch monorail view camera with 47/67/90/135mm prime lenses

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

It seems that you've run the gamut as well. How did you like the Contax G system compared to the other 35mm brands?

[@Narsuitus]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite Loved the Contax G image quality and the Zeiss lenses. Did not like the operational noise level, the auto focus feature, and did not like Contax abandoning technical support for the camera. Preferred my manual/mechanical Leica M6. However, I loved the Contax Zeiss lenses and images so much that the first lens I purchased for my M6 was a 35mm f/1.4 Zeiss Distagon. Plus, I use my Contax 21mm accessory viewfinder on my M6.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks. I wondered about that camera. I heard the AF motor once and was surprised how loud it was. Great glass though.

[@cecilsharps]

Honestly if someone just wants a cheap shooter any of the bodies cosina was pumping out around y2k would work. they made em in every mount but fd. I'd also mention yashica/contax. I'm biased though. I put cult glass on cheap bodies.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, Contax had some really nice lenses. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@lupindeweir]

F3HP and an FE2 for me. Auto is an F 100 and an N90s because I'm not carrying an F 5!

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

With those four units, you've got it all covered.

[@ericsarnoski6278]

Nikon N90s. Film camera, AF D lens and manual lens compatible . Matrix metering , ttl. Flash .

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, they were a great AF camera for sure. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@jacobusdegroot7557]

I still have my Contax 159mm that I never got rid of.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, that's a nice camera. Not too popular in Canada but great quality.

[@jenspahl8357]

I own a F3 and a FM2n and prefer the FM because I like pushing the HP5 to 1600 and the the FM has 1/4000 shutter.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes, that high shutter speed is great, plus the high flash sync.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@xjr1618x]

I had my dad's F3 that I passed on to my daughter. I currently have an FE2 and an F4

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That's a great combo. I hope you're running a few rolls through them.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@user-rl6ft5jo5i]

How about the Contax RTS III

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

It's a great camera and the lenses were wonderful. They didn't have a strong presence in Canada with few dealers selling them so they have dropped out of the limelight. They had slower lenses, I think made in Japan, while the faster glass was still made in Germany and were they ever nice.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@davidsilva8695]

I have owned the F3, and currently own three Canon New F1s. In my opinion, the New F1 was as finely machined as any Leica M, and built like a brick defecatorium.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Plus that Canon glass is so nice!!!!

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@SuperSuperka]

Olympus OM may be the best option. OM lenses have lock button on the lens, not on the body. Most convinient changing lens ever.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Like I said, I really liked them, just couldn't get it to work for me. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@johnsoap5461]

even though it's not an option included in this video, few days before christmas back in 2016, i was gifted a Yashica Electro 35 GT, i'd say they sell for up to like... 100 or 120 dollars if in mint condition

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yashica made some great gear. Not super popular in Canada, but well respected everywhere.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@johnbrandon1829]

National Geographic's film camera of choice was Nikon. Nikon was generally considered the pro work horse internationally.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, I agree.

[@robiulahmed]

I first went for the FM2n and then an F2. Absolutely ruined digital cameras for me 😅

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That's a great combo. Two workhorses for sure.

[@linjicakonikon7666]

The F2 and FM2 were my favorite and most reliable Nikon's as well. The ergonomics of the FM2 with the attached MD12 is hard to beat. I had the opportunity to get an F3 but I went with a three FM2 bodies instead. They were/are fabulous cameras.

[@robiulahmed]

@@linjicakonikon7666 They're about as good as SLRs get! I think the FM2n is more practical, but I like the tank-like qualities of the F2.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@robiulahmed]

Good work! Those photos are awesome!

[@davidventura1424]

I have a F3 and 2 f4’s

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

When I started shooting NFL full-time I was using the F4. Switched to the F5 when it came out but both were great.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@thomaschamberlin2485]

My first SLR was a Pentax ME Super I bought used for $100. I thought about buying one again for nostalgia's sake on e-Bay. They are all beat to bits now and cost as much or more than I paid in 1981. My manual focus Nikon is now the FG. My problem with it is that the light meter is horrible so I would not recommend it. I use my phone or a cold shoe Voigtlander type light meter (TT Artisans) with it.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

They were great cameras but are getting so old… long in the shutter, I guess we could say. Lol

[@trix-4656]

Thank you for a great oral history of film cameras that you have used. Where do you send your Rollei for CLA?

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I sent it to "Service Camera Pro in Quebec " They did a great job.

[@trix-4656]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite They are basically slowing down and soon it appears that they will be closing.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That's too bad... the repair men of the world are getting older. Great opportunity for a young person if they could somehow get the training.

[@chrisloomis1489]

Got my F3 5 years ago .. tosses the motor drive. Great unit , tough.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I don't use my motor drive either, but no camera sounds as cool as the F3 with a motor drive on it. Just saying.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@AnalogFramecraft]

1. Nikon F75: Nikkor 50mm, Nikkor 28-80mm, Sigma 70-300mm. 2. Olympus IS-300 3. Zenit 12XP: Helios 44M-4 58mm. 4. Minolta X-300: MD 50mm. 5. Skina Techno 2 6. AgfaPhoto Half Frame

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

That’s a lot of great kit

[@AnalogFramecraft]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite only what I own.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

The Agfa half frame looks like fun!

[@samue1991]

I love my F3, if I could only keep one 35mm camera that would be it

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, that's a good choice.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@Jerry10939]

No I disagree. I used the K1000 as a backup camera. Yes it’s limited because you can’t use a motor drive. But the camera is a good mechanical camera. We used the Minolta X-700 while I worked as an Army photographer. I used it with a motor drive and dedicated tilt head flash. It was aperture priority and program, but I shot it mostly on manual. It was a good camera and I got great shots with it. I must have put a thousand rolls through it. Never had a problem. I would get one again. My current camera is the Nikon FM, and I also have an FM10. The FM is a tank. My FM10 like that K1000 is limited it doesn’t take a motor drive, it’s light and not rugged, I would use it as a backup, but my FM is old.but good. If I were to do photojournalism again I would use my Sony DSLR. Most people aren’t doing professional photography. So any good SLR that works would be fine. Since I have got two Nikon I probably would get an F3. I have used Canon cameras. My choice for the Canon would be the F1. If I wanted something really professional. But would also take the AE1.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks for your comments. Great points. Question about being an Army Photographer because I don't know, so am asking. Plus I live in Canada so it might be different. What does an Army Photographer do? Is it the same as a photojournalist covering the event? Is it more portraits of Generals? Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@NewsOneLive]

Please invest in a LAV mic. Mr. Hollow sound

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks. I'm trying a shotgun mic this week. Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/

[@jameslong1540]

Canon F-1 had 3 versions. F-1 (od), F-1n, and F-1N.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Such a great system. Maybe one day I'll add another system to the group, but it would be a shame to buy one and not use it a lot. I'm not a collector so I don't have a lot of gear around that I don't use often.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@andrea135792]

I am sure the content of the video was great but the audio quality was poor, get a pencil condenser and mic it above you or yes a mic that you talk into. The first is better if you want to hold a camera in shot and have less distractions.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yes, I'm working on it. Tried a new mic this week.

[@melarch.5424]

I don't have to buy anything! I still have my three Canon bodies (1971 FTb, 1973 F-1 and 1981 new F-1 with ten FD lenses, 4 are breech-lock and 6 Canons "new" bayonet mount.😄

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Great that you're using those old guys, keep having fun.

[@sputumtube]

Surprised you skipped past the F2 so quickly. Battery only needed for light meter (F2) whereas the F3 had/has only 1/80th without batteries. Your choices are clearly aimed at professional photographers like yourself (for durability, build quality, lens choices, system options etc), but I'd guess that the majority of your viewers don't fall onto the pro category. My F2AS with its 55mm f1.2 lens is built like a tank and weighs about the same, which is why I rarely use it.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

When I was in high school I worked at the local paper collecting high school sports results. The main photographer ordered new cameras from a mail order in Hong Kong, and when they arrived we all went over to look at them. He ordered the 180 f2.8, 135 f2, 400 f4.5 and a pair of F2 bodies with motor drives. They were a marvel to look at and we were all bitten by the Nikon bug that day.

[@PhotoBug3042]

Wholly agree with the F2 love. Bulletproof. I’ve got 3 dead F100 cameras (shot electronics). Both of my F2 cameras going strong. FM is also perfect.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@anta40]

I believe you won't go wrong with these reputable Japanese brands: Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Fuji, Pentax, Konica, etc. These days, I mostly prefer Nikon (because their lenses are in general still compatible with their DSLRs) and Olympus (overall compact system). Nikon: F (the grand daddy of all Nikon SLRs), F4, F100. Olympus: OM1, OM2, OM-10. The last 2 are useless without battery, but personally I don't care much. I mean they are pretty cheap. On second thought: if you are mostly happy with primes like 50mm and shorter, and rarely do macro, telephoto work etc, just get a rangefinder.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Yeah, they're all pretty great really. I also like the Contax slr cameras.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@hansemannluchter643]

I was born in the 1960's, grew up surrounded by Nikons, Canons, Minoltas, Asahi Pentaxes, Leicas, Rolleiflexes, Hasselblads, even Zeiss Contaxes (!!) .. And I have a decent collection of the old-school cameras and lenses. Do I use the cameras? Absolutely NOT. The lenses, "YES", with converters. But I use digital camera-bodies, it literally costs NOTHING to press the shutter. I get why somebody would want a Rollei (flex or cord, both are great) for nostalgic reasons, but the truth is: The cost per exposure is just ridiculous.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

True, film is expensive, but I enjoy time in the darkroom more than time in front of the computer. It's great that we have options so each person can pick whats best for them.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@hansemannluchter643]

@@stillshootinginblackandwhite Thanks, good photos and an interesting read.. I agree with you on the DOF-matter, whats the obsession with "bokeh" all about?

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I never heard the term bokeh for the first thirty years of shooting. Now people talk about it all the time. It's also an interesting concept to try and explain.... so we're concerned about the out of focus area of the photo where the subject isn't.... yeah that makes sense.

[@AQANVISUALS]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 this vid to funny

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Glad you liked it.

[@cmalc8]

OM1n

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

They've always been a great camera. Not real popular in Canada but I had friends who used them.

[@cmalc8]

If it had to be Nikon, I'd definitely go for the FM2 @@stillshootinginblackandwhite

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.

[@fukolombobby]

Nooo my Minolta x700 is shit 😢

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

I didn't say it exactly like that. lol.

[@joachimelz-fianda649]

Sory nit your acoustics is very bad, really. I have to get the loudness at maximum and its very difficult to understand your sentences. Please invest in a better microphone and a better acoustic damping of your working room.,

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Thanks, I'm working on it.

[@jasongold6751]

As a retired pro, my Pentax Spotmatic, K-1000 ,KM ,MX and ME Super, NONE needed services ever! I have Minolta and their lenses are very good! Good enough to be on Leica. The Leica R4 is plain lousy and unreliable, exactly like it's Minolta twin! Canon AE-1,AE-1p, Av are great. Try get a Silver Oxide battery. Others last shorter. Nikon-F now needing services.. they are old. The F is special. Heavy, klunky, brutal and once serviced great. Again. Some amateurs' cameras were less used! Nikomat, Nikkormat have Copal Shutters, heavy but reliable. The F-100, F4, F5 are huge and heavy. Leica-M, I have my Leica-M3 since 1967, used still daily. Lenses have soft elements, hence very scratched or hazed. Pass! Newer Leica lenses are dreadfully expensive! Are they better? Maybe! Only maybe! RolleiFLEX are superb. Exception newer models and Rollei-T. They lack features.. Rollei-T has rubber bands with f-stop and speeds.. Hasselblad I avoided as a pro! I used Mamiya c ,Twin lens,series,C2,330,C3,C33C,C330.Lenses are very good! Mamiya 6x7 simply too big. Pentax 6x7. I found it too big and heavy. Superb. Always carry new battery, tested! Film is past! It's not romantic! It becomes very expensive if color! Digital better! If you are gifted an old camera, learn to test, use BW.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Great points. My Pentax's were always in for service. Except for the 645 and 67. I once worked at a large commercial studio that shot with Pentax 67. They had six of them and every accessory available... including the bellows, which was fun to use about once a year.

[@stillshootinginblackandwhite]

Just letting you know... Ilford's latest blog features my black and white work on rodeo cowboys. It just came out this week. You can find it here... www.ilfordphoto.com/.