"Venerable" Cameras (Page 5): Minolta SRT-101...

machia Loc: NJ

Minolta SRT-101

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

My old Minolta SRT-101. I haven't shot film in years, but I keep it around in my bookcase for the memories.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Nikon F
Leica any model rangefinder
Hasselblad

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

PeriFromIL wrote:

I would like to add my Pentax-K1000 to the list.

Yes, Spotmatic and K-1000 ! .......There are not many digitals that have been around long enough to be venerable - but the Nikon D300s does qualify - barely - mainly because Nikon took so long to update it !

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

imagemeister wrote:

Yes, Spotmatic and K-1000 ! .......There are not many digitals that have been around long enough to be venerable - but the Nikon D300s does qualify - barely - mainly because Nikon took so long to update it !

Actually, the old Canon XSI digital might qualify as 'venerable', considering the advancements made in the Rebel series over the years.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The dictionary definition I found of "venerable" said "respected or valued because of long service". I'm thinking that means

(1) a certain amount of time needs to pass before we can label something as "venerable"

(2) the nature of modern electronics means that few digital cameras will hang around long enough to qualify as "venerable"

(3) modern communications and GAS may make it hard for any one modern camera body to hang around long enough to qualify as "venerable"

Quinn 4

Jakebrake: Got that Minolta SRT-101 off the bookcase, put some film it and use it. That goes for ever one else who has listed their venerable camera. Those cameras were made to be use, not to be put in a place to be look at. In fact those cameras people have listed if not use over time will become just 'wall hanger". As you can see I love film cameras (Pre 1980s ones). To me digital cameras are the same as kids plastic toys. Quinn 4

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

rehess wrote:

The dictionary definition I found of "venerab... (show quote)

What qualifies as digital in this context? Digital image capture, or digital control?

The Canon AE-1 is clearly one of the iconic cameras with digital exposure logic and control. The Canon T90 - aka 'The Tank'? The Contax RTS? The Canon EOS 650 for autofocus?

What does 'digital mean in this context?

They're all old enough to be 'venerable' so long as they are well enough appreciated.

adm

Mamiya C 330 TLR, Nikon F, F2, And F3, Nikkormat FTN, Nikon FM2n, just to mention a few. It would be hard to characterize any digital camera as venerable, since models change so frequently and each new generation is significantly better than the old.

drmike99 Loc: Fairfield Connecticut

The most venerable of many: The Nikon F (with or without the Photomic FTN meter head).

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

I would include the following film cameras, all of which I had
Canon A-1
Canon F-1 (the top of the food chain)
Canon VI-T rangefinder with trigger advance (and all of their later models culminating in the Canon 7S). Used with Nikon 50/1.4 Leica screw mount lens for years
Nikon F
Nikon FM3A
Kodak Retina IIIC
Mamiya C330 twin lens reflex
Pentax Spotmatic
Topcon SLRs

For digital, I would go
Canon 5D
Canon 5DII
Canon 5DIII
Canon 1DSII (one of my all time favorites)

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

The F-1 was the ultimate film camera.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Peterff wrote:

What qualifies as digital in this context? Digital image capture, or digital control?

The Canon AE-1 is clearly one of the iconic cameras with digital exposure logic and control. The Canon T90 - aka 'The Tank'? The Contax RTS? The Canon EOS 650 for autofocus?

What does 'digital mean in this context?

They're all old enough to be 'venerable' so long as they are well enough appreciated.

I was referring to those with a digital sensor instead of film; they tend not to hang around long - look how people are already waiting for a successor to the Nikon D500. How many Nikon D8nn cameras have we had in the past five years? That sort of "churning" makes it hard for any one camera to become "venerable".

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Peterff wrote:

What qualifies as digital in this context? Digital image capture, or digital control?

The Canon AE-1 is clearly one of the iconic cameras with digital exposure logic and control. The Canon T90 - aka 'The Tank'? The Contax RTS? The Canon EOS 650 for autofocus?

What does 'digital mean in this context?

They're all old enough to be 'venerable' so long as they are well enough appreciated.

I think a camera qualifies as a digital camera when it utilizes a digital sensor to replace film.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

As a quick response, since it was a question, open ended, digital technology affects very many aspects of photography, including influencing film / analog exposure / focus capture.

Sure we can agree or disagree on whether it is merely a digital sensor that makes the tipping point, but perhaps we shouldn't just assume that to be a singular point in time when we compare modern to historical photography...