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Was there ever a "Best" 35mm Film SLR? ... if so, what was it, in your opinion?
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Jan 23, 2018 14:00:11   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Diamond41 wrote:
Pentax K1000 is my most memorable. Used it in high school J class. Picked up a Nikon F2A and Nikon FE and have never looked back. Now relearning everything on a Nikon D3300.


Amazing how many folks on here cite one Pentax or another as their first SLR / or their most favorite, Diamond ...

Nikon F2A was an excellent SLR, too ....

D3300 ... is also an excellent choice ... good ISO capability ... some other nice features, too ... Auto-Sensor cleaning (D3400 lacks it) ....

The relearning process takes some time and dedication, Diamond ... but it's well worth it .... Happy Shooting!

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Jan 23, 2018 14:02:42   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Bushpilot wrote:
All things considered in my opinion the Minolta XD11 has the crown!


Excellent choice, there, Bush ....


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Jan 23, 2018 14:04:15   #
DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan
 
Manolta XD-11

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Jan 23, 2018 14:08:40   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Diamond41 wrote:
Had a friend in high school who used a Vivitar 35mm SLR. He absolutely loved it. Had several lenses for it. Does Vivitar make cameras anymore? Had a great Series 1 70-210mm lens also but do not see it anymore either.


Vivitar, to my knowledge - no longer makes cameras, Diamond ....

And, their lens offerings, are also quite meager ... they do have a nice-looking 650-1300 though ... just might add that one to my collection, soon ...

Their focus, became - flash units, for the longest time - during the 70s, 80s and 90s ... now, though, even that has pretty much dried up ...

Could be they are phasing out, altogether ... not sure ... have to check my Vivitar stocks, Diamond ...

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Jan 23, 2018 14:44:52   #
Mobius Loc: Troy, MI
 
Nikon F, it ruled the world of SLR for over 10 years and it defined what an SLR should be. Any of the Nikon Fs (2-6) or the Canon F1 would be good choices. The Pentax spotmatic comes in a close second.

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Jan 23, 2018 15:04:17   #
gwilliams6
 
dmsM43 wrote:
My vote is for the Canon F1.


I enthusiastically agree, Canon F1 !

For me it was the Canon F1 (top of the line for Canon 35mm film cameras at the time). . I used this when I was covering the Sandinistas vs Contra War in Nicaragua back in 1987. Its ruggedness and durability in horrible jungle warfare conditions was outstanding. Meter was spot on. Worked while caked in mud or in a jungle downpour, heat and humidity no problem. Helped our two-man reporter and photographer (me) team win many awards, including from World Press Photo, NPPA Pictures of The Year, (including being a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize) for the images and story we brought back, which led to Congress cutting off US aid to the Contras, actually ending the war, saving lives on both sides. It holds a special place in my heart and my photo equipment history.

I keep a working Canon F1 in my collection alongside all my extensive digital gear. Used it recently in a 35mm B&W film class I taught at the University level.

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Jan 23, 2018 15:15:57   #
Mr palmer Loc: Currently: Colorado, USA, Terra, Sol
 
Are you kidding me? Any real pro knows that the best 35mm camera of ALL TIME was ... Oh, look a squirrel!!
No, seriously, a Horseman with a 35mm back. Or maybe the original OM-D. No, the Original "F" Nikon. No, the M-6, obviously. Wait! That's just the top shelf. Well, 42, clearly.

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Jan 23, 2018 15:20:25   #
Mr palmer Loc: Currently: Colorado, USA, Terra, Sol
 
John N wrote:
Always liked the FUJICA ST range, late 1970's. Had the ST801 myself and it was so simple to use with 7 diodes viewable through the viewfinder. Not so small as an OM1, but I always thought the lenses were first rate.


Yes! The ST-701 was my first love. So simple. Peace and love were so simple back then too. Sigh.

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Jan 23, 2018 15:49:45   #
Diamond41 Loc: St. Louis, MO
 
Chris T wrote:
Amazing how many folks on here cite one Pentax or another as their first SLR / or their most favorite, Diamond ...

Nikon F2A was an excellent SLR, too ....

D3300 ... is also an excellent choice ... good ISO capability ... some other nice features, too ... Auto-Sensor cleaning (D3400 lacks it) ....

The relearning process takes some time and dedication, Diamond ... but it's well worth it .... Happy Shooting!


Thanks Chris, The teacher for my J class knew a great deal about writing but little about photography. K1000 allowed for mistakes which were very often in the beginning.

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Jan 23, 2018 15:51:23   #
Diamond41 Loc: St. Louis, MO
 
Chris T wrote:
Vivitar, to my knowledge - no longer makes cameras, Diamond ....

And, their lens offerings, are also quite meager ... they do have a nice-looking 650-1300 though ... just might add that one to my collection, soon ...

Their focus, became - flash units, for the longest time - during the 70s, 80s and 90s ... now, though, even that has pretty much dried up ...

Could be they are phasing out, altogether ... not sure ... have to check my Vivitar stocks, Diamond ...
Vivitar, to my knowledge - no longer makes cameras... (show quote)


Thanks for the information Chris.

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Jan 23, 2018 15:56:30   #
donsyler
 
You'll get as many answers to this question as there were film SLRs. In my mind, the Minolta SRT Series cameras were right up there with the best in terms of optics and reliability. I was a photography minor in the late 60s and subjected my poor SRT-101 to quite a bit of abuse, (such as falling 25 feet through a rotted barn floor while focusing for a shot). Not only did that camera survive that period but it still works perfectly today, 50 years later.

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Jan 23, 2018 16:12:14   #
ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or
 
Chris T wrote:
Not MY old ones ... everything's in its own bag ... dust only collects on the outside of the bag ....

Amazing, isn't it? ... How many different lenses you can use on a Sony camera, with the right adaptors, huh, OR?

Did your Exacta enjoy its swim?


Good thing adapters were only about $10. The beauty of the Exakta was that it was modular, the pentaprism came off and apart, the back could come off. So it dried out well. The film turned into a gooy mess. The 35mm Vivitar lens fogged and the iris rusted in place. The camera recovered no problem. I used it the next day. The film became trash. The lens became the stick shift knob on my Triumph Spitfire. I'm the lens preferred being in my car than the trash.

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Jan 23, 2018 16:16:40   #
Delderby Loc: Derby UK
 
Chris T wrote:
I think so, Del ...

What's a "Judas window" ?


A small window which views through the bottom of the viewfinder with the aid of a small lens below the pentaprism housing It shows directly the settings on the barrel of the lens, which, of course, were set using the rings round the lens. If you altered shutter speed or aperture or both then you could see it in the viewfinder as it happened. Where the name comes from I don't know.

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Jan 23, 2018 16:23:28   #
Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England
 
Mobius wrote:
Nikon F, it ruled the world of SLR for over 10 years and it defined what an SLR should be. Any of the Nikon Fs (2-6) or the Canon F1 would be good choices. The Pentax spotmatic comes in a close second.


More than that, Mobius ... the original Nikon F was introduced in 1959 ... the F2 came in 1972 ....

The F1 ... was a fantastic compliment - both to Nikon's engineering team ... and to Canon's own expertise ....

I had all three, at one time or another ... Canon's follow-up A1 too .... all just memories, now ....

Ah, yes ... the Pentax Spotmatic ... preceded the Nikon F - by a couple of years, I think ....

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Jan 23, 2018 16:24:47   #
Delderby Loc: Derby UK
 
Chris T wrote:
Vivitar, to my knowledge - no longer makes cameras, Diamond ....

And, their lens offerings, are also quite meager ... they do have a nice-looking 650-1300 though ... just might add that one to my collection, soon ...

Their focus, became - flash units, for the longest time - during the 70s, 80s and 90s ... now, though, even that has pretty much dried up ...

Could be they are phasing out, altogether ... not sure ... have to check my Vivitar stocks, Diamond ...
Vivitar, to my knowledge - no longer makes cameras... (show quote)


I believe "Vivitar" was a trading name of Dixons Photograhic - a UK based retail electronics comany from the 1960s and 70s. They used to market Mamiya stuff under this trading name.

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