cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Within a year of buying my first ever camera (1980 - Nikon FM) I was a full-on photo fanatic. Friends saw this and asked me then, had I not bought the Nikon, what camera brand/model would I have rather bought.
We have a number of other "old-timers" here and I was wondering if any have pondered this question themselves. Back then, what 35mm format camera would you have bought if money was not an issue?

For me, at the time, I had a huge "crush" on three other cameras, curiously all with German ancestry. My choices were: Rollieflex SL35 E, Contax 167MT, and Leica R3 Safari.

Luckily for me, I didn't know anything about any of them at the time I bought the FM. All of those companies went out of the camera making business some time back. Thank-you, Nikon, for hanging in there.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

I'm still suffering with a hankering for a Sigma DP2 Merrill.
Just to do it, try it out, roll around and play with it.
No, I don't know why.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

For me the choice was simple. I learned my photography while working for an advertising agency in Chicago. The pros there used Hasselblads for the in house studio work. But when they went to 35mm format they used Nikons exclusively. Thus, I became a Nikon user back in the 1970s and have never looked back Over time I simply had too much invested in the great.

HOWEVER THEY CAREFULLY BEAT INTO MY HEAD THAT THE ONLY GEAR THAT MATTERED WAS WHAT WAS BETWEEN MY EARS. THEY ALSO DRUMMED IN THAT WHAT EVER YOU SHOT---IT HAD BETTER BE FULL FRAME. CROPPING WAS MOST OFTEN NOT USED (THEY DID A LOT OF COLOR SLIDES).

THEY MODERN MIND SET OF CROPPING HALF OR MORE OF THE IMAGE REALLY DRIVES ME CRAZY.
(ok----I'll be quiet now) :-)

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I owned a Hasselblad 500C, Mamiya C330, and a Yashica Mat 124G; but I always wanted, and never used, a Roleiflex TLR.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

I used Hasselblads and Nikons a lot in the 1960's and 1970's, but I always kind of wanted to try out the Bronica. I guess because I loved Nikkor lenses.

Robert1 Loc: Davie, FL

In 1981 I bought my first camera: a Chinon CE-4s with a 50mm autofocus lens.

At the time, Chinon was the very first in Japan to develop a near-infrared auto focus system. Marvelous camera system that used the Pentax K mount for their cameras. I still have about 4 of the Chinon CE-4s, that I bought just to have them (also to teach my daughters photography).
At that time, if I would have had the money, the camera that I would have bought would have been the Pentax LX; which I bought about 4 years ago, just to have it.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

I was supplied with a Bronica S2A for doing 'Agency'work. What a noisy camera! Focal-plane shutter, Flash Sync' @ 1/40th., Three rotations to wind-on film/cock shutter. But the lenses were good. Rather loved getting back to my own Rolleiflexes and 'Blads.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Initially, for an SLR, I wanted to upgrade from a Yashica J7 to an Asahi Pentax. If I'm not mistaken it was because of the through the lens metering system. I had purchased the Yashica as a result of a movie. Although not the same camera as in the movie, it had interchangeable lenses.

Then, while reading a National Geographic magazine, I saw the Nikon F advertisement. That was it. I still have the J7 and it still works well. But, for 35mm format, it's been Nikon. I also had, but rarely used a Leica IIIf, which I got for my 5th birthday. I recently added a Kodak Retina, which brought the story of the Leica full circle. I still use my F along with an F5. My only regret is that Nikon has done away with the aperture ring on modern lenses.
--Bob

SpyderJan Loc: New Smyrna Beach. FL

I had a Zenza Bronica with the Nikkor 75mm standard lens. Interchangeable lens, backs and viewfinders. It was a great camera. It got destroyed in a fire though.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I started in the 60’s with a Konica S2 rangefinder. The local small town camera dealer talked me in an slr, a Spotmatic and I was fascinated by ttl, interchangeable lenses, etc. Next I traded the Spotmatic in on a Nikon F, and never looked back. Still own that first F body I purchased in 1970. Wore out two shutters and now needs a third but can’t find anybody with parts. It still functions but you have to push the release twice to make it function. Never could afford a medium format, but such is life. It has all been fun and rewarding.

BebuLamar

I bought my first camera in 1977. I decided on the 35mm format before picking any brand. I liked the Leica M4-2 but it's a rangefinder and I preferred the SLR. I didn't like the Leica R or SL2 and not considered exotic brands like Alps etc...
It boiled down to the Nikon F2, Canon F1 and Minolta XK. Didn't like the XK because the basic version didn't take the motor drive and the motor drive version only 2fps. The original Canon F1 also has slower motor drive than the F2 and it only had Cds metering system. So I picked the Nikon F2AS. Never bought the motor drive for it as the MD-2/MB-1 combo was very expensive. I later bought the F3HP/MD-4 for a motor drive camera. I liked the F2AS a lot and it was stolen from me in 1984. Never regret buying it in fact still looking for a mint condition F2AS (at least as good as my F2AS) for a reasonable price but I can't find one. I paid $550 for the black F2AS body and today a good condition one still cost that much.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thank-you all for commenting. I do like discussions like this.

HarryO, I once saw a shot taken with a Sigma DP2 Merril of Moraine Lake. Beautiful, but that is literally all I know about the camera.

OK, Larry, get off your soapbox. I also am an old (heavy on the "old") slide shooter who still takes great pains to fill-the-frame and nail my exposure. "Cropping is for sissies", or something equally not PC.

Robert1, I also was a fan of the LX. Sweet camera. In those days with so many camera makers using the K-Mount it seemed there was an endless supply of options.

Bob, I miss the aperture ring on my Nikkors. Have a few G-lenses and they work well on my newer bodies, but are no help at all on my FA or F4.

pesfls, Was your F as heavy as my F4? In those days it sure seemed like a lot to lug around. Of course, some of todays plastic wonders are pretty heavy, too.

Bebu, best of luck finding another F2AS. Maybe you'll find, like I did, that with so many folks going digital, those old cameras, when you can find them, can be had for relatively little coin.

All you Medium format folks, thanks. I envied the capabilities of the 'Blads, Bronicas, and Rollie TLRs. But I'm just a eye-level, 35mm kinda guy, I guess.

therwol Loc: USA

First camera, NIkon FTn. Wish list at the time, Nikon FTn. No debate.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

[quote=cameraf4]Thank-you all for commenting. I do like discussions like this

pesfls, Was your F as heavy as my F4? In those days it sure seemed like a lot to lug around. Of course, some of todays plastic wonders are pretty heavy, too.

No your F4 is a fair bit heavier. Guessing, maybe 20%. My F3HP was a little lighter than the F. That’s the one I should have kept but was offered quite a bit for it so away it went. Oh well.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

No problem. Good old camera.