Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I've had dozens of cameras. All were mostly good, though there were a few clunkers.

In 35mm, I started in 1967 with a Nikon F, Ftn, then tried Pentax H3V, Nikon SP, Canon 7 rangefinder, then onto Leica IIIG, M2 and M4 (I had accumulated a few Leitz lenses for my Canon), Alpa 10D (probably my favorite, it had design and build quality of a Leica, and ruggedness of a Nikon SLR), Contax RTS II (Zeiss lenses were awesome) - but all the while I stayed with my old Nikons, which remained serviceable for many years.

In rollfilm, I owned Mamiya RB67, Koni Omega Rapid M and later a 200, but my fav was my Horseman 985, a folding technical camera with front and rear movements that shot 6x9 on 120 rollfilm.

I also had large format stuff - Sinar P, Cambo, Linhof, Deardorf, etc. but that was mostly for studio work.

I am still with Nikon for digital, but also enjoying a Sony RX10M4 quite a bit.

After my first camera, I was working in the industry, so for the most part camera gear was paid for by clients and by the IRS in the form of tax writeoffs using accelerated depreciation. Living in and near NYC, I also had access to rental for just about anything I didn't already own, so in addition to the toys listed above I have used many others through the years.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Talk about a kid in a candy store. Sounds like you had a lot of fun, Gene. Over the years, along with my Nikons, several friends would offer to swap cameras for a weekend. So I got to have great fun with various Canons (before EOS), Pentax ME Super and MX, Konica FS-1, Minolta XD-11 and X700. Great fun!

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

If you have a Yashica Mat 124G, you don't really need a Roleiflex TLR. Except for maybe the lens, the cameras are actually very similar in design. Even closer to the Roleiflex in design is the earlier version, the Mat 124.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

A number of MF cameras have been listed, but one in particular, rather intrigues me. The Mamiya RB 67. I have the Mamiya RZ 67 outfit, bought and paid for, when I landed a particular (2 year) project, where the client wanted 10 x 8 colour prints of a construction progress every two weeks. Rather than having to crop 2 1/4 sq negatives, I got the Mamiya RZ. But the RZ hardly gets a mention from USA based folk. Was there a surplus stock of RB's offloaded a few years ago? Did the RZ even reach the shores of the USA back in the 1960's/70's?

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Well, there were a lot of side issues.
By the time the RZ came out, most people who wanted the camera already had the RB.
The RB was a '70s camera; here the RZ didn't come out until the '80s and '90s.
The RB was a mechanical, LEGO type of thing. There were adapters for other backs and lenses.
The RZ was electric, more proprietary, and there's a lot of RB <> RZ parts incompatibility.
Some dealers added the "Pro" surcharge, which started putting the Mamiyas into Hassy territory.
Many people like me oohed and aahed, hemmed and hawed- and bought the Pentax instead.

Bipod

Leica and the Zeiss (maker of the Contax brand) are still making cameras
(though in the case of Zeiss, it
But Rollei is defunct.
In case you're interested:

Had you bought the Leica R3, today in very good condition with the lens, it would be
worth $900 - 1000. http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Leitz/R3-Safari.html

Had you bought the Contax, 167MT, in very good condition with lens it would
be worth $300 - 320.

The Rolleiflex SL 35 E would be worth $200 - 220.

But your Nikon FM is only worth $180 - 200 (in black) or $140 - 160 (chrome).
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But it 's a good camera, by all accounts.
It's similar in some respects to the F2AS -- Ken Rockwell says that's the best
camera Nikon ever made, and I'm inclined to agree. https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/fefm.htm

I still use a Nikon F2 Photomic sometimes. The FM is has auto-indexing of the lens and
and LEDs in the viewfinder--much easier to use.

In any case, you are buying a camera--not marryng a brand. They would like you to marry
the brand, and they make it as hard and expensive as they can to switch. Just say no.

At least your FM used standard 1.5 v button cells (or if you prefer, one standard 3V lithium)
But if you use non-Nikon-branded batteries in a new Nikon camera today, it voids the
warranty.

As for camera manufacturers going away, since global shipments of digital cameras
have declined over 70% since 2010, and are currently flat or growing very slowly,
I wouldn't rule out further exits from the camera business.

The current industry strategy of cutting costs while keeping prices high is likely to
run aground in the next recession. ( It looks that may arrive sooner rather than later,
judging by Fed's new position on interest rates.)

In answer to your question, I wanted a Leica M3. But I inherited a Kodak Retina
IIIc which have served me well. I wouldn't turn down a Contax G2, though.

The main attraction of 35 mm for me was portability and inexpensive film and developing.
Camera and lenses are cheaper than for medium format, but you only pay that cost once.
In all other respects, medium format was (and is) much better.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thanks for looking in and commenting, Bipod. Actually, in the world of 35mm format SLR/DSLR cameras, my info says that Leitz Camera (Lei-Ca) discontinued their R-series in 2009 with the R9. An R-10 was promised but has never made the scene.

Yashica/Kyocera, owners and makers of the CONTAX line of SLR gear, stopped making CONTAX cameras in 2005.

For me, when Nikon stopped production of their Df model DSLR, I started putting money away to buy the (rumored) Df2. But I recently started wondering if I really needed 3 DSLRs for my shooting gear (can't imagine parting with my trusty Df). Then I figured that, since film cameras are in much less demand, maybe I could find the three that I used to like for not much money. I have. They are in good shape, excellent working order, and reside in a glass display in my home.

Keen

Over the years, I have owned a variety of cameras. In my film days, some of my favorites were my:Nikon EM, Canon A-1, Pentax K-1000, Mamiya RB-67, and Mamiya C-330.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

When I bought my first SLR, I was really looking to take good 'pictures' rather than photographs.
An understanding dealer showed me the way to a FUJICA ST801.
I learn't a lot from that Camera, just twiddling with the speed dial and aperture ring and looking at the diodes show +/- exposure. Really good lenses too. I learn't a lot from that camera and was gutted when it was stolen of the Canadian Greyhound.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Sorry your FUJICA got lifted, John. They were a good brand of gear. My personal favorite was the AX-5.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Yup! lots of fun. At one point, Manhattan had around 30 camera shops, including a few in the Photo District where lots of photographers had studios. That would be the area around Madison Square Park and south to 14th St. Worked for some photographers down there, then had my own studio in the Bronx.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Nice, the insurance money paid (mostly) for an OM2 but I should have stayed faithful to the brand.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Canon A-1. First SLR w/Programed Auto Exp. My friend Acker had one. Kind of an interesting group of SLRs, Keen. From "do it all yourself" K-1000 to Aperture Priority only EM to your A-1. I felt like I really got my creative juices going when I paired my FM with a Nikon FM3a. SWEET!

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Thanks Harry O for the info' re' the RB in the USA. I was using my RZ in the late 60's. Standard lens was 110mm f/2.8 other lenses ..50mm 65mm 250mm. When attaching the 65mm lens, it sometimes tripped the shutter, so had to get used to putting dark slide into position to prevent wasting a frame of film. In the 70's I bought an RB 37mm Fish-eye lens. OK if the distortion was accepted. 6 x 6 and 6 x 4.5 backs were also added to the RZ armoury, along with a metered prism Eye-level finder. Nice kit!! A digital back would be nice now. But I am supposed to be retired from commercial work.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I had my sites set on a Topcon. Fortunately, it was back ordered and I went ahead with a Nikon FTN, and that, as they say, has made all the difference.