It is tricky to make a list of your favourite cameras, like making a list of your favourite songs. The list depends on a number of factors.
- The camera I am using right now. The one I used last is often high on my list.
- The cameras I have tried in the past. It can’t be in the top ten if I haven’t tried it.
- The condition of the example I have tried. Of course, if I have only tried a crap example it will be low on my list no matter what other people might think of it.
So all that aside, here is my current top ten.
- Rolleiflex Old Standard 622 – I love this camera. It is sharp, has a lot of history attached and I installed a new mirror. How can you not love it?
- Kiev 88 – I have found myself using this camera more and more. Despite the weight, as I get more familiar with it my love for it grows.
- Olympus OM4 – None of the other SLRs I have tried has the spot metering function like this camera. I am tempted to replace this choice with the OM40 though as I was very impressed with that and it is so much cheaper.
- Contax 137 MA Quartz – I love my example of this camera. I love that it was almost washed away in a typhoon. I love that it is covered in Japanese stamps. And of course, I love that it has Zeiss glass attached.
- Yashica A – I have a new to me 6×6 Yashica and I love it. It is light and sharp.
- Pentax ESII – I absolutely love my example of this camera. It looks like it has been through a lot and seen a lot. Mine has a great patina, quite brassy. It works with or without a battery. And best of all, I fixed it 🙂
- Konica Auto-Reflex – This camera has to appear here. You can switch between full and half-frame. It has a meter but works in manual. The meter on mine doesn’t work, but I intend to get that fixed at some point.
- Canon IV SB2 – This was the first camera that I had CLAd. I had to sacrifice a number of other cameras to pay for it, but it was worth it.
- Fed 2 – This was one of the first cameras I tried after returning to film. It made me realize that film has a quality and look that digital just can’t capture. Plus, the photos I took using it are very meaningful to me. This choice is due to emotions rather than functionality.
- Ricoh FF-7 – I wanted to add a point-and-shoot to this list and this one is fantastic. It is still cheap to buy and can do multiple exposures
This list is subject to change as I try more cameras.