Cult cameras - what is on the list? [Archive]

oftheherd

07-20-2010, 04:22

I think the Canonet 17 QL III has assumed cult status. Seemingly the Yashica 124 MAT G as well. Leicas in general have (putting on my flame suit as I run to the shelter).

I guess a definition of cult status would help define others or not. Some might consider the 35mm FSU cameras that way, but I am not so sure that fits just yet, popular as they may be.

jsrockit

07-20-2010, 04:23

Most Leica Ms. Ricoh GR1. Leica Digilux 2.

chris00nj

07-20-2010, 04:36

Interesting post. Initial thoughts....
Nikon SP - It's Nikon and a rangefinder.
Alpa 6 (but really any Alpa reflex)
Canon Canonet QL17 GIII
Olympus Pen
Apple Iphone (just kidding...sort of)(plus the already mentioned Lomo and Leica M3. )

Update: can't determine whether a highly collectible camera is the same as a cult camera. If so:

Agfa Automatic 66
Ensign Autorange 620.
Leica IIIg

raytoei@gmail.com

07-20-2010, 04:37

Most definitely the Olympus Pen, XA, and 35RD.

feenej

07-20-2010, 04:37

Olympus XA

feenej

07-20-2010, 04:38

Yashica Gsn, but only here on RFF.

feenej

07-20-2010, 04:41

Olympus Mju II (also a cult camera only here). Hmm Olympus makes the list a lot. Oh add the OM-1 too.

Waus

07-20-2010, 05:04

Nikon F
Nikon F2
Nikon FM/FE/FM2/FE2/FM3a
Leica M6
Rolleiflex (and all of it's clones...)
Hasselblad SWC

dmr

07-20-2010, 05:09

I would almost consider the Mamiya SD users to be a "cult", as there aren't too many of them, but those who use them regularly are very attached to them.

scottwallick

07-20-2010, 05:21

My first thought is of the Diana/Holga 120.

On second thought, I come up with a list of cameras that might not be 'cult', but were commercially unsuccessful (whatever that means) but have a strong following:

Nikon FM3a
Epson R-D1
Contax T/T2
Fuji Natura/Klasse

I might even be so bold as to throw in the Contax G/G2 and—apologies!—the new Voigtlander Bessa III 667/Fuji GF670.

This whole forum, depending on the point of view, could be about 'cult' cameras. ;)

Roger Hicks

07-20-2010, 05:26

Anything by Gandolfi (which is understandable) and anything by Deardorff (which isn't).

Anything by Alpa, ancient or modern.

Olympus Pen W and Pen F series (nothing else by Olympus is really cult, unless you include the inexplicably popular OM series).

Cheers,

R.

Todd.Hanz

07-20-2010, 06:09

Diana
Rolleiflex
Widelux
Hassy's

Todd

martin s

07-20-2010, 06:11

Linhof Technika.

martin

micromontenegro

07-20-2010, 06:22

The Rollei 35, of course.

DNG

07-20-2010, 06:35

The ones I own ;)
Leica M5 -- Last M made in Weltzlar, in that era of Leica's, 1st TTL RF (Popularity is growing)
Olympus XA -- smallest RF
Rollie 35s
Leica MP (old)
Voigtlander folders
Nikon RF
Robot (24x24 or 24x26)

kdemas

07-20-2010, 06:41

Going retro.... the Kodak Bantam Special (art deco Bakelite).

le vrai rdu

07-20-2010, 06:41

yashica Mat minolta srt canon AE1...........

Renzsu

07-20-2010, 06:54

I think film photographers are in their own little cult already and anything they judge cult is lost on the rest.
I'd say maybe Leica's in general since you see them on design blogs everywhere, early Nikon F's because Dennis Hopper used them in Apocalypse Now. Stuff like that.

xayraa33

07-20-2010, 07:16

I am trying hard to make the Minolta SRT series into a cult camera but it has been a slow go.:)

Calzone

07-20-2010, 07:34

My Nikon F3P that was a real press camera oned by the Newspaper "Newsday." I bought it just after it recieved a total overhaul after coming back from Operation Desert Storm.

Leica screwmounts. I own a IIIG with a canon/serenar permanantly attached.

My Tele Rolleiflex and Rolleiflex 3.5F.

Wetzlar M6's

And Mamiya 6's only with 50/4.0 permanantly mounted.

Any Linhof.

Cal

Brian Legge

07-20-2010, 07:46

I think cult cameras are often based on extremes of a particular attribute - be it quality, size, image appearance, etc. As a result, there are a bunch of them out there. Personally, I tend towards smaller user cameras that produce good images. Here are ones that jump out at me:

XA - Smallest rangefinder
Minolta CLE - Smallest screw mount
Minolta 7sII - Best fixed lens rangefinder glass in a compact package
Yashica GX - Compact aperture priority
Yashica CC - Compact wide
Hexar - Quietest rangefinder
Olympus OM series - High end small SLRs with great glass.
Nikon 28ti - High end wide point and shoot.
Rolleiflex 2.8 - Top end TLR
Anything Leica - Quality, early
Anything rangefinders for that matter. :)

I'm actually leaving the Yashica TLRs and Canonets off this list. They are popular but I think that is mostly because there are so many of them out there more than anything. I'm also leaving Holga/LCA/Diane off the list as those are certainly cult-ish but seem more temporal and marketing driven at the moment.

Of these, I only have personal experience with the XA and a small amount with a IIIc. My first experiences with the XA were poor so I'm trying to give it another chance. The IIIc is nice but I'm too cheap to buy Leica glass and am less likely to stumble across it cheap than some of the other gear above. I'm not sure where I'm going with it yet, though I like using the camera.

Sonny Boy Havidson

07-20-2010, 12:03

Hmm... Many !

The ones that comes to my mind:
- Leicas Barnack and M
- Rollei: Rolleiflex, Rolleicord and 35
- Nikon: F..., FE2, FM...
- Pentax: LX, Spotmatic
- Minolta: Sr-T, XE, XD, XK
- Contax: II & III, T serie, Yashica-Contax SLRs
- Olympus: most of there rangefinders, Pen, OM
- Canon: many of their rangefinders (I hate their SLR)
- Konica: Autoreflex 3, Auto S2 and S3
- Agfa Isolette 3
- KMZ: Zorkis, FEDs, Kievs, Lubitels
- Yashica TLRs
Well...

Roger Hicks

07-20-2010, 13:57

I think cult cameras are often based on extremes of a particular attribute - be it quality, size, image appearance, etc. .
Dear Brian,

And price!

But I'm sure you've summed it up perfectly about extremes.

Cheers,

R.

kdemas

07-20-2010, 14:09

A few more.

- Ricoh GR21
- Minolta TC-1
and, for digital fans, the Contax ND.

twopointeight

07-20-2010, 14:29

From the Olympus Pen line-up, specifically the Pen W.

leicavidom

07-20-2010, 14:58

neck and neck with a Plaubel Makina 67W!

porktaco

07-20-2010, 15:06

kuzano

07-20-2010, 15:12

Sought by the Birkenstock, Saab, Apple MacIntosh crowd

jasonhupe

07-20-2010, 15:25

In college at RIT it was the Yashica T4 with the fixed 35mm F/3.5 lens and the super scope. Some amazing color work came from that camera. Our color professor, Dan Larkin, used it for his summer photographs on the cape and they were gorgeous. It seemed by the time I was a senior everyone of my friends had one. I think one of the micro four thirds might be the digital equivalent of it.

johannielscom

07-20-2010, 15:26

If I buy a cult camera, will I suddenly attain coolness? Or do I also have to wear black?

Hehe, I qualify :D

Nikon F (in black)
Leica M (in black paint)
Leica IIIc Kugellager
Leica IIIc Grey (no there's a cult for you!)
Contax F, first fixed pentaprism SLR with automatic aperture
Bessa RF, II, III 6X9 folders

Traut

07-20-2010, 15:29

Minox iiis

If I have room for one more
Kodak Medalist

Matus

07-20-2010, 15:31

The one I am selling right now - Rolleiflex T

The one I am buying right now - Mamiya 6

maggieo

07-20-2010, 15:38

Leica M8 and Epson RD-1s.

nakedcellist

07-20-2010, 15:42

Leica CL? Sold mine, sometimes regret it.

sreed2006

07-20-2010, 15:50

Canon 5D and 5D Mark II?

There's certainly some very enthusiastic proponents those cameras.

JOE1951

07-20-2010, 15:54

I know someone with two Alpas. One camera is an early waist level viewfinder 35mm SLR, w/a built in rangefinder, in almost mint condition. This same person also has a later date model that is beat to sh*t, the focusing screen seems to be "melted" with burn marks on it, but he still still takes photos with it, and it still seems smooth in operation. I can confirm as I've seen these camera and played with them, these are cameras from some sort of strange, alternate, parallel universe or something.

This same person told me a story of Alpas being used in some kind of Canadian CANDU Nuclear Reactor tests, where a camera would only survive taking a couple of photos before it failed. He claimed the researchers claimed that Alpas were the only camera available to get those few shots before failure.

My friend is a real eccentric, but I believe every word he says, even his storys about meeting Fidel Castro in Cuba in the late 60's, when he was kid... um yeah, I'd put up w/ being called a weirdo if I owned an Alpa.

rumbliegeos

07-20-2010, 16:01

I'm not a member, but I think that Exakta owners comprise something of a cult.

JOE1951

07-20-2010, 16:12

Yes, Exacta is a very much a cult camera. Jimmy Stewart used one in Hitchcocks "Rear Window"!!!

Also Robot is a cult camera!

paulfish4570

07-20-2010, 16:13

I'll weigh in here with this thought: most of the cameras listed so far are classics, around which cult-like worship has organized.

Real cult cameras? The Mju; Holga, Diana and others of that ilk; CLE; Yashica Electros and their cousins; Olympus trip; that midget Rollei zone focus 35, Konica S series ...

The trend for cult cameras seems to be KISS - and relatively cheap. But hey, what do I know? I shoot a FED-2d, Minolta A5, Yashica Lynx, Pentax SP1000, Fujica ST605, and I now have in my possession a Petri 2.8 and Yashica A. A Tower 120 box camera is on the way. Maybe a cult will develop around that. What a minute, it IS a toy camera, so maybe I can get in on the Holga thing ... :)

PatrickT

07-20-2010, 16:14

Yashica T4 was the first thing that came to mind...

Keith

07-20-2010, 16:38

My recently arrived Pentax 67ii ... nothing I've ever seen or held has a presence like this camera!

Awsome ... for me anyway! :D

retro

07-20-2010, 18:26

Graflex Crown and Speed Graphics.

Some variations of more common cameras sporting higher end
lenses like the Agfa Super Silette with f/2 Solagon and others

silverbullet

07-20-2010, 21:17

Two cameras from both worlds:

Nikon F

Polaroid SX 70 (aka Aladin)

CameraQuest

07-20-2010, 21:26

There are some cameras that have "cult" status and following. What are they?
I can think of one at the moment:

Konica Hexar AF.

What else do you think belongs on a "cult cameras" list?

the Hexar RF a cult camera?
Only to Konica diehards.

Compared to in production M cameras, the Hexar RF is a complicated hard to repair automated film advance M camera with a relatively dim viewfinder and no parts availability outside Japan - if its still being repaired there by Konica. To top it off, some had non Leica lens spec registrations problems - like mine until it was repaired and adjusted by the Konica factory while Konica was still a camera company.

Stephen

dovevadar

07-20-2010, 21:56

A real cult camera seen almost everywhere even on T-shirts -
Leica's M3 and Nikon's FM2

jarski

07-20-2010, 22:02

Lomo's and Lomography seems to me more like a marketing stunt than any "real" phenomenon. but "cults" may vary :)

FrozenInTime

07-20-2010, 23:00

Minox 8x11mm cameras - as used by several cold war spies.
Also featured in many '60s and '70s films. Pretty Poison is one of my favorites (Minox B).

http://www.donaldingram.com/ForumImages/pretty_poison_minox.jpg

I used to carry mine every where - but with the camera phone they've faded from view.
There are some really quite good used bargains around.

kzphoto

07-21-2010, 00:38

How about Winogrand's M4? People talk about that thing like it had a cult of it's own...

nemjo

07-21-2010, 01:27

Did I read the thread without care, or Hasselblads really missing?

Roger Hicks

07-21-2010, 01:33

Minox 8x11mm cameras - as used by several cold war spies.

Apparently only in movies. The camera of choice for most spies was probably the Tessina, preferably with wrist-strap. The 14x22mm image contained a LOT more information than the Minox.

Then again, I knew one spy who swore by a Rollei TLR. His view was that a search would reveal ANY camera, so you might as well (a) get a good quality image and (b) have a camera that didn't look as if it was a spy camera, so you could say, "Come on! D'you think a spy would carry a camera like this?". This was in Germany in the late 1940s.

Cheers,

R.

Vobluda

07-21-2010, 03:06

Stephen, Krosya said Hexar AF, not RF and I agree with him 100% - Hexar AF is definitely a cult camera, at least to me:-)

the Hexar RF a cult camera?
Only to Konica diehards.

Compared to in production M cameras, the Hexar RF is a complicated hard to repair automated film advance M camera with a relatively dim viewfinder and no parts availability outside Japan - if its still being repaired there by Konica. To top it off, some had non Leica lens spec registrations problems - like mine until it was repaired and adjusted by the Konica factory while Konica was still a camera company.

Stephen

murpograph

07-21-2010, 03:13

rollei 35
Topcon RE super
Contarex
Super Ikontas
Welta Weltur

murpograph

07-21-2010, 03:16

I did not see
Kodak Retina IIIC
Kodak Retina IIa
Argus (the brick)

Calzone

07-21-2010, 06:25

If I buy a cult camera, will I suddenly attain coolness? Or do I also have to wear black?

You will know that you have reached cult status:

When the salesmen at B&H, and Adorama know you by first name, and the salesmen at KEH recognize your voice over the phone.

When at the Mermaid Parade you become a tourist attraction because you are shooting a Rolleflex 3.5F and a Tele Rolleiflex.

When you respond to "That's an old camera," with a "They don't make German cameras like they use to."

When people are scared of you because of the camera you carry, almost as if they are thinking, "Don't bother that guy carrying the Leica screwmount. Somethings just not right with him."

When carrying a Nikon F3 equipt with a motor drive and handstrap the aggressive personality of the camera is projected like when wearing a Beret.

When all of your friends make fun of you because you don't shoot a digital camera; and you not only don't own a cell phone, you don't know how to use one.

When you lay out your gear your girlfriend calls your collection a camera farm because it keeps on growing.

Welcome to the cult.

Cal

dmr

07-21-2010, 06:41

Uh, couldn't we just say that RF cameras in general are kind of cult cameras? :)

BSchall

07-21-2010, 07:06

Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim - VUWS

A little piece of plastic with a 21mm lens. Bought one at Goodwill for $2, sold it on Ebay for $35 plus $15 shipping to France.

Sparrow

07-21-2010, 07:06

The only real cult camera here in the UK is the surveillance camera, hundreds of thousands of them replete with their totem-polls, hidden away in little shrines or carried around as talisman by their devotees

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2499534768_740f0d64c5.jpg

Oh and the Polaroid SX-70

BSchall

07-21-2010, 07:07

And another Olympus, the Olympus Trip 35.

xayraa33

07-21-2010, 07:13

And another Olympus, the Olympus Trip 35.

I feel bad now for accidentally smashing my minty Oly Trip to smithereens.:o

Dralowid

07-21-2010, 07:16

I am happy to put a word in for the the Contax I but will refrain from any justification for doing so.

Michael

Krosya

07-21-2010, 07:20

the Hexar RF a cult camera?
Only to Konica diehards.

Compared to in production M cameras, the Hexar RF is a complicated hard to repair automated film advance M camera with a relatively dim viewfinder and no parts availability outside Japan - if its still being repaired there by Konica. To top it off, some had non Leica lens spec registrations problems - like mine until it was repaired and adjusted by the Konica factory while Konica was still a camera company.

Stephen

In the original post (that you quoted) I said Konica AF, not RF and you yourself call AF a "cult" camera on your website:

http://www.cameraquest.com/konhex.htm

But since you bring it up - RF could also qualify. Most of th points that you bring up kinda make it one. There are many "cult" cameras that are hard to repair. Thee many "cult" cameras that are no longer made/company is out of business - so what ? I have never heard of Hexar's film advance failing. To me it actually a feature, along with a fast shutter of 1/4000 that no oter film RF offers AFAIK - makes it pretty unique and maybe "cult" camera.
I dont think it's Viewfinder is dim either. It is actually much better that the one I had in M6 I used to own that had the well known problem with RF patch flare - fix thatcot me as much as one of my Hexars.

So, - sorry Stephen, but I have to disagree with ya.

I'm actually surprised at your comments, as on your own website you seem to praise Hexar RF quite a bit, just look at your own list of Hexar RF 1st's :

http://www.cameraquest.com/konicam.htm

I think that list makes it good enough to be a "cult" camera.

rodt16s

07-21-2010, 08:02

To my way of thinking the OM1 and Lomo have Cult status..
Leica M RF and the Nikon F are "Iconic"
Although some of the Leica M lenses are more "Elitist"..

Cult status doesn't necessitate it has to be great.. just gain some underground popularity or become trendy

mike-s

07-21-2010, 10:50

Voigtlander Vito B. The neatest (in the literal sense) camera ever made.

Naumoski

07-21-2010, 11:27

While the cult cameras are the one for whom we dreaming and lusting, I would stay with my Minolta srt 101 as my first cult and Minolta 7sII as my second.

... next I'm waiting for some medium format to accompany the Minolta's :)

Phil_F_NM

07-21-2010, 11:42

Fujica ST801
Pentax LX

froyd

07-21-2010, 11:46

sorry for the cross posting, but it's relevant here: i just saw a Fuji Finepix F30 selling for $800 on Amazon!!! (http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-FinePix-F30-Digital-Optical/dp/B000EJVWGS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1279741598&sr=8-1) Talk about cult!

Fujitsu

07-21-2010, 12:13

Great, now is there any camera not on the list yet? I think the thread can be closed now...

Roger Hicks

07-21-2010, 12:27

Great, now is there any camera not on the list yet? I think the thread can be closed now...

'Bomb doors' Vitessa?

Peckam Wray?

Ensign Wide (65mm on 6x9)?

70mm Combat Graphic?

Cheers,

R.

barnwulf

07-21-2010, 14:10

I don't think I remember anyone naming the Nikon SP rangefinder (probably black) or maybe any of the Nikon Rangefinders. Nikon F, FE2. Possibly Zeiss Ikonta B 6X6 folder. Leica Ms for sure. - Jim

d.keljikian

07-21-2010, 14:44

What about Linhof 220 and Brooks Plaubel Veriwide 100.

Pablito

07-21-2010, 15:02

Canon F1

yes?

johannielscom

07-21-2010, 15:07

jbielikowski

07-21-2010, 15:16

Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, M3, SX-70, F. afaik most cult is created when camera was used by someone/played in famous film.

dmr

07-22-2010, 07:47

Great, now is there any camera not on the list yet? I think the thread can be closed now...

Well, I didn't see the Brownie Starflash, which was my first camera of my very own. :) There's kind of a "cult" revolving around the 1950s (and earlier) "box" and simple P&S cameras. Last B&H big book actually had both B&W and color 127 film, so somebody is obviously using it.

On "another network" a while back I saw some Starflash shots done on 35mm film, with the sprocket holes visible, and the images extending into the sprocket areas.

Pico

07-24-2010, 05:06

Anything by Gandolfi (which is understandable) and anything by Deardorff (which isn't).

Seconded. I do not understand the enthusiasm for Deardorff unless it is being judged as a piece of furniture or as cabinet making.

Pico

07-24-2010, 05:09

70mm Combat Graphic?

Ah yes. I had one with three lenses, pristine. Got it from a militaria collector who didn't know what to do with it. Sold for a bloody fortune. I bought two new Leica M7 bodies with the proceeds. (Case Serial #7 to boot.)

dee

07-24-2010, 05:25

Cult in what respect ?
In a way advertising made a ' must have ' for the Pentax Spotmatic and Olympus Trip back in the 60s , but today , it's probably the Lomo thing - all colours and £50 for a camera easly out paced by any decent USSR camera .
Hockney made a cult of the Polaroid .

I can't think of any camera equivalent of a Mini or VW Camper van .