looking for the most important camera ever

[sanmich]

My first camera.

An Agfa Autostar X-126.
I was 7 I think. My father and my grandfather took me to the small optician shop just near my grandfather's shop, and bought me that small instamatic that is now long gone.

I have all kinds of oldies in my closet, but I would like to put my hands on this camera.

So first, I would like to ask if anyone has one, or knows where to buy one.

But maybe, the RFF crowd here can also post what "most important camera" they are looking for?

A special "wanted" section for old memories...

[burancap]

Nice thread!

When I first saw the thread title: I thought of the Apollo 11 'blads left on the moon.

My "most important" is my father's old Nikkormat EL that I still have and use on occasion -dents, scratches, and fungus included! It reminds me of the innocence of childhood and frankly -the very smell of it takes me back instantly.

[dogberryjr]

Interesting! I was able to find my own "most important" camera—same back story—a couple years ago. Thanks for the Voigtländer Vito II, Dad. Sorry for taking it apart to the point of absolutely ruining it! 30-odd years later I replaced it.

[nikon_sam]

I sitting here trying to think of what that would be...
I still own my very first camera and while growing up my parents took so few photographs of us (dad used an 8mm movie camera) and knowing my parents they still have any cameras they would have bought...so they are still somewhere...
I can't think of a camera that would fit...
There is one camera that I have always thought to be the best looking and all around sexiest ever and that is the Nikon F3 (with motordrive attached, of course)...they are out there and I could buy one today if I wanted so it's not that one...
Maybe, it's the Nikon FE that was given to me by a co-worker many years ago...that one got the fire to burn hotter than ever in my photographic world...it's the one that started the journey with Nikon that I'm still traveling...it's the one that took a thousand slides of Velvia and the same one that brought me back to B&W...
Years ago my best friend asked why I didn't shoot with Nikons and my answer was "I didn't think I was good enough for them..."
Come to think of it that Nikon FE is probably the most important camera to me...and I still have it...

[matthew J Shaw]

This is a great subject for a thread....

I had 2 cameras I always wanted...

An Edixa SLR, my great uncle had one and he used to show me it, and the wonderful slides he took with it in the 60's to late 80's of Yugoslavia (as it was then) where they used to holiday.
As a small boy I marvelled at the slides, and loved all the chrome and leather of the camera. Many years later, I brought an Edixa for myself, and I now have 2 as following his departing this world, his Edixa wended its way to me.

RF wise it was a Koni Omega, I held 1 for about 5 mins once when I was doing my A Levels and fell in love with it, it took me a long time, over 15 years, but after much trial and tribulation I managed to get a lovely fully working one here into the UK, and I still love it!

[rayfoxlee]

Rolleicord Vb. My Dad died just before my 21st birthday (45 years ago), having promised to buy me an Omega Seamaster. my Mum bought the watch but sadly is was a huge bag of trouble. Long story, but that gold watch was replaced with a stainless Omega Constellation and a cash balance enough for me to buy a new Rollei. That wonderful camera started me off on a lifetime interest in photography. My Dad gave me a wonderful gift of that love of photography. Perhaps foolishly, the camera was sold when I switched to 35mm. I wish I still had it.

Ray

[farlymac]

There is a camera for every format that I have wanted, and have been lucky to own most of them at one time or another. Now it would be hard to replace them all, but I am trying. Of course it takes longer these days, what with the lack of any camera stores in the area, and the luck-of-the-draw deals you get online.

I've had two 'most wanteds' in my life. One being a Kodak Retina IIIC, which I finally got one a little over a year ago. The other being my Dad's Argus CC, which he gave me a few years before his passing. It's the one he had with him during WWII, and I will never part with it, unless I need to give it to a sibling for safe keeping.

PF

[ferider]

Mine is the OM2. Bought it as my first camera when I was 14, after working in a factory for 6 weeks to pay for it ...

Nr. 2 is the Leicaflex my dad carried everywhere we went, as long back as I can remember. Sherry just completely overhauled it, and it's good for another 50 years (and back in Germany)

Now I prefer Leicas and OMs .... How come ?

[DNG]

My most important camera was the Voigtlander Prominent I, with the 5cm f/1.5 Nokton...
The camera that started me off in the world of photography back in 1968... $50.00 bucks, in a N Miami, Fl. camera store...
If I had an extra $600.00 bucks, I'd buy one today.

[ColSebastianMoran]

When I was a kid, Dad had a Weltini II and let us use it. I've been tempted a couple of times, but never had confidence that I could get one that I could keep functional.

When the Weltini broke, Dad went for a -- long sigh -- Praktina. I recently bought two of them, shutter problems with both. One is off to Gejza Dunay in Skovakia for refurb.

And, finally, he had a Busch Pressman 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 that ran forever. I bought a baby Graphic and it's close enough. This camera works well, no problems.

[Ronald_H]

The cameras from my youth were plastic no-brand affairs, now long gone. I have no emotional ties to them.

I started 'serious' photography late in life (27) and my first SLR (Minolta 404Si) and DSLR (Nikon d70) I have long since sold.

That having said, with that d70 I really learned my craft and pushed the limits. Maybe a bit of an odd choice for this forum, but there you have it.

My most significant rangefinder is my Leica M2 btw.

[Prest_400]

Hard to say for me. I don't consider having any most important camera. Perhaps my OM-1 takes it having been a mate for many miles and shooting Kodachrome. Afterall It's been the camera I learned with.

Shooting KR was the most important project for me. Camera was rather secondary.

Originally Posted by Ronald_H

That having said, with that d70 I really learned my craft and pushed the limits. Maybe a bit of an odd choice for this forum, but there you have it.

I think digital is a great way to learn by experimenting. But I'm too cheap to buy a DSLR/EVIL, whatever is serious. For $400 I can buy film or upgrade to MF! Oh, and maybe a scanner.

[lewis44]

As far as SLR's go, it had to be the Topcon Super D

In 1962, the makers of Topcon cameras redesigned the RS to incorporate a CdS cell behind the mirror and coupled this sensor to a meter, which in turn was mechanically coupled to the F-stop setting of the lens, the shutter speed and the ASA of the film. The end result was the first SLR camera with a fully coupled exposure system. This new camera became the RE Super / Super D.

For Rangefinders, nothing compares to the Leica M3

[sparrow6224]

In 1982 my future brother-in-law and I went in on a beautiful little camera offered us by the night counterman, Benny, at the Mill Luncheonette, which is now a Korean restaurant (still called Mill, and still offering egg creams and Lime Rickey's) on upper Broadway in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. We bought it for his sister, to whom I was engaged. It was a Leica CL. With a 40mm Summicron lens. I had no idea what this all meant except I knew that Leica were famously good cameras. I was surprised by its not being like an SLR, that you didn't see what the lens saw.... Anyway i used this camera over the years more than she did and came to love it. We had three children, it fell into disuse, meter stopped working (typical CL) and film advance also broke. So did the marriage. One of many things left behind. A few years ago I took up film photography again after twenty or more years and all I wanted in the world was a Leica CL. Finally got one too -- with a working meter, and a 40mm Summicron. Of course, I caught the bug and got many many more things too, and traded them for better things, and better things... you know how it is. But the CL has a very special place. It is the coolest little camera going.....

[kxl]

My most important (it was my first, at age 16) was the Pentax K1000 -- even now, an easy to find camera.

[sanmich]

Well, I knew RFF is a great community.
I just didn't know how much...

I have just been offered an Agfa X-126 by Petronius (have a look at his work, it's really worth it!).

THANKS!!

all, great stories all over..
thanks for sharing