What camera are you?

[Rich Silfver]

Spinning off on the 'How old are you': What camera are you?

To determine what camera you are it must have been introduced during the year you were born. If more than one camera was introduced in the same year it's up to you to make the selection

[Rich Silfver]

Olympus 35 Trip:

[GeneW]

1945. I'm a Rolleiflex Automat 3 TLR:

Taking lens:
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 75mm F3.5 or
Zeiss Opton Tessar 75mm F3.5 or
Schneider Xenar 75mm F3.5

Viewing lens:
Heidosmat 75mm F2.8

Shutter:
Compur Rapid 1/500-1s/B

Special Features:
-Automatic film feeler
-Accessories attached by bayonet.
First single, later double.
-Built-in delay release
-Eye level focusing magnifier
-Grand Prix at Paris World Fair

[Oldprof]

Lame premise. Photography wasn't invented when I was born.

[back alley]

Zeiss Contax IIa and IIIa

Postwar Precision 1950-61

The Zeiss Contax was arguably the best 35mm rangefinder made before WWII, with a larger range of faster and sharper lenses than Leica. Many considered the pre-war Contax the "professional" 35mm camera, while the Leica was for amateurs. While Leica remained relatively intact after the war, Zeiss postwar recovery was made infinitely harder by being split into two separate competing West and East German companies. After W.W.II West German Zeiss introduced the modernized Contax IIa and IIIa in 1950. Compared to the prewar Contax II and III (without and with meter), the IIa and IIIa used the same lens mount with a completely re-engineered shutter mechanism, new body, and much improved chrome finish. Many believe the post war cameras are more dependable, but others will argue the point. Contax offered a complete system approach, including a broad range of lenses, viewfinders and close-up devices. Competing against the likes of the postwar Leica IIIf, Nikon S, and Canon IV, the Contax IIa and IIIa were very competitive designs in 1950.

[Brian Sweeney]

Well, as I put in my "how old are you post", The Nikon SP and Leica M2 were 1957 Babies as well. Who could ask for more? Of course the entire '50s was the age of the Rangefinder, and as many here can attest to, most are still with US. The Nikon F was still in its pregnancy...

[digitalox]

Oldprof, Ha ha ha. Bunch of old farts around here aint ya.

I guess I would be the Leica CL, made from 73-76.

[Peter]

For a 1972 I guess I am a Rollei 35 Gold with 40mm/3.5 Tessar.

[Rich Silfver]

Oldprof, your year was a good one - Kodacolor - the first true color negative film was introduced that year - and the first ALPA camera came out

[Todd.Hanz]

Hmm, 1964..............why the Russian "Voshod" of course, what else would there be silly.

Todd

[Brian Sweeney]

Hmmm. I got my first camera in 1964, a Kodak Brownie.

Don't forget the Nikon S3 Olympic. I had to settle for the Brownie.

[Laika]

You have made this easy for me Richard being another 1967 ... I could go with my Nikkormat FTn (nice camera btw) but since this is a RF site and I do want a Leica M so much I'll go with the M4

[Designer]

Originally posted by Laika
You have made this easy for me Richard being another 1967 ... I could go with my Nikkormat FTn (nice camera btw) but since this is a RF site and I do want a Leica M so much I'll go with the M4

Laika,

You've just said what I need. I'm another 67 guy! w/. the same choice as yours.

[rover]

Research will be necessary... 1966 though, I believe the Minolta Himatic 9, Mamiya Super Deluxe and Minolta SRT 101 all were being introduced to the public too.

[taffer]

And again thanks for a very imaginative, interesting and fun thread Richard, you da man !

Hint: googling for "<youryear> introduced camera" can give surprising results. Again I found the 'Minolta and me' story

I am... the 1976 XM Motor !!

AND I may be the Leica/Minolta CL as well, seems my life is bound to the mount Rokkor company

[vladhed]

Hmm, seem to be an unusual number of RF fans born in 1967 myself included! My Oly Trip 35 describes me well too, then, simple and well conceived

OldProf, photography didn't start when we were born, but we like to think it got a lot better

[Brian Sweeney]

Well, I know the Nikon RF years of introduction, but there are a lot more SLR-era babies here!



Nikon SLR introductions years

[Brian Sweeney]

And a very good reference on Nikon

[SolaresLarrave]

Following Oscar's advice, I learned that 1959 wasn't too bad a year for photography.

The Nikon F was introduced in 1959, which also saw the introduction of the Ektachrome High Speed Film and the Retina Reflex camera, by Kodak. The Pentax H2, first mass produced camera (by Pentax) entered the market too, together with the Olympus Pen Half-frame.

I'm amazed...

Hence, therefore and thus, I'm a Nikon F.

[Pherdinand]

I'm a minolta XK Motor guy too. Thanks, Taffer

[wierdcollector]

Pentax H2 for me since I have two of them. Nikon F is great too, but I passed on 2 brassed up models years back so I don't have one. Don't ask how little they were asking.

[hugivza]

I'm totally stuffed as a child of 1942. I think that oldest camera I have is either a Zeiss Ikonta with a Zeiss Opton Tessar, which is probably immediately post WWII, or an Zeiss Ikoflex I circa 1948. I was unable to take photos at birth, being less precocious than some, but probably could have at the age of 6 if I had a camera. It certainly would not have been one which would have graced these forums!!

[dostacos]

MINOX III introduced in 1951

[dmr]

Well, I guess I'm an RCA color TV camera. That's the most interesting in a quickie google.

Jeesh! I guess I admitted my real age.

[unohuu]

1957 was the Nikon SP; Leica M2; but I think I would be Mamiya 35-III.