Cult cameras - what is on the list?

[FrozenInTime]

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).



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]

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

[nemjo]

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

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by FrozenInTime

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]

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

Originally Posted by CameraQuest

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]

rollei 35
Topcon RE super
Contarex
Super Ikontas
Welta Weltur

[murpograph]

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

[Calzone]

Originally Posted by Vic

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]

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

[BSchall]

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]

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



Oh and the Polaroid SX-70

[BSchall]

And another Olympus, the Olympus Trip 35.

[xayraa33]

Originally Posted by BSchall

And another Olympus, the Olympus Trip 35.

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

[Dralowid]

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

Michael

[Krosya]

Originally Posted by CameraQuest

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]

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]

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

[Naumoski]

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]

Fujica ST801
Pentax LX

[froyd]

sorry for the cross posting, but it's relevant here: i just saw a Fuji Finepix F30 selling for $800 on Amazon!!! Talk about cult!

[Fujitsu]

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

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by Fujitsu

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]

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]

What about Linhof 220 and Brooks Plaubel Veriwide 100.

[Pablito]

Canon F1

yes?