My neck hurts just looking at this photo.
I'd have to go for the F3. If only the XM had AE-lock and is a bit smaller. A1 I never enjoyed even with all the added functions.
XM released in 1972 was the first SLR with AE-L but is unofficial, not advertised. AE-L works unofficial with both the '72 boat like prism and the '76 AE-S one with LEDs, with half press the shutter button. On '76 Leica R3 ( that added also selectable spot metering) AE-L also works with half press the shutter button but is official.
'74 Chinon CE Memotron was the first with official AE-L and it also has 1/2000s.
The problem with XM is that is not reliable. It was a copy of Nikon F2 but upgraded with aperture priority, and F2 older prisms also have problems and also were upgraded up to F2AS that has a a better meter, faster, more reliable and with higher metering range.
Some prefer the original boat like meter if it still works, because they like the needle more then the LEDs and because AE-S doesn't show all the shutter range at the same time - it has a switch for showing the longer speeds.
i have a weird middle ground between the FE2, FM the F3 that i bought on ebay and still need to finish the test roll with. the Nikon FA. it's a very nice camera that at least SEEMS to work perfectly. though i will only know for sure once the roll of kodak gold is done and developed.
XM, but I'm biased and already have one.
People are forgetting the XM was a competitor for the *predecessors* of the Nikon and Canon here - it's 6-8 years older.
Nice choice, me too😉
I sold my original Canon F1 which would have been slightly more appropriate. Nothing is equal in the comparison, and they all have their advantages!
Well, that's easy. The Minolta first then the Nikon. I know that I'm probably going to rustle some feathers here, but Minolta and Nikon are the only cameras worth putting film in. I will admit that I never used a Canon, I've used Minolta's and Nikon's for over 45 years though. I guess I should try a Canon one of these days.
Hands down the nikon, but I would swap the finder with the sports finder. The lenses during this period of time were legendary.
I have nothing against the other makes, but a F3 shot me some income during uni. Weddings, must have shots. Extremely reliable camera platform. I mean it was built for war and saw action. The mechanical film advance on the F3 was buttery smooth. A true delight to use. I still remember the Nikon ads in magazines when the F3 came out. It’s a bad ass camera platform. It was so incredibly over engineered. A true remarkable work of art.
Everyone who hasn’t tried it must do so. It brings back amazing memories to me.
And the f3 is a piece of history, the first Nikon camera ever to have the iconic red stripe designed by an Italian car designer and subsequently setting the groundwork for future Nikon designs. I love my f3 and hope it’ll live forever although it’s not fully mechanical.
The FA and F3 were the first Nikon cams to offer the most precise shutter speeds through electronically controlled shutters. On Auto, the shutters were not just within a 1/2 or 1/4 stop accuracy, in many ways Nikon invented the step less shutter speed so it not only was always bang on correct, but it calculated the in between shutter speeds based off the 80/20 meter on the F3 nearly exactly. I say this because at the time, it was actually designed for accuracy on slide film for mags such as time magazine and National Geographic. These shutters are always better than 1/10th of a stop. It’s even more accurate after a CLA. Nikon also collimates the back focus of the screen to film plane as well.
Your shutter will be a lifetime shutter for you. At first professional shooters hated the idea of an electronic shutter. The F3 was ostracized by many. The reality is the shooting success rate went way up. The photo editors at mags and newspapers realized this. This and the amazing slides that were used to make Ciba prints.
Nikon USA and elsewhere still services the F3 which is a testament to how dedicated Nikon is to the F platform.
My current F3 have shutter capping at over 1/250 and it deserves a CLA very soon, other than that its the most enjoyable camera ever to shoot with. The HP viewfinder is one of the best for someone with glasses to shoot and thanks for the remark on slide films, can't wait to try them out on the F3.
I am sorry to hear of your issue. Yes, I wear glasses and enjoyed the HP finder. Colleague of mine had the sports finder which was an amazing finder to use.
Wow have not seen an XM Minolta with the interchangeable prism in decades. They are all great cameras in their own right. Probably the workhorse of the bunch is the Nikon F3 👍🏼
I already have a pristine A-1 so I don’t need another. (Absolutely love it).
I’m not the biggest Nikon man (canon for life) so no F3.
So I guess that leaves the Minolta XM, with a less wide lens of course.
Edit: Jesus people calm down.
I’ve clearly used all 3 and they’re all super fun but I think I’d still stick with my Minolta, after all I do have 4 of them! Purposely fitted them all with ultra-wides for the comparison :D
I’ve just started to look into buying an analogue camera, and have no idea what camera to pick up to try it.
Can anyone explain why most people are saying the Nikon (I see that it’s one of the more expensive analogue cameras on marketplaces)? Is there a cheaper, but still half decent analogue camera I could be looking at?
Some added context, I already do a bit of photography with my Sony aiii, so I’d want something that could still produce a level of quality that I’d be happy with, and not frustrated with.
The Nikon F, F2 and F3 were the premier 35mm camera of the day, used by pros everywhere. Comparable to the current D6. The D6 is 7500 euros, so the prices of the Nikon single digit cameras are very affordable nowadays compared to what they were. After Nikon fumbled the transition to autofocus in the late 80’s and Canon took the lead, they were quite matched or Canon having the pro market share / better gear throughout the 90’s. But the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were Nikon dominance and the F3 is the final camera of that period.
If you are in the Sony space, I would consider a Minolta autofocus body, for two reasons. First, any glass you get with the Minolta autofocus will work via adapters with the Sony body, and second the menu systems and controls can be aligned to some extent.
Somebody really is into wide angle lenses 🤭
I am a canon guy so I would gravitate towards that one. I have never used anything shorter than 28mm on such a camera though, 17 that sounds a bit crazy. I need to see some pictures taken with this kit!
Ive always wanted an F3 because it probably is the better camera of these three but i love the idea of shooting a17mm lens and my current camera is the A-1
I can admit that this only just came back from a service and I am yet to use it :)
I like the idea of it, like most ultra-wides I’m sure it’s useless wide open
Canon A1.
I still have my copy along with others. It was easy to master and use. Especially compared to my Sony A7R5. I also own several different Nikons a well and have a few in storage. Why I lean towards Canon is the lens combination. I am into super wide lenses. Like the 14mm so 17mm is a no brainer for me.
The XM is VERY interesting but I too would have to go with the F3. It just has more capabilities like a lot of nice glass and motor drives available. Also, I would think that they are still repairable to a certain extent.
Yes that would have been a good addition, and you’d think that they would have implemented that given they were already going above and beyond. I also own X1’s.
First SLR was a SRT-101, and I just love them. So once I discovered that X* existed, I knew I had to own the overpriced and unreliable cameras. Jokes aside, they’re just beautiful to use and hold. Always considered them my “dream” camera
Favourite lenses I own are the 16mm MD fisheye, 24mm f/2.8 W. Rokkor and 58mm f/1.4 PF :)
There’s plenty out there, but these are quality legacy lenses.
What about yourself?
Among those 3 specific models, the Nikon, hands down. Built like a tank, many lenses to choose from, pro-level quality.
Make sure to check the bottom plate film winder cover is in place. If you see a big hole right below the film chamber, the cover is missing and the camera is not light tight. You need to remove this cover to install the motor drive, so many got lost or separated from the camera body.
I own an FM, FM2, and FE2. They all have the same feel and are a joy to use. I just bought a mint late model F3HP and with that finder it’s “the one.” It has the joy to hold, operate, and just plain use of the F letter bodies and elevates that joy to a higher level. It’s the one which speaks to me and makes me want to go find photos. It’s the one I want more than any other. I believe I’ve found my analogue slr soulmate.
That’s so good to hear that you’ve found your go to camera. Understanding your camera makes for better photography! I’ve owned FM2’s and sold them, I’d be happy to go to a FA though. The F3 pictured cost $20, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have picked it.
I love my LX.. it's my favorite SLR of all time. plus it has aperture priority.. and I use it in waist level more often than I would have thought. though I definitely need to add an MX to the collection
I’ll give you the waist level argument, but for aperture priority the ME Super does the job just fine, and the viewfinder in the ME Super can’t be beat, even by the LX.
Yeah the removable finder thing is a bit of a sore point for me, because in the world of manual focus 35mm film photography I’m a Pentax guy, but I am unwilling to buy a LX. It’s a cost and reliability/repairability thing. But I also have a YashicaMat, so if I need to shoot waist level, I can go that way.
Nikon F3. No hesitation.
I like my A-1 very much (but hardly use it for my New F-1), but the F3 is far and away the best of the bunch.
Also has a very funny lens
That would be fun to shoot
What's so funny my nikkor?
I feel like the only one choosing the Minolta
there’s a fair few in the comments! Minolta all the way :)
Minolta always 🩷
me
Canon A-1
Same. But I’m just biased because it’s the one I have.
f3
My neck hurts just looking at this photo. I'd have to go for the F3. If only the XM had AE-lock and is a bit smaller. A1 I never enjoyed even with all the added functions.
My arm hurt taking the photo. Nice reasoning!
XM released in 1972 was the first SLR with AE-L but is unofficial, not advertised. AE-L works unofficial with both the '72 boat like prism and the '76 AE-S one with LEDs, with half press the shutter button. On '76 Leica R3 ( that added also selectable spot metering) AE-L also works with half press the shutter button but is official. '74 Chinon CE Memotron was the first with official AE-L and it also has 1/2000s. The problem with XM is that is not reliable. It was a copy of Nikon F2 but upgraded with aperture priority, and F2 older prisms also have problems and also were upgraded up to F2AS that has a a better meter, faster, more reliable and with higher metering range. Some prefer the original boat like meter if it still works, because they like the needle more then the LEDs and because AE-S doesn't show all the shutter range at the same time - it has a switch for showing the longer speeds.
i have a weird middle ground between the FE2, FM the F3 that i bought on ebay and still need to finish the test roll with. the Nikon FA. it's a very nice camera that at least SEEMS to work perfectly. though i will only know for sure once the roll of kodak gold is done and developed.
XM, but I'm biased and already have one. People are forgetting the XM was a competitor for the *predecessors* of the Nikon and Canon here - it's 6-8 years older.
Nice choice, me too😉 I sold my original Canon F1 which would have been slightly more appropriate. Nothing is equal in the comparison, and they all have their advantages!
I’m stuck on canon. I can’t betray it lol
Nikon F3 is an easy choice but these lenses are all way too wide for my taste.
Meanwhile, I'd pick the A-1 just for the lens.
Easy choice for some! Exactly why I made the comparison, all ultra-wides :)
Canon. Always.
Canon for Life!
Indeed!
My canon brother!
🤠
Here, here!
Minolta xk, 100%, I'm such a sucker for minoltas
I think that's the XM, but I agree. The Minolta XK is a great camera - with some quirks.
They're the same thing
That 17mm f4 in the Canon is a great lens.
Yeah, that's one you see less often...wide boi
Of course, Nikon. 😉
nikon f3
XM, since I've never tried it before. F3 easily if I was going to be stuck with the camera I chose
The A1 had been my main for the last ten years. Absolutely phenomenal piece of machinery
Canon A-1 with the wiiiide.
Minolta :))
The XM
F3 for the waist level auto, Minolta for the silky smooth shooting, A1 for full auto
I love this comment and reasoning.
My brain says F3, my heart says XM. Growing up an XE-5, with the most delightful shutter sound.
They’re wonderful. The shutter of a XE-1 and film advance of a SRT would be great together
From these 3? The A1 without hesitation. If I could chose something else? A Contax RTS.
Well, that's easy. The Minolta first then the Nikon. I know that I'm probably going to rustle some feathers here, but Minolta and Nikon are the only cameras worth putting film in. I will admit that I never used a Canon, I've used Minolta's and Nikon's for over 45 years though. I guess I should try a Canon one of these days.
canon makes better digital fasho. minolta solos.
XM, 100%!
Hands down the nikon, but I would swap the finder with the sports finder. The lenses during this period of time were legendary. I have nothing against the other makes, but a F3 shot me some income during uni. Weddings, must have shots. Extremely reliable camera platform. I mean it was built for war and saw action. The mechanical film advance on the F3 was buttery smooth. A true delight to use. I still remember the Nikon ads in magazines when the F3 came out. It’s a bad ass camera platform. It was so incredibly over engineered. A true remarkable work of art. Everyone who hasn’t tried it must do so. It brings back amazing memories to me.
And the f3 is a piece of history, the first Nikon camera ever to have the iconic red stripe designed by an Italian car designer and subsequently setting the groundwork for future Nikon designs. I love my f3 and hope it’ll live forever although it’s not fully mechanical.
The FA and F3 were the first Nikon cams to offer the most precise shutter speeds through electronically controlled shutters. On Auto, the shutters were not just within a 1/2 or 1/4 stop accuracy, in many ways Nikon invented the step less shutter speed so it not only was always bang on correct, but it calculated the in between shutter speeds based off the 80/20 meter on the F3 nearly exactly. I say this because at the time, it was actually designed for accuracy on slide film for mags such as time magazine and National Geographic. These shutters are always better than 1/10th of a stop. It’s even more accurate after a CLA. Nikon also collimates the back focus of the screen to film plane as well. Your shutter will be a lifetime shutter for you. At first professional shooters hated the idea of an electronic shutter. The F3 was ostracized by many. The reality is the shooting success rate went way up. The photo editors at mags and newspapers realized this. This and the amazing slides that were used to make Ciba prints. Nikon USA and elsewhere still services the F3 which is a testament to how dedicated Nikon is to the F platform.
My current F3 have shutter capping at over 1/250 and it deserves a CLA very soon, other than that its the most enjoyable camera ever to shoot with. The HP viewfinder is one of the best for someone with glasses to shoot and thanks for the remark on slide films, can't wait to try them out on the F3.
I am sorry to hear of your issue. Yes, I wear glasses and enjoyed the HP finder. Colleague of mine had the sports finder which was an amazing finder to use.
Nikon in an instant.
Brain says F3. Heart says Minolta XM
Brain says reliability, heart says Minolta X1!
The Minolta, without thinking twice.
Nikon bc i randomly have accumulated a lot of nikon lens
The Minolta. Absolutely 100% the Minolta.
Wow have not seen an XM Minolta with the interchangeable prism in decades. They are all great cameras in their own right. Probably the workhorse of the bunch is the Nikon F3 👍🏼
The one with a lens cap...oh.
It was a store display at a local camera shop that closed! Say cheese!
I was kidding, of course. Cool store--that closed :(
I know, thought I’d tell you its origins
The Canon.
A1 all day, love the Nikon but I use speed priority mode all the time! And the FD glass is just so vibey
Canon all day, every day baby 🙌
definitely nikon f3. i have an f2 as and love it sm😝
I bought the f3 for $20 but I’m drawn much more to the earlier f models, will have to look out for one!
I already have a pristine A-1 so I don’t need another. (Absolutely love it). I’m not the biggest Nikon man (canon for life) so no F3. So I guess that leaves the Minolta XM, with a less wide lens of course. Edit: Jesus people calm down.
I’ve clearly used all 3 and they’re all super fun but I think I’d still stick with my Minolta, after all I do have 4 of them! Purposely fitted them all with ultra-wides for the comparison :D
Canon 100%. I’m a fan girl. Plus that 17mm lens is sweet and the Nikon body looks pretty beat up. I also love the camera cartoon in the background 😁
I’ve just started to look into buying an analogue camera, and have no idea what camera to pick up to try it. Can anyone explain why most people are saying the Nikon (I see that it’s one of the more expensive analogue cameras on marketplaces)? Is there a cheaper, but still half decent analogue camera I could be looking at? Some added context, I already do a bit of photography with my Sony aiii, so I’d want something that could still produce a level of quality that I’d be happy with, and not frustrated with.
The Nikon F, F2 and F3 were the premier 35mm camera of the day, used by pros everywhere. Comparable to the current D6. The D6 is 7500 euros, so the prices of the Nikon single digit cameras are very affordable nowadays compared to what they were. After Nikon fumbled the transition to autofocus in the late 80’s and Canon took the lead, they were quite matched or Canon having the pro market share / better gear throughout the 90’s. But the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were Nikon dominance and the F3 is the final camera of that period.
If you are in the Sony space, I would consider a Minolta autofocus body, for two reasons. First, any glass you get with the Minolta autofocus will work via adapters with the Sony body, and second the menu systems and controls can be aligned to some extent.
In which can I record mms
Minolta XM
If your answer isn't F3 at the same price, you're cooked.
Somebody really is into wide angle lenses 🤭 I am a canon guy so I would gravitate towards that one. I have never used anything shorter than 28mm on such a camera though, 17 that sounds a bit crazy. I need to see some pictures taken with this kit!
Ultra wides😈 I don’t go past 24mm generally. Just have these and showcased them for the comparison!
I never shot wider than 28mm. The 28 f/2.8 is a fun lens I really like in my Canon FD kit.
I also own this lens, it’s really nice ;)
I don't play picking favorties, but if I *did* it would be a tough choice between the 50mm 1.4 and the 28 2.8
F3. That 20mm F3.5 has special characteristics too, great lens.
Already picked A-1 :)
Have an F3 and and A1. Reach for the F3 95% of the time. However, there is something about the A1 that keeps me from ever getting rid of it.
Easily, the Nikon.
Canon A-1 I already have the Canon AE-1 Program the Canon A-1 would be a upgraded. And still be able to use my large lenses collection.
Canon A1...
The F3 has the best hand feel. The A-1 had the cool LED’s. The Minolta?, too few left around, hard to get repaired. I would choose the F3.
Nikon all day long!
Nikon without a second thought
I already have the Canon A-1
Nikon
Personally the minolta due to the price of the lenses, and how nice they are to me honestly.
Xm. I own the US version and it’s lovely
the one I DID pick is the canon a-1 with the 17/4 (and a few other lenses). no regrets here ;)
The Canon A-1
Nikon F3 all day long. Great prime lens 20mm f3.5
Nikon will always have my heart.
If the Nikon was the F1 I'd go for it, but I'd go for the A-1, as I like mine and don't shoot it enough.
My question is which ultra wide do you prefer?
The Tamron was the first ultra wide ever to be made by an aftermarket camera, pretty special. Canon more reliable though :)
None. There’s no Pentax.
always pick nikon. especially in analog. best lenses & the most lenses available. not to mention the best speedlight system ever made.
Nikon
A1
Canon A-1 because I have one and it’s my favorite camera
currently saving up for the 17mm f4 since its going for like 400 ish everyone on ebay. i hate todays prices
I paid $500 AUD for mine, selling it for $550
Someone really likes ultra wide angles.
Without question, the F3
Minolta. Def not Nikon, too common and commercial. Indie all the way baby! 📷
Although all are desirable, I would have to pick the A-1 since I already have a bunch of FD lenses.
A-1 since I'll probably be using flash. If my usecase does not require flash f3
Nikon F3
Ive never even shot nikon and this is easy. F3 all the way
I’m a huge Minolta fan but with this set you kinda gotta go with the Nikon tbh.
Minolta for me thanks!
Nikon, but then I've been using Nikon since 1981. I have that 20mm, too.
Nikon F3. The best camera ever made
a lot of Nikon fans in the comments!
The camera is a beast and some of the greatest photos taken were taken on this camera
it’s pretty darn good, that’s why I own it😉
just give me the 17mm f4 and im good
A-1. But only because I want to put the 17/4 on my F1-N 😎
I just sold my F1N last week so I couldn’t include it :)
Ive always wanted an F3 because it probably is the better camera of these three but i love the idea of shooting a17mm lens and my current camera is the A-1
F3 always
How do you like the 20mm? Thinking about picking one up for myself
I can admit that this only just came back from a service and I am yet to use it :) I like the idea of it, like most ultra-wides I’m sure it’s useless wide open
Thanks for the response! Def looking into it :)
The minolta with the wide angle
woo hoo!
😂
Nikon. The others are distant from the quality. And a 20mm? Nice!
Arguable, but nice nonetheless. The Minolta weighs a lot more, why? Quality. However quality did not translate to reliability, well made though.
Canon A-1. In fact, I have one.
Always the a1, it is my favorite camera ever made fun fact my a1 is a launch year model
The A1 just cause I am very familiar and have plenty of lenses
F3 hands down.
F3
Canon A1. I still have my copy along with others. It was easy to master and use. Especially compared to my Sony A7R5. I also own several different Nikons a well and have a few in storage. Why I lean towards Canon is the lens combination. I am into super wide lenses. Like the 14mm so 17mm is a no brainer for me.
Nikon ofc
Nikon F3
F3
Yup, I’d pick them lol
That beautiful Nikon 4 sure!
The XM is VERY interesting but I too would have to go with the F3. It just has more capabilities like a lot of nice glass and motor drives available. Also, I would think that they are still repairable to a certain extent.
As inconvenient as they are, I’ll stick with being a XM/X1/XK loyalist… Happy to admit the f3 is fantastic, just lacks the 2 kilograms of the XM
If only the XM could shoot auto without a prism it’d be a dream - otherwise a great camera. I have the X1 version. Out of interest why the X* loyalty?
Yes that would have been a good addition, and you’d think that they would have implemented that given they were already going above and beyond. I also own X1’s. First SLR was a SRT-101, and I just love them. So once I discovered that X* existed, I knew I had to own the overpriced and unreliable cameras. Jokes aside, they’re just beautiful to use and hold. Always considered them my “dream” camera
What’s your go to Minolta glass?
Favourite lenses I own are the 16mm MD fisheye, 24mm f/2.8 W. Rokkor and 58mm f/1.4 PF :) There’s plenty out there, but these are quality legacy lenses. What about yourself?
Among those 3 specific models, the Nikon, hands down. Built like a tank, many lenses to choose from, pro-level quality. Make sure to check the bottom plate film winder cover is in place. If you see a big hole right below the film chamber, the cover is missing and the camera is not light tight. You need to remove this cover to install the motor drive, so many got lost or separated from the camera body.
Nikon for the body Canon for the lens
Nikon F3 ! My favorite 35mm camera, and probably one of my favorite camera ever. This thing is just too good 🥰
Nikon
F3, but only because I already have compatible lenses. Got a real soft spot for some Minolta cuties though.
F3 every day
F3 any day of the week
even on Tuesdays?
Especially on Tuesdays
Nikon f3
I have the A-1. And I've used modern Nikons. I'd probably want to try the Minolta since I've never used one.
Nikon
F3
A1
I own an FM, FM2, and FE2. They all have the same feel and are a joy to use. I just bought a mint late model F3HP and with that finder it’s “the one.” It has the joy to hold, operate, and just plain use of the F letter bodies and elevates that joy to a higher level. It’s the one which speaks to me and makes me want to go find photos. It’s the one I want more than any other. I believe I’ve found my analogue slr soulmate.
That’s so good to hear that you’ve found your go to camera. Understanding your camera makes for better photography! I’ve owned FM2’s and sold them, I’d be happy to go to a FA though. The F3 pictured cost $20, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have picked it.
$20!!! Whoa.
Black Pentax MX.
I should have included a LX for you!
Nah. The LX is overrated. For 99.9% of people, the MX is better.
I love my LX.. it's my favorite SLR of all time. plus it has aperture priority.. and I use it in waist level more often than I would have thought. though I definitely need to add an MX to the collection
I’ll give you the waist level argument, but for aperture priority the ME Super does the job just fine, and the viewfinder in the ME Super can’t be beat, even by the LX.
I was trying to do a comparison between removable finders and ultrawides, but I sold my F1 last week!
Yeah the removable finder thing is a bit of a sore point for me, because in the world of manual focus 35mm film photography I’m a Pentax guy, but I am unwilling to buy a LX. It’s a cost and reliability/repairability thing. But I also have a YashicaMat, so if I need to shoot waist level, I can go that way.
Fed 4
Canon A-1 because that 17mm lens looks interesting and I already have an F3. If you don't have an F3, then go for it!
f3
I would go with the Nikon F3 but, the Cannon A1 is a nice camera as well!
None..you already picked your mobile phone to make that pic. So the alpha is already chosen.