Once they were kings !

[belgiumreporter]

But their reign ended with the coming of the DSLR.

These days there's very little interest in "modern" SLR's even though they are magnificent cameras with cutting edge technology build in, nobody seems to want them anymore.

It is my guess people find them to complicated or over specced for those who shoot film. Time also has shown that they are vulnerable when something goes wrong in many cases they can't be repaired.

Collecting wise they seem to have their looks against them as they don't look as classic as say an F3 or a spotmatic to name just two. Using them shows their age mainly in AF technology not being what it is today.

They are heavy to carry around and in most cases a lightweight OM1/2, FM or Pentax MX will give the same results with a more pleasant, discreet and uncluttered shooting experience.

Here's three former kings: the 1994 Canon EOS 1n second to none in the Canon range in that era. Then there's the 1994 Contax RX second to the RTS III  instead of AF it's equipped with focus confirmation in the viewfinder still an impressive camera to hold with very smooth handeling.

And as a third the 1999 Nikon F100 often seen as the affordable version of the F6, a nice camera to use with nikon's AF glass that rewards you with a very nice big and bright HP viewfinder and flawless operation, not as much "gimmicks" as on the EOS1 though, but then again the F100 is "prosumer" while the EOS1n is supposed to be full "PRO".

I've notised prices on these are back up a bit, maybe they will be appreciated after all?

[hannes]

Hello

I love the image quality you can get out by using the latest analog cameras.
They offer modern usability at best quality.
Now I can afford the cameras, I wanted when I was young.

I like to play with old cameras and explore how it felt shooting in the 1930ies to 1970ies with a Pilot Super, Leica or Contax type RF and full mechanical SLRs.

But if I want to just shoot analog images and be sure to get the best results I grab my Nikon F80 or F100.
Also the totally underrated Olympus bridge cameras make high quality images. I love the IS 3000, need to get an IS 5000 for the 28mm wide angle end.

On holliday trips the F80 is in the car loaded with Agfa Precisa CT100 slide film. The F80 shares the lenses with my digital Nikon D700.

Hannes

[paulhofseth]

Unfortunately the excdellent reputation of SLRs has led to many current digital creations trying to look like one, even if they neither need prisms nor moving mirrors. The SLRs are also guilty of starting the lens obesity trend: Dim viewfinders demanded high apertures and auto-mechanisms as well as optical tricks like retrofocus to accomodate the mirror. Good examples are Leica anmd Minoltas tiny rangefinder wide-angles compared with SLR varieties. The current electric wizardry made lenses even fatter and more vulnerable.

p.