Vintage Geek: SLR Camera (1959)

February 5, 2007

While having a small and powerful digital camera that fits in your purse and access to professional-quality machinery is just plain liberating, I occasionally yearn for the days when I would see a photographer with an amazing SLR camera and think - wow, they must be important. I love that everyone can be a photographer these days, but there is a certain "je ne sais quoi" about a great, vintage camera that just screams sophistication and chic to me. Case in point, the Nikon 35mm SLR camera (1959).

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14 Comments

M Rossiter 4 years 4 weeks

I just bought this camera! I have aZYKKOR MC Zoom 1:3.5 f= 28 ~ 80mm lens on it. I love it. <3 I wish I had the money for a dark room. :(

millarci 5 years 45 weeks

I completely agree with you JessNess. I'm in LOVE with film photography. I loved developing my own film and printing my own photos when I took photography class. One day I would love to have my own darkroom as well. Also, I would hate to see the darkrooms become obsolete. BTW, I always used Ilford fiber paper, JessNess. If you haven't tried it, you should. I always thought it was good paper. Although, I do believe that it does take skill to use a digital camera. But I think it takes much more skill to use an old fashion manual film camera. I actually think it's easier to use than a digital. Digital cameras have too many options. Sometimes it gives me a headache. hahaha...

AutumnWind 5 years 49 weeks

what a sexy camera! Makes me think of the Simon and Garfunkle song "Kodachrome"

Neural 6 years 15 weeks

You're right, JessNess. The darkroom was a blast. If I had enough money and time, I'd love to have my own darkroom and do photography again as a hobby. Wish I still had my Pentax K1000!

JessNess 6 years 15 weeks

I LOVE my SLR. I took photo classes in high school because I wanted to learn the darkroom. I love the darkroom and nothing is more satisfying then your picture coming out perfectly. What is sad is that darkrooms are becoming a thing of the past. Kodak stopped making their black and white photo paper :cry: it was good paper too!!! Schools are teaching kids digital photography now. I think its a shame because people these days dont know REAL photography. Anybody can be a good photog with a digital camera and photoshop. It use to take skill to be good. I cant wait for the day when I can afford to buy my own dark room equipment and convert my bathroom into a darkroom

POPSUGAR Tech 6 years 15 weeks

Has anyone experimented with Tilt-shift, both real or the Photoshopped fake versions? I am obsessed with it today.

aistea311 6 years 15 weeks

I used to hate digital, was always a 35mm girl myself, but the convienance of it all, made me fade into the 21st century. But, i promised myself, that before I have kids, all the pictures of me, and my family would be printed, and cataloged, so they can know what life was like. I love seeing my baby pictures that are faded, and my grandparents B+W, it is a whole different level of sentiment for me. As for the classic cameras, you're right geek, there is just something about seeing a photographer and wondering "where has this person been? Are they on their way back from a photoshoot? What have they seen through those fuzzy lens?"

aistea311 6 years 15 weeks

I used to hate digital, was always a 35mm girl myself, but the convienance of it all, made me fade into the 21st century. But, i promised myself, that before I have kids, all the pictures of me, and my family would be printed, and cataloged, so they can know what life was like. I love seeing my baby pictures that are faded, and my grandparents B+W, it is a whole different level of sentiment for me.As for the classic cameras, you're right geek, there is just something about seeing a photographer and wondering "where has this person been? Are they on their way back from a photoshoot? What have they seen through those fuzzy lens?"

swwonder 6 years 15 weeks

I have this camera! My mum was (still is actually) really into photography. I agree Proliferate Pink, there's something I prefer about a film camera.

Neural 6 years 15 weeks

The Pentax K1000 is the best basic SLR and it was considered a classic when I took photo 13 years ago as a senior in highschool!

POPSUGAR Tech 6 years 15 weeks

Touché Proliferate Pink, touché!

theotherhalfofme 6 years 15 weeks

my flatmate would loce this. he is a cameraman and kinda collects cameras. he is not in the digital camera thing at all.

ProliferatePink 6 years 15 weeks

Do you ever wonder about the future of traditional film versus digital? Will photos be passed down through the ages? Or will they sit, unbeknownst to the world, on some poor saps hard drive until they are lost forever. Although digital cameras are fantastic pieces of technology these days, there's something reassuring about seeing that photo album from my great grandmother on my shelf, and I wonder how that will translate into our future. Is the digital world freeing us, or are we beholden to it?

kscincotta 6 years 15 weeks

I would love to start collecting vintage cameras. This is great!

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