The term 'hipster' has been bandied about for a while now. Mainly by those upset by others having fun and enjoying life.
Which makes me think, what film camera that you use - has to be use! - is your bona fide hipster camera?
(digital cameras by the fact that they are digital can not ever be cool and so considered hipster worthy).
IMO all Leica film Ms are not hipster cameras. Not judging them as shooting machines - just too 'normal' a choice.
And I think hipster cameras should be in financial reach of most people.
I think my #1 hipster cameras is what I was shooting today - the Minolta XK (also known as XM or X1). Pro build, weird looking, not mainstream, solid, useable but with a touch of awkwardness that elevates it to the hipster realm.
Hm my most non-mainstream, quirky camera is probably my great-grandfathers 1928/1929 Voigtländer Avus. Unfortunately it seems I don't have a pic of it on flickr. I'll add it later.
Probably too mainstream for people in the film forum, but hipster enough for the general public: the Rolleiflex 3.5E
Can't provide a photo, but it would be my Plaubel Makina 670, in it's original (literal) hip-case for extra hippiness. The obvious scissor-bellows and 70's styling always attracts attention when I use it, so carrying it is almost a fashion statement, but I do love it's practical size and excellent results when travelling with a minimal camera kit.
Lately, I am carrying a Voigtlander Bessa-II for my weekend outings. I haven't had it for too long but I put over 10 rolls of film in it. In folding position, it's barely larger than my Leica M5. But I am really attracted by the negative size of 6 x 9.
My Konicas give off the serious hipster vibes, especially when I use a spin on lens hood.
Very fun to use cameras, with the knowledge that their slowest shutter speed is… 1/60 sec!
I will have to take and post pictures later, but I'd say my Konica IIA. I also had the IIIA, which seems to be more in demand, but liked the shooting experience and results from the IIA much better. Therefore, sold the IIIA.
Rollei 3.5F - completely different and interesting experience everytime I use it.
Most of my pics from Rollei 3.5F were inclined , lol , but still love the shooting experience
I am going to say my Canon T70 (ebay £25). I lusted after one when seeing the glossy magazine ads in the 80’s but they were way too expensive for my paper round income. I love the cheesy 80’s styling, and the cheesy LOUD shutter sound. Despite the plastic exterior it feels quite solid.
The viewfinder is nice and bright and the meter is reliable. It takes fantastic pictures.
andrewd01 wrote:
I am going to say my Canon T70 (ebay £25). I lusted after one when seeing the glossy magazine ads in the 80’s but they were way too expensive for my paper round income. I love the cheesy 80’s styling, and the cheesy LOUD shutter sound. Despite the plastic exterior it feels quite solid.
The viewfinder is nice and bright and the meter is reliable. It takes fantastic pictures.
I remember when I was a kid my handicraft teacher (taught us how to woodwork etc) in school bought a T90. My jaw dropped I was so impressed. I think I had a OM-10 at the time.
The T90s are on another level. I checked one out in a shop and was tempted to buy it. They have a reputation for failing with EEEEE error like early EOS 1s. But they have super solid pro build quality and an extra dose of late 80’s cheesiness.
I'm confused to see Rolleiflexes labelled as hipster cameras, I must be too deep in my hipster to see it!
I'd go more for SLRs like Huss's Minolta, or top end point and shoots but I don't have either so it has to be my Rollei 35S cos it's like in a Wes Anderson movie.
coogee wrote:
I'm confused to see Rolleiflexes labelled as hipster cameras, I must be too deep in my hipster to see it!
I'd go more for SLRs like Huss's Minolta, or top end point and shoots but I don't have either so it has to be my Rollei 35S cos it's like in a Wes Anderson movie.
If in a Wes Anderson movie then definitely hipster material! And they kept the name Rollei? Unlike in Asteroid City where the camera - a Kiev - was badged as ‘Swiss Mountain Camera’.
Unquestionably, my hipster shooter is the Contax T:
Remarkably small for a 135 camera, optical RF, drawbridge lensboard, manual focus, manual film advance and rewind, dead silent. And best of all, you're invisible on the street.
Remarkably small for a 135 camera, optical RF, drawbridge lensboard, manual focus, manual film advance and rewind, dead silent. And best of all, you're invisible on the street.
