p.1 #1 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
What would be your choice?
Say a ship comes by once a month to this place.
Constraints:
Reasonably light and rugged.
Weather and dust resistant would be a definite advantage.
Film should stand reasonable heat, dryness and humidity. How many rolls of film?
My choice, for what it is worth and from what I have, would be a Nikon FM3A. And 15 rolls of Kodak Pro Image 100 film.
Maybe a dust blower, and cleaning cloth.
I got the Zeiss Ikon ZM, one I asked you kind folks about. It doesn't make the cut at all.
No film Leica. I know press correspondents used it during conflict. They had no other choice till Nikon came along.
p.1 #2 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
It's gotta be a NIKONOS-V and the 35 f/2.5, plus 20-30 rolls of Portra 800. It's an underwater camera so certainly capable of holding up in that environment, and it's tough as nails. Take it for a swim, crack open coconuts with it, use the lens to start a fire, it even has a mechanical 1/90 shutter speed if the battery dies.
p.1 #5 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
OffTrail wrote:
It's gotta be a NIKONOS-V and the 35 f/2.5, plus 20-30 rolls of Portra 800. It's an underwater camera so certainly capable of holding up in that environment, and it's tough as nails. Take it for a swim, crack open coconuts with it, use the lens to start a fire, it even has a mechanical 1/90 shutter speed if the battery dies.
Yeah, this is an awesome camera. And the lens is shockingly good. The FM3A is a dainty thing next to it that will not survive the elements.
I use mine as all-weather cameras, and one time when I fell off my skateboard it bounced down the street like a hockey puck. The only damage to it was slight scratches on a corner (which bummed me out as it was immaculate until then).
That level of impact would have destroyed any of my other cameras - Leicas, Nikons, Fujis, Holgas....
p.1 #6 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
Desmolicious wrote:
Yeah, this is an awesome camera. And the lens is shockingly good. The FM3A is a dainty thing next to it that will not survive the elements.
I use mine as all-weather cameras, and one time when I fell off my skateboard it bounced down the street like a hockey puck. The only damage to it was slight scratches on a corner (which bummed me out as it was immaculate until then).
That level of impact would have destroyed any of my other cameras - Leicas, Nikons, Fujis, Holgas....
I believe it! It's just plain rugged, and like you said, the lenses are outstanding. I use mine for all-weather stuff too, not diving, and you couldn't really find a more confidence inspiring system. And no NIKONOS shoutout is complete without mentioning the shutter and film advance, which are just sublime.
p.1 #8 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
I don't think a camera would be terribly important to me on a desert island. Here's some sand. Here's some more sand. Oh, here's me in the sand, sunburned, dehydrated, and mostly out of focus.
p.1 #9 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
freaklikeme wrote:
I don't think a camera would be terribly important to me on a desert island. Here's some sand. Here's some more sand. Oh, here's me in the sand, sunburned, dehydrated, and mostly out of focus.
p.1 #12 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
Fursan wrote:
I had heard of the Nikonos-V, but have never seen one in real life.
My choice is based on what I have and use.
That the OM -1 is mentioned is interesting. I have heard they are tough machines.
The Leica M4 being mentioned is surprise for me. Must read about it.
And lenses?
Thank you all for joining in.
OM-1 is excellent but not tough. One of the major news services (I forget which) changed to them when they came out but changed back to Nikon as the OMs could not handle professional in the field rough conditions. They also now suffer from prism de-silvering.
Leica M series film cameras have always been used in the field, but the reason Nikon became more popular was not due to toughness but cost. You could get a full excellent Nikon camera/lens system for the price of one M body and that was a big deal for working photographers.
You cannot get a tougher camera than a Nikonos. And the V has AE with full manual exposure override, plus the biggest optical VF in existence! Be aware that it is a zone focus camera.
p.1 #13 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
In the spirit of the game, I'd probably go with the Hasselblad Arc, Rodenstock APO-Grandagon 35/4.5, and a lot of Ektachrome 100. I'm assuming I'll also be stranded with a remote release, a light meter, a color temperature meter, color correction filters, a sturdy tripod, an E6 capable lab, a way to project my giant slides, and a screen. I don't want to have to make any of that out of coconuts.
p.1 #14 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
The Nikonos was a nice call.
I hope the island is big enough to not run out of photographs I’d like to take.
Is this an only one film thing too? It wasn’t clear. For me, Porta 400 — and TMY2 if two are allowed. As for the lens and camera, 40/1.4 Nokton shipped with a nail file, 43mm B+W XS-Pro filter (any kind), rubber band, 2x CR1/3n’s, and a Leica MP ALC (0.85x, canted rewind, black chrome, non sandpaper-y leatherette).
p.1 #15 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
No question for me, a Mamiya 6 with the 50mm lens. I loved this combo 20+ years ago when I had them. Sharp lens, easy to focus, I like wider lenses, square format, and a good average meter. I'll out live it but, while I had it I would be very happy. For film I'm primarily a color guy so Portra 400 would do everything I need. Now if only the island had a good lab...
Oct 17, 2025 at 06:35 AM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.1 #16 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
Fursan wrote:
I had heard of the Nikonos-V, but have never seen one in real life.
My choice is based on what I have and use.
That the OM -1 is mentioned is interesting. I have heard they are tough machines.
The Leica M4 being mentioned is surprise for me. Must read about it.
And lenses?
Thank you all for joining in.
I used the OM-1 as a primary camera for about a decade, and I'm not interested in hearing about it not being tough enough. Switched from Nikon, and there is little or probably no chance I'd choose the FM-2N over it
The system is light and very ergonomic, I have 21/3.5, 24/2.8, 28/3.5, 50macro, 100/2.8, 75-150, picked up 65-200 on digital. The lenses can vary a lot, since it can be a bit difficult to tell the difference between an early 70's or 90's lenses, but even the 70's ones, single coated, can be excellent. And if you see me complaining about modern lenses being huge and mirrorless not being that compact and light, see these lenses, my entire bag maybe about 5lbs
p.1 #17 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
Geoff D F wrote:
Fuji GSW690.
After a few landscape shots of the beaches and some sunsets I expect I would be done, and I might as well have a big 6x9 negative.
I preferred the GSW690III back in the day. The problem is you only get 10 on 120 or 20 on 220. The rangefinder is partly blocked and that damned mechanical release is so violent.
p.1 #18 · Choice for a desert island film camera, film and lens...
freaklikeme wrote:
In the spirit of the game, I'd probably go with the Hasselblad Arc, Rodenstock APO-Grandagon 35/4.5, and a lot of Ektachrome 100. I'm assuming I'll also be stranded with a remote release, a light meter, a color temperature meter, color correction filters, a sturdy tripod, an E6 capable lab, a way to project my giant slides, and a screen. I don't want to have to make any of that out of coconuts.
