The Heavyweight SLRs
p.1 #1The Heavyweight SLRs
The big manual focus greats of the 60s-80s are:
1) Nikon F
2) Canon FD
3) Minolta MD
4) Pentax K/M42
5) Olympus OM
6) Contax/Yashica
7) Leica R
You have two tiers to build a system of a body and primes (max of 3): Under 1k and under $500. Go!
Edited on Jan 16, 2026 at 12:54 PM · View previous versions
1) Nikon F
2) Canon FD
3) Minolta MD
4) Pentax K/M42
5) Olympus OM
6) Contax/Yashica
7) Leica R
You have two tiers to build a system of a body and primes (max of 3): Under 1k and under $500. Go!
Edited on Jan 16, 2026 at 12:54 PM · View previous versions
Jan 16, 2026 at 12:23 PM
p.1 #2The Heavyweight SLRs
Nikkormat FT2
35 2.0 non-Ai
50 2.0 non-Ai
85 1.8 non-Ai
35 2.0 non-Ai
50 2.0 non-Ai
85 1.8 non-Ai
Jan 16, 2026 at 12:30 PM
p.1 #4The Heavyweight SLRs
Desmolicious wrote:
Minolta MD? Puhleeeze.
Minolta XK/XM/X1 is where it is at.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52064475797_e258053bd5_b.jpg
Isn't that the name of the mount though?
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
Minolta MD? Puhleeeze.
Minolta XK/XM/X1 is where it is at.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52064475797_e258053bd5_b.jpg
Isn't that the name of the mount though?
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
Jan 16, 2026 at 12:47 PM
p.1 #6The Heavyweight SLRs
ottokbre wrote:
Isn't that the name of the mount though?
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
The actual name of the mount is SR, and Rokkor lenses were designated either MC (meter coupled) or MD (later version, which allowed for shutter priority with cameras that supported it).
I literally just divested myself of all my Minolta gear today: an SRT-202, an XD, and six wonderful Minolta lenses; I gave them to a really excellent young photographer who's been following in my footsteps in concert photography and I'm sure he'll do great things with them. I decided last year that I'm not an SLR shooter; I sold my Nikon FM3a earlier this year as well so I have no more SLRs.
Isn't that the name of the mount though?
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
The actual name of the mount is SR, and Rokkor lenses were designated either MC (meter coupled) or MD (later version, which allowed for shutter priority with cameras that supported it).
I literally just divested myself of all my Minolta gear today: an SRT-202, an XD, and six wonderful Minolta lenses; I gave them to a really excellent young photographer who's been following in my footsteps in concert photography and I'm sure he'll do great things with them. I decided last year that I'm not an SLR shooter; I sold my Nikon FM3a earlier this year as well so I have no more SLRs.
Jan 16, 2026 at 01:15 PM
p.1 #7The Heavyweight SLRs
Hmm.. the early 1990s was part of the 1980s..Right? The best SLR that I’ve ever used and a bevy of Zeiss lenses..and the vacuum film plate actually works… Contax RTS III. Other Contax RTS fall into the specified time period.. but just say’in.
Jan 16, 2026 at 01:59 PM
p.1 #8The Heavyweight SLRs
The F2H was a heavy camera due to the MD-100 motor drive needed. Some of those others, not so much.
EBH
EBH
Jan 16, 2026 at 02:07 PM
p.1 #9The Heavyweight SLRs
madNbad wrote:
Nikkormat FT2
35 2.0 non-Ai
50 2.0 non-Ai
85 1.8 non-Ai
Like that one. I‘d maybe swap out the body for an F2 and the 85mm for a 105mm f2.5.
Nikkormat FT2
35 2.0 non-Ai
50 2.0 non-Ai
85 1.8 non-Ai
Like that one. I‘d maybe swap out the body for an F2 and the 85mm for a 105mm f2.5.
Jan 16, 2026 at 03:55 PM
p.1 #10The Heavyweight SLRs
OregonSun wrote:
You forgot the greatest of them all, M42
Praktica MTL 5B
Mir-1b
Helios 44-2
TTartisan 75mm f1.5
Might juuust fit into the 500$ bracket
You forgot the greatest of them all, M42
Praktica MTL 5B
Mir-1b
Helios 44-2
TTartisan 75mm f1.5
Might juuust fit into the 500$ bracket
Jan 16, 2026 at 04:03 PM
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p.1 #11The Heavyweight SLRs
ottokbre wrote:
Minolta XK/XM/X1 is where it is at.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52064475797_e258053bd5_b.jpgIsn't that the name of the mount though?
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
We should have a poll of how many had a SRT Minolta as their first camera.
Pumped gas the summer between my sophomore and junior year in high school. Bought a SRT-101 from KMart.
Desmolicious wrote
Minolta MD? Puhleeeze.Minolta XK/XM/X1 is where it is at.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52064475797_e258053bd5_b.jpg
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
We should have a poll of how many had a SRT Minolta as their first camera.
Pumped gas the summer between my sophomore and junior year in high school. Bought a SRT-101 from KMart.
Jan 16, 2026 at 04:11 PM
p.1 #12The Heavyweight SLRs
fjablo wrote:
35 2.0 non-Ai
50 2.0 non-Ai
85 1.8 non-AiLike that one. I‘d maybe swap out the body for an F2 and the 85mm for a 105mm f2.5.
Owned about a dozen 105 2.5's over the years. The oldest had the long aperture ring of the tick mark era, the newest was an Ai-S. I was always a fan of the 85.
madNbad wrote
Nikkormat FT235 2.0 non-Ai
50 2.0 non-Ai
85 1.8 non-Ai
Owned about a dozen 105 2.5's over the years. The oldest had the long aperture ring of the tick mark era, the newest was an Ai-S. I was always a fan of the 85.
Jan 16, 2026 at 04:19 PM
p.1 #14The Heavyweight SLRs
I remember using a F3 with 35mm f:2 and 105 mm 2.5 combo, of course with TRI-X. The good old day's.
Jan 16, 2026 at 05:57 PM
p.1 #15The Heavyweight SLRs
ottokbre wrote:
Minolta XK/XM/X1 is where it is at.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52064475797_e258053bd5_b.jpgIsn't that the name of the mount though?
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
I was having a good hair day in that selfie so looked for an excuse to post that pic.
Desmolicious wrote
Minolta MD? Puhleeeze.Minolta XK/XM/X1 is where it is at.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52064475797_e258053bd5_b.jpg
I cut my teeth on an SRT101.
I was having a good hair day in that selfie so looked for an excuse to post that pic.
Jan 16, 2026 at 06:03 PM
p.1 #16The Heavyweight SLRs
Canon F1NEW
Wow, went to KEH to see how much I have left, but F1NEWs are expensive $600+?
50/1.4
24/2.8
FD85/1.8 - GReat portrait lens but blows the budget
Surprised that F1NEWs are that expensive.
Wow, went to KEH to see how much I have left, but F1NEWs are expensive $600+?
50/1.4
24/2.8
FD85/1.8 - GReat portrait lens but blows the budget
Surprised that F1NEWs are that expensive.
Jan 16, 2026 at 06:10 PM
p.1 #17The Heavyweight SLRs
My vote for heavyweight king would be the Leica SL MOT with the huge motor drive with the battery
pack. It pretty much wouldn't matter which lens one used, they were all heavy.
pack. It pretty much wouldn't matter which lens one used, they were all heavy.
Jan 16, 2026 at 06:13 PM
p.1 #18The Heavyweight SLRs
F3
24 f/2.8 Ai
35 f/2.8 Ai/Ai'd
105 f/2.5 pre-Ai
And I'm breaking the rules with a 75-150 Series E.
24 f/2.8 Ai
35 f/2.8 Ai/Ai'd
105 f/2.5 pre-Ai
And I'm breaking the rules with a 75-150 Series E.
Jan 16, 2026 at 07:14 PM
p.1 #19The Heavyweight SLRs
Of those, I've only owned Pentax K and M42 so I'll stick to those. Both of these kits are under $500, I'd never pay more than that for a '60s-'80s 35mm system.
Pentax K
M42
Pentax K
- Ricoh XR7
- Ricoh XR Rikenon 70-150mm f/4
- Auto Revuenon MC 50mm f/1.4
- SMC Pentax 24mm f/2.8
M42
- Fujica ST705
- Mir 24N 35mm f/2 (actually a Nikon F lens that came with a interchangeable M42 mount, the dedicated M42 version is a lot more expensive)
- Industar 50-2 50mm f/3.5
- Pentacon Multi Coated 50mm f/1.9
Jan 16, 2026 at 08:01 PM
p.1 #20The Heavyweight SLRs
SRT 101 - Me too! I bought a used one a few years ago just for display on my bookshelf.
Jan 16, 2026 at 08:06 PM