The Heavyweight SLRs
p.2 #1The Heavyweight SLRs
Don't know from "heavy weight" but I had the best I could afford not what I might have wanted. Served me well for a good many years:
Mamiya-Sekor w/ Vivitar telephoto 135mm f/2.8 close focus lens.
Was a great lens.
Joe D
Mamiya-Sekor w/ Vivitar telephoto 135mm f/2.8 close focus lens.
Was a great lens.
Joe D
Jan 16, 2026 at 09:30 PM
p.2 #2The Heavyweight SLRs
I think the most interesting thing is how big DSLRs got when divorced from the 35mm film canister design basis, and added batteries. They called the Canon T90 ‘The Tank’ and it is light and small compared to my 1DXIIs or even a 5DmkII with battery pack. Sure, some of the old ones that were metal based are pretty dense, but overall, we’ve gone from paperweights to boat anchors.
Jan 17, 2026 at 05:35 AM
p.2 #3The Heavyweight SLRs
anselwannab wrote:
overall, we’ve gone from paperweights to boat anchors.
I do a lot of concert photography, but only in small venues and I'm usually the only photographer there. Occasionally I get asked to take photos at bigger venues or concerts by more mainstream artists where there's a pack of 20 or more photographers; most of them use those big Canon and Nikon DSLRs with enormous zoom lenses, and I can't get over the impression that they are holding toaster ovens.
overall, we’ve gone from paperweights to boat anchors.
I do a lot of concert photography, but only in small venues and I'm usually the only photographer there. Occasionally I get asked to take photos at bigger venues or concerts by more mainstream artists where there's a pack of 20 or more photographers; most of them use those big Canon and Nikon DSLRs with enormous zoom lenses, and I can't get over the impression that they are holding toaster ovens.
Jan 17, 2026 at 07:08 AM
p.2 #4The Heavyweight SLRs
The under $500's easy. This is how I did it...
Minolta X-570 ($75 local sale)- a little plasticky and a silly-big on/off switch, but it had fresh seals, fresh shutter, and a squeaky clean OVF. Dead simple with a surprisingly consistent meter.
MD 28/2 ($140 Tokyo)
MD 50/2 ($30 eBay)
MD Rokkor 100/2.5 ($90 UPP)
Total: $335
Alternately, the X-570 and...
MD W. Rokkor 24/2.8 ($60 local)
MD 35/1.8 ($150 local)
MD Rokkor 85/1.7 ($195 UPP)
Total: $480
Minolta X-570 ($75 local sale)- a little plasticky and a silly-big on/off switch, but it had fresh seals, fresh shutter, and a squeaky clean OVF. Dead simple with a surprisingly consistent meter.
MD 28/2 ($140 Tokyo)
MD 50/2 ($30 eBay)
MD Rokkor 100/2.5 ($90 UPP)
Total: $335
Alternately, the X-570 and...
MD W. Rokkor 24/2.8 ($60 local)
MD 35/1.8 ($150 local)
MD Rokkor 85/1.7 ($195 UPP)
Total: $480
Jan 17, 2026 at 01:37 PM
p.2 #5The Heavyweight SLRs
Heavyweight? Really heavy? That would be the Nikon F4s. With MB-21 battery/grip. Doubles as a boat anchor.
Jan 17, 2026 at 06:51 PM
p.2 #6The Heavyweight SLRs
I grew up when the Nikon F2AS was the big dog. Always had an itch for it.
Jan 17, 2026 at 08:29 PM
p.2 #8The Heavyweight SLRs
samuelphoto wrote:
Heavyweight? Really heavy? That would be the Nikon F4s. With MB-21 battery/grip. Doubles as a boat anchor.
The F4E was even more so, but you didn't have to practically disassemble it to change batteries.
I also had the MB-20 as a lighter option when FPS was less important.
EBH
Heavyweight? Really heavy? That would be the Nikon F4s. With MB-21 battery/grip. Doubles as a boat anchor.
The F4E was even more so, but you didn't have to practically disassemble it to change batteries.
I also had the MB-20 as a lighter option when FPS was less important.
EBH
Jan 18, 2026 at 04:15 PM
p.2 #9The Heavyweight SLRs
I think you guys are taking „heavyweight“ a bit too literally.. maybe read the first post and just the title
Jan 19, 2026 at 12:32 AM
p.2 #10The Heavyweight SLRs
Sub $500 for me would be Nikon FM2, with the 24mm f/2.8 AI-S and the 135mm f/3.5 AI-S. I feel like if I had to go out right now and build a kit for that price this is what I'd actually buy.
Sub $1000, this might be a stretch to include under Contax, but the Contarex Bullseye/Contarex I - with the 50mm f/2 Planar and the 135mm f/3.5 Sonnar. They're very extravagant cameras and I love them for that. I finally got to briefly hold one in person a little ways back and they're very interesting in person. Not really like any other camera I've held.
Also honorable mention in the sub $500 category just because I have such an affinity for them, Konica Autoreflex T3 with the 35-100mm f/2.8.
This thread makes me think it'd be kind of fun to do a camera version of the $2000 challenge that they do over on the Grassroots Motorsports forum. Like, what's the best setup you could build and actually do a photo challenge with for under $50?
Sub $1000, this might be a stretch to include under Contax, but the Contarex Bullseye/Contarex I - with the 50mm f/2 Planar and the 135mm f/3.5 Sonnar. They're very extravagant cameras and I love them for that. I finally got to briefly hold one in person a little ways back and they're very interesting in person. Not really like any other camera I've held.
Also honorable mention in the sub $500 category just because I have such an affinity for them, Konica Autoreflex T3 with the 35-100mm f/2.8.
This thread makes me think it'd be kind of fun to do a camera version of the $2000 challenge that they do over on the Grassroots Motorsports forum. Like, what's the best setup you could build and actually do a photo challenge with for under $50?
Jan 19, 2026 at 01:20 AM
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p.2 #11The Heavyweight SLRs
Yeah, had XK, sold it just about a year ago!
Great camera!
So XK, MD 45mm F1:2, 24mm F2.8 VFC (or 35mm Shift VFC but its expensive) and maybe 100mm F2.5 would go
Great camera!
So XK, MD 45mm F1:2, 24mm F2.8 VFC (or 35mm Shift VFC but its expensive) and maybe 100mm F2.5 would go
Jan 19, 2026 at 06:21 AM
p.2 #12The Heavyweight SLRs
fjablo wrote:
I think you guys are taking „heavyweight“ a bit too literally.. maybe read the first post and just the title
I assumed it was based on mass; is that not right? If it is meant to be importance, most of the large and heavy bodies were made for pro use so cameras like the F4s would be both. F3 with the 250 rollfilm back and power drive would also qualify.
EBH
I think you guys are taking „heavyweight“ a bit too literally.. maybe read the first post and just the title
I assumed it was based on mass; is that not right? If it is meant to be importance, most of the large and heavy bodies were made for pro use so cameras like the F4s would be both. F3 with the 250 rollfilm back and power drive would also qualify.
EBH
Jan 19, 2026 at 07:26 AM
p.2 #13The Heavyweight SLRs
Under $1k (if you're lucky):
F3HP
28/2.8 Ai-s
50/1.2 Ai-s
105/2.5 Ai-s
Under $500:
FG
28/2.8 Ai-s
50/1.8 Ai-s
105/2.5 Ai-s
AF edition ($1k category):
F100
28/1.8G
50/1.8G
85/1.8G
F3HP
28/2.8 Ai-s
50/1.2 Ai-s
105/2.5 Ai-s
Under $500:
FG
28/2.8 Ai-s
50/1.8 Ai-s
105/2.5 Ai-s
AF edition ($1k category):
F100
28/1.8G
50/1.8G
85/1.8G
Jan 19, 2026 at 04:27 PM
p.2 #14The Heavyweight SLRs
I've been trying to put together a Leica R kit for under a grand and... Well, let's just say the condition of the lenses you'd have to go for to get it under a grand would not be an attractive proposition.
Jan 19, 2026 at 10:17 PM
p.2 #15The Heavyweight SLRs
I have been a Nikon film camera fan all my life until recently. I was gifted an old Canon FT QL with an FL 50mm f1.8 (breach mount), and I was amazed at how solid that camera was. I ended up buying 3 more FT QL's and a few more FL mount lenses, and I'm hooked! You can easily get a decent FT QL and a 3 lens outfit for under $500.
Jan 20, 2026 at 04:42 PM
p.2 #16The Heavyweight SLRs
snegron7 wrote:
I have been a Nikon film camera fan all my life until recently. I was gifted an old Canon FT QL with an FL 50mm f1.8 (breach mount), and I was amazed at how solid that camera was. I ended up buying 3 more FT QL's and a few more FL mount lenses, and I'm hooked! You can easily get a decent FT QL and a 3 lens outfit for under $500.
Starting out in photography I shot a that aformentioned Minolta SRT but my best bud and street shooting buddy rocked the Canon FTb and darn if that thing didn't double up as a blunt weapon in case we ran into trouble! That era Canon is epic.
I have been a Nikon film camera fan all my life until recently. I was gifted an old Canon FT QL with an FL 50mm f1.8 (breach mount), and I was amazed at how solid that camera was. I ended up buying 3 more FT QL's and a few more FL mount lenses, and I'm hooked! You can easily get a decent FT QL and a 3 lens outfit for under $500.
Starting out in photography I shot a that aformentioned Minolta SRT but my best bud and street shooting buddy rocked the Canon FTb and darn if that thing didn't double up as a blunt weapon in case we ran into trouble! That era Canon is epic.
Jan 20, 2026 at 06:00 PM
p.2 #17The Heavyweight SLRs
EB-1 wrote:
I assumed it was based on mass; is that not right? If it is meant to be importance, most of the large and heavy bodies were made for pro use so cameras like the F4s would be both. F3 with the 250 rollfilm back and power drive would also qualify.
EBH
Heavyweight is originally a combat sports term. I've seen it used most with boxing where it's referring to the biggest boxers, i.e. the ones capable of hitting the hardest and taking the most. So applied here is intending to say the camera equivalent of that.
fjablo wrote
I think you guys are taking „heavyweight“ a bit too literally.. maybe read the first post and just the titleEBH
Heavyweight is originally a combat sports term. I've seen it used most with boxing where it's referring to the biggest boxers, i.e. the ones capable of hitting the hardest and taking the most. So applied here is intending to say the camera equivalent of that.
Jan 20, 2026 at 09:19 PM
p.2 #18The Heavyweight SLRs
snegron7 wrote:
I have been a Nikon film camera fan all my life until recently. I was gifted an old Canon FT QL with an FL 50mm f1.8 (breach mount), and I was amazed at how solid that camera was. I ended up buying 3 more FT QL's and a few more FL mount lenses, and I'm hooked! You can easily get a decent FT QL and a 3 lens outfit for under $500.
One of my brothers had a FTb with the massive 1.2 lens. He would let me borrow it occasionally but as a fifteen year old, I mostly wasted film.
I have been a Nikon film camera fan all my life until recently. I was gifted an old Canon FT QL with an FL 50mm f1.8 (breach mount), and I was amazed at how solid that camera was. I ended up buying 3 more FT QL's and a few more FL mount lenses, and I'm hooked! You can easily get a decent FT QL and a 3 lens outfit for under $500.
One of my brothers had a FTb with the massive 1.2 lens. He would let me borrow it occasionally but as a fifteen year old, I mostly wasted film.
Jan 20, 2026 at 11:20 PM
p.2 #19The Heavyweight SLRs
I was making a joke about the F4s. It was heavy even in it’s day, now ludicrously so.
Jan 21, 2026 at 06:48 AM
p.2 #20The Heavyweight SLRs
I am getting disgusted with AI and everything associated with it, and ended up doing a film detour as a REVOLT...
My first SLR was a Ricoh TLS-401 (bet nobody knows THAT one, here)
with a 55 mm f/1.4 (loved it) and a 28 mm f/2.8 Vivitar. I got that at 12 years old...
Just out of high school I purchased an Olympus OM-2n, and used that until my wife and I started doing photography together and she decided she wanted AF, and Olympus had no path forward.... Picked up a Canon SLR and a Nikon SLR in a camera store, and the controls on the Canon made no sense, the Nikon N80 was a dream, and IMMEDIATELY made sense. I knew both systems had a great (and high quality) lens selection, so either would have been fine, in the end.
Fast forward a few years, and switch to digital, MANY DSLRs and now some Nikon Z gear later, and my revolt has started. I still have a complete Nikon F and Nikon Z film kit (minus nosebleed priced sports / wildlife lenses and f/1.2 optics) and my revolt has begun.
I ditched most of my film bodies within the last few years - I had some OM stuff (2x OM-2n, 1x OM-1n, Nikon FE, Nikon FA and Nikon FM3A), the only film body I had left anymore was the Nikon FM3A (doubt I will EVER get rid of THAT, it's TOO special - plus I paid $450 for it used, and its worth close to DOUBLE now, excellent condition with box and manual).
I re-purchased a Nikon FE while the FM3A was out for a CLA (checked out fine, and is awesome!) and bought a 28 mm f2.8 AI to go with it, and now also getting a 85 f/2 AIS and had a 50 mm f/1.8 pancake already. I also still have enough AF-D lenses that I really have a full range - I had been dumping the AF-S G 50's and 85's because they were not sufficiently better than the AF-D's anyway, and A LOT bulkier!
But, I also had always been intrigued by the Olympus OM-4 with spot metering....
So, I now also acquired an OM-4 with a 50 mm f/1.8, and found it to be amazingly great. I changed the light seals and mirror bumper on it, and have had great results. Long story short, I then also purchased a 28 mm f/3.5, 85 mm f/2 and 135 mm f/3.5 for a nice light and versatile kit.... And couldn't help myself and bought a second OM-4 (T, this time) as a second OM body.
Been having fun with B & W film again! Forgot how grainy Tri-X is...
Reggie. Olympus OM-4T with 85 mm f/2 at f/2
My first SLR was a Ricoh TLS-401 (bet nobody knows THAT one, here)
with a 55 mm f/1.4 (loved it) and a 28 mm f/2.8 Vivitar. I got that at 12 years old...
Just out of high school I purchased an Olympus OM-2n, and used that until my wife and I started doing photography together and she decided she wanted AF, and Olympus had no path forward.... Picked up a Canon SLR and a Nikon SLR in a camera store, and the controls on the Canon made no sense, the Nikon N80 was a dream, and IMMEDIATELY made sense. I knew both systems had a great (and high quality) lens selection, so either would have been fine, in the end.
Fast forward a few years, and switch to digital, MANY DSLRs and now some Nikon Z gear later, and my revolt has started. I still have a complete Nikon F and Nikon Z film kit (minus nosebleed priced sports / wildlife lenses and f/1.2 optics) and my revolt has begun.
I ditched most of my film bodies within the last few years - I had some OM stuff (2x OM-2n, 1x OM-1n, Nikon FE, Nikon FA and Nikon FM3A), the only film body I had left anymore was the Nikon FM3A (doubt I will EVER get rid of THAT, it's TOO special - plus I paid $450 for it used, and its worth close to DOUBLE now, excellent condition with box and manual).
I re-purchased a Nikon FE while the FM3A was out for a CLA (checked out fine, and is awesome!) and bought a 28 mm f2.8 AI to go with it, and now also getting a 85 f/2 AIS and had a 50 mm f/1.8 pancake already. I also still have enough AF-D lenses that I really have a full range - I had been dumping the AF-S G 50's and 85's because they were not sufficiently better than the AF-D's anyway, and A LOT bulkier!
But, I also had always been intrigued by the Olympus OM-4 with spot metering....
So, I now also acquired an OM-4 with a 50 mm f/1.8, and found it to be amazingly great. I changed the light seals and mirror bumper on it, and have had great results. Long story short, I then also purchased a 28 mm f/3.5, 85 mm f/2 and 135 mm f/3.5 for a nice light and versatile kit.... And couldn't help myself and bought a second OM-4 (T, this time) as a second OM body.
Been having fun with B & W film again! Forgot how grainy Tri-X is...
© chemprof 2025
Reggie. Olympus OM-4T with 85 mm f/2 at f/2
Jan 21, 2026 at 02:27 PM