Unique or rare film era features?
p.3 #1Unique or rare film era features?
EB-1 wrote:
The EOS 1V had EXIF type data recorded in the camera for 52 or 104 rolls of film, depending on teh amount of details needed. So you could download the roll ID number, lens model info, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, metering mode, exposure compensation, flash setting info, battery info, shooting mode, date, time, etc. for every frame into a CSV file and work with that later.
I don't know of any other film camera that did that, certainly not in 2000.
EBH
IIRC the F5/F6 does this as well. The F6 can also navigate through a number of the rolls on its back LCD menu, it was a feature I found helped a lot for archiving.
The EOS 1V had EXIF type data recorded in the camera for 52 or 104 rolls of film, depending on teh amount of details needed. So you could download the roll ID number, lens model info, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, metering mode, exposure compensation, flash setting info, battery info, shooting mode, date, time, etc. for every frame into a CSV file and work with that later.
I don't know of any other film camera that did that, certainly not in 2000.
EBH
IIRC the F5/F6 does this as well. The F6 can also navigate through a number of the rolls on its back LCD menu, it was a feature I found helped a lot for archiving.
Jan 31, 2026 at 07:17 PM
p.3 #2Unique or rare film era features?
The Canon IV Sb and similar models have a rotating prism carousel to change the magnification in the rangefinder to show what different lenses see rather than using framelines.
Jan 31, 2026 at 07:21 PM
p.3 #3Unique or rare film era features?
tile_86 wrote:
I don't know of any other film camera that did that, certainly not in 2000.
EBHIIRC the F5/F6 does this as well. The F6 can also navigate through a number of the rolls on its back LCD menu, it was a feature I found helped a lot for archiving.
I'm pretty sure not the F5. I had two of them before the EOS 1V. The F5 had the MF-28 option, which was similar to the multi-function back MF-23 in the F4. The F6 does record the EXIF data, but keep in mind it was about 4 years after the 1V. It's too bad that film was practically obsolete by the time the F6 was out.
EBH
EB-1 wrote
The EOS 1V had EXIF type data recorded in the camera for 52 or 104 rolls of film, depending on teh amount of details needed. So you could download the roll ID number, lens model info, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, metering mode, exposure compensation, flash setting info, battery info, shooting mode, date, time, etc. for every frame into a CSV file and work with that later.I don't know of any other film camera that did that, certainly not in 2000.
EBH
I'm pretty sure not the F5. I had two of them before the EOS 1V. The F5 had the MF-28 option, which was similar to the multi-function back MF-23 in the F4. The F6 does record the EXIF data, but keep in mind it was about 4 years after the 1V. It's too bad that film was practically obsolete by the time the F6 was out.
EBH
Feb 01, 2026 at 02:27 AM
p.3 #4Unique or rare film era features?
EB-1 wrote:
I don't know of any other film camera that did that, certainly not in 2000.
EBHIIRC the F5/F6 does this as well. The F6 can also navigate through a number of the rolls on its back LCD menu, it was a feature I found helped a lot for archiving.I'm pretty sure not the F5. I had two of them before the EOS 1V. The F5 had the MF-28 option, which was similar to the multi-function back MF-23 in the F4. The F6 does record the EXIF data, but keep in mind it was about 4 years after the 1V. It's too bad that film was practically obsolete by the time the F6 was out.
EBH
I took a look, the F5 does record EXIF data - the 10-pin connector on the bottom right could be used to transfer it off of the camera. Here's a video of it being done with the Meta35, from the Nikon manuals it looks like you could also do it through a PC or an MV-1. I miss my F5...
tile_86 wrote
EB-1 wrote
The EOS 1V had EXIF type data recorded in the camera for 52 or 104 rolls of film, depending on teh amount of details needed. So you could download the roll ID number, lens model info, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, metering mode, exposure compensation, flash setting info, battery info, shooting mode, date, time, etc. for every frame into a CSV file and work with that later.I don't know of any other film camera that did that, certainly not in 2000.
EBH
EBH
I took a look, the F5 does record EXIF data - the 10-pin connector on the bottom right could be used to transfer it off of the camera. Here's a video of it being done with the Meta35, from the Nikon manuals it looks like you could also do it through a PC or an MV-1. I miss my F5...
Feb 01, 2026 at 03:44 AM
p.3 #5Unique or rare film era features?
Infinite power supply (for the mechanical cameras).
Feb 01, 2026 at 05:00 AM
p.3 #6Unique or rare film era features?
I was thinking about all the accessories that my F3 offered, and then remembered that the older F2 had a really strange (and rare) one, which was the DS-1/DS-12 Automatic Aperture Control unit. The DS units fit between the lens and the body, and engaged with the little extra tab that all AI and AiS lenses have at the 7 o'clock position. The DS units interfaces with the F2's metering finder, and using its built-in motor, rotates the aperture ring to give the user a shutter-priority automatic exposure. I've never seen a DS unit in the flesh, but every time you pick up a modern Nikkor lens, the presence of that little tab is the legacy of these aperture-control accessories from the 70's. Just goes to show Nikon's almost insane commitment to backwards compatibility!
Feb 01, 2026 at 07:12 AM
p.3 #7Unique or rare film era features?
Dedicated stills cameras. Video affects SWAP.
Does anyone use their Zf for video? (I use the iPhone for the videos; it's quicker and easier to set up and looks great.)
I love the Zf, but Imagine it without the bulky chassis, battery and additional menus needed for vid? Tippy instead of awkward flippy screen for waistheight shooting? Better, tip up VF...?
Does anyone use their Zf for video? (I use the iPhone for the videos; it's quicker and easier to set up and looks great.)
I love the Zf, but Imagine it without the bulky chassis, battery and additional menus needed for vid? Tippy instead of awkward flippy screen for waistheight shooting? Better, tip up VF...?
Feb 01, 2026 at 09:54 AM
AmbientMike
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p.3 #8Unique or rare film era features?
grantgoodes wrote:
AmbientMike wrote
grantgoodes wrote
AmbientMike wrote
Tv pretty unusual on mf bodies, I think Nikon only had a couple bodies (FA being one, maybe one of the FG'S?) that could use the S in AIS. Canon AE-1 and AE-1 P had Tv instead of Av.I think I read it on Wikipedia, which actually has good info on older cameras. Didn't realize that the plaubel Makina had a nikkor lens
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_FA
Feb 01, 2026 at 11:35 AM
p.3 #9Unique or rare film era features?
Purpose built panoramic cameras, like the Xpan, Fuji G617 etc
Feb 01, 2026 at 04:08 PM
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p.3 #11Unique or rare film era features?
madNbad wrote:
M39 and M42 screw mounts.
Not sure I would call either of those 'unique or rare', since there were literally millions of cameras and lenses that used them.
M39 and M42 screw mounts.
Not sure I would call either of those 'unique or rare', since there were literally millions of cameras and lenses that used them.
Feb 03, 2026 at 12:01 PM
p.3 #12Unique or rare film era features?
A few lenses had built in B&W filters. There was the Pentax 67 35mm fisheye that had yellow, orange, red and UV built in. What other lenses had them?
Feb 03, 2026 at 12:03 PM
p.3 #13Unique or rare film era features?
OregonSun wrote:
A few lenses had built in B&W filters. There was the Pentax 67 35mm fisheye that had yellow, orange, red and UV built in. What other lenses had them?
Nikkor fisheyes did this in the early days (e.g. the OP-Nikkor 10/5.6), since the front element bulged outward, and the back element nearly touched the film-plane (they were mirror-up designs), leaving no room for a screw-on filter. The filters were selectable by a wheel on the lens body. More modern, retro-focus designs do not require mirror-up, and take screw-on rear-filters.
A few lenses had built in B&W filters. There was the Pentax 67 35mm fisheye that had yellow, orange, red and UV built in. What other lenses had them?
Nikkor fisheyes did this in the early days (e.g. the OP-Nikkor 10/5.6), since the front element bulged outward, and the back element nearly touched the film-plane (they were mirror-up designs), leaving no room for a screw-on filter. The filters were selectable by a wheel on the lens body. More modern, retro-focus designs do not require mirror-up, and take screw-on rear-filters.
Feb 03, 2026 at 12:10 PM
p.3 #14Unique or rare film era features?
OregonSun wrote:
Not sure I would call either of those 'unique or rare', since there were literally millions of cameras and lenses that used them.
The screw mount wasn't unique but they were phased out by the late 1970's making them something only found on film cameras.
madNbad wrote
M39 and M42 screw mounts.The screw mount wasn't unique but they were phased out by the late 1970's making them something only found on film cameras.
Feb 03, 2026 at 12:21 PM
p.3 #15Unique or rare film era features?
OregonSun wrote:
What cameras had that? There are a lot of fixed lens cameras with shutter speed on the lens, but I haven't run into any with interchangeable lenses where it's on the mount.
The Kodak Retina Reflex, S, III, and IV
madNbad wrote
Shutter speed dials as part of the lens mount!The Kodak Retina Reflex, S, III, and IV
Feb 03, 2026 at 12:51 PM
p.3 #16Unique or rare film era features?
I really like the radioactive cesium(?) light meters that never need batteries. My dad had some Voigtlanders with them, many Kodak Retinas had them, and I have a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex II 35mm with one.
Feb 03, 2026 at 12:57 PM
p.3 #17Unique or rare film era features?
Apropos the mention of built-in B&W filter-wheels sometimes found on old fisheye lenses, that brings up the mirror lock-up feature which was needed for non retro-focus wide-angle/fisheye lenses. Mirror lock-up could be used to eliminate vibration due to the mirror movement, so was useful in medium-short long-exposures, but was absolutely needed even to mount these old fisheyes. Of my Nikon bodies, only the F3 has true mirror lock-up, and thus is the only camera that can (officially) mount my Voigtländer 15/4.5. The Df has a "pre-fire the mirror" feature which is an anti-vibration feature, but not a true lock-up, since the mirror will attempt to drop after the shot is taken. However, according to Bjørn Rørslett, the Df's mirror will not be damaged if you mount the sticky-inny lens while it is up, and you can actually shoot freely in this mode (haven't had the nerve to try it though).
Feb 03, 2026 at 01:13 PM
p.3 #18Unique or rare film era features?
madNbad wrote:
Not sure I would call either of those 'unique or rare', since there were literally millions of cameras and lenses that used them.The screw mount wasn't unique but they were phased out by the late 1970's making them something only found on film cameras.
No problem, I guess I should have been more specific.
I meant for this thread to be about unique and rare features during the film era, not features that were unique to film cameras as opposed to digital ones.
OregonSun wrote
madNbad wrote
M39 and M42 screw mounts.No problem, I guess I should have been more specific.
I meant for this thread to be about unique and rare features during the film era, not features that were unique to film cameras as opposed to digital ones.
Feb 03, 2026 at 01:52 PM
p.3 #19Unique or rare film era features?
Was Minolta the only manufacturer to use a Judas window so you could see the lens aperture setting through the VF?
Feb 03, 2026 at 03:48 PM
p.3 #20Unique or rare film era features?
freaklikeme wrote:
Was Minolta the only manufacturer to use a Judas window so you could see the lens aperture setting through the VF?
A bunch of Nikons have that. If you look at Ai and Ai-S lenses, they've got two sets of aperture markings. One for the photographer to see when looking down at the lens, and the other set ends up under the prism and reflected into the viewfinder.
Was Minolta the only manufacturer to use a Judas window so you could see the lens aperture setting through the VF?
A bunch of Nikons have that. If you look at Ai and Ai-S lenses, they've got two sets of aperture markings. One for the photographer to see when looking down at the lens, and the other set ends up under the prism and reflected into the viewfinder.
Feb 03, 2026 at 04:11 PM