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Pentax ES (1971) was the first aperture priority SLR in the world, but akquard because manual shutter speeds were only 1/1000-1/60s without metering. Self timer also missed, needed space for 4 -four(!) batteries. First ever electronic AE SLR, with 680g the least heavy of this bunch, but not my preferred choice. The electronics were added at the bottom of the camera, making it higher, and unable to stand with a lens attached. AE works with all SMC-Takumars - designed for open aperture metering. |
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Nikkormat EL, 1972,
lower weight than the Pentax, (765g). Battery is
placed unter the mirror (but last longer than the
other cameras). Based on specs, the same camera as
the later Nikon FE, but larger and heavier. I very
much like this camera in handling, but for lenses
I prefer Takumars and Canon FD. You need that "ritsch-ratsch"
- coupler-pin//aperture-prong - when changing lenses
to memorize them to the camera metering. If you still have some old Non-AI-Nikkors of the 1960's, this is the only camera which works fully AE/ open aperture metering. And it works that way with all old Nikkor SLR lenses, imagine that! (not so the Pentax ES or Canon EF) Nikkormat EL with Nikkor P-Auto 1:25. f=105mm, legendary portrait lens |
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CANON (1973) made the best looking camera of that bunch, but the largest one, and with 760g quite as heavy as the Nikon. The Canon FD lenses are large as well. All of them were newly calculated and superb. Batteries are where you expect them. Speed priority automatic exposure isn't a wrong thing anyway. To find a Canon EF *camera* is not that easy... The FD 50/1.4 and the 35/2 (with concave surface) are among my favorites. |
