The Most Desirable Cameras on the Planet: The Rest of the List

Okay, sorry about this. Mea culpa.

This was supposed to be a Christmas list, but then the Thai floods interrupted the world's camera supplies—affecting not very many of these cameras, but affecting #1. I lost focus, no pun intended. Still, it's unkind to leave you hanging. So here, in a massive end-of-year blurt, is the rest of the list.

The List up till now
You might remember that we started with #11—the "turn it up to 11" option—the Phase One IQ180 back. (The links are to our original articles.) Why #11, when the Phase One generates arguably the best image quality in all digitaldom? Remember the wording—"most desirable." For better or worse, digital medium format backs don't make most hobbyists' radar, much less their Christmas lists. Next came #9, the Nikon D3x. That's another unpopular camera, as Hitler explained when it came out. But a killer bigcam. After that was the list's controversial choice, the Sony A77, which was generating a lot of buzz at the time but has since—uncomfortably literally—sunk beneath the waves. We'll have to see how desirable that one plays out to be in 2012 and beyond. Number eight was a tie—this is the way listmakers cheat!—between the biggest and most traditional camera on our list, the Canham 20x24, and the newest and most up-to-the-minute, the Apple iPhone 4s.

And that was as far as I got.

The rest of the list
So, without further ado, the identities of the remaining cameras. (The links from here on in are to Amazon or B&H Photo.)

Number 7: The Nikon D700. From the very beginning of digital, in the antediluvian days of the mid to late '90s, people clamored for two things: a digital Leica M6, and a digital Nikon F100. They finally got both, and both are firmly ensconced on this list. The nicest thing about Nikons has always been their rugged, no-nonsense functionality—they're good solid utilitarian tools with which to do anything and everything photographic. Perhaps placed a trifle low on our list because of the rumors of its impending replacement, the D700 is still one of the cameras photographers most want to own. And will be until you can freely buy whatever replaces it. (And by the way, this is off-topic, but the original film F100 remains one of the very best bargains in a used film camera on eBay—it was possibly the most-bought serious camera just before the digital onslaught, when everyone and his uncle suddenly wanted to dump their near-new F100 for digital alternatives. eBay is still awash with good ones for near nothing.)

Number 6: The Pentax 645D, our Camera of the Year last year. As with many of the other cameras on this list, the Pentax 645D is a culmination of design efforts reaching back several generations, updated for the moment. And it shows, in a superb layout intended for functionality. And by the way, did you hear the rumor from just yesterday? Toshiyuki Kitazawa, Pentax's Head of Business Development, apparently hinted in an interview in a Japanese camera magazine that Pentax is thinking not only of building a full-frame mirrorless camera, but maybe even a mirrorless 645-size medium-format digital camera. Pentax always was more flexible with regard to format than any other manufacturer, that is until Andreas Kaufmann's 21st-century Leica.

Number 5: The Leica M9. Not, in my opinion, Leica's best camera, but, again, remember the premise here—most desirable. As a result of every one of a thousand influences dating back more than 85 years, the M9 landed in an enviable place as a default choice for high prestige in digital cameras. I've always considered it basically a digital replica of a camera designed to use film, but nobody needs to listen to me. Owners love it, others want it, and those are criteria enough for this list.

Number 4: Canon 5D Mark II. Without any doubt, this is a camera that photographers just want. It's been among the top five most desirable digital cameras—sometimes quite high in the top five—since the original 5D first came out. I used a 5D Mark II briefly, and like others was struck by its most salient characteristic—simply wonderful image quality. I had some quibbles at first (one of which I didn't understand when I first encountered it)—since put to rest either by Canon or Canon users eventually—and ended up buying the competing Sony A900 myself, but there's no denying the continuing strong appeal of Canon's top amateur model.

And now, the hour grows late, and I hear the siren call of football beckoning. I'll post the remainder of the list—the top three most desirable cameras in the world according to me, that would be—tomorrow.

Mike

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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Jeff]

"...I've always considered it basically a digital replica of a camera designed to use film"...

Exactly. I loved the ergonomics, simplicity and viewing of my film Ms, and that's precisely why I also love the digital M. (Actually, I prefer its slightly wider body in my hands; now the film Ms seem too skinny.) But, I prefer the M8.2 over the M9, although either one allows me to use the lenses I bought a couple of decades ago.

[Stan B.]

I'm one of those who picked up an F100 for near nothing; still an absolute joy to use, with a viewfinder that doesn't resemble a 747 cockpit. If only a tad smaller, would never consider digital.

[Dennis Hoover]

Mike,

Your comment on the D700/F100 is spot on.
As to used F100's I just bought a mint one off
of Craigslist for about 15% of what I bought my first one for. Now if the F6 would only come down to that level!!

[Speed]

" ... there's no denying the continuing strong appeal of Canon's top amateur model."

Or maybe Canon's most cost effective professional model. I've seen plenty of 5Ds (still today) and 5D Mk IIs at weddings.

[Jean-Michel Lavoie]

Can't agree with more about the F100. Got a mint body in its original box for a song. As somebody who couldn't *dream* of buying the equivalent digital version, I certainly cannot complain!

[Doug C]

I take it that the Sony NEX 7 will not make the list because you "are done with lens adapters" For the rest of us with Leica M lenses this is an interesting camera. The M 4/3 cameras didn't work with legacy lenses as we all know, but the NEX series seems to hold promise.

[robert harshman]

Good list and I pretty much agree on all of it.

But there is one thing that I continue to think is way off in the camera world - the need to classify cameras as entry, consumer, pro consumer or pro.

In your list you refer to the Canon 5D II as a amateur camera. It can be, or not. Really just depends on whom is using it.

Given the significant trend for smaller, lighter, and more capable "computers with lenses" I think it's time to drop the traditional classification. Most of the commercial pros I know use 5D II's. If we really a classification how about.

Sport, and serious outdoor nature photographer and other that need extreme weather sealing and shutter count. It seems like Canon and Nikon have already realized this split, and are bringing out new models to fit.

In the type of commercial photography that I do I don't shoot sports in any weather or get up at 4:00am in a driving rain to shoot a landscape.

So I don't need or want the extra weight, or size or per frame speed of the "pro" models. I even consider models like the Canon t2i or Nikon D7000 as useful tools to produce pro work. As crazy as it gets is even iPhones and goPro's have been used to produce major advertising work.

And now a pocket cam called the Sony NEX-7 is starting to burn a hole in my pocket and may be a early purchase in 2012. I just love that it can use just about any lens systems.

So, anyway, that's my last nit pick of 2011, I promise :)

Well maybe.

Happy new year!

Robert

[MJFerron]

The F100 mention reminds me of an article of yours archived over on Michael R's LL site. You wrote about the appeal of three 35mm cameras. The F100, The Nikon N (F) 80 and the Minolta Dynax 7. I happened to have a Sony 50 1.7 hanging around so on your ancient advice I recently picked up a Minolta 7 to attach it to. The 7 cost me a whopping $79. Not as well built as an F100 but just as fast with a clear bright viewfinder. Probably the best grip I've ever used on any camera. I'm surprised it was never more popular.

[Mike Johnston]

"I recently picked up a Minolta 7 to attach it to. The 7 cost me a whopping $79. Not as well built as an F100 but just as fast with a clear bright viewfinder. Probably the best grip I've ever used on any camera. I'm surprised it was never more popular."

MJFerron,
I think it just came out too late in the game--2000, wasn't it? The digital handwriting was on the wall by then.

Mike

[hugh crawford]

"mirrorless 645-size medium-format digital camera"

Oh boy, just think of the lenses I could adapt to that!

[Richard]

I'm sure you're using amateur in it's original sense...

'French amateur "lover of", from Old French and ultimately from Latin amatorem nom. amator, "lover"' - (wikipedia)

[vlatko]

The M 4/3 cameras didn't work with legacy lenses as we all know

What are you talking about?

[Phil W]

"The M 4/3 cameras didn't work with legacy lenses as we all know, but the NEX series seems to hold promise.

Posted by: Doug C"

Really Doug? I just cut and pasted this from Flickr:

"Groups

Micro Four Thirds cameras using alternative & legacy lenses
1,930 members | 32,443 photos"

Just sayin'

[Doug Dolde]

#11 may be made of unobtainium for most but you can pick up a lightly used Aptus II-12 for $20,990 from optechsdidital.com.

Such a deal, less than half the price of a new IQ-180.

[Richard]

One of the most desirable things about the Canon 5D (Mk1 and MkII) is the availability of superb prime lenses - at budget prices - if you want to bring out the quality MIke speaks about. Everyone knows about the 50 mm f1.4, and even the 50mm craptastic f1.8. The 35mm f2 is pretty good, and the 85mm f1.8 is in my opinion astonishing. I'm sure the same applies to Nikkor lenses for the D700 - even more so when it comes to choice I suppose.

Full frame is not a golden mean of course - more of a historical accident - but there's something about it (and of course MF and so forth) that for me pinpoints the generic and rather boring qualities that you get from smaller sensors, no matter how much people try and extol the virtues of the new generation of lenses being produced for them.

Just my opinion of course

[Peter Hovmand]

I have great faith in you, Mike ... And I love Nikon and Olympus ... but it seems the world has not discovered the Samsung NX200 with its own 30mm for some reason ...

[Gabe Bandy]

A miracle or judicious editing?
As a habitual early adopter, frequent unthrilled consumer (a.k.a. hardware junkie) and a long time reader of TOP - Mike I am thrilled and amazed. Try to read more than six comments on most photo sites and the urge to headshake conflicts with the upchuck instinct. Forget English (they did) - the (lack of) thought processes, posing, know-it-all flaming, personal attacks - I gave up. Had always read TOP bi-weekly or so - increased frequency with the ipad - never noticed that there are no comments - instead there's erudite discussion, and intelligent commentary. How un-American! The commentary and discussion after your lustful objects columns was so good (15+ pages) that I printed it for easier portability :). Imagine - thoughtful, humorous, measured, often intelligent and polite discussion - on the web. What the hell is going on? Is it your editing, or insistance on more than four letter words? Is there a Harry Potter drawer at TOP where Mike tosses the flamers, that spews Tourette's-like insults when opened? Congratulations on the level of your readership - I'm proud to be one of them. TOPsters? TOPpers? PhoTOPeople? Too cutesy? Sorry I got carried away. GB