Matt's Classic Cameras:
Single Lens Reflex



Argus STL

NEW!
Argus STL 1000

Argus-branded Cosina Hi-Lite, a true classic that launched a million cameras.

Argus/Cosina STL 1000

Argus/Cosina STL 1000

Nice Argus/Cosina classic, with sharp fast Cosinon lens and a Copal metal shutter.

Asahiflex IIa

Asahiflex IIa

Pre-Pentax (and pentaprism) Asahi SLR, hallmark of contemporary camera design.

Cosmorex SE (Zenit EM)

Cosmorex SE (Zenit EM)

Rebranded Zenit EM, tough as the nails you could use this to pound in. Selenium meter.

Kiev 60

Kiev 60

Robust 6x6 SLR with removable pentaprism and respectable 2.8 80mm Volna-3 lens.

Konica Autoreflex T

Konica Autoreflex T

Groundbreaking classic Konica SLR. Here with a sweet, contrasty 52mm 1.8 Hexanon AR lens.

Konica Autoreflex T3

Konica Autoreflex T3

A serious camera for serious photographers, this update to the T has a hotshoe and a legendary 50mm 1.7 Hexanon AR lens.

Konica Autoreflex TC

Konica Autoreflex TC

Kinder, gentler Autoreflex, little brother to the mighty metal Autoreflexes. Shown with the famous 40mm f1.8 "Pancake" Hexanon.

Mamiya MSX 1000

Mamiya MSX 1000

Well-tooled all-manual SLR with spot metering and an interesting twist on the M42 lens mount.

Minolta SRT 101

Minolta SRT 101

Classic mechanical SLR with Minolta's CLC metering and excellent Rokkor MC mount lens.

Minolta XD-5

Minolta XD-5

Sweet multimode Minolta SLR with Seiko metal shutter and sharp 45mm Rokkor lens.

Nikon N2000

Nikon N2000

Cool, rugged multimode Nikon SLR body with fast integrated autowinder.

Nikon N6006

NEW!
Nikon N6006

Semi-professional SLR that does just about everything but develop the film itself.

Pentax K1000

Pentax K1000

World-class fully manual SLR considered to be the classic student camera. Pentax SMC-A 50mm 2.0 lens.

Pentax P30t

Pentax P30t

My first 'real' camera, an aperture-priority electronic shutter update to the K1000. Pentax SMC-A 50mm 2.0 lens.

Petri V6

Petri Penta VI (V6)

Classic SLR from the golden age, by Kuribayashi Petri. Nice Petri CC Auto 55/1.8 lens.

Praktica LLC

Praktica LLC

Classic East German SLR with electronically-controlled open aperture metering, here with an 'electric' Jena Pancolar 1.8/50 lens.

Praktica LTL3

Praktica LTL3

Robust East German workhorse, this one with a 'Zebra' style Jena Tessar 2.8/50 lens.

Praktica MTL 3

Praktica MTL 3

Solid East German SLR with sharp multicoated 50mm 1.8 Pentacon and TTL metering.

Praktica Super TL

Praktica Super TL

Well-designed early East German SLR with nice 50mm 1.8 Meyer-Optik Oreston and TTL metering.

Salyut-C

Salyut-C

Uber-classic shows others what it means to be a camera. Hassy-style box SLR, B mount lenses like the sharp standard Vega.

Sears KSX Super

Sears KSX Super (Ricoh KR-10)

Well-designed, lightweight K-mount SLR by Ricoh for Sears. Sharp 1.7 lens.

Sears KS-2

Sears KS-2 (Ricoh XR-7)

Outstanding K-mount electronic-shutter SLR with awesome 1.4 lens. Beauty!

Sears TLS

Sears (Ricoh) TLS

Excellent early Japanese SLR made for Sears by Ricoh. Nice 1.4 55mm Auto Sears (Rikenon) lens.

Vivitar 400/SL

Vivitar 400/SL

Excellent Cosina-made screw-mount SLR with Copal shutter and CdS meter.

Yashica FX-3

Yashica FX-3

Popular entry-level Contax-mount Yashica SLR with a mechanical metal focal plane shutter and sharp Yashica lens.

Yashica J7

Yashica J7

Early SLR with CdS meter and fast and lovely 1.7 50mm Yashinon lens.

Yashica Pentamatic

Yashica Pentamatic

Well-refined early Yashica SLR with bayonet mount.

Yashica TL Super

Yashica TL Super

Truly super camera from the golden age of manual SLR cameras, full featured with TTL metering and fast 1.7 50mm Yashinon lens.

Zeiss Contaflex II

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex II

Well-made leaf-shutter SLR with the advantage over the Contaflex I of having a selenium cell meter. Tessar lens.

Zenit 12cd

Zenit 12cd

No-frills workhorse from the mighty Zenit line, updated with TTL CdS metering and LED readout. Lens is a worthy 58mm/2.0 Helios 44-M-4.

click a camera for more info



The single lens reflex or SLR is a camera that allows you to see through the single taking lens by way of a corrective pentaprism and a flip-up mirror. This way you get a very accurate estimate of your final image. Older SLR cameras had a fixed lens, but the vast majority accept interchangeable lenses, making these cameras extremely versatile. There are many standards for lens mounts, but a perennial favorite is the M42 or Pentax screw mount, which is used by older Pentax, Vivitar, Yashica, Praktica, and others. If you have an SLR body that accepts M42 mount lenses, you can take advantage of some incredible world-class vintage lenses for often very little $$.

If you have information to add or would like to ask questions about these cameras, their use or care, or even just want to say 'hey', feel free to email me, I always enjoy hearing from you!


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