Pro and Semi-Pro film cameras like their digital successors are the workhorses of the industry. These are the cameras built for the industry – great view finders, a selection of perfected glass for lenses, features and settings to enable the photographer to snag that perfect second in history for their client or for the artwork. Made to last generations. Click here for a guide for film formats.
Sorted by Release Year.
Olympus OM10
The Olympus OM10 was acquired via my father at a time when he became ill and we had to clean out his house. It is a featureful manual focus camera really meant to take semi-pro level photography to the mainstream person. Olympus created some great glass to shoot through and the basic operation of the camera really allowed more people to get into the art form.
- One of the most successful from Olympus
- Manual focus – aperture priority
- Runs on LR44 or AR44 batteries – still common today
- Shutter range from 2 to 1/1000 sec
- ISO range from 25 to 1600
- Microprism/split image focusing screen
- Uses Zuiko OM lenses
- Release Year: 1979
- Added to collection: 2017
- Click here for more info – filmadvance – imaging pixel – manual pdf
Nikon N2020 AF
The Nikon N2020 AF is basically an update to the N2000 camera that makes it auto-focus capable.
- First full integrated auto-focus cameras from Nikon
- Runs on AA batteries
- Can use Series E lenses
- Dual auto-focus modes
- Exposure metering
- Program mode exposure control
- Standard 35mm films of all speeds
- Release Year: 1986
- Added to collection: 2021
- Click here for more info – aperture preview – the phobloghrapher – manual pdf
Nikon N4004
The Nikon N4004 is the next in line to the Nikon auto focus series of cameras. Although a well built camera, especially for beginners into the prosumer or semi-pro market, the one con is it relies almost completely on DX encoding and only recognizes film as 100 speed if it does not have DX encoding on the film can. There is no other way to set film speed on the camera. Basically a point n shoot SLR.
- Second fully integrated auto-focus cameras from Nikon
- Runs on AA batteries
- Can use an array of manual and auto focus lenses from Nikon
- Exposure metering
- Program mode exposure control
- Standard 35mm films of all speeds
- Release Year: 1987
- Added to collection: 2022
- Click here for more info – wikipedia – reissography – manual pdf
Minolta Maxxum 7000i
My first real semi-pro auto-focus camera was a Minolta Maxxum 7000. The 7000i was it’s successor. This version of the 7000 series was much sleeker and more slim-lined. A perk of having this camera and a few lenses purchased with it from a church flea market, is that Sony still uses the mount for some of it’s cameras. This camera was in fairly poor shape as far as the grip and some of the plastic outer shell. One a new battery was in it, it quickly focused and worked fairly well.
- The successor to the Maxxum 7000 body
- Faster and more accurate auto-focus
- Runs on a 2CR5 Battery – not sure if there is a grip or not for it
- 3 FPS frame rate – and improvement over the 7000
- Added Minolta’s Creative Expansion Card System
- Multiple focusing modes
- Proprietary hot shoe for flash
- Standard 35mm films of all speeds
- Release Year: 1988
- Added to collection: 2023
- Click here for more info – camera go camera – down the road – manual pdf
Nikon F4
In the Nikon worlds, the F4 is the workhorses or workhorses. It is a tank, and performs like one. When anything else fails, gives in the the environment, gets beat down … the F4 still holds without issue. Slap in roll of film ,fresh batteries, and you preferred lens and let ‘er rip. There’s no stopping getting the shots your or your clients want.
- One of the most used workhorses from Nikon
- Accurate and fast auto-focus
- Runs on AA batteries
- PASM exposure models -still standard today
- Electro-magnetic shutter with shutter balancer
- Large and extremely bright view finder
- Uses a huge variety of Nikon and off-brand lens
- Standard 35mm films of all speeds
- Release Year: 1988
- Added to collection: 2014
- Click here for more info – ken rockwell – photo thinking – F4 specs – manual pdf
Nikon N6006
The N6006 was the first Nikon I acquired and shot. This is not my original, as that one was given to a friend who wanted to get into photography. This one was acquired while bidding for a backup zoom lens I wanted on Ebay. The only drawback is it uses a DL223 battery which is not approx $22 as of this writing – but I did discover a company that makes a battery grip for the unit that allows for AA batteries to be used (a grip was never available for this camera). Unfortunately the grip is only available through AliExpress and takes over 30 days to get to you, but works very well.
- Full Auto Focus
- Typical PASM exposure models standard today
- DL223A battery, CR123 or AA batteries not available
- Built in speedlight
- 2.5 fps continuous shooting
- Uses CR123 or DL123 batteries
- 3 or 5 frame bracketing
- 2 fps continuous shooting
- Uses Nikon auto focus lenses and more
- Release Year: 1991
- Added to collection: 1992 (original), 2022 (current unit)
- Click for more info – digital to film – matt’s classic cameras – 3rd party battery grip – manual pdf
Nikon N80
The Nikon N80 units I acquired were mainly due to shooting the Kodak and Fuji digital cameras that were created based on this film camera body. The unit was decently built and fairly reliable, but the newer N series were a little removed from the early workhorse, made of metal, daily beaters semi-pro amateurs and pro photographer liked to have in their arsenal.
- Full Auto Focus
- Typical PASM exposure models standard today
- AA battery powered – again we always recommend rechargeables
- Built in speedlight
- 2.5 fps continuous shooting
- Uses CR123 or DL123 batteries
- Built in dioptor adjustment for viewfinder
- Matrix metering
- Uses AF-S lens and more
- Release Year: 2000
- Added to collection: 2014
- Click here for more info – nikon archives – ken rockwell – shoot with film – manual pdf
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