The thing that held back the Topcon was the small diameter of the lens mount. That Exakta mount was out of date by the time the Super DM came out. They also had a rather small lens spread for a professional 35mm SLR. Top quality construction for sure, but they really needed a better lens mount.
Yes, exactly. At the time the Dm came out, there were faster wide angle and telephoto lens designs for other camera that could never be fit into that tiny mount.
The Topcon Super D got me back into film. The RE series (as opposed to the amateur UV line), is built like a tank, and provided some of the finest lenses available at the time. The camera that you are using was the final iteration of the Super D (or RE Super - same camera, different distribution). I use the 58mm f1.4 lens as my primary lens. It is such a great lens that Cosina reproduced into in a limited release decades later. I believe that this camera was the first to use TTL metering. I own a Nikon F and F2 and can say that the build quality is as good or even better. The Topcon RE series use an Exakta mount which allows other lens including German ones made from the Ihogee Exakta cameras. Thank you for your review.
If I sold vintage cameras, I would make review & highlight videos. Now, If I was buying cameras, I wouldn't make videos at all. $$$ ... (Buy them now people before the word gets out!!)
Sorry but that is a brutally ugly camera. As a photographer since 1971 I have NEVER seen another photographer - professional or not - using a Topcon camera.
Not at all lol. The Topcon Super DM is a slightly improved take on the Topcon Super D released in 1963, predating the FM by well over a decade. And it was the first camera to have a detachable eyelevel finder with TTL metering built into the camera. Something that took Nikon until 1980 with the F3 to finally get out to customers. The Super D and DM were full system cameras intended for professionals like the Nikon F, and later the F2 and Canon's F1. The FM was an enthusiast or semi pro camera and doesn't hold a candle to it.
For reasons I can't explain, I want every camera you review!
Good to see you back. All the best to you and your family🖤
The thing that held back the Topcon was the small diameter of the lens mount. That Exakta mount was out of date by the time the Super DM came out. They also had a rather small lens spread for a professional 35mm SLR. Top quality construction for sure, but they really needed a better lens mount.
Yes, exactly. At the time the Dm came out, there were faster wide angle and telephoto lens designs for other camera that could never be fit into that tiny mount.
Thank you for the presentation and wow, what a beautiful camera.
Beautiful Camera, I will be visiting Japan in late January and would love to visit the store while I am there!
The Topcon Super D got me back into film. The RE series (as opposed to the amateur UV line), is built like a tank, and provided some of the finest lenses available at the time. The camera that you are using was the final iteration of the Super D (or RE Super - same camera, different distribution). I use the 58mm f1.4 lens as my primary lens. It is such a great lens that Cosina reproduced into in a limited release decades later.
I believe that this camera was the first to use TTL metering.
I own a Nikon F and F2 and can say that the build quality is as good or even better.
The Topcon RE series use an Exakta mount which allows other lens including German ones made from the Ihogee Exakta cameras.
Thank you for your review.
Sorry to hear that sir, hope you and your family can support each other and heal.
Beautiful brick of a camera, looks as sturdy as can be!
I really liked the Pentax LX, it was stupid to sell both. Still use the lenses on my K! II. this looks nice too
Beautiful Camera! Ughhh gosh. 😭
I love my Topcon RE Super, which is the same model I believe.
Damn it. I thought I had all of my dream cameras.............
Cool!
Pentax LX + SMC focal lengths.
from that time when if you dropped your camera, the floor will be destroyed.
Fact: I dropped a Super Dm six feet from a stage to a concrete floor. The pentaprism cover was slightly dented, but there was no other problem.
If I sold vintage cameras, I would make review & highlight videos.
Now,
If I was buying cameras, I wouldn't make videos at all.
$$$
...
(Buy them now people before the word gets out!!)
This thing is huuuge!
Didn;t some U.S. government agecies use the Topcons? F.B.I.Maybe? Please clarify my assumption. You certainly know your cameras.
Navy I think
The Navy did. Not the Air Force.
Sorry but that is a brutally ugly camera. As a photographer since 1971 I have NEVER seen another photographer - professional or not - using a Topcon camera.
Please stop saying "Najcon"..
This camera is competition for the nikon fm rather the f2
The FM doesn't have detachable viewfinder, making it an "enthusiast" camera.
Not at all lol. The Topcon Super DM is a slightly improved take on the Topcon Super D released in 1963, predating the FM by well over a decade. And it was the first camera to have a detachable eyelevel finder with TTL metering built into the camera. Something that took Nikon until 1980 with the F3 to finally get out to customers. The Super D and DM were full system cameras intended for professionals like the Nikon F, and later the F2 and Canon's F1. The FM was an enthusiast or semi pro camera and doesn't hold a candle to it.
No. It is not even in the competition. Nobody in the US used a Topcon camera.