Serial: 1810888 · 35mm SLR

Nikon F3 HP
Dropped, dented, and still kicking.

My go-to 95% of the time

This camera can do 100% of what I want and more than what I need. Compared to modern technology you could describe it as basic, but for my use it's perfectly functional without excess. Simple, durable, low maintenance — features you should want in my opinion.
Most of its life is spent in Aperture Priority, occasionally manually setting shutter and aperture when I know I want to create blur. Or I'll use the meter lock function to get the right shutter speed to meter for an area I know won't be accounted for by the centre weighted matrix metering in the composition. Metering never fails me. I'll err on the side of overexposure when in doubt.
The batteries last maybe a year of regular use and spares are easily carried in a camera bag. And the viewfinder? Gloriously bright. I've dropped it, damaging the ISO selector dial and the cover catch, so any ISO changes are made blindly due to the display being stuck — fixable but it doesn't bother me that much when I use a limited variety of film. Changes can be made with the exposure compensation too if needed. The multiple exposure lever lost its screw at some point so that doesn't work, but I haven't yet felt the desire to do multiple exposures.
A NIKKOR-S.C 55mm f/1.2 lives on it, being swapped out for an E series 75-150mm f/3.5 when I want more zoom when travelling, or a 70-200mm if I'm local. The serial number 1810888, body stamp 87VM, dates it to August 1987. Ergonomics aren't bad; I'd love a chunky hand grip like the DSLRs of mid-2000s but it's perfectly usable (and packable!) without. I've tied some rope through the strap ring for an impromptu wrist strap that's easily lasted the past 6 years of abuse. I'd guess it's seen 200–300 rolls put through it in my ownership (would be more if film was cheaper! .·°՞(¯□¯)՞°·. ).

Serial: 1236337 · Medium Format SLR

Zenza Bronica SQ-A
Big heavy brute.

Beauty to look through though.

Combine square format and a waist level viewfinder for a whole different photographic experience altogether. Definitely less natural — look down and suddenly there's a little square representation of the world, framed in metal sitting in the palm of your hands. It's joyful. The square feels more constrained yet more intimate at the same time. Less impromptu, more deliberate.
After searching for more zoom than a standard TLR, I landed on the Bronica for its availability and modularity. I love that I can swap lenses, film backs, and viewfinders until my heart is content. Honestly it's a game changer when you can carry colour and black & white film, knowing you can use your judgement at the scene.
With 12 shots per roll of 120 film, you'll get to crank the film advance lever plenty, which is a great tactile experience in and of itself.
I've travelled with this camera to Jordan and to India, and while I don't regret bringing it, I don't feel it suits my style as well as a 35mm SLR. Deliberate can be a good thing, but sometimes an impromptu snap is the one you end up remembering.

Serial: SX 4080125 · 120 TLR

Yashica 635 TLR
Beautifully simple.

A little box with a lens.

The Yashica 635 was my first step into both square and medium format photography. The basic camera was a cheap entry point and is surprisingly pleasant to use for such a dinky little box. It's by far the camera that gets the most compliments from strangers, and its looks are so disarming that strangers are less likely to be bothered if you point it in their direction.
The serial number dates its production to around 1964 — thanks to Paul Sokk at yashicatlr.com — so for a 60-year-old camera I think it's incredible.
The ergonomics are one of my favourites: hold it in the palm of your hand and your thumbs naturally rest on both the shutter speed and aperture dial, while your finger falls on the shutter. Someone has put thought into this and it shows.
The Copal-MXV leaf shutter is genuinely hard to hear, it's so quiet; so peaceful when you're taking photos on a slow walk. I haven't taken this travelling per se, but its completely mechanical qualities and lightweight would be well suited. After buying I reskinned the leather as it had seen better days, replacing it with a nice burgundy red that I think suits the camera handsomely.

Serial: 5836805 · 35mm compact

Olympus XA
It's actually pocket sized.

Just don't wear skinny jeans

I bought this from a photographer in Belfast who told me he used it as a backup when he was covering the events in Bosnia in the '90s. He showed me what must have been A3 prints of the photographs he'd taken with it and I was amazed at the contrast between such a large print and such a small camera. I can't remember his name but it might have been Sean McKernan (Sean if you're reading thanks for selling me your camera!)
I've used this camera a number of times since then and have mixed feelings about its place in my rotation. It's definitely better with black and white film than colour in my opinion, entirely possible that my findings are isolated to my copy but I find it lacks contrast and can be a little soft given it's a camera that was designed to have a "proper" lens. I'll hold my judgement just yet because I haven't used it in recent years - case is still open.
The sliding clamshell cover is definitely tempramental on mine, it the top rail seems to slide easier than the bottom, allowing it to stick from time to time. No biggie except the shutter doesn't fire unless the cover is fully open. On that point however it's great that there is a sturdy cover for the lens given how much it could be rubbing on inside your pocket.
I've found the metering to be fairly accurate. There's no meter lock so you'll have to compose accordingly.
I don't have any experience with the flash but it is an external unit that clips into the camera; something that seems to defeat the point of the portability, but perhaps an on board flash wasn't possible without comprosmising elsewhere and if so I respect the decision to prioritise the main camera functions. You'll find you feel the shutter as much as you hear it as when you take a photo. It's definitely an audible click and not a clack, and you'll feel the vibration in your finger tips as it spreads through the camera body. Two LR44 batteries for its electronic shutter, if they die there's nothing mechanical to fall back on so carry some spares.
The winder is such fun to use bringing big nostalic vidbes from the disposable cameras of the 90s. Smile as you spin it three times to advance to the next frame.

Serial: 7752909 · 35mm compact

Olympus Mju
Less thinking, more snapping.

I much prefer the shutter button on this to the Olympus XA as it has a half press mechanism before clicking the shutter. Don't think that means you're safe from taking an accidental photo as it's still sensitive and easily depressed.
It's a joy to hold in your hand with the curved endges not only rounding out to fit nicely in your palm, but to curve into a ridge in the places your fingers will be gripping to hold and to open the cover.
Mine doesn't flash and I'm not exactly certain why; perhaps a previous owner opened it up and disabled it. It still makes noises like it's charging the bulb however.
The viewfinder is verging on the side of unusable and like some sort of blues harmonica photography device, I'll find my eye repositioning trying to slide left and right to find it. There's a nice little LCD screen at the top that lists how many shots you have taken, the battery level, and the status of the flash.
Automatic film rewind when it can't advance anymore is a cool little feature, it's quite a nostalgic sound although just don't finish your last shot in church or there could be an awkwardly long period of time where your camera is grumbling while everyone around you looks for the source. Olympus launched the Mju in 1991 and it was an immediate hit. A clamshell compact with a sliding cover that doubles as the power switch, autofocus, auto flash, DX coding, and a 35mm f/3.5 Zuiko lens — all in a body that genuinely fits in a jeans pocket. The later Mju-II (1997) improved the lens to f/2.8 and added weather sealing.
The Mju sits at the opposite end of the philosophy spectrum from the F3: no decisions required, no manual anything. Slide the cover, point it at something, press the button. The automation is good enough that the results are consistently better than they have any right to be for the amount of effort involved.