Perfect pocket camera?

ernstk

ernstk

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Hi,

I have a quest to find the perfect pocket camera. It has to fit the following criteria:

1. 35mm film.
2. 28 or 35mm lens.
3. Very, very compact.
5. High quality lens.
6. Auto, or semi auto exposure.

I want this truly to be a camera that I can carry everywhere for those 'capture the moment' moments. It will not be a replacement for my M2 but it will live in my briefcase, jacket pocket, man bag, etc.

At the moment, the Olympus XA seems to be top of the list. Are there any others, of this size (critical) that I should consider?

Regards
Ernst
 
It is probably too big to fit your criteria, but I carry my Hexar AF with me in my briefcase: AF/AE, auto advance, SUPER quiet - and it has a 35mm lens that is supposed to be a copy of the pre-ASPH Summicron.
 
Personally, it would be the XA. The olympus 35RC is a little bigger, but also a good choice. A little bigger than that, the Vivitar 35ES.
 
I'd love to have a Hexar AF as a second body for my M2 but it's just too big for what I'm planning.
I'm looking for the same functionality (but fixed lens) in 1/3 of the size!

Ernst
 
ernstk said:
I'd love to have a Hexar AF as a second body for my M2 but it's just too big for what I'm planning.
I'm looking for the same functionality (but fixed lens) in 1/3 of the size!

Ernst
Click to expand...
Then I would consider a good p&s, like the Ricoh GR-1, Contax T2 or T3, or Yashica T4/T5 Super. The ricoh will give you a bit more control, like the Hexar, with A mode and exp comp.
 
You guys and your hexar talk. It's enough to drive me mad. 🙂 I was outbid the other day for one on ebay. It ended up for $490. A local shop has an XA2, but there's some thing about the hexar af that lures me in.
 
I use an XA for the same purpose, and find the lens quite sharp although the light falloff in the corners is also quite visible. Had an XA2 once and sold it because it wasn't sharp enough, whereas the XA really surprised me in terms of sharpness. Also, it goes for under $100, whereas the other cameras mentioned, though they may be "better" (sharper, less light falloff, or with more manual control) cost a lot more...if money is a concern.
 
Yashica T4 Super or Olympus XA. If you want something that will fit in your pocket and STILL be a good camera, these two are my first choices. Yashica has the added advantage of a top-plate viewfinder in addition to the regular one.
 
Just in the interests of rounding out the variety of opinions... Firstly my Fuji GW670III will not fit any pocket of any garment I have, so forget that one. Secondly, IMHO a pocket is a very unsuitable place to carry a camera, even should it fit. Just imagine the hazards...
 
XA fits the bill perfectly. Only trouble with mine is that it's actually older than the wife, and should it ever fail I don't know what I'd replace it with. (The XA, not the wife...)
 
With a collapsible lens and a Sunny 16 card, your M2 would almost fill the bill...
Aside from the neg size thing, my own choice is a Minox. A Minox C meets all the other criteria. Very very small indeed, so that you will actually have it with you when the moment is there to be captured. Not for 'serious ' photography, perhaps, but beats hell out of using your cell phone!
The Minox day light developing tank really does work and several excellent labs, besides Minox, will process the film.
An EC is even smaller; the size of a Bic. With a couple of craft store jewelery parts you can wear it as an earing. Don't need a pocket, man bag, brief case, or even briefs for that matter. Any old body piercing will do.
Or bag my suggestion from the Twilight Zone and consider a Rollie 35.
 
Ricoh Gr1s. It never lets me down. And it is TINY.

441111259_689d6d43c1_o.jpg
 
If you want tiny you won't find anything smaller than a Minolta TC-1, and the lens is sooooooo sweeet, plus titanium body menas that mine still looks near mint, even if I have abused it quite a bit.
 
I have a few XA s and fine cameras they are, but my choice is the Rollei 35 T
its like having a miniature Leica.
 
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