Any fans of small cameras?

[CliveC]

I have a thing for small cameras. I love how much technology and mechanicals can be crammed into a small little package.

In the few short months since I've (re)discovered film, I've already picked up several smaller cameras (alas, not the famous Rollei 35 yet). I'm sticking to 35mm film, so the tiny 110 cameras won't do.

Anybody else let the size of a camera overly influence a purchase decision? Any underdogs and underappreciated gems I should be on the lookout for?

 

[Bingley]

I value compactness in 35mm cameras. I love my Olympus XA and Rollei 35. I probably like my Barnack Leicas as much as Leica Ms. I'm fascinated by the small, capable camera that is discreet and fits into a pocket.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The Diax IIb is pretty small and is an interchangeable lens rangefinder with Schneider optics.

The Adox Adrette II is slightly smaller than a Barnack Leica in all dimensions and some have excellent lenses. Mine had a Schneider Xenon 5cm f/2.

Then there's always the Oly XAs, Minoxes, Rollei 35s, and a few of the smaller fixed-lens cameras.

Phil Forrest

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

do half frame cameras count? they would be the among the smallest 35mm film cameras you can find.

i been looking for a ricoh auto half (working and mint) for a while now...

 

[Tom A]

This should qualify as a truly small camera. The Tessina TLR - uses 35 mm film and will give you a 14x21 mm negative ( 24 frames). Motorized (spring wound) and with extremely small engravings - you really have to have good eyesight to see shutter speeds and f-stops!
Used to be available with "silent running" nylon gears for CIA's operators.
I have been trying to figure it out - so far I keep getting 18-19 frames per roll - and as I only have one of the cassettes - shooting is a bit limited - but more cassette's are coming.
Shot with Leica R6 and 60f2.8 Macro Elmarit on Orwo MA 8 duplicating film, rated at 6 iso and developed in POTA developer for 15 min.

 

[Chris101]

When I first read the title, I was going to talk about my daughter. She's barely 5 feet high, but has a half dozen cameras already.

 

[John Bragg]

Hi there. I collect and use the Olympus Mju series. I have two Mju-11, (aka stylus epic), and a Mju-1, (aka Stylus Infinity), and they are usually cheap to buy and a joy to use with results that compare well with full size cameras. I love the clamshell design and always carry one with me, as that is the true raison d, etre of a compact camera. Maitani designed the XA series and the Stylus series with that sole purpose in mind.

 

[CliveC]

Hi there. I collect and use the Olympus Mju series. I have two Mju-11, (aka stylus epic), and a Mju-1, (aka Stylus Infinity), and they are usually cheap to buy and a joy to use with results that compare well with full size cameras. I love the clamshell design and always carry one with me, as that is the true raison d, etre of a compact camera. Maitani designed the XA series and the Stylus series with that sole purpose in mind.

I love my XA and I'm constantly on the lookout for one of these famed Mju/Stylus Epics. EBay has inflated prices so I'm hoping for a thrift store find.

 

[dave lackey]

This should qualify as a truly small camera. The Tessina TLR - uses 35 mm film and will give you a 14x21 mm negative ( 24 frames). Motorized (spring wound) and with extremely small engravings - you really have to have good eyesight to see shutter speeds and f-stops!
Used to be available with "silent running" nylon gears for CIA's operators.
I have been trying to figure it out - so far I keep getting 18-19 frames per roll - and as I only have one of the cassettes - shooting is a bit limited - but more cassette's are coming.
Shot with Leica R6 and 60f2.8 Macro Elmarit on Orwo MA 8 duplicating film, rated at 6 iso and developed in POTA developer for 15 min.

That is neat...always wanted to try one of those! Thanks for posting it, Tom!🙂

 

[thegman]

I used to have a Rollei 35, it's a fantastic camera, the only reason I sold it was because I hardly ever used it. If I'm taking my bag, then a Leica is not that much bigger/heavier really. But if size really matters, then the Rollei 35 is just lovely.

I also got a Contax T, which is nice, but I found it very fiddly to use.

 

[ZeissFan]

At the moment ...

From the left:

- Balda CE 35: Excellent little German camera with a decent lens and fold-down lens door. This also is sold as the Vito CE 35. It has a dedicated bolt-on flash, which I don't have. It's scale focus and uses programmed autoexposure. Uses two S76/LR44/375 batteries.

- Rich FF-1: Nice little camera with a fold-down lens. I still have the first roll of film in the camera. It offers both programmed and aperture-priority autoexposure. It's a scale-focus lens. No dedicated flash. It has a traditional hot shoe. Uses two S76/LR44/375 batteries.

- Chinon Bellami: Has "barn doors" to protect the lens. I haven't used the camera yet. Just bought it. It has a dedicated bolt-on flash. It also has programmed autoexposure only and a scale-focus lens. Uses two S76/LR44/375 batteries.

- Olympus XA: Considered to be the best of the lot. It has a rangefinder, sliding lens cover, aperture-priority autoexposure, dedicated bolt-on flash, electromagnetic shutter release and a self-timer. Plus, it has a shutter speed scale and needle in the viewfinder. I found this one at a church sale for $3. Uses two S76/LR44/375 batteries.

MISSING (I don't have all of my cameras with me):
- Minox 35: Fold-down lens door reveals a scale-focus lens. Nice camera, overall. BUT, good luck on finding one without a balky shutter. uses the PX27 5.6-volt battery (or four S76/LR44/375 cells).

- Lomo LCA: The Lomo gained popularity in the (my opinion) quirky "grunge" style of photography. Photos generally aren't super sharp and sometimes have odd vignetting or color shifts. It's scale focus. Uses three S76/LR44/375 batteries.

- Tessina: Excellent camera made in Switzerland. All-metal body. Has a large number of accessories, including a watch band for wearing it on your wrist. If you don't have 20-year-old eyes, the pentaprism is a must. All manual-exposure, spring-driven film advance and a sliding lens door, which locks the shutter release.

- Ducati Sogno: Insanely expensive Italian half-frame camera made by the same company that produces the motorcycle. It offers interchangeable lenses and viewfinders, rangefinder focusing, a focal plane shutter and all-manual exposure. Very heavy camera for its size. Figure on paying $1,200 or more for the camera and its standard lens. It can use the same film cassettes as the Tessina. There are two standard lenses: f/2.8 and f/3.5. Both collapse into the body and prevent the shutter from being accidentally released.

 

[02Pilot]

I figured out a while back that I was far more likely to grab a small camera and stick it in a pocket than to lug a whole bag of stuff around. I absolutely love my Rollei 35 - the ergonomics work fine for me, and the images are great. I also have an Olympus PEN EES-2 that's a fun little camera for casual situations where fiddling with settings would be distracting.

 

[sepiareverb]

That Balda looks just like a Minox I used to have too.

I shoot a T3 or a Nikon 28Ti when I want little.

 

[charjohncarter]

You bet, I go for small whenever possible: 35mm-Olympus Stylus Infinity and 35RC, Konica C35, Pentax ZX-5, Spotmatic and P3n. 120: I like my Balda Hapo 66e, and a couple of Isolettes. But I have a Pentax 6x7 and a Mamiya Super 23, both tanks.

 

[David Hughes]

Contax Tix anyone ? Or Minolta Vectis S-1 and a set of lenses? Or even the neat little Kodak T550?

Regards, David

 

[GaryLH]

Contax Tix anyone ? Or Minolta Vectis S-1 and a set of lenses? Or even the neat little Kodak T550?

Regards, David

When I was shooting film APS was the smallest for me though I did dabble a bit in 110..

Had contax tix and the vectis. 😀.

In 35mm, contax t, kodak retina, and rollei 35 were my favorites.

Gary

 

[sleepyhead]

I'm in the middle of a huge "survey scaning" project (digital contact printing, essentially), so I'm having at least a cursory look at what I've shot over the last 35 years, and the most interesting rolls of film (if not individual frames) are from my small pocketable cameras.

Mainly Rollei 35 and Olympus XA.

I'm certain those rolls are best because I took the cameras allways and everywhere, so rhey were available whenever inspiration to shoot struck me.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i love the xa and had numerous copies,
the key issue with the xa was the failing
electronics in the shutter release.

i currently use the contax T as my small camera,
it is heavy but somewhat okay with a handphone
landyard/neck strap.

it is a real Rangefinder like the XA, and is aperture priority
with iso up to 1000. Loading film can be an issue.

raytoei

 

[Greyscale]

I like the XA and its siblings, also the compact Olympus 35 series, the Konica C35, those are nice, too. But for me, the tiny little camera that gets the most use is the diminutive Nikon Lite Touch AF (AF 600 outside the US).

 

[sevo]

I did a long-running diary project with my Minox subminiature cameras, and still occasionally use my B (and sometimes also the LX) - but what with only four films left and new film promised for anywhere from March to Summer this year, I'm treading carefully right now...