akptc
Shoot first, think later
best pocket camera ever, honestly
jjabad
Newbie
I love my Ricoh GR. Fits in my shirt pocket perfectly!
bideford
Established
Smallest (and most convenient) first:
Digital:
Phone camera - iphone/samsung whatever....
X100
Film (lets face it not that convenient):
XA2 - definitely the cheapest option digital or film!
Olympus RC35 - cracking camera
Minolta CLE and 40mm M-Rokkor
James
Digital:
Phone camera - iphone/samsung whatever....
X100
Film (lets face it not that convenient):
XA2 - definitely the cheapest option digital or film!
Olympus RC35 - cracking camera
Minolta CLE and 40mm M-Rokkor
James
macfiend
Established
Ricoh GR, hands down. I never leave the house without it 
bigeye
Well-known
I lost my S100 somewhere (it's small!), which created some great photos (of only "adequate" IQ). The S are very handy. The i6 camera may almost be as good now.
Rented a GR from lensrentals ($26) and it is very, very good. The first digital compact as good as the 35mm film jobs I grew up with, except VF. The B&W conversions are truly excellent. The other APC compact(s) are similarly good, I imagine.
More esoteric, the Ansco Speedex Special is (just) pocketable. Have some great pictures from that 120 folder.
Rented a GR from lensrentals ($26) and it is very, very good. The first digital compact as good as the 35mm film jobs I grew up with, except VF. The B&W conversions are truly excellent. The other APC compact(s) are similarly good, I imagine.
More esoteric, the Ansco Speedex Special is (just) pocketable. Have some great pictures from that 120 folder.
Peter_S
Peter_S
for me: Contax T
kuzano
Veteran
An alternative for film..
An alternative for film..
Petri Color 35... stay away from the automatic. Just go the first gen color 35. Collapsible lens, zone focus, good meter, contemporary battery. 1\250th shutter.
The model D with the larger black front piece goes to 1\300th. Quite hard to find.
An alternative for film..
Petri Color 35... stay away from the automatic. Just go the first gen color 35. Collapsible lens, zone focus, good meter, contemporary battery. 1\250th shutter.
The model D with the larger black front piece goes to 1\300th. Quite hard to find.
citizen99
Well-known
I like your title-compliant category 'swerve'
.V-12
Well-known
I don't know how all you guys get away with putting your GR into your pocket, after many years of use mine was full of dust and the viewfinder dim. That is why it sat in a drawer for ten years, until I discovered that taking the top off to clean it out wasn't difficult. It is now back in my pocket ready to collect more dust, and hopefully some pictures. It is an fine pocket camera. But it would have been much better with a 35mm or 50mm lens.
For digital it would be the Sony RX100, very slippery so I added a grip, and too small for me to have much patience fiddling around setting it up for the perfect shot, so I use it as a notebook and it goes out with me with my large format cameras. But for what it does, and if I were to take my time with it (which I sometimes do) it can produce fantastic images. I just wish it had bigger buttons and click stops of some sort on the lens ring. I imagine the RX100 III is better?
So there you go, both are 'best' but both have downsides which means neither is a perfect pocket camera.
V
For digital it would be the Sony RX100, very slippery so I added a grip, and too small for me to have much patience fiddling around setting it up for the perfect shot, so I use it as a notebook and it goes out with me with my large format cameras. But for what it does, and if I were to take my time with it (which I sometimes do) it can produce fantastic images. I just wish it had bigger buttons and click stops of some sort on the lens ring. I imagine the RX100 III is better?
So there you go, both are 'best' but both have downsides which means neither is a perfect pocket camera.
V
leicapixie
Well-known
i love p/s cameras
i love p/s cameras
one must make distinction between a Digital or Film flow!
I love small cameras, having really started photography with a Pen.
I then graduated to Leica M.
Once thought as pocketable.
The weight not size, stopped that idea.
My M3 still my most used film camera.
I carry my P/S on a long cord round my neck.
No pocket dust.
It is also in a small case.
The biggest flaw with digital, is constant adjusting and fiddling,
with the controls, the menu, adjustments..
A Film camera, i make a setting and Leave it there.
Well till 2 weeks ago it was a Canon 1200.Digital.
My Lady's Canon P/S developed a desire to make images,
like venetian blinds..:bang:
So now i use for Digital,Pentax Optio 30s, Nikon L4,
Kodak Easyshare and for B/W a Minolta 600.
They are all old, early digitals..
The Kodak has no extending lens.
You press, you shoot!
No delay.
The color is simply stunning.
Film. Rollei 35T. Black and dented.
I only carry one camera at a time.
If it's film, only one roll for a Photo walk..
i love p/s cameras
one must make distinction between a Digital or Film flow!
I love small cameras, having really started photography with a Pen.
I then graduated to Leica M.
Once thought as pocketable.
The weight not size, stopped that idea.
My M3 still my most used film camera.
I carry my P/S on a long cord round my neck.
No pocket dust.
It is also in a small case.
The biggest flaw with digital, is constant adjusting and fiddling,
with the controls, the menu, adjustments..
A Film camera, i make a setting and Leave it there.
Well till 2 weeks ago it was a Canon 1200.Digital.
My Lady's Canon P/S developed a desire to make images,
like venetian blinds..:bang:
So now i use for Digital,Pentax Optio 30s, Nikon L4,
Kodak Easyshare and for B/W a Minolta 600.
They are all old, early digitals..
The Kodak has no extending lens.
You press, you shoot!
No delay.
The color is simply stunning.
Film. Rollei 35T. Black and dented.
I only carry one camera at a time.
If it's film, only one roll for a Photo walk..
FrozenInTime
Well-known
When using the GR1/GRD/GR cameras I've always carried them a thin unpadded cloth pouch; that keeps any lint away from the camera.
Duane Pandorf
Well-known
Same here. But then I always have my normal camera with me either hanging over my shoulder or in the bag.
DamenS
Well-known
For small pockets and film: Nikon 35ti/28ti, Rollei 35 (several versions), Contax T (several versions), Minox (several versions), Ricoh GR, Leica Minilux
AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
I have to admit my all time favorite pocketable camera is my Canon ELPH SD1000. Small as a pack of smokes, takes great pics, including macro shots and has video that can't be beat either.
It has almost been replaced by the NEX 7 though, but that camera isn't fitting in a pocket unless it's a coat or jacket. I'm still working out which lens is my favorite to use on it.
It has almost been replaced by the NEX 7 though, but that camera isn't fitting in a pocket unless it's a coat or jacket. I'm still working out which lens is my favorite to use on it.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Digital: Ricoh GR
Film: Fuji Klasse W (or S)
Cheers,
Dave
Film: Fuji Klasse W (or S)
Cheers,
Dave
back alley
IMAGES
i have always wanted one of the elph cameras...they look so cute! plus highly pocketable...and now they run around 40 bucks on ebay...i just might keep an eye open for one!
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
Olympus XA for film, Fuji X20 for "digital". Well, X30 now, I guess. If you (meaning a general "you", not you in particular) aren't much of a cynic, an iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S5.
"Pocket" being the main requirement.
"Pocket" being the main requirement.
KismetSky
Established
Another vote for the Ricoh GR 'V' (this should have been a poll!).
NickTrop
Veteran
Olympus XA OR Pentax PC35af for film (The PC35af has an annoying dummy proof beeper that goes off every second for something or other... But it can easily by modded simply by removing the beeper. Instructions are available online but it's stone easy. It is actually a very capable little fully auto shooter once this is done...) The PC35af, if you're unfamiliar, is a favorite among "Lomographers" and often overlooked. Its active AF is fast and capable, and it has a focus confirmation needle in the VF. Unlike other point-n-shoots of its era, film advance/rewind is not motorized, is manual, so once the beeper is removed it's very quiet. It has solid build quality and a capable 35/2.8 lens. Only meters to 500 asa though... (I never care about this with print film and will happily use 800 speed film in it -- doesn't matter...)
It is also eminently pocketable -- about the size of the XA.
It is also eminently pocketable -- about the size of the XA.
CliveC
Well-known
Right now I have the Olympus Stylus Epic in the jacket pocket and my Nexus 5 in my shirt pocket. I do have my X-Pro1 in my camera bag that's with me most of the time. Sometimes I break out the Ricoh GXR with A12 28mm 2.5 lens if I will likely be in certain social situations.
The smallest digital camera I own is the Olympus Stylus Verve that I picked up for $10. It's more of a novelty than a quality pic taker though. (It goes up to ISO 400 but the pictures are horrid behind ISO 100!).
The smallest digital camera I own is the Olympus Stylus Verve that I picked up for $10. It's more of a novelty than a quality pic taker though. (It goes up to ISO 400 but the pictures are horrid behind ISO 100!).