Half frame camera recommendations

[Steve M.]

I love my Nikon SLR's, but they're heavier than I want to carry every day, even the little FG and EM when you put a fast lens on them. The little Konica C 35 cameras appeal to me, but so does a half frame camera. Are there any half frame cameras that are around the same price as a C 35 and about the same size and weight? I figure $20 to $40 is what I'm looking to spend, and a silver and black camera if possible.

 

[aizan]

Olympus Pen cameras with selenium meters meet your budget. You just have to make sure the meter works ok.

 

[farlymac]

I love my Nikon SLR's, but they're heavier than I want to carry every day, even the little FG and EM when you put a fast lens on them. The little Konica C 35 cameras appeal to me, but so does a half frame camera. Are there any half frame cameras that are around the same price as a C 35 and about the same size and weight? I figure $20 to $40 is what I'm looking to spend, and a silver and black camera if possible.

About the only thing you'll find for $20-$40 is a Mercury CX (aka Univex Mercury II) . Made of aluminum, you can shine them up to a bright silver.



Univex Mercury II Model CX by P F McFarland, on Flickr


Or for something a little newer, but with the possibility of a non-working meter system:



Yashica 72-E Half Frame 35mm by P F McFarland, on Flickr


It comes in grey though. What you describe is an Olympus Pen F, way out of your money range. Also the Canon Demi EE-17 which takes a more modern mercury cell replacement Wein cell to power the meter. Still above your price. Or you could luck out and find one of the rare modified full frame cameras by Leica, Nikon, or Minolta at a yard sale (like, never).


But here are some more suggestions. Mind you, most of these cameras were manufactured no later than about thirty years ago.


https://www.lomography.com/magazine/315498-7-charming-half-frame-cameras


PF

 

[tabo]

For that price, you want an Olympus Pen EE-3. I swear by them.

 

[David Murphy]

The Olympus Pen SLR's have really good optics and are reliable cameras. I don't use or need their meters, but the one on mine still works. They are decent SLR's.

 

[bayernfan]

i'm on the hunt for a clean Pen-FV myself. definitely a bucket-list camera.

 

[BernardL]

I love my Nikon SLR's, but they're heavier (...) but so does a half frame camera.

Not sure I get your logic. There are some alternatives in-between a SLR and a half frame, that will save a lot of weight and still provide full frame image quality. Nothing against half frame per se; I have a few half-frame cameras, but for instance the Agfa Optima Parat is heavier than an Olympus XA, not to mention a Minox 35.

But it's perfectly OK to want a half-frame for its own sake. May I suggest as a cool half-frame the soviet the Agat (I'm lusting for one):
http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-85530616
Or the East German Penti (I have two in assorted colors):
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Penti
It is light! And the Meyer Trioplan is surprisingly good. And you have full manual control.

 

[David Hughes]

In your shoes I'd go after the Konica C35 you first mentioned. It's difficult to fault them but get one that's got a lens cap with it as the chances are that it will have protected the photo-electric cell from too much light.


The 38mm f/2.8 lens is good and the range of shutter speeds is OK unless you want slower than a 30th. Batteries mean a Wein cell these days and you'll have fun finding a lens hood although our Chinese friends make a nice straight sided and vented, for the RF, 46mm screw in ones.


Mine was dirt cheap but the lens was loose but easily fixed; I took it out and the technician asked if the lens was loose and gave a price before I could say anything...


Regards, David


PS In your shoes I'd look for an instruction manual and read it rather than relying on the www for details.

 

[WJJ3]

Cool to see the various half frame options coming up here.

I'm a big fan of Oly's PEN-S cameras. One might be a little bit more than the OP's stated budget, but worth a couple extra bucks IMO.

Leaf shutter makes daylight fill-flash a piece of cake.

 

[JeffS7444]

I haven't tried them, but the Soviet cameras like Agat 18 and Chaika ought to be worth a look, especially if you buy one that has been checked by the seller.

Nothing against the likes of Canon and Olympus, but a $40 Demi or Pen will almost certainly need servicing. Of course, if you're up to the challenge of teaching yourself how to fix cameras, all sorts of bargains may be possible.

 

[farlymac]

For that price, you want an Olympus Pen EE-3. I swear by them.

Oh yeah, forgot about the Pen EE series. I've got an EE-2 that gave good results. But the EE-3 or S models are the ones to get.


PF

 

[bayernfan]

Cool to see the various half frame options coming up here.

I'm a big fan of Oly's PEN-S cameras. One might be a little bit more than the OP's stated budget, but worth a couple extra bucks IMO.

ooooh. i like what i see.

 

[Steve M.]

I think my logic (such as it is) leads me to think that a half frame camera might be small and light, but that's probably not true.

OK, I'll head over to ebay and look at the Olympus Pen cameras. The consensus here is clearly pointing in that direction. Thanks a lot for the help.

 

[Steve M.]

Yikes! There's so many different models of Olympus Pen cameras. There's even some in my price range. I may up my budget a little because those Pen cameras fit my needs quite well. A lot of the models weigh in at 400 grams, which is what I want.

Why do I suspect that this Olympus Pen thing could get very obsessive 🙂

 

[zuiko85]

The original Pen, a viewfinder type, scale focus, all manual all mechanical camera is my favorite. True, limited shutter speeds of 1/25 to 1/200 + B and a 28mm f3.5 (40mm AOV e/full frame). Very flat, nearly silent shutter, but at 13 oz. not the lightest small camera. Some full frame cameras from Olympus are not much larger. Check out the 35RC, also all mechanical. But it’s lens, a 42mm f2.8 does add a bit of thickness. Truth is, your price range is too limiting.

 

[WJJ3]

ooooh. i like what i see.

Thanks! This PEN-S is good fun

 

[Daryl J.]

I quite liked the Fujica Half.
$10 at some resale store.

 

[goamules]

Your budget for a camera is the price of 3-4 rolls of film? Up the ante and get a Pen-F. But if you want small and light, the Canonnet QL-17 rangefinders are more so. If you are concerned with size, I would rather have a larger negative of a full frame shot on film than half frame. Going to a rangefinder from SLR is a less important issue.

 

[mothertrucker]

It's obvious the Olympus Pens are going to get a lot of recommendations, but I am surprised nobody yet mentioned the Olympus Pen D series. They are generally in between Pen S and Pen F prices.

These have the same body size as the PEN-S above but have a better shutter speed range, fast aperture, and a focusing lever on the side of the lens with a short throw. These are all mechanical, battery is only used for the meter on the Pen D3. D2's are pretty rare, not sure I would bother with that one.

Pen D
32mm f1.9 lens (~43mm on full frame)
Selenium Meter

Pen D3
32mm f1.7 lens (~43mm on full frame)
CdS meter (use an MR-9 and a silver oxide LR43)

I haven't gotten a PEN-F. Main advantage of Pen F is the lens mount and the SLR finder. Other than that, not sure it has many other advantages.

Lenses on the Pens I have used are all insanely sharp. These were popular for a reason.

 

[julio1fer]

Another vote for the Pen D series. My D3 has one of the sharpest lens I have ever used; it is the only half-frame camera I have kept, and use regularly.