Is There Really Such a Thing as a Pocketable Camera?

I have a nice little Konica AA35 half-frame that I really like; my father originally bought it for my grandmother to use on vacations. For full-frame my XAs and Retina folders are the closest.

But I don't really keep cameras in my pants pockets because it's uncomfortable. For small cameras I use belt cases or a small bag. In the winter I can fit lots of possibilities in jacket pockets, usually a couple small primes.

I always use a neck/shoulder strap or a wrist strap. Both because I'm clumsy and because I like to keep my hands free. I don't mind looking like that guy who always has a camera, because I'm that guy who always has a camera. 🙂
 
NickTrop said:
..
And here's another 1/2 camera I would never own. Those Sony RX abominations.....No viewfinder, ....
Click to expand...


hm..so far, on my Sony RX100iii, I have pretty much exclusively used it's EVF!
( as much as I like Ricoh and would love a GR I also don't like cameras without viewfinder. This, first of all, is due to my bad eyes. I always carry 2 glasses, one for distance, one for close range. If I was to use a camera that had LCD only I'd always have to switch my glasses first. Fortunately the diopter adjustment of the EVF of the RX100 is - just - strong enough for my eyes. This is not a given, others camera's EVFs diopter adj. aren't )
 
kuuan said:
hm..so far, on my Sony RX100iii, I have pretty much exclusively used it's EVF!
( as much as I like Ricoh and would love a GR I also don't like cameras without viewfinder. This, first of all, is due to my bad eyes. I always carry 2 glasses, one for distance, one for close range. If I was to use a camera that had LCD only I'd always have to switch my glasses first. Fortunately the diopter adjustment of the EVF of the RX100 is - just - strong enough for my eyes. This is not a given, others camera's EVFs diopter adj. aren't )
Click to expand...

Do those things have a VF? Then I stand corrected.
 
NickTrop said:
What's that old adage? How do you upset people online? Express an opinion and wait.
Click to expand...

Alternatively... Present an obnoxious, confused and intentionally provocative opinion, riddled with strawman arguments, as fact, and then tell everyone who doesn't respond in absolute agreement to 'chill'.

Yes, I suppose you are right. That is a good way to upset people online (or in real life).
 
NickTrop said:
Do those things have a VF? Then I stand corrected.
Click to expand...


yes, these CAMERAS, besides an EVF got a flash built in too, wouldn't know what's half about it.
this is not necessarily meant personally, but Nick, permit me to say:
From anyone who makes strong, specially if negative statements about anything I'd expect that he first, at least, knows the basics of what he is talking about.. In the end for his own good, since, if not, he simply is disqualifying himself


Sony RX100iii by andreas, on Flickr


Sony RX100III by andreas, on Flickr

that optional grip make it sit very well in my hand!
pushing the button that makes it's EVF pop up turns on the camera, pushing it back in turns it off. Love that feature!
 
I like the 1954 Zeiss Contina II. Definitely pocketable 35mm folder, fixed 45mm Novar with Prontor SV leaf shutter.

I also like my Nicca 3F, with CV 25/ f4 "Snapshot," it fits in a coat pocket easily.
 
kuuan said:
yes, these CAMERAS, besides an EVF got a flash built in too, wouldn't know what's half about it.
this is not necessarily meant personally, but Nick, permit me to say:
From anyone who makes strong, specially if negative statements about anything I'd expect that he first, at least, knows the basics of what he is talking about.. In the end for his own good, since, if not, he simply is disqualifying himself
Click to expand...

Fair point. I'll permit you to say it 🙂 Truth be told, 1" sensor? I don't pay it much mind.
 
NickTrop said:
Fair point. I'll permit you to say it 🙂 Truth be told, 1" sensor? I don't pay it much mind.
Click to expand...


Now your ill informed opinion earlier presented as objective criticism has become a single, simple and declared personal preference, or rather personal reason for exclusion. Fair enough!

Peace!


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


myself I am still stunned by the possibilities it offers incl. it's IQ


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr,
both above taken with Sony RX100iii
 
NickTrop said:
A 1/2 camera is something like the GR.

No VF (though you can purchase one for $250, about 1/2 the cost of the camera)

"Mirrorless" (i.e. no mirror, thus a lack of a feature positioned as "a feature")

No built-in flash

Does it have a real shutter? I'm gonna say "no". If I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll be corrected.

Cropped sensor --- so 1/2 a sensor

=

(One example of a...) 1/2 Camera.
Click to expand...

ah, it' one of those "that's not a camera, THAT'S a camera" kind of thing. always fun stuff.

reminds me of a funny experience. sometimes i am asked to speak (shudder) to people about photography and other stuff. one time i was speaking to a sizeable crowd about something unimportant. most of them were focused, pardon the pun, on the fact that i mainly use point and shoots. some without viewfinders in fact. at the end of my alotted blah blah blah time the host stood to organize a question period and started with "when i was a pro wedding photographer there was no women because the gear was too heavy".

not sure why, but it made me chuckle to myself.
 
BAM, that door has been shut

BAM, that door has been shut

kuuan said:
Now your ill informed opinion earlier presented as objective criticism has become a single, simple and declared personal preference, or rather personal reason for exclusion. Fair enough!

Peace!


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr


myself I am still stunned by the possibilities it offers incl. it's IQ


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr,
both above taken with Sony RX100iii
Click to expand...

Dear Kuuan,

Nice work! Your pictures speak 1000 words and your words in this thread are worth 1000 pictures easily!

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂
 
kuuan said:
yes, these CAMERAS, besides an EVF got a flash built in too, wouldn't know what's half about it.
this is not necessarily meant personally, but Nick, permit me to say:
From anyone who makes strong, specially if negative statements about anything I'd expect that he first, at least, knows the basics of what he is talking about.. In the end for his own good, since, if not, he simply is disqualifying himself


Sony RX100iii by andreas, on Flickr


Sony RX100III by andreas, on Flickr

that optional grip make it sit very well in my hand!
pushing the button that makes it's EVF pop up turns on the camera, pushing it back in turns it off. Love that feature!
Click to expand...

i so want to love those little rx100's. they seem designed for this boys heart. sadly each one i have tried has gone belly up in short order 🙁

glad to see it may be a case of bad luck
 
emraphoto said:
i so want to love those little rx100's. they seem designed for this boys heart. sadly each one i have tried has gone belly up in short order 🙁

glad to see it may be a case of bad luck
Click to expand...

hm..I must have been lucky then! ..well, kind of.. for all is working fine, though:

prior owner(s) must have used it heavily! The small, metal strip of the body, on the left upper corner, is very thin. Too thin one may argue, and that this is a design fault.
If the camera drops that side it might bend in and hinder the EVF to pop up nicely. I think this is what must have happened to my camera. I bent it out again further, this lead to more paint loss. And the "lid" on the EVF fell off. I guess the prior owner, before selling and sending it to me, just pressed it on again. Doing that it would stay on, but not strongly enough for my use and I just keep it off.
Resell value sure dropped considerably. But I like the camera anyway and shall keep it for quite some time. Also it fits to my other cams that all look beaten up. Has advantages too: Being much on the road I don't have to watch much for them not getting stolen 😉



Untitled by andreas, on Flickr

This photo may show how small it is. Anyone who knows the Voigtlaender Super-Wide Heliar f4.5/15mm and the M-Rokkor f2/40mm will be able to judge.
That floor tile measures 30x30cm


for judging the size by andreas, on Flickr
 
kuuan said:
hm..I must have been lucky then! ..well, kind of.. for all is working fine, though:

prior owner(s) must have used it heavily! The small, metal strip of the body, on the left upper corner, is very thin. Too thin one may argue, and that this is a design fault.
If the camera drops that side it might bend in and hinder the EVF to pop up nicely. I think this is what must have happened to my camera. I bent it out again further, this lead to more paint loss. And the "lid" on the EVF fell off. I guess the prior owner, before selling and sending it to me, just pressed it on again. Doing that it would stay on, but not strongly enough for my use and I just keep it off.
Resell value sure dropped considerably. But I like the camera anyway and shall keep it for quite some time. Also it fits to my other cams that all look beaten up. Has advantages too: Being much on the road I don't have to watch much for them not getting stolen 😉



Untitled by andreas, on Flickr
Click to expand...

well in my humble opinion, if it's still pumpin' out the goods roll with it
 
Tim Murphy said:
Dear Kuuan,

Nice work! Your pictures speak 1000 words and your words in this thread are worth 1000 pictures easily!

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂
Click to expand...

oh Tim, WOW, thank you so much for your kind words! Very much appreciated 🙂
best regards back!


Untitled by andreas, on Flickr, Sony RX100iii, Saigon 2019


Talking camera straps: After my Pentax *istDs had dropped various times because it's strap caught somewhere while I was walking with it in my hand I took it off and have done so with every other camera since.

I am using a "beltbag", this one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/147537-REG/Lowepro_LP01241_PEF_Orion_Mini_Camera_Beltpack.html It holds any of my cameras with 2 or 3 extra lenses, sometimes 2 of my cameras and if I need more space I add pouches to either or both sides. The zipper case inside it's lid holds SD cards, keys, money... Most importantly, free hands, no weight on shoulders, I hardly feel carrying anything but have instant access to the camera!

This product is discontinued ..are there too little people that are using such..imo simply ideal bag!?
Hm..personal preferences! 😉 Camera straps, the best thing for Nick and sure many others. I had bought a second copy, used, of the same beltbag.
 
Ensignette.jpg



This was pocketable in 1912 and took 6 shots on an E28 roll film. It's a Houghton "Ensignette No 1" in case you didn't know; the large camera beside it is an Olympus XA2...

This was the basic version at a guinea; pay more and you got a different lens and focussing. Lenses were by Goerz, Cooke, Aldis and there was a CZ Tessar at more than six times the price.

Regards, David
 
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