Lightweight, Pocketable, 50mm Lens

[Paul B]

Any suggestions for a camera that meets the above requirements. I currently use an M2 with a collapsible summicron and have used a Leica III with a collapsible elmar. I'm looking for something smaller and lighter. Fixed lens is okay. Point and shoot is okay. A lot of plastic in the construction is okay. I've tried a Rollei 35S and besides wanting a bit longer focal length find I can't see the controls without reading glasses. Thanks.

 

[pshinkaw]

Pocketable is easy to do. It's the 50mm lens that makes it tricky.

I suggest a folding Kodak Retina without an exposure meter or a Voigtlander Vito I or II.

-Paul

 

[Paul B]

Paul, Thanks for the reply. I can actually obtain a Kodak Retina IIa but it is in need of a CLA and work on the rangefinder, which lags behind focusing of the lens. Any suggestions of a repair person in the US? I'm not interested in learning to repair it myself. Also, from what I've just been able to find on the web, the vito cameras you mention seem very similar to the retinas. Is that correct?

 

[Biggles]

If I'm ever in the same room as a Zeiss ZM 50mm Sonnar, it is *going* to get tried on my CL. At 45mm tall, I think it's the stubbiest non-folding fifty I've seen published measurements of.

I can also state that the collapsible 50mm M-mount Summicron I briefly owned collapsed safely on my CL, without interfering with the meter arm. (Measured with a caliper, and function-tested on *my* camera with that one particular specimen of the lens- your mileage may vary.)

I've never handled an M-Elmar 50, but that's another option I'd investigate.

Nothing in a "normal" is going to come close to the 40mm Summicron for its stubbiness, though; even with its cap and hood on, it's stupid tiny. Being a huge fan of both high-speed, low-drag kit and of the 50mm focal length, I grapple with that daily.

 

[Photog9001]

not too long ago i bought an oly rc (i think it's called a 35 rc) from one of the locals (rff locals that is). a wonderful thing, and small indeed. 40something mm, fixed, 2,8 max f-stop, but fits in even small pockets. rf even quite ok. if you can live with meterless manual, and don't snob too much german cameras, it's well worth a try. in any case, you wouldn't lose much money on it. another fixed rf i generally recommend is the konica auto s2, but it's a different size.

 

[pshinkaw]

Paul:

I've heard good things about Essex:

http://www.essexcamera.com/

I haven't used them myself, yet.

-Paul

 

[Paul B]

Paul, I've used Essex for a lens CLA; didn't realize they would work on a retina. Biggles and Thorirv thanks. I read about the RC on Camera Quest. Would consider it but don't really know where to look for one. I'm reluctant to purchase on the auction site.

 

[clintock]

If you can live with a 35, the olympus stylus epic is good, you'll just have to crop I guess to get the 50 perspective. It might be the last currently produced fixed lens not-zoom film camera there is.

The 50/2.5 Voigtlaender Skopar is as small as the above mentioned Summicron c 40.
But I feel compelled to use the dedicated little metal hood with it, and that sort of blows the pocketable angle.

 

[FrankS]

The CV50mmf2.5 is pretty stubby. It would make a small package on a CL.

 

[Paul B]

Thanks, Frank. Clintock (?), did you ever use a stylus epic with black and white film?

 

[Biggles]

...did you ever use a stylus epic with black and white film?

No, not an Epic, but a pre-Epic, yes. Lots. Jeez. Gobs of Neopan 400 and 1600 went past that litttle f/3.5 triplet lens.

One of my pictures taken with it did quite well in a national competition. Sharpness is...good; its bokeh, however, is irreproachable.

Still carry that camera daily, for the day the aliens land and toss Elvis out the hatch.

 

[drewbarb]

I'd love to know, too. What I really want is a camera with the size and optical quality of my Olympus XA, with a 50mm lens. Manual focus RF is preferable, but not strictly mandatory; manual control is preferable, but AE would be totally acceptable. I keep coming back to the idea of an old LTM camera and 50mm Elmar to go in my pocket, but I'd love to find something smaller and lighter. What's the answer? Anyone?

 

[OldNick]

I keep coming back to the idea of an old LTM camera and 50mm Elmar to go in my pocket, but I'd love to find something smaller and lighter. What's the answer? Anyone?

My old Leica IIIa with a 50mm f/3.5 Elmar is about as small as I can ask for, but, because it is built so solidly, I feel the weight when compared with today's plastic shooters. I haven't found a better solution, however.

Jim N.

 

[Avotius]

I think the old leica and the small elmar is about as small as it gets, but my friend had a rollei something or another point and shoot that had a 38mm lens on it that did a good job, cant remember the name of it though....

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Lightweight, Pocketable, 50mm Lens

Pick any two.

Chris

 

[clintock]

The 50mm is the catch, it's hard to make a really small body with a lens that 'long'..
The Braun Paxette or Super II is smaller than the leitz, elmar combo, but feels like it is made of depleted Uranium.

You may be in folder territory for a compact with a 50, like some of the pre-cosina Voithlaenders or something. Also I think Agfa made some.

One catch with the epic may be if you load your own film, the ISO will need a sticker or something on the cannister.

 

[Paul B]

Thanks all. Maybe I'll try the retina IIa. The shutter seems to cock and fire okay. Probably give the stylus epic a shot, to see if 35mm will work out okay. I know I can get one cheap on e-bay, just never used that focal length.

 

[abenner]

You said you want something tighter than a 35, but small and light. How about a 40/2? Tiny, fast, sharp, short focus throw. Wonderful travel lens. Use the 50 framelines, you won't miss a shot, and you can crop a bit with the print. Another bonus: cheap (relatively).

 

[ChrisPlatt]

No lightweight!

No lightweight!

The Retina II is heavy. Tiny, squinty VF, too. Great lens though...

Chris