Looking for a light 35mm SLR

[Pfreddee]

Hello all:

I am looking for a light 35mm SLR for everyday carry. I am presently looking at a Rollei 35, but haven't entirely made up my mind. I have balance problems while walking, and a heavy camera swinging from my neck causes me problems. Of course, maybe the solution is to find a carry strap that slings the camera over my shoulder, but lighter is less fatiguing than heavy for a long walk, for me, anyway. What are your recommendations?

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[julio1fer]

Voting for Pentax ME or MX, with a light lens. The kit 50/2 would do. Best would be the 40mm pancake.

 

[Fuchs]

Get a Nikon F80/N90 and your (AF) Nikkor of choice. Plenty of features, dependable, cheap and light. Not fancy at all perhaps, but an exceptionally capable camera.

 

[presspass]

The obvious choice is an Olympus OM body and a small lens. Please also consider the other option you mentioned - a proper strap. Slinging the camera on the left shoulder, across your chest, and under your right arm prevents it from bouncing around. Lens size and weight will also be a consideration. Please let us know your decision. Good luck.

 

[Peter de Waal]

The probable best is a Minolta X-500/570 at 480g - better for manual metering and lighter that the X-700, auto exposure is available. Usually harder and more expensive to find than the X-700 though. The X-700 offers Program operation metering at 505g. Both Minolta X bodies have superb viewfinders, I find them better than the Olympus OM series.

An OM-1👎 Olympus is always good at 490g for the body. Although in my experience the OM-2 (530g) actually takes sharper pictures as it's shutter seems to exhibit less vibration. Plus if you are having balance issues auto exposure may be a real help.

For M42 lenses a Fujica ST-605n is cheap and light at 565g and has a good SBC meter. Completely manual operation.

The Praktica Nova 1B is again fairly light at 560g, has a selenium meter that is normally very accurate if working and the shutter is very simple to use/fix.

Another favorite is the Pentax S3 at 548g, although no meter...

The following tables may help. You might need to copy it into a text editor and reformat it. I find the internet tends to mangle my formatting...

1 oz = 28.3495231g

Camera L H D Mass

Contaflex II 126 85 60 720g
(body 45 thick)

Bessamatic 140 105 83 946g


Minolta X-500 137 89 51.5 480g

Olympus OM-1 136 83 50 490g

Minolta X-700 137 89 51.5 505g

Praktica BC-1 138 87.5 49 530g

Nikon FM2n 142 90 60 540g

Pentax S3 143 92 47 548g

Contax S 140 85 50 (32) 550g ••

Praktica Nova 1B 152 100 48 (35) 560g

Fujica ST-605n 133 86 50 565g

Pentacon F 140 85 50 (32) 570g

Praktica MTL5B 140 96 48 (32) 575g

Praktica LTL 140 96 48 (32) 580g

Minolta SR-1s 145 94.5 47.5 600g

Praktica LLC 140 96 48 (32) 605g

Praktica Super TL 152 100 48 605g •

Fujica ST-701 133 91 88 610g (585=manual)

Zenit- S, 3 135 92 50 620g

Zenit 3M 135 89 50 630g (1967)

Fujica ST-801 133 91 88 635g

Praktina 146 89 59.0 660g

PrakticaMat 152 100 48 690g

Yashica TL-Super 151 100 96 691g

Zenit TTL 135 91 50 (32) 700g (1980)

Minolta SR-T 101 145 94.5 47.5 705g••

Zenit E-FS 135 91 50 (32) 715g (1978)

Nikkormat FTn 146 95 54 745g

Praktica IVB 152 100 48 750g

Exakta VXIIA 150 90 45 755g

Leitz Leicaflex SL 148 97 57 757g ••

Nikon F+FTN 146 102 95.3 830g

Leitz Leicaflex 148 97 57 860g (w/batt+film) ••


M42 Lens Weights

Lens Mass Filter Close


4.0/20 Flektogon Zebra 320g 77.0x0.75 0.15m

2.8/20 MC Flektogon 350g 67.0x0.75 0.19m

3.5/30 Lydith 195g 49.0x0.75 0.33m

2.8/37 MIR-1 200g 49.0x0.75 0.7m

2.8/35 Flektogon Alloy 200g 49.0x0.75 0.35m

2.8/35 Flektogon Zebra 230g 49.0x0.75 0.18m

2.4/35 MC Flektogon 250g 49.0x0.75 0.20m

3.5/50 Industar-50 45g 33.0x0.5 0.65m

3.5/50 Primotar-E 180g 49.0x0.75

2.8/50 Tessar Leather 155g 49.0x0.75 0.50m

2.8/50 Tessar Exakta 170g 49.0x0.75 0.50m

2.8/50 Tessar Zebra 175g 49.0x0.75 0.35m

1.8/55 Fujinon 190g 49.0x0.75 0.45m

2/58 Biogon 200g 49.0x0.75 0.50m

1.8/50 MC Pentacon 220g 49.0x0.75 0.33m

2/58 Helios 44-2 220g 49.0x0.75 0.50m

1.7/55 Minolta Rokkor 220g 49.0x0.75 0.55m

1.8/50 Pancolar Zebra 225g 49.0x0.75 0.35m

1.8/50 MC Pancolar 225g 49.0x0.75 0.35m

1.8/50 Oreston 235g 49.0x0.75 0.33m

1.4/50 Nikkor 325g 52.0x0.75 0.60m

2/50 Summicron-R(I) 355g s.VI 0.50m

2/50 Summicron-R(II) 290g 55.0x0.75 0.50m

1.8/80 Pancolar 310g 58.0x0.75 0.83m

2/85 Jupiter-9 (Zenit) 360g 49.0x0.75 0.80m

2.5/90 Tamron SP 420g 49.0x0.75 0.39m

4.0/135 Sonnar Alloy 370g 49.0x0.75 1.2m

3.5/135 Sonnar Zebra 425g 49.0x0.75 1.0m

3.5/135 MC Sonnar 430g 49.0x0.75 1.0m

2.8/135 Pentacon Black 530g 55.0x0.75 1.5m

5.5/180 Telemegor 315g 49.0x0.75 2.0m

3.5/180 Primotar 1070g 67.0x0.75 2.2m

4.0/200 MC Pentacon 600g 58.0x0.75 2.7m

2.8/200 Sonnar 1200g 77.0x0.75 2.2m

4.5/300 Tair-3 PHs 1600g 72.0x0.75 2.2m

4.0/300 Sonnar 2070g 77.0x0.50 3.5m


SLR + Lens Combinations


Zenit 3M + 50 Industar 630+45 675g

Contaflex II 720g

Contax S + 58 Biotar 550+200 750g

Pentacon F + 50 Primotar-E 570+180 750g

Fujica ST-605n + 1.8-55mm 560+190 750g

Pentax S3 + 1.8-55mm S. Tak 548+215 763g

Praktica Super TL + 50 Tessar 605+175 780g

Praktica MTL5B + 50 MC Pentacon 575+220 795g

Fujica ST-701 + 55 Fujinon 610+190 800g

Praktica LTL + 50 Pancolar 580+225 805g

Praktica LLC + 50 Pancolar 605+225 830g

Praktica Super TL + 50 Pancolar 605+225 830g

Contaflex Super-B 840g

Zenit 3M + 58/2 Helios 44 630+220 850g

Praktina+ 58 Biotar 660+200 860g

Praktica IVB + 50f/2.8 Tessar 750+155 905g

PrakticaMat + 50f/1.8 Oreston 690+235 925g

Minolta SR-T 101 + Rokkor 55f1.7 705+220 925g

Bessamatic + 50f/2.8 Color Skopar 946g

Leicaflex SL+50 Summicron-R(II) 757+290 1047g

Leicaflex SL+50 Summicron-R(I) 757+355 1112g

Leicaflex + 50 Summicron-R 860+355 1215g

 

[kxl]

I use a Nikon N75 for exactly that purpose. When I purchased one, I had the following requirements:

1) Must be a cheap film SLR - the N75 cost me about $25.

2) Must be AF - I have mobility issues so I wanted to be able to shoot with one hand.

3) Must be a Nikon mount - I have a Nikon 18-55mm DX lens that I wanted to pair with the lightweight body (it works well from 24mm) and there are situations when I want to use my Sigma ART lenses on a film body.

 

[james.liam]

The OM 3ti.

It's become a collectors item but has full manual operation and small as hell with the brightest viewfinder I've beheld.

 

[Richard G]

OM2n and 50 1.8 is light and compact. Very clever camera.

 

[randy stewart]

Walk-around camera

Walk-around camera

I'll nominate from the Nikon system, the FG. Manual focus, but program, aperture preferred, and manual exposure. Ergonomic and small. Pair with a later 50mm 1.8, smaller and lighter than older Nikkors, or use one of several kit zooms. A much under-rated camera, and far lighter than the other Nikons previously suggested.

 

[bwcolor]

Contax T2/T3 for fixed lens. Contax Aria for interchangeable lens. Can't beat Olympus.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

EOS 300 and 40 2.8 pancake.

 

[CMur12]

I would put in another vote for the Minolta X-570/X-500. I really like this camera and I like Minolta optics, and common Minolta lenses can be obtained for very low prices.

A slightly less expensive option would be the X-370/X-300. This is a less expensive version that was produced in abundance for a longer time. It is very similar to the X-570 in that it has the manual mode improved over the X-700 and it has aperture priority automation with AEL. Unlike the X-570, it doesn't have the aperture readout in the finder and it doesn't have TTL flash metering, if those are important to you.

Later X-370s were made in China, with slightly lower quality.

These cameras feel fairly plasticky, but their ergonomics are good, the finder is very bright, and they have held up well to hard use.

I prefer mine with an autowinder attached, though it adds considerable weight. It allows me to advance the film without removing the camera from my eye, it adds gripping surface, and the weight keeps the camera hanging vertically even with weightier lenses.

- Murray

 

[farlymac]

I'd have to say the lightest 35mm SLR I have (other than the chintzy Great Wall model) is the Nikon FM10 with an all plastic body made by Cosina. But my recommendation for use would be an FG with the 35/2.5, 50/1.8, and 100/2.8 Series E lenses.


PF

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Minolta X500 etc are lovely and light and the manual mode in the X500 is superb. With 45mm lens it weighs in at 660g.

The Olympus OM2n with 50mm f1.8 is 750g.

If you can find a decent one, the Nikon EM is light and small and a very simple camera.

I was surprised that my Canon EOS650 weighed in at 850g - so many batteries for auto this and that.

The Nikon f80 with pancake 50mm (the lightest I have) is 760g. Put on a kit zoom and you are up to 950g!

Best of luck Stephen, my father has like issues but getting out and about is vital.

 

[WJJ3]

Cool to see the Minolta X-500/X700 getting some mentions here. The X-500/570 is a fantastic camera, and I really enjoy mine. These bodies are lightweight, but very well made of quality materials. Lens mount is stainless steel, viewfinder is big, bright, and crisp; knobs, levers, backdoor release, and switches all have a sure, positive feel. My X-500 is silver and has very handsome looks and durable fit and finish. The finish on these is much more durable than the black ones.

 

[tunalegs]

The Exa 1c when fitted with the WLF is extremely light... but lack of a built in meter and a top shutter speed of 1/175 probably take it out of the running.

 

[santino]

I second the Nikon F(N)75. its plasticy but has all the recent Nikon features including dof preview. Its damn cheap!
Downside: expensive batteries, rather small viewfinder.

 

[Ste_S]

The OP will need to specify more. AF or MF ?
The plastic AF cameras like the Canon EOS300x and Nikon F65 and their corresponding lenses are far lighter than older metal cameras for instance.... but no good if the OP wants MF.

 

[Dwig]

Hello all:

I am looking for a light 35mm SLR for everyday carry. I am presently looking at a Rollei 35, but haven't entirely made up my mind. I have balance problems while walking, and a heavy camera swinging from my neck causes me problems. ...

Then don't carry it that way. Get a small waist bag (AKA "fanny pack") for the camera.

For small and light but SLR and decent functionality, my vote would go to the Pentax ME or MX or the Nikon FG.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Lots of fixed lens options, as mentioned above. But, you asked for SLR.

Besides the obvious, and might be a bit rich, but the Contax Aria with the Zeiss 2.8/45 Tessar is positively tiny. Has a motor. Fabulous feel in the hands.