rjbuzzclick
Well-known
A Welta Weltix folder with a 50/2.9 lens, or a Werra with a 50/2.8. Both are scale focus though.
Most compact 50mm camera.
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Monochrom
Well-known
Retina IIa xenon 50mm f2, just great, sturdy well built, little heavy but has all you need. It has a modern advance lever, not a knob.
The vitessa ultron wich is large and heavy but has a terrific f2 lens.
The one i love the most is the Contessa 35....superluxurious Zeiss with a 2.8 45mm lens, it even has a lightmeter!!! I should use it much more!!!
There is the leica minilux o cm, with 40mm lens
Perhpas a TVS with a zoom lens that reaches an slow 56-60mm depending on version.
The vitessa ultron wich is large and heavy but has a terrific f2 lens.
The one i love the most is the Contessa 35....superluxurious Zeiss with a 2.8 45mm lens, it even has a lightmeter!!! I should use it much more!!!
There is the leica minilux o cm, with 40mm lens
Perhpas a TVS with a zoom lens that reaches an slow 56-60mm depending on version.
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
You didn't want a 40mm lens, but don't overlook this: http://cameraquest.com/petri35.htm
aizan
Veteran
do any of these cameras with a 50mm also have a meter?
farlymac
PF McFarland
For a strut folder, you could get an Agfa Karat 36 (Ansco Karamat)
P1070560_2 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Or in a drop bed style, an Ansco Super Regent (I forget the Agfa version).
PF
P1070560_2 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Or in a drop bed style, an Ansco Super Regent (I forget the Agfa version).
PF
Spavinaw
Well-known
You asked about "the most compact 50mm lens + camera combo". I believe the Eljy Lumiere camera with Lypar lens is the smallest camera that meets the stated requirements. It also makes 24x36mm negatives, although you didn't specify that.
paniolo
Established
WOw, thanks for all the replies!
I was in hope that anybody would knew a similar camera to the Leica CL and Rollei 35.
What I realy like about these two is the black body and nice controls.
The viewfinder on both are just 0.6, but thats OK for a compact camera.
I was in hope that anybody would knew a similar camera to the Leica CL and Rollei 35.
What I realy like about these two is the black body and nice controls.
The viewfinder on both are just 0.6, but thats OK for a compact camera.
rhl-oregon
Cameras Guitars Wonders
Werra III has a standard 50 2.8 Tessar, RF, and if you're lucky as I was a reliable meter. The body is quite small; the lens housing controls speed, aperture, advance--everything but shutter release, so it protrudes, i.e. not as slim as a Retina or Barnack/collapsible in the pocket. But fun!
Gary Sandhu
Well-known
(And now for something completely different...)
Ricoh GR in 47mm crop mode with Leica 50 mm viewfinder.
Ricoh GR in 47mm crop mode with Leica 50 mm viewfinder.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I forgot to mention the Argus A and AF.
Those and the Adox Adrette are quite compact. All scale focusing though.
Phil Forrest
Those and the Adox Adrette are quite compact. All scale focusing though.
Phil Forrest
oftheherd
Veteran
Since I haven't owned any of the many others mentioned in the thread, I can't say for sure, but the Welta Welti is also a small folder with a 50mm lens and shutter speeds to 1/500. Its big brother, the Weltini is a rangefinder. For compactness, the Welti is hard to beat. I used one for many years from about 1959 to 1969. It gave me a lot of good photos.
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
Now I just googled that camera and it has to be up there with the most ugly cameras I have ever seen 😀
So bad it's good!!
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
Here's another off the wall suggestion: Zenith 3M with the industar f3.5/50. The viewfinder is very good and the combination fits into a jacket pocket (I carried mine that way for a few years).
OK, it's a SLR. Nobody's perfect.
😀
OK, it's a SLR. Nobody's perfect.
😀
Frontman
Well-known
I would also choose a Barnack Leica/Japanese clone/FSU camera with a 50/3.5 lens. If you get a Leica, it'll be a smooth operator that can take great photos, the Japanese cameras (Nicca, Leotax, Yashica) will be just as nice. If you get a serviced FSU from someone like Oleg, it will also be a great performer. Some of the Japanese copies have lever winders instead of knobs, if that is important. I also like the Retina IIIc. Any of these will fit in your back pocket with the lens collapsed.
nongfuspring
Well-known
Voigtlander Vitessa? Seem pretty compact, have an RF, some models have a meter, plus everyone raves about their build quality.
A few people have mentioned screw mount leicas and leica clones with collapsible lenses, which are great choices too.
A few people have mentioned screw mount leicas and leica clones with collapsible lenses, which are great choices too.
jcb4718
Well-known
Another vote for the Voigtlander Vito B (small viewfinder). I have a Voigtlander rangefinder slipped into the accessory shoe. It's scale matches the scale on the lens so setting the focus is quite intuitive (of course for scenes and the like the rangefinder is not needed). This combination is handy: I would not want it to be any smaller. The viewfinder (0.7 magnification), because it does not include the rangefinder optics, is extremely bright, the brightest of viewfinder of any camera I own. It's my 'small' camera and I use it whenever I just want to carry a 50mm lens. I have two Vito B's, one with the f3.5 lens and the other with the f2.8 lens. Both are Tessar variants. The f3.5 is one of the sharpest lenses I own. The f2.8 renders the out-of-focus background a bit better, particularly at the corners...but they are both very fine lenses.
paniolo
Established
All of the mentioned cameras are not realy compact.
I know the Voigtlaenders, I own a Vito B(old VF), Vitoret B and Vitoret LR,
they are nice, but not handy.
I mean, the Leica CL weights 365gramm, with Jupiter 8 + Film,
I count ~520gramm
Thats a fine weight, but still a bit heavy.
I realy love the ergonomics of the CL and Rollei 35,
is there a similiar camera?
Regards
PS: I know most of the mentioned cameras, all are nice, but not the thing I am looking for
I know the Voigtlaenders, I own a Vito B(old VF), Vitoret B and Vitoret LR,
they are nice, but not handy.
I mean, the Leica CL weights 365gramm, with Jupiter 8 + Film,
I count ~520gramm
Thats a fine weight, but still a bit heavy.
I realy love the ergonomics of the CL and Rollei 35,
is there a similiar camera?
Regards
PS: I know most of the mentioned cameras, all are nice, but not the thing I am looking for
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
In all serious, the only way I can see you getting what you are looking for is something like an Olympus Mju Zoom. The "105" is 120x64x44mm (according to Camerapedia.
Come to think of it, a hunt around that site may find you the right camera.
Come to think of it, a hunt around that site may find you the right camera.
Peter_S
Peter_S
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Is RF a must (which will always require space for the RF mechanism and adequate base lengths)?
If not - Contax TVS III. A good camera, and best at the 50mm setting anyways.
If not - Contax TVS III. A good camera, and best at the 50mm setting anyways.
paniolo
Established
Im not a big fan of automatic cameras,
I own an Oly XA and XA4, I prefer the XA because I know what the camera is setting, the XA4 is just a pain because it always chose me wierd shutter speeds/aperture settings.
I will remember the TVS, I have used it onced but was a bit disappointed with the small and dim viewfinder.
Is there a way to attach an accesoiry shoe to it?
Regards
Tobi
I own an Oly XA and XA4, I prefer the XA because I know what the camera is setting, the XA4 is just a pain because it always chose me wierd shutter speeds/aperture settings.
I will remember the TVS, I have used it onced but was a bit disappointed with the small and dim viewfinder.
Is there a way to attach an accesoiry shoe to it?
Regards
Tobi
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