ernstk
Retro Renaissance
Hi,
I have a quest to find the perfect pocket camera. It has to fit the following criteria:
1. 35mm film.
2. 28 or 35mm lens.
3. Very, very compact.
5. High quality lens.
6. Auto, or semi auto exposure.
I want this truly to be a camera that I can carry everywhere for those 'capture the moment' moments. It will not be a replacement for my M2 but it will live in my briefcase, jacket pocket, man bag, etc.
At the moment, the Olympus XA seems to be top of the list. Are there any others, of this size (critical) that I should consider?
Regards
Ernst
I have a quest to find the perfect pocket camera. It has to fit the following criteria:
1. 35mm film.
2. 28 or 35mm lens.
3. Very, very compact.
5. High quality lens.
6. Auto, or semi auto exposure.
I want this truly to be a camera that I can carry everywhere for those 'capture the moment' moments. It will not be a replacement for my M2 but it will live in my briefcase, jacket pocket, man bag, etc.
At the moment, the Olympus XA seems to be top of the list. Are there any others, of this size (critical) that I should consider?
Regards
Ernst
foto_fool
Well-known
It is probably too big to fit your criteria, but I carry my Hexar AF with me in my briefcase: AF/AE, auto advance, SUPER quiet - and it has a 35mm lens that is supposed to be a copy of the pre-ASPH Summicron.
R
ray_g
Guest
Personally, it would be the XA. The olympus 35RC is a little bigger, but also a good choice. A little bigger than that, the Vivitar 35ES.
ernstk
Retro Renaissance
I'd love to have a Hexar AF as a second body for my M2 but it's just too big for what I'm planning.
I'm looking for the same functionality (but fixed lens) in 1/3 of the size!
Ernst
I'm looking for the same functionality (but fixed lens) in 1/3 of the size!
Ernst
R
ray_g
Guest
Then I would consider a good p&s, like the Ricoh GR-1, Contax T2 or T3, or Yashica T4/T5 Super. The ricoh will give you a bit more control, like the Hexar, with A mode and exp comp.ernstk said:
ClaremontPhoto
Jon Claremont
An Olympus mju V may suit.
morgan
Well-known
You guys and your hexar talk. It's enough to drive me mad. 
I was outbid the other day for one on ebay. It ended up for $490. A local shop has an XA2, but there's some thing about the hexar af that lures me in.
I was outbid the other day for one on ebay. It ended up for $490. A local shop has an XA2, but there's some thing about the hexar af that lures me in.
Anupam
Well-known
The Oly XA would be it. I find the meter is so good that I hardly ever miss manual functionality.
-a
-a
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Leica CL, Minolta CLE?
beethamd
Unix-like
Yashica T4. Splendid little camera.
sooner
Well-known
I use an XA for the same purpose, and find the lens quite sharp although the light falloff in the corners is also quite visible. Had an XA2 once and sold it because it wasn't sharp enough, whereas the XA really surprised me in terms of sharpness. Also, it goes for under $100, whereas the other cameras mentioned, though they may be "better" (sharper, less light falloff, or with more manual control) cost a lot more...if money is a concern.
T
tedwhite
Guest
Yashica T4 Super or Olympus XA. If you want something that will fit in your pocket and STILL be a good camera, these two are my first choices. Yashica has the added advantage of a top-plate viewfinder in addition to the regular one.
Just in the interests of rounding out the variety of opinions... Firstly my Fuji GW670III will not fit any pocket of any garment I have, so forget that one. Secondly, IMHO a pocket is a very unsuitable place to carry a camera, even should it fit. Just imagine the hazards...
mpt600
Established
XA fits the bill perfectly. Only trouble with mine is that it's actually older than the wife, and should it ever fail I don't know what I'd replace it with. (The XA, not the wife...)
tkluck
Well-known
With a collapsible lens and a Sunny 16 card, your M2 would almost fill the bill...
Aside from the neg size thing, my own choice is a Minox. A Minox C meets all the other criteria. Very very small indeed, so that you will actually have it with you when the moment is there to be captured. Not for 'serious ' photography, perhaps, but beats hell out of using your cell phone!
The Minox day light developing tank really does work and several excellent labs, besides Minox, will process the film.
An EC is even smaller; the size of a Bic. With a couple of craft store jewelery parts you can wear it as an earing. Don't need a pocket, man bag, brief case, or even briefs for that matter. Any old body piercing will do.
Or bag my suggestion from the Twilight Zone and consider a Rollie 35.
Aside from the neg size thing, my own choice is a Minox. A Minox C meets all the other criteria. Very very small indeed, so that you will actually have it with you when the moment is there to be captured. Not for 'serious ' photography, perhaps, but beats hell out of using your cell phone!
The Minox day light developing tank really does work and several excellent labs, besides Minox, will process the film.
An EC is even smaller; the size of a Bic. With a couple of craft store jewelery parts you can wear it as an earing. Don't need a pocket, man bag, brief case, or even briefs for that matter. Any old body piercing will do.
Or bag my suggestion from the Twilight Zone and consider a Rollie 35.
Andrew Sowerby
Well-known
Do you want manual or auto focus?
NL2377
*scratches head*
Olympus stylus epic.
lynn
lynn
Ricoh Gr1s. It never lets me down. And it is TINY.
fgianni
Trainee Amateur
If you want tiny you won't find anything smaller than a Minolta TC-1, and the lens is sooooooo sweeet, plus titanium body menas that mine still looks near mint, even if I have abused it quite a bit.
cameramanic
Following the light
I have a few XA s and fine cameras they are, but my choice is the Rollei 35 T
its like having a miniature Leica.
its like having a miniature Leica.
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