goamules
Well-known
Someone in a recent thread was saying "a quarter inch difference" isn't much when comparing sizes of various LTM cameras. I beg to differ. Recently I've been carrying my 1930s IID when I go out walking. They don't have strap lugs, but are so tiny, with their rounded edges, they are very pocketable. By that I mean any pocket you have, a coat pocket, pants pocket, or even shirt pocket! I sometimes just cup in in the palm of my hand, and slip into a pocket for moments I need both hands free.
Yesterday I wanted to try out a Canon VT I'm going to sell. I didn't want to bother putting a strap on it, and figured I'd just carry it in my hand like the smaller Leica. What a pain! It's like carrying a brick. There are no natural places to hold it for carry (the rounded ends of the Leicas fit well longways, with your fingers curled around to the front). It may be only "so much" bigger, but it feels like it's twice as large. There is no way you'd ever get it in a pocket, any pocket, except maybe the cargo pocket of a M-65 field jacket!
To think that in the early 1930s Leica invented such a tiny camera - it was the cell phone cam of the day. With the same purpose perhaps, to always have it with you, unobtrusive, in case a photo was needed. Yes, the finder is tiny. Everything is tiny! But it takes excellent photos, and sometimes having a small camera with you was more important than having a "more serious", big, heavy, camera with a great viewfinder.
Over time, Leicas, and the clones, all got bigger. With better finders, slow speed dials, lever winds, and all kinds of things that made them no longer pocketable. If size your primary need, none of these improvements did you well.
Yesterday I wanted to try out a Canon VT I'm going to sell. I didn't want to bother putting a strap on it, and figured I'd just carry it in my hand like the smaller Leica. What a pain! It's like carrying a brick. There are no natural places to hold it for carry (the rounded ends of the Leicas fit well longways, with your fingers curled around to the front). It may be only "so much" bigger, but it feels like it's twice as large. There is no way you'd ever get it in a pocket, any pocket, except maybe the cargo pocket of a M-65 field jacket!
To think that in the early 1930s Leica invented such a tiny camera - it was the cell phone cam of the day. With the same purpose perhaps, to always have it with you, unobtrusive, in case a photo was needed. Yes, the finder is tiny. Everything is tiny! But it takes excellent photos, and sometimes having a small camera with you was more important than having a "more serious", big, heavy, camera with a great viewfinder.
Over time, Leicas, and the clones, all got bigger. With better finders, slow speed dials, lever winds, and all kinds of things that made them no longer pocketable. If size your primary need, none of these improvements did you well.
goamules
Well-known
Even today's smooth, "small" cameras are big compared to the original!
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
With collapsible Industars the IIf, Bessa R and M4-2 feets into exactly the same small neoprene pouch I have.
If I want IIf with 35mm lens, it is bigger comparing to Bessa R and M, due to the external viewfinder.
IIf RD, Summitar, VIOOH. by Ko.Fe., on Flickr
My XA is my pocket RF camera.
If I want IIf with 35mm lens, it is bigger comparing to Bessa R and M, due to the external viewfinder.
IIf RD, Summitar, VIOOH. by Ko.Fe., on FlickrMy XA is my pocket RF camera.
newspaperguy
Well-known
One of Stephan's 28/35mm CV mini-finders would solve that problem... if you can find one.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
It costs more than IIf camera costs.
goamules
Well-known
That's what I love about this board, no matter what someone says, there is always a contrary opinion. Far be it for me to have forgotten other, also small cameras. I'll take a picture of my Pen-F next to the IID next (spoiler, it's bigger). Oh well, to me the IID is small.
Quick - did you know the sky is blue?
Quick - did you know the sky is blue?
citizen99
Well-known
FED-2 with 28mm f/6 ORION-15 by johnnyh4, on Flickr
Not quite the smallest, but not the largest.
The wide-angle viewfinder, mounted on a sticky-fixer pad, was salvaged from a scrap APS point&shoot camera
.
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
Here are the largest and smallest LTM cameras ever to the best of my knowledge.
You would need quite an impressive shirt pocket for the Leningrad!
Cheers,
Dez
You would need quite an impressive shirt pocket for the Leningrad!
Cheers,
Dez
Pioneer
Veteran
I'm with you goamules. The Leica II or IIIa with a collapsible 50 or small 35 are great pocket cameras.
So far this year my favorite has been the Leica Null Series reproduction. That thing is positively tiny but the lens is terrific. I have to pack my little Blix rangefinder or use hyperfocal focusing. I have put over 24 rolls through it this year so I am getting used to taking off the lens cap for each shot and then replacing it before winding on. At least I am pretty sure I won't be burning holes in the shutter curtain.
So far this year my favorite has been the Leica Null Series reproduction. That thing is positively tiny but the lens is terrific. I have to pack my little Blix rangefinder or use hyperfocal focusing. I have put over 24 rolls through it this year so I am getting used to taking off the lens cap for each shot and then replacing it before winding on. At least I am pretty sure I won't be burning holes in the shutter curtain.
goamules
Well-known
Dez, great size comparison!
That Null Series sounds interesting...I'll go look it up.
That Null Series sounds interesting...I'll go look it up.
Crazy Fedya
Well-known
Well, Garrett, it depends on where are you looking from. If you are inside the well, it appears to be quite dark...
farlymac
PF McFarland
Size doesn't really matter...until it matters.
I bought a nice Canon compact once, specifically because it would fit in my shirt pocket with its 38-120mm zoom retracted. But my sweat played havoc on the system switches, shorting out the electronics. Its replacement only goes in a jacket pocket now.
PF
I bought a nice Canon compact once, specifically because it would fit in my shirt pocket with its 38-120mm zoom retracted. But my sweat played havoc on the system switches, shorting out the electronics. Its replacement only goes in a jacket pocket now.
PF
