Thinnest mechanical slr with 28-35 or 50mm

[Jani_from_Finland]

Looking for the thinnest good quality and build (like oly om-series) with an attached 24-60mm lens without electricity and just plain mechanical. The Om series is nice, but have rather long flange and i cant find nor afford the 40/2 lens for it.
No electricity is due to gas-rules (explosion risks) at work.
Is my old rf M2 with good old MIC 35Lux still my best bet here?
CANT BE ANY ELECTRO BUILT IN.

 

[Chris101]

My OM-1N with attached 50mm f/3.5 lens measures 92mm stem to stern.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

My OM-1N with attached 50mm f/3.5 lens measures 92mm stem to stern.

Too deep, need thinner. Well the 50/3.5 macro is a bit thick lens, the 50/1.8 is quite a lot smaller, but still not in same region as m2+35/1.4 (Doubt there will be anything mechanical as small as this?).

 

[Chris101]

The 40mm f/2 is the thinnest OM lens at 25mm. The total camera thickness is then 74mm. Most SLR cameras will be thicker than most rangefinders, because of the space needed for the mirror movement. I'd think that a small RF with a 40mm might be the thinnest you can get and still have 35mm film and interchangeable lenses.

 

[farlymac]

The old Barnack Leicas were pretty thin, with the collapsible Elmar. Then you have the folder 35mm cams like the Agfa Solinette/Ansco Regent. Non-metered Retinas are pretty thin too when closed up, and some have an f2 lens.

But if you're needing an SLR, then a Nikon FM with the 45mm pancake could work, Just don't put the batteries in it.

PF

 

[Crazy Fedya]

How about Pentax MX with 40/2.8 Pentax M lens. It could be had under $200, and should be pretty slim. I don't own it anymore, but remember it being rather on a slimmer side.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

But if you're needing an SLR, then a Nikon FM with the 45mm pancake could work, Just don't put the batteries in it.

PF

Cant be ANY Electro built in.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

How about Pentax MX with 40/2.8 Pentax M lens. It could be had under $200, and should be pretty slim. I don't own it anymore, but remember it being rather on a slimmer side.

Dont know about that lens sizes, but pentax has amongs the longest flanges on the market for 35mm.
I cold also take a half frame Pen for example, What of the Pen F series is good?

 

[Oren Grad]

How about Pentax MX with 40/2.8 Pentax M lens. It could be had under $200, and should be pretty slim. I don't own it anymore, but remember it being rather on a slimmer side.

Just measured an MX with 40/2.8 SMCP-M. Allowing for things that stick off the back of the camera (eyepiece, film box top holder, wind lever) and measuring to the front of the lens with it focused at infinity, I get a hair less than 70mm.

To the OP: the K flange-to-film register may not be the shortest, but you'll have a hard time finding an SLR lens in any other system that's so thin as the 40/2.8 SMCP-M.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Dont know about that lens sizes, but pentax has amongs the longest flanges on the market for 35mm.
I cold also take a half frame Pen for example, What of the Pen F series is good?

Yes, but 40/2.8 seems to be the thinnest SLR lens ever built. MX is fully mechanical camera, that uses battery for meter only.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

Just measured an MX with 40/2.8 SMCP-M. Allowing for things that stick off the back of the camera (eyepiece, film box top holder, wind lever) and measuring to the front of the lens with it focused at infinity, I get a hair less than 70mm.

To the OP: the K flange-to-film register may not be the shortest, but you'll have a hard time finding an SLR lens in any other system that's so thin as the 40/2.8 SMCP-M.

That seems like a good set, will have to look if i got any of those lenses locally available. But doesnt the MX have elec built in (lightmeter etc)?

 

[RF_newbie]

not mechanical (batteries required) but Contax 139Q + 45/2.8 Tessar = 67mm

 

[lynnb]

Does it have to be an SLR? You've mentioned the M2.. Also, does it have to be interchangeable lens? Just wondering if something like a Rollei 35 without the light meter battery might be something to consider.. or a 35mm folder as mentioned above.

 

[Oren Grad]

That seems like a good set, will have to look if i got any of those lenses locally available. But doesnt the MX have elec built in (lightmeter etc)?

Lightmeter only - shutter is cloth curtain, mechanically governed. Leave out the batteries and you should be OK.

My Pen FT with 40/1.4 is comparable in thickness to the MX with 40/2.8, so if half-frame is OK you should be able to go a bit thinner with the 38/1.8, 25/4 or the (expensive and hard-to-find) 38/2.8 pancake. FWIW, though, the MX finder is much larger, brighter and easier to focus than the Pen F and FT finders, especially in indoor available light. The MX also has many different focusing screens available to suit specific requirements.

 

[tunalegs]

I'm curious about why the thinness of the camera is so important?

My Miranda D with 2.8/50 lens is 75mm thick. My Exa with an Isco 2.8/50 lens is 70mm thick - that's about as thin as you can get with a 50mm lens.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

I'm curious about why the thinness of the camera is so important?

Pocketable. Just to be good pocketable and must be mechanical (Due to work enviroment).

 

[Mudman]

Jani; Don't all of the OM series cameras have built in light meters? In terms of SLRS you'd have to go back to the original Nikon F, Pentax's pre spotmatic F, Original Minoltas, etc. to find an SLR without any built in electronics. None of those will be thinner than your M2.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

Jani; Don't all of the OM series cameras have built in light meters? In terms of SLRS you'd have to go back to the original Nikon F, Pentax's pre spotmatic F, Original Minoltas, etc. to find an SLR without any built in electronics. None of those will be thinner than your M2.

Yes they do, thats why i am looking If there is a thinner set available.

 

[JSU]

Leica M2 or M3, or even a III G, with collapsable Elmar, or perhaps the CV 50/2.5.

Good luck finding any SLR since the Pentax H3V or plain Nikon F with no meter, regardless of it being inoperable without a battery.

 

[Oren Grad]

...Pentax's pre spotmatic F...

Heh, that reminds me of another possibility, if you work under bright light and don't mind your pictures looking really groovy: the 18mm f/11 Fish-Eye-Takumar mounted on an MX with the K adapter. Now there's a pancake for you. 😀

You could put it on a screw-mount body too, but those bodies will be bigger, even if not thicker. FWIW, the pre-Spotmatic bodies like the SV are actually pleasantly compact - just not ultra-compact like an MX or OM.