"Throw in the Bag" Film Camera Suggestions?

If you're thinking about a point & shoot, I would plan to get a backup camera, so I wouldn't recommend anything that expensive: $150 maximum per camera.

I'll vouch for the Konica Big Mini, Konica C35 AF2, and Fuji DL-300 (or DL-200).

Some others in this price range:

Nikon L35AF
Nikon Lite Touch AF
Minolta AF Hi-matic
Yashica T AF
Yashica T2
Olympus Trip 35
Canon AF35ML
Ricoh AF-5
 
Here are the five "pocketable" film cameras that I use (now and then) ...

49289692067_4d2a5e970c_c.jpg


From left to right, and down the columns:

My wallet - 100g (for size reference)
Minox C - 100g
Minox EC - 43g

Minox 35GT-E - 221g
Rollei 35S - 356g

Voigtländer Perkeo II (6x6) - 539g

An amusing note is that one exposed frame from the Perkeo II equals the film area of an entire 36 exposure roll from the Minox C or EC. :D

G
 
If you're thinking about a point & shoot, I would plan to get a backup camera, so I wouldn't recommend anything that expensive: $150 maximum per camera.

I'll vouch for the Konica Big Mini, Konica C35 AF2, and Fuji DL-300 (or DL-200).

Funny you should mention the Fuji DL-200 camera.

I was 30 years old with one newly failed marriage under my belt. I had nothing but my job, was living in the barracks and had very little money in the bank. Not wanting to mope and sulk around I bought a Miyata road bike (they were well made and cheap in those days) and a Fuji DL-200 camera. On the weekends I rode that bike everywhere and took pictures as I went with the DL-200. I soon bought bike shorts and a cycling jersey that had the pockets on the backside; that camera fit nicely in the center pocket. I would mail pictures of my bike trips to my parents in a way of showing them that I was okay and was moving on with my life. The worst of times became the best of times.

That was over 35 years ago. What a flood of memories from just the mention of a camera model in someone’s forum post.

All the best,
Mike
 
Hi all --

Similar questions have been asked, but not the same, I believe. I often walk to/from work, through a park, at parties, and wish I had a compact film camera with me. All my film cameras are either too expensive (Leica) or too large (MF) to carry around all day.


I think your Leica or MF will be just fine. I carry one of such cameras everyday to work. Most often it's a Leica M due to its small size. Occasionally an MF. The heaviest is my Hasselblad, which sees the least outings due to its size and weight.

What's the reason you want something different?
 
Praktica b200 plus 2.4 50mm Prakticar pancake lens. Inexpensive, small, has auto and all manual settings. Bright focusing screen with diodes and split image focusing.
 
Funny you should mention the Fuji DL-200 camera.

I was 30 years old with one newly failed marriage under my belt. I had nothing but my job, was living in the barracks and had very little money in the bank. Not wanting to mope and sulk around I bought a Miyata road bike (they were well made and cheap in those days) and a Fuji DL-200 camera. On the weekends I rode that bike everywhere and took pictures as I went with the DL-200. I soon bought bike shorts and a cycling jersey that had the pockets on the backside; that camera fit nicely in the center pocket. I would mail pictures of my bike trips to my parents in a way of showing them that I was okay and was moving on with my life. The worst of times became the best of times.

That was over 35 years ago. What a flood of memories from just the mention of a camera model in someone’s forum post.

All the best,
Mike

And all I thought I was doing was plugging a nice P&S camera that was still a good deal these days. Thanks for that great story, Mike!
 
Two relatively inexpensive "throw in the bag" 35mm rangefinder cameras I use are the Canon QL17 Giii with the fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens and the Minolta Hi-Matic 9 with the fixed 45mm f/1.7 lens.


Rangefinders by Narsuitus, on Flickr
 
Back
Top Bottom