Want a pocket camera...

[P. Lynn Miller]

I have been enamoured with the Leica O since I first seen one. Such a high quality, compact picture taking little package. There are a few things against such as the non-capping shutter and the 'gun-sight' though, and not to mention the price.

So I have been thinking is there a Leica out there like the Leica O but with a capping shutter, slow shutter speeds down to 1 sec, no finder, just an accessory shoe, and a good collapsible 50mm lens that can be had for a reasonable price, ie a couple hundred dollars.

I will admit I know nothing about Leica LTM cameras, nothing at all. I do not want a collectors item, I want to have a small, compact, quiet camera that I can load with Tri-X and carry with every where and know as long as I do my bit, I will get a good photograph. I know there are plenty of P&S camera out there, but they always argue with me about exposure details and etc. And I really hate camera that pretends to know more than me.

This camera does not even need to be a Leica, it could be a FSU LTM camera, which I really know absolutely nothing about.

Looking forward to your advice and comments,

 

[wlewisiii]

Best for what you want is a Canon screwmount body. The IVSb is a very good choice - lots made, reasonable price, great (for a barnack) combined VF/RF with magnification. Put a collapsible lens on it and you've got just about as small and usable a camera as you can get. The FSU collapsible Industars are great because they're cheap, good quality & collapse into a smaller package than the Canon or non-Elmar Leica ones. Now a collapsible screwmount 'cron would make a seriously high end pocket rocket though, too 😉

It can be fun to have something like that along all the time.

William

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

William,

If you think I know nothing about the FSU cameras, Canon has barely registered into my conscientious!

And I think someone gave a Canon away on that other thread...

What should I be looking for in FSU cameras?

And instead of a finder I would like to use this...

photo courtesy of eBay seller - rhona45th

If the Leica O came with this instead of the gun-sight, I would bite the bullet and pay the price for it.

 

[myequation]

olympus xa? best true pocket i know of.
and cheap

 

[wlewisiii]

Hmm, I know very little about the FSU's that would be good for your expressed desire. Perhaps a Zorki 5 with a collapsible Industar?

Love that finder.

I'll admit that the O seems like a fascinating camera that would make me to buy a Leica if I had the money for one.

William

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Olympus XA, had one... yes, very pocketable, but not what I am looking for. It takes batteries and has a 35mm lens. Not that it is not a great little camera because it is.

 

[colyn]

So I have been thinking is there a Leica out there like the Leica O but with a capping shutter, slow shutter speeds down to 1 sec, no finder, just an accessory shoe, and a good collapsible 50mm lens that can be had for a reasonable price, ie a couple hundred dollars.

You won't find these specs/price in a Leica. Leica introduced the slow speeds with the model III which also has a built-in rangefinder.

You might try KEH for Leica rf cameras which are usually cheaper there than eBay..

This camera does not even need to be a Leica, it could be a FSU LTM camera, which I really know absolutely nothing about.

Looking forward to your advice and comments,

Nothing here fits the bill either however a Canon rf camera can be found close to your price range. The FSU's are cheaper but also can be troublesome...

 

[BTMarcais]

It has a finder, and doesn't have a great accessory shoe (on the bottom)... but maybe one of the Rollei 35 variants would work? I've always been thrilled w/ the shots I get off my 35T w/ the tessar lens...and the sonnar's should be even better (unit focusing instead of front element, so should be better at closer distances, and the extra 1/2 stop doesn't hurt), although I've never felt the urge to upgrade. Good lenses, compact body, a bit quirky...but hey...like the O isn't?

 

[BTMarcais]

er, re-read your specs. the Rollei 35s only go down to 1/2 sec, and have a 40mm lens. better than 35mm for you I guess...but not quite a 50 either.

If there was a perfect camera....
I wouldn't have so many.

(and my wife would be happier...)

 

[aizan]

the only zeiss ikon sw to sell recently on ebay went for $500.

anyhow, what about the bessa l or t?

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

If there was a perfect camera....
I wouldn't have so many.

(and my wife would be happier...)

You are not alone!

I have tried to replicate the Leica O with a Bessa T and the Collapsible Heliar 50mm f3.5 and 50mm finder which is a good kit with an amazing lens. But it is far from being a pocket camera, because the Bessa T is quite bulky and the Heliar actually does not collapse that small. In fact, my CV Color-Skopar 50mm f2.5 protrudes less than the Heliar and my Bessa R2 is more compact than the Bessa T with a finder.

So all this have sent me in the direction of a Leica LTM... and being able to play with one at the camera shop a few weeks back, which was a mistake, because now I am sure I need one!

 

[aizan]

maybe an olympus pen s, if half-frame is ok.

 

[FPjohn]

A Leica IC ? IF, IG ? I've no idea of availability or cost.

OTH why not a IIIC with your sportsfinder? It would fit easily in a coat pocket.

yours
FPJ

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

FPJ,

'Leica IC ? IF, IG'

I think you forgot about my lack of knowledge about Leica LTM cameras. I have no idea about these models...

As for a IIIc, since it has a 50mm finder built-in, I would not need the sportsfinder. Which is fine... I suppose a IIIc with its built-in viewfinder and rangefinder is not much bigger than a Leica O since the 'hump' finders is little higher than the wind and rewind knobs. But there would be abit more weight...

Someone brought the Voigtlander Vitessa to my attention...

 

[Goldorak]

It seems the One and Only logical choice is a Leica CL or Minolta CLE. Your decision and needs is exactly why those cameras we're made for, in the first place.

I would avoid FSU cameras and other cheapies. A CL can be had for 300$. It is a tiny, compact camera with all shutter speeds.

 

[Gary Sandhu]

just get a leica screw mount; i have a iiif with 50mm elmar 3.5 : tiny set up, and a viewfinder, too.

 

[ZeissFan]

If you're willing to leave Leicaland (and its neighboring territories), there are many cameras out there.

-- Etareta: A little Czech camera with a collapsible Etar. Very well made camera.

-- Folding prewar Retinas up to, but not including, the II and the "a" series and beyond: Small and pocketable. Not a collapsible lens but certainly as compact.

-- Postwar Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 35 and Contina II: Small compact folding cameras with either a Novar (triplet) or the Tessar (four elements). The Ikonta 35 is a viewfinder/zone-focus camera while the Contina II has an uncoupled rangefinder.

-- Folding Voigtlander Vito, Vito II and Vito IIa (but not the Vito III, which is a much larger camera): These had the Skopar or Color-Skopar (coated) lenses, which are Tessar-type and excellent.

-- Balda Jubilette: Tiny folding 35mm camera.

-- Welti: Another great German folding 35mm camera.

-- Agfa Optima-Parat: Excellent half-frame 35mm camera with a sharp Solinar (Tessar-type). I've gotten some outstanding photos with this camera. Lens doesn't collapse but it doesn't need to. Uses an accurate trap-jaw metering system, which might disqualify the camera. Too bad, because it's an excellent camera.

-- Agfa Solinette II and Super Solinette: Also sold as Ansco Regents and Super Regents. Great, lightweight folding camera with either the Apotar (triplet) or the Solinar.

-- Prewar Zeiss Ikon Tenax I and East German Zeiss Ikon Tenax and Taxona: These are all 24x24 cameras. The prewar camera has a Novar, while the postwar cameras can be had with a sharp Tessar. The lens isn't collapsible, but the body is so diminutive that it doesn't need to be.

-- Zeiss Ikon Nettax (35mm rangefinder): Uses a collapsible Tessar, but the camera's weight is considerable.

-- Zeiss Ikon Super Nettel: This is the folding version of the Nettax (above) and came with either a noncollapsible Triotar (a very good triplet) or a noncollapsible Tessar. Also somewhat heavy but not has heavy as the Nettax.

These are the ones that come to mind.

 

[sanmich]

just get a leica screw mount; i have a iiif with 50mm elmar 3.5 : tiny set up, and a viewfinder, too.

I second that..

 

[urban_alchemist]

I've just fallen - HARD - for an Olympus Pen FT. Small (about the same size as a Barnack Camera), ttl metering (though not lense-coupled) and built like a tank. I even like the half-frame format - allowing for quick, cool diptychs in one go.

A few hundred dollars buys a great one, and they're worth every penny and more IMHO...

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions...

First, I do not want a 'half-frame', a 35mm negative a big enough step down in quality from medium-format...

Secondly, 'ZeissFan', thanks for the huge list of alternatives. I am not stuck in 'Leica Land' so I will definitely investigate the cameras on your list.

Thirdly, I should really quit complaining and just shoot what I have... the Bessa T is not that big!

Not to mention a very capable kit.

But the lure of the Leica O is just so strong...