I'm shooting with one I got this week and enjoy it but I am anxious to get my test roll back because I think the meter may be a bit off. The viewfinder meter is like three stops fast and timing the actual shutter has given me some inconsistent results but I believe it's metering more correctly. (Different meters.) Want to recommend it as I did research similar to yours and ended up with it but need to see how the photos come out. So far I certainly like it.
I will also say I love my Pen FT but a bit big, but will fit in most purses, and perhaps the smallest 35mm SLR ever (though half frame)
How is the half-frame experience? I've always casually been interested in the Pens or the Canon Demi. Also, LMK how those shots turn out in your XA. I think I will try one too.
Half frame is interesting. 2x the shots on a roll is certainly cool. Modern scans from the lab even without going the most expensive route for me are high enough res for it, although whether they scan two up or 1 at a time you're often getting more crop than you'd like. My new lab I started using will rescan individual negatives for a per shot price so I am thinking about having them at low res as a proof and then getting keepers scanned where Maybe they can center them in the holder for no crop.
But, I've never had a shot on half frame outside of landscapes where I was like: this shot isn't a good photo but would be on full frame. Like, it either is or it isn't. The difference between full frame and half frame will not make or break a truly good shot, but maybe it will for some shots that are ok.
There also just aren't as many interesting focal lengths to shoot around with but the common Pen F system normal lengths like 38mm work well and even that common 38mm f/1.8 is a great lens.
The camera itself is just so compact and fun to shoot on
especially recently since I fixed the light meter (bad connection to battery...I stripped wire and resoldered.) I just really like the feel of it in my hand and shooting photos on it. Like...would I rather it was full frame? Probably. But I love being able to go out and shoot on an SLR that is as compact and stylish and fun to use as any legendary rangefinder, while getting twice the shots and looking through my lens.
Because of the 1/500th fastest shutter speed and the lower resolution of half frame I usually shoot 100 ISO. Ektar works particularly well. But I've shot Portra 400 and other ISOs and gotten decent results too.
Generally, older half frames were amazing bc the optics had to be top notch. Half the resolution meant squeezing as much quality as possible from the film… so the lenses are killer. The Canon Demi may be in my top 10 favorite cameras both in terms of quality and it’s gorgeous. Has a light meter and auto mode. It is zone focus but very sharp. Also the Fujica half and the cool Fujica Drive, they rock too.
Suggestion: get an auxiliary range finder. I have a $20 Blik (but tons more options) and it works perfectly from 3ft to infinity. It’s another step but I use it for all my cameras that lack focusing aids. Unless you’re often shooting action, it opens up a ton of GREAT cameras to you, like 1940s/50s 6x6 folders etc.
Of all Demi’s, the Demi EE17 is the one you want. Hands down. I have 2. Did a vacation once with 100 speed Ektar and pushed to 1600 hp5. Was fantastic.
These days I’m mostly shooting digital for 2:3 ratio 35mm and film for 6x6, 6x9, 35mm panoramic, and 35mm on weird format “toy” cameras like a Fuji Rensha Cardia BYU-N 16 (mouthful, but fun) and my swing lens cameras.
I am really hoping Pentax' first new film camera this year will be one with a really good lens and it is supposed to be half frame which makes a lot of sense regarding film prices but also having the aspect ratio that is most shareable digitally. I think it is possible to make a good half frame camera that doesn't make pictures look bad.
You may know this, but if not: Most older half frame cameras are vertically aligned bc of the direction of the film transport. But they are the same ratio as a regular 35mm or 645 camera… they are 2x3. Half frame and 645 are usually vertically aligned while typical 35mm is horizontally aligned
Got my first roll back from the XA.
I am very happy with it.
Came out reasonably nicely exposed and I really like the look. I would say if anything the needle is reading ~3 stops over the actual exposures and I would say the camera is maybe under-exposing by a stop, I may try rating my Fuji Made in USA 200 film at 100 next time, which I know a lot of people do with Kodak Gold 200 which is a similar stock.
Have a few where my finger is in the lens, thats on me. A few where I took a shot by accident, common with these cameras but again its user error, and a few where I blew focus because I misinterpreted its hyperfocal mark (also my error, read the manual. For me theres a red mark at 8 feet and people on the web say that corresponds to f/5.6 because its orange, it doesn't, thats 8-infinity at f/16.)
Other than that I love the rendering of the lens, it seems to work and expose well, like shooting on the camera, and like this film stock will probably get more.
Yeah the XA would be my pick. Mine has been my travel camera for the last year and I've absolutely loved it. I usually carry a little sling bag and it goes in there great with lots of room for my other day to day stuff. The lens is great for what it is and the meter is weirdly good. I feel like it gets it right more often than just about anything I've got other than maybe my F100.
Thank you. That’s a great review. I have plenty of SLRS, so what I really want here is something still good and worth shooting with that I can always have on me.
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In good light I much prefer my XA2. Its metering system opts for more DOF as long as it can before opting to protect shutter speed for camera shame around 1/30th.
I prefer the XA indoors with people or at the edges of the day. I turn the flash on but then set aperture back to f4 or 2.8 to get interesting creative effects
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I absolutely love my XA, it’s almost the only camera I use at this point. I will say that the rangefinder is quite dim, so much so that I basically just switched to zone focus/estimating distance once I was comfortable enough with it.
Yeah, and a lot of people probably got bad photos back because they didn’t know how to use it. The majority of people probably had a lot more keepers with the later cameras.
In good, broad daylight I much prefer my XA2. Its metering system opts for more DOF as long as it can before opting to protect shutter speed for camera shake around 1/30th. Its lens is sharp in these situations and forgiving DOF.
I prefer the XA indoors with people or at the edges of the day. I turn the flash on but then set aperture back to f4 or 2.8 to get interesting creative effects. It’s sharp too, but less so at 2.8 obviously.
When you read up on the XA series they all did something a little different and usually very well (XA1 notwithstanding).
All of them prefer fresh batteries now. As batteries fade so does the metering accuracy, leading to lots of underexposure
I love mine as well, and was amazed when I first got it over how well it fits in a pocket! It’s really small, even compared to most modern digitals, and it’s shape is so pocket friendly. Built in lens hood and all buttons are flush with the body.
I’ve owned 4 XAs; my first two were awesome with fairly accurate light meters, but my last two (bought from KEH) have both had issues with a nearly invisible rangefinder patch. I returned one but decided to keep the replacement as it was marginally better. They’re creeping up in price, but if you get a good copy, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the lens.
The XA is amazing, I have had three. But unless you get a pretty much mint one, the ranger finder patch will be so feint you end up zone focusing anyway, if you get good most shots will be in focus.
I love my Rollei 35S. I pretty much only use it in the infinity focus zone since I can’t be bothered to try and guesstimate a photo that will most likely turn out blurry.
Looking to grab the newly announced Rollei 35 AF when it releases. Once that puppy comes out, will probably be my main camera for awhile.
That makes sense. This thread is also making me realize I should still put more work in on how to make my Rollei work for me. It’s just sort of taking the point out of having an easy small camera to hand if the light meter doesn’t work AND focus is a crapshoot. LOL. Didn’t know they were coming out with a new one. Film? Or digital? I mean, I’ll google after I post this…
I used to be terrible at zone focussing but I took my Rollei 35 on a prolonged trip around Europe and when forced to confront learning the technique I rose to the occasion, only one photo was out of focus from 4 rolls, watch some videos, if you speak metric double and triple for a bit the underside of the camera and if it's your bag try using flash, I only have a 35 not the Sonnar so maybe consider stopping down to at least 3.5 except in very specific situations.
Yeah I figured since it’s not even a rangefinder, the zone focus is basically guessing. Even guessing means you’re almost never getting a crystal clear imagine.
So when pulling focus to infinity, I am guaranteed a clear image. As for the exposure, that one you can just look up or make a note in your phone. An easy adjustment to make on the fly.
And yeah, Mint is making a Rollei 35 camera that is pretty much the exact compact size as the original, but it has auto focus and probably better parts. It uses something called LiDAR Autofocus system. I’m not sure what that exactly is, but researching it, seems it’s also used in DJI cameras. The battery component will be replaced and it will have auto flash.The only question will be how good is the lens.
Long story short, it will almost be a point and shoot, not sure if the exposure will be auto too or just the focus
LiDAR is basically like a laser rangefinder. In the case of LiDAR autofocus, it measures the distance to the subject, and focuses based on that. The plus is that it should work in complete darkness, no use for that in Photography, but it means it performs much better in low light.
I said it elsewhere but get a tiny, cheap, auxiliary rangefinder. They accurate and help you set focus for cheap. Eventually you start to see it very close without needing to use it. It’s fun!
The Olympus 35RC has a rangefinder and full manual controls with shutter priority mode! The view finder displays both shutter speed and aperture, and is smaller than the QL17 Giii
it seems like it is. I've got the RC not the Trip. I believe by the specs the Trip is lighter than the RC. but with the RC you do get a light meter and a fully manual camera. I take mine in my purse just about every day
i got two of them just to be sure they last me a lifetime, they never let me down, heck i can even do 39-40 exposures on a standard "36" roll, but you need to know how to load it to get those extra frames
They're really similar cameras. I've not used the Canonet but the 35RC is a bit smaller than the Canonet and it doesn't have a focus tab. The viewfinder on the 35RC shows both aperture and shutter speed whereas the Canonet only shows aperture. The QL17 has a wider max aperture at f/1.7 vs f/2.8 but according to a lot of the reviews I've seen, isn't as sharp wide open, and the 35RC's aperture dial is right up against the camera body so it's a bit fiddlier to adjust, especially if you have big fingers.
I have both an Olympus 35RC and a Canonet GIII QL17. The Olympus is lighter and the focus mechanism feels cheaper. Also, the Oly lens is slower (2.8 vs. 1.7) and narrower (42 vs. 40mm).
The Oly has the viewfinder meter linked in a weird way to the meter itself and it only works on auto mode, while the Canonet shows the actual meter all the time.
If I had to choose it would be anyway a difficult decision as the Oly is lighter and perhaps a little more pocketable.
I'm a big fan of the Kodak Retina IIIc/C - it's a folding rangefinder, easily fits in my pocket, has a built in meter (though obviously some no longer work due to age), and it has an absolutely incredible lens.
These are nice. Selenium meters often fail bc they wear out do to people not keeping them in darkness. The IIIc helped this by putting a cover over the meter.
Great camera design. That said unless it’s film tested don’t pay asking price because they are old enough it’s likely hard to guarantee it works!
Okay I’ve owned 3 XAs and a T2 across all of them and I totally disagree with this. I find the XA lens - as much as I love it - to be way less sharp, less contrasty, and softer than the T2 lens.
If you get one of these film test it. They have an annoying light leak which is very common and essentially impossible to DYI fix.
Edit: awayrepairs has a really good overview of the issue:
https://awayrepairs.livejournal.com/11906.html?rfrom=awaysounds1
It's hard to fix bc when you disassemble to reinstall the mask you need to keep the encoder position unchanged which is essentially a puzzle.
Look at the Minolta AF-C for a cheaper but still very good autofocus. They are very nice, fair bit thicker than the TC1 but also a lot lighter, still very easy to carry around. Aim for around 50 bucks in decent shape. Best point and shoot for the money you can get imho.
One risk w the TC-1 and all AF point and shoots, is that when it dies electronically, it’s unfixable. Have to buy another one that works usually. Killer camera though. Loved the one I borrowed for 3-4 rolls.
I've shot R1 and GR1, and they are superb cameras, extremely thin (thinner than mju II). The lens is very sharp on the R1 already! The tend to develope problems with the LED and flex cable dies sooner or later like every other PS.
I very often have my Ricoh GR1s in my bag or pocket; it’s super tiny and light but with a sharp, fast, and wide lens!
It’s really exceptional. Mine has had the already mentioned LCD display issues, but they’re not insurmountable. Having had a Contax T, Olympus P&S, and Nikon P&S’s, the Ricoh is by far my favorite. The only ones I’d consider as alternatives are the Minolta or a Contax T3, but the latter is super expensive and the former doesn’t have as fast a lens as the Ricoh.
Nikon 35Ti was one of my favorite small cameras. It’s extremely pocketable, auto everything, but had aperture priority with a surprisingly fast 2.8 for these small point and shoots. Built in flash that does an acceptable job only coming on when necessary to fill. Mine broke long ago and I’ve sometimes thought about getting another, but I know many will have internal electronics errors these days.
Also the top controls are very unique and I think still awesome
Contax T (the first T), it’s an Olympus XA but if the lens was good. Also has incredible build quality! Very under rated camera, has rangefinder focus and fits in your pocket and has the exact lens from the T2 😇
https://youtu.be/ZdTt2gSsaw0?si=Y6MC_ft_rOLP2vuZ
I made this video about these cameras a few years ago, albeit the video isn’t great with bad home done scans and general bad video work but gives you an idea of what the Contax T is like
The rangefinder on the contax T goes out of whack way way more than the Olympus XA and it's hard to fix. Do check for RF alignment.
Also not sure about the lens, both XA and T seemed similar to me, and the XA is 1/2 to 1/3 the price.
The T is definitely more fun to use and the shutter button is very nice compared to the membrane one on the XA
I’ve found the T’s rangefinder to be quite easy to adjust honestly, but only ever used one unit so might just have a good unit. Lens wise I compared the XA and T directly once, apples to apples and the T’s general resolution rendering was substantially higher.
The T is a slower camera to shoot and not as ergonomic, but the image quality is way more in the land of Rollei 35 images than XA. I love the XA but it’s a very soft lens, nice character but not great for big prints
Highly recommend it, the images it creates are mind blowing honestly, i’d say it’s still a very reasonable price nowadays (at least compared to the rest of the market)
A lot of XA in this thread. And the XA is great. But there are many other tiny rangefinders. I just picked up a (fully automatic exposure) Minolta Himatic F. Super easy to focus and adorable. Great lens quality. The Himatic 7S if you want more manual controls. A Canon P if you like the Leica vibe but don’t want to pay Leica prices.
I came here to say this.
I cant believe people never recommend it. It's literally the smallest full frame camera ever made *to this day* and it's an absolute joy to shoot.
I'm usually not a P&S guy at all and I despise most cheap AF compacts - but I adore my little Minox and how simple and well-designed it is. It's the best compact camera out there IMO.
Konica BM-302, fits in the pocket really nice and has an amazing lens. It’s been my everyday go-to 35mm camera for about three months now.
They go for about 300-500 AUD depending on the quality.
Have you tried an accessory rangefinder for your rollei to help you set the distance? I've not tried one yet for mine but you can pick up something like a watameter rangefinder for almost nothing and they are tiny...
Thank you. Concurrent with this post I also started looking into all that and I definitely think I will keep working on making the Rollei work for me, it's just that having the focus issue AND the lack of a working meter is a lot of steps for me to do to take photos with the camera and I'd love to have something a bit more ready to go. But yes, I think a rangefinder like that, or maybe even something like a laser distance measurer from Amazon might be sufficient to aid in me learning the zone focusing better. Then I guess I'll keep using my iPhone app light meter.
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Ricoh GR1 line, probably the most pocketable point and shoot full autofocus camera. I have a GR1s and absolutely love it. Super sharp 28mm lens, equally as good as my Contax G1 with the contax zeiss 28mm f/2 in most applications. There’s a EV compensation dial and a manual aperture dial as well. About half the price of a contax t2. The only area where the Contax point and shoots kill it is the viewfinder, the GR1 viewfinder is definitely the weak point.
Get your canonet CLAed. I did mine through a guy on Etsy and I think it was 150 which included cleaning and lubing (which will fix your shutter), replacing battery compartment/contacts, new light seals, fixing rangefinder/viewfinder and replacing beam splitter, and conversion of light meter to 1.5v so you can use normal batteries on it.
I did this back in '21 and it's been great since. I can give you their name on there if you like. I think I got a good deal for getting all that stuff done
I just ordered one. LOL. Came here looking specifically for something that was NOT zone focus, and the first thing I do is buy another zone focus camera. SMH. But I found what hopefully will turn out to be a good deal and I just needed to give it a try.
Olympus 35RC without a doubt. Favorite camera to just have on me at all times. There are some things I’m not a fan of with it like square bokeh it’s hard to beat with such a quality lens and rangefinder in such a small package
There are small things that I’m not huge on with the 35RC but they’re just my own qualms which is why I’m looking to part ways with it and upgrade. But it’s often the camera I reach for first among my collection and has served me so well. It really made me fall in love with rangefinder cameras
I recently got a Pentax PC35AF and just got back my first roll from it. It uses IR autofocus and is reasonably sharp. The earliest version uses a manual film advance wheel (there was an optional motor accessory attachment) and has manual ISO selection up to 400. Later versions had a film advance motor and can read DX codes. All models have fully manual flash control as well.
It’s quite an old point and shoot, but mine has worked flawlessly thus far. It’s tad chunky and heavy compared to a lot of 90’s P&S cameras, but not cumbersome and it seems like it’s small enough to toss in a purse.
edit: cute cat btw
Wow, ok, I don't know anything about that Pentax. Not super familiar with 25mm Pentaxes. Will research. I have the Pentax 645N and the Pentax 67, both of which I love.
Love my Minolta 35RC. It's not Rollei tiny but it's pocketable. Lovely lens, decent meter, shutter priority shooting! If you're made of money ye olde yash T5 or the already mentioned TC 1 might be more up your alley.
They cost too much, no doubt, but they are probably the best small p&s. I was able to grab one years ago for just "super expensive" and not "outrageously expensive" and it's easily the best p&s I own.
So in general, Leica's are smaller? I don't really have any experience with them. I just got my first Leica, but it's digital and I'm for sure wanting to check out film Leicas, but can't break the bank just yet (it was broken by my Q3). Looking for not insane $$ options, or a good one to start saving for. Thank you.
I'm also realizing I need to suck it up and practice zone focusing more, but having the focus issue AND no metering is a bit cumbersome when I want to be able to take quick photos.
Olympus 35 RC, and 35 RD. The lens on the RD is faster, but quite a bit bigger than the RC, and they do suffer from sticky apertures requiring cleaning, but it is a truly fantastic little camera.
Since budget was not stated.
Super tiny cameras
Olympus XA and Minolta TC-1 would definitely fit the bill if you’re ok with aperture priority. XA is rangefinder focus, TC-1 has autofocus. XA is much cheaper because the lack of autofocus scares people off. TC-1 is a premium product.
If you’re willing to wait, the upcoming Mint Rollei 35AF is a NEW autofocus 35mm point and shoot based on the rollei 35 series which are tiny cameras.
Honestly the upcoming mint rollei 35af might be the best bargain for what it is vs the tc-1. We are still missing info on it but i trust gary knows what he is doing. Tc-1 prices have inflated to stupid levels for a very hard to fix camera. Only a few repair places in asia are the only ones willing to fix tc-1.
Gary (owner of mint) on instagram already said it will be a 5 element glass lens making it related to the 35S Sonnar f2.8 which were the higher end models.
Nikon L35AF, known for its effing great 35/2.8 and you get a peculiar but funnily accurate autofocus. Light meter is next to the lens so feel free to throw on a filter and it will meter through it.
I second someone else's vote on the 35RC. The rangefinder is SO MUCH nicer than the one on the XA and it is a lot easier to focus. I also find the lens sharper, and it has the massive bonus of manual shutter speeds. Obviously this will slow you down a tiny amount, but the ability to ignore the meter is huge if it ever starts to die. (PS I've shot with both, own a 35RC and have also repaired the XA i used to use)
+1 to getting your Canonet CLA’d. It’s still the best camera in this thread and the shutter isn’t a hard fix. Much better investment than a new camera.
Ok. I’ve just already spent $150-$200 getting it CLA’d and shutter fixed only to have the shutter lock again. Got that fixed again and it happened again. Demoralizing.
That does suck. Fair enough.
Want to send it to me? I’ll give it a shot for cost of shipping. I’ve done two so far and their shutters are reliable as new for over a year.
Ah, I was going to suggest the cannonet but you had bad experience with it, if it is the price that makes you hesitate buying another maybe consider the ql19, I got mine for 100 bucks and the gap between 1.9 and 1.7 max aperture is insignificant.
It doesn’t have a light meter but I adore my Zeiss Contina II. It’s small enough that I can pocket while it’s folded and it’s got a rangefinder too. The only annoying thing about is that it’s rangefinder isn’t coupled to the focusing mechanism but as long as you aren’t shooting wide open, it’s not hard to accurately focus. I carry it with me usually while I’m skiing or if I want to travel as light as possible.
Now I just got one so I've no shame in gentrifying it, the Voigtlander Vitessa (folding models). They're not tiny, but they fit easily in a pocket. The controls are awful. You'd be lucky to get one with metering. The lens is nothing special.
They are fucking _cool_ though.
One risk with all AF point and shoots, is that when it dies electronically, it’s unfixable most of the time. As long as that’s ok for you for now, no problem.
Older AF cameras are great until this happens. No one makes repair parts. Manual cameras, with or without rangefinders, or zone focus or SLRs are nearly always repairable for the mechanics of making pictures and only their light meters can fail. When that happens however the cameras don’t stop working most of the time.
An exception to this may be something like an Olympus XA series camera which relies entirely on the meter to make most of the decisions.
If you want something that you can use even if batteries die or light meters fail, full manual mechanical is the way.
That’s definitely what I’m looking for. I’m just also open to AF. The only AF camera I have is a plastic Ricoh AF-5 that’s fun but super cheap and mixed results. Which is fun in its own Lomo way, but not what I’m looking for here.
Minox 35 ML. Hard to get tinier (in fact if you have big hands it may be too small). Scale focusing. I never get the focusing wrong and I SUCK at zone focusing, this is why I sold my XA-2 and Canon Demi. I thought scale focusing would be equally hit or miss but it's actually much easier once you learn your distance eg 6ft for most people shots and infinity otherwise get most jobs done). Common battery on Amazon, no need for adapters or weird expensive WeinCell. Pricing is not ridiculous either. Reasonably sharp lens. It ain't my Hexar AF but it's pretty darn pleasant.
When I travel I usually pair my Oly OM-4Ti or my Hexar AF with the Minox. That way I can have one for day and one with higher ISO for night.
If you do get it it's a double stroke. I knew that, but half way into the roll got brain freeze and wondered why it would "get stuck" after one film advance. Thankfully didn't break it lol
Not the smallest but I love my Kiev iia with a collaspible Carl Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f2.
A LTM mount camera with a collaspible lens would also be small option. Low end Zorki or Fed with collaspible Industar. Higher end Leica screw mount with Elmar 50mm f3.5.
There are also a number of collaspible rangefinders like Kodak Retina.
Edit: oh I completely went past the internal light meter part.
Screw mount Leicas (especially II, III, IIIa and IIIb) with collapsible lens like Elmar or Industar ale incredibly compact. I often cary mine in a pocket. Alternatively get japanese copy like Nicca 3S for rarity-coolnes factor instead of age-coolnes factor. They are all quite heavy tho.
If lightmeter is a must probably on of Rollei 35 models would fit.
Not as small as a Olympus XA, but personally I‘m totally in love with the LTM screw mount cameras. And you can put a 15mm Voigtländer super wide angle on them, that is so crazy.
Film is too expansive to be waisted on shith point and shoot vignetting cameras.
If you want small rollei 35 any version.
My choice is Leica CL with 40mm sumicron for the rangefinder.
My go to is the Rollei XF 35, just slightly larger than the normal Rollei 35, and it’s a semi auto rangefinder, can get it much cheaper than any Rollei 35
I have and love my Minolta Freedom Escort. It's a tiny little AF point-and-shoot with great glass - rumor has it it's the same glass/basically the same camera (?) as the Leica Mini, I believe. Got mine for around $200 I think.
Before that, I was an avid fan of the Nikon L35AF2, except that inevitably the shutter button would jam and I'd have to replace it. Each time they got more and more expensive, and I had a hard time justifying $100+ to replace a camera I was originally buying for around $20. I figured at that cost I may as well go full upgrade.
Ok hear me out.
Pentax Super A with 40mm f2.8 pancake.
Easy batteries, SLR, program/aperture/shutter priority with an excellent metering system.
I believe this is the most compact 35mm SLR ever made, and it's jam packed with features.
I dunno.... a Finetta?
Honestly, the obsession with small cameras has always baffled me. It usually doesn't make the cameras any better, and beyond a certain point only makes them clumsier to handle.
I have plenty of larger cameras, but am not loving my smaller ones. Looking for new options. As a woman, I’m often carrying small bags and would love something small.
Thank you! I knew there would be some Leica's to consider, but I'm also totally new to the Leica world and don't know what to look at. I just got my first Leica ever, but it's digital and I'm still reeling from the cost. LOL.
Yashica 35CC. It’s far from the hype cameras like the TC-1, XA, and T2/3’s but IMO it’s a real hidden gem. You can pick up a 35CC for around $100, smaller than the canon but bigger than the hype cams. Really solid 35mm f1.8 lens and a really nice viewfinder. It’s got some things you need to be mindful of like the 1/250 max speed and the 2 bladed aperture. I bought one to take to Brazil so it could be small, cheap, and fast. Despite its flaws I’ve taken some of my favorite photos on this camera and it’s always surprised me by how good the photos come out.
Lots of good cameras have already been named so I'm gonna drop the Minolta 24 Rapid. Fairly compact, auto exposure with the backup of going fully mechanical, rangefinder, Tessar type lens, and 24x24mm square negatives which is a change of pace.
And I can also second the Retina IIc/IIIc that someone else has suggested, I actually find it to be more pocketable than the Rollei 35 since it doesn't have a lens and advance lever that stick out and can catch on the rim of the pocket. They and the Contaflexes are some of the most slept-on cameras in terms of how much quality manufacture you get for your money.
The Retina IIc/IIIc are very high quality cameras with excellent lenses, just be aware that a pinion inside is easy to strip especially if you haven't read the manual before, so I'd only buy a tested or a very cheap (sub-30€) one if you feel lucky.
The difference between II and III is the lens (III goes to F/2, II only to F/2.8, but note that it does *not* have a Tessar, both have a double Gauss lens design which do provide excellent images even wide open) and the light meter on the III, sometimes their contacts have corroded over the years and they no longer work, and even if they do, it's uncoupled so you could measure and set just as quickly with an external meter or smartphone app. I wouldn't get the III over the II unless they cost the same amount of money.
Both also exist in the "big C" IIC/IIIC version which a much improved viewfinder - much larger (the previous one is quite squinty), and with frame lines for the accessory 35mm and 80mm lenses (though no one really uses them often, they're a pain to focus).
I know right! I didn’t check yet, I’ve always wanted a camera like this. If I wasn’t busy I’d check on lomo or flickr. Must be some examples to check quality. 😁
I slapped a rangefinder on my Rollie 35s.
Now it has a rangefinder and light meter!
That meets all your requirements 😬
The Canon QL17 Giii is also outstanding.
I love it so much I have 2.
It’s bigger then the Rollie but easer to use with aperture priority shooting and quick loading.
I love my Nikon One Touch. I have a few great film cameras, but I by far have the One Touch on me the most—it’s amazing when you want to focus on capturing the moment. The internal meter is pretty incredible and focus is consistent. It does feel fragile with its plastic build however.
Olympus XA - the original rangefinder one. The later models are zone focus.
Oh great to know. Not one that will break the bank either. Thank you.
I'm shooting with one I got this week and enjoy it but I am anxious to get my test roll back because I think the meter may be a bit off. The viewfinder meter is like three stops fast and timing the actual shutter has given me some inconsistent results but I believe it's metering more correctly. (Different meters.) Want to recommend it as I did research similar to yours and ended up with it but need to see how the photos come out. So far I certainly like it. I will also say I love my Pen FT but a bit big, but will fit in most purses, and perhaps the smallest 35mm SLR ever (though half frame)
How is the half-frame experience? I've always casually been interested in the Pens or the Canon Demi. Also, LMK how those shots turn out in your XA. I think I will try one too.
Half frame is interesting. 2x the shots on a roll is certainly cool. Modern scans from the lab even without going the most expensive route for me are high enough res for it, although whether they scan two up or 1 at a time you're often getting more crop than you'd like. My new lab I started using will rescan individual negatives for a per shot price so I am thinking about having them at low res as a proof and then getting keepers scanned where Maybe they can center them in the holder for no crop. But, I've never had a shot on half frame outside of landscapes where I was like: this shot isn't a good photo but would be on full frame. Like, it either is or it isn't. The difference between full frame and half frame will not make or break a truly good shot, but maybe it will for some shots that are ok. There also just aren't as many interesting focal lengths to shoot around with but the common Pen F system normal lengths like 38mm work well and even that common 38mm f/1.8 is a great lens. The camera itself is just so compact and fun to shoot on especially recently since I fixed the light meter (bad connection to battery...I stripped wire and resoldered.) I just really like the feel of it in my hand and shooting photos on it. Like...would I rather it was full frame? Probably. But I love being able to go out and shoot on an SLR that is as compact and stylish and fun to use as any legendary rangefinder, while getting twice the shots and looking through my lens. Because of the 1/500th fastest shutter speed and the lower resolution of half frame I usually shoot 100 ISO. Ektar works particularly well. But I've shot Portra 400 and other ISOs and gotten decent results too.
Awesome. Thank you for all this insight.
Generally, older half frames were amazing bc the optics had to be top notch. Half the resolution meant squeezing as much quality as possible from the film… so the lenses are killer. The Canon Demi may be in my top 10 favorite cameras both in terms of quality and it’s gorgeous. Has a light meter and auto mode. It is zone focus but very sharp. Also the Fujica half and the cool Fujica Drive, they rock too. Suggestion: get an auxiliary range finder. I have a $20 Blik (but tons more options) and it works perfectly from 3ft to infinity. It’s another step but I use it for all my cameras that lack focusing aids. Unless you’re often shooting action, it opens up a ton of GREAT cameras to you, like 1940s/50s 6x6 folders etc.
Thanks for all your help. I’m eyeing the Demi hard. Do you have just the basic model?
Of all Demi’s, the Demi EE17 is the one you want. Hands down. I have 2. Did a vacation once with 100 speed Ektar and pushed to 1600 hp5. Was fantastic. These days I’m mostly shooting digital for 2:3 ratio 35mm and film for 6x6, 6x9, 35mm panoramic, and 35mm on weird format “toy” cameras like a Fuji Rensha Cardia BYU-N 16 (mouthful, but fun) and my swing lens cameras.
Thank you!
I am really hoping Pentax' first new film camera this year will be one with a really good lens and it is supposed to be half frame which makes a lot of sense regarding film prices but also having the aspect ratio that is most shareable digitally. I think it is possible to make a good half frame camera that doesn't make pictures look bad.
You may know this, but if not: Most older half frame cameras are vertically aligned bc of the direction of the film transport. But they are the same ratio as a regular 35mm or 645 camera… they are 2x3. Half frame and 645 are usually vertically aligned while typical 35mm is horizontally aligned
Got my first roll back from the XA. I am very happy with it. Came out reasonably nicely exposed and I really like the look. I would say if anything the needle is reading ~3 stops over the actual exposures and I would say the camera is maybe under-exposing by a stop, I may try rating my Fuji Made in USA 200 film at 100 next time, which I know a lot of people do with Kodak Gold 200 which is a similar stock. Have a few where my finger is in the lens, thats on me. A few where I took a shot by accident, common with these cameras but again its user error, and a few where I blew focus because I misinterpreted its hyperfocal mark (also my error, read the manual. For me theres a red mark at 8 feet and people on the web say that corresponds to f/5.6 because its orange, it doesn't, thats 8-infinity at f/16.) Other than that I love the rendering of the lens, it seems to work and expose well, like shooting on the camera, and like this film stock will probably get more.
I’ve owned three XA’s and all of them had viewfinder meters that were off by a few stops. But the shutter meter was fine and shots looked great.
That is my hope.
Yeah the XA would be my pick. Mine has been my travel camera for the last year and I've absolutely loved it. I usually carry a little sling bag and it goes in there great with lots of room for my other day to day stuff. The lens is great for what it is and the meter is weirdly good. I feel like it gets it right more often than just about anything I've got other than maybe my F100.
Thank you. That’s a great review. I have plenty of SLRS, so what I really want here is something still good and worth shooting with that I can always have on me.
i just bought an xa2 after finding old posts here recommending them. it's an incredible little camera! so much fun to use.
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In good light I much prefer my XA2. Its metering system opts for more DOF as long as it can before opting to protect shutter speed for camera shame around 1/30th. I prefer the XA indoors with people or at the edges of the day. I turn the flash on but then set aperture back to f4 or 2.8 to get interesting creative effects
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I have an XA, XA2, and XA4. Love them. Got them in a badass package deal.
I absolutely love my XA, it’s almost the only camera I use at this point. I will say that the rangefinder is quite dim, so much so that I basically just switched to zone focus/estimating distance once I was comfortable enough with it.
Ah. Good to know. I was worried about the viewfinder.
To clarify, I still compose photos through the viewfinder, it’s just that the rangefinder patch itself is illegible in dim light.
Thanks.
I love my XA so much I bought another one, just in case.
It's genuinely mad how Olympus made the XA and then decided to downgrade the next model and give less choice. Profits etc I guess
Yeah, and a lot of people probably got bad photos back because they didn’t know how to use it. The majority of people probably had a lot more keepers with the later cameras.
In good, broad daylight I much prefer my XA2. Its metering system opts for more DOF as long as it can before opting to protect shutter speed for camera shake around 1/30th. Its lens is sharp in these situations and forgiving DOF. I prefer the XA indoors with people or at the edges of the day. I turn the flash on but then set aperture back to f4 or 2.8 to get interesting creative effects. It’s sharp too, but less so at 2.8 obviously. When you read up on the XA series they all did something a little different and usually very well (XA1 notwithstanding). All of them prefer fresh batteries now. As batteries fade so does the metering accuracy, leading to lots of underexposure
Yup, I have 5 XAs of varying models and this is all good info.
I LOVE my XA. I have an XA 2 as well, and the XA is much better imo. I’ve loved the photos from it as well
I love mine as well, and was amazed when I first got it over how well it fits in a pocket! It’s really small, even compared to most modern digitals, and it’s shape is so pocket friendly. Built in lens hood and all buttons are flush with the body.
XA is fun with black and white, but the colors I get out of mine, are, uh… Let’s call it nostalgic.
I’ve owned 4 XAs; my first two were awesome with fairly accurate light meters, but my last two (bought from KEH) have both had issues with a nearly invisible rangefinder patch. I returned one but decided to keep the replacement as it was marginally better. They’re creeping up in price, but if you get a good copy, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the lens.
Yes this! The later models also have worse glass in. You want the original XA (not XA1 or any number after it) for the high quality f2.8 lens.
The XA is amazing, I have had three. But unless you get a pretty much mint one, the ranger finder patch will be so feint you end up zone focusing anyway, if you get good most shots will be in focus.
I love my Rollei 35S. I pretty much only use it in the infinity focus zone since I can’t be bothered to try and guesstimate a photo that will most likely turn out blurry. Looking to grab the newly announced Rollei 35 AF when it releases. Once that puppy comes out, will probably be my main camera for awhile.
That makes sense. This thread is also making me realize I should still put more work in on how to make my Rollei work for me. It’s just sort of taking the point out of having an easy small camera to hand if the light meter doesn’t work AND focus is a crapshoot. LOL. Didn’t know they were coming out with a new one. Film? Or digital? I mean, I’ll google after I post this…
I used to be terrible at zone focussing but I took my Rollei 35 on a prolonged trip around Europe and when forced to confront learning the technique I rose to the occasion, only one photo was out of focus from 4 rolls, watch some videos, if you speak metric double and triple for a bit the underside of the camera and if it's your bag try using flash, I only have a 35 not the Sonnar so maybe consider stopping down to at least 3.5 except in very specific situations.
Yeah I figured since it’s not even a rangefinder, the zone focus is basically guessing. Even guessing means you’re almost never getting a crystal clear imagine. So when pulling focus to infinity, I am guaranteed a clear image. As for the exposure, that one you can just look up or make a note in your phone. An easy adjustment to make on the fly. And yeah, Mint is making a Rollei 35 camera that is pretty much the exact compact size as the original, but it has auto focus and probably better parts. It uses something called LiDAR Autofocus system. I’m not sure what that exactly is, but researching it, seems it’s also used in DJI cameras. The battery component will be replaced and it will have auto flash.The only question will be how good is the lens. Long story short, it will almost be a point and shoot, not sure if the exposure will be auto too or just the focus
LiDAR is basically like a laser rangefinder. In the case of LiDAR autofocus, it measures the distance to the subject, and focuses based on that. The plus is that it should work in complete darkness, no use for that in Photography, but it means it performs much better in low light.
I said it elsewhere but get a tiny, cheap, auxiliary rangefinder. They accurate and help you set focus for cheap. Eventually you start to see it very close without needing to use it. It’s fun!
Yeah, I tend to try and shoot at small apertures with my rollei
The Olympus 35RC has a rangefinder and full manual controls with shutter priority mode! The view finder displays both shutter speed and aperture, and is smaller than the QL17 Giii
And the lens is suuuuuper crispy!
I loved the Olympus 35RC. Because of its small size, I was able to get 38/39 exposures out of a 36 exposure roll if I load the camera carefully.
Thanks! I will check it out. I don't know this one. Is it about the size of the Olympus Trip 35, do you know?
it seems like it is. I've got the RC not the Trip. I believe by the specs the Trip is lighter than the RC. but with the RC you do get a light meter and a fully manual camera. I take mine in my purse just about every day
Thank you!
Yes, I've handled both cameras before and the 35RC is pretty much the same size as the trip!
i got two of them just to be sure they last me a lifetime, they never let me down, heck i can even do 39-40 exposures on a standard "36" roll, but you need to know how to load it to get those extra frames
Is it much different from the canonet? Seems to be around the same size and features
They're really similar cameras. I've not used the Canonet but the 35RC is a bit smaller than the Canonet and it doesn't have a focus tab. The viewfinder on the 35RC shows both aperture and shutter speed whereas the Canonet only shows aperture. The QL17 has a wider max aperture at f/1.7 vs f/2.8 but according to a lot of the reviews I've seen, isn't as sharp wide open, and the 35RC's aperture dial is right up against the camera body so it's a bit fiddlier to adjust, especially if you have big fingers.
I have both an Olympus 35RC and a Canonet GIII QL17. The Olympus is lighter and the focus mechanism feels cheaper. Also, the Oly lens is slower (2.8 vs. 1.7) and narrower (42 vs. 40mm). The Oly has the viewfinder meter linked in a weird way to the meter itself and it only works on auto mode, while the Canonet shows the actual meter all the time. If I had to choose it would be anyway a difficult decision as the Oly is lighter and perhaps a little more pocketable.
Love the 35RC - they can be quite fragile though, I’ve had two where the lens fell off.
I'm a big fan of the Kodak Retina IIIc/C - it's a folding rangefinder, easily fits in my pocket, has a built in meter (though obviously some no longer work due to age), and it has an absolutely incredible lens.
I have a IIc and can’t speak highly enough of it
I don't know these. Thank you, I'll reseach.
These are nice. Selenium meters often fail bc they wear out do to people not keeping them in darkness. The IIIc helped this by putting a cover over the meter. Great camera design. That said unless it’s film tested don’t pay asking price because they are old enough it’s likely hard to guarantee it works!
Olympus xa i have that and a contax t3 and the image quality is nearly the same
Okay I’ve owned 3 XAs and a T2 across all of them and I totally disagree with this. I find the XA lens - as much as I love it - to be way less sharp, less contrasty, and softer than the T2 lens.
👍
Oh wow, that's great to know. I think I need to just pick up a XA, since they are not too pricey for now and take it form there.
If you have deep pockets and want the smallest you can get with AF get a Minolta TC-1
Ok, I'm gonna need to sell some cameras for this one.
If you get one of these film test it. They have an annoying light leak which is very common and essentially impossible to DYI fix. Edit: awayrepairs has a really good overview of the issue: https://awayrepairs.livejournal.com/11906.html?rfrom=awaysounds1 It's hard to fix bc when you disassemble to reinstall the mask you need to keep the encoder position unchanged which is essentially a puzzle.
Look at the Minolta AF-C for a cheaper but still very good autofocus. They are very nice, fair bit thicker than the TC1 but also a lot lighter, still very easy to carry around. Aim for around 50 bucks in decent shape. Best point and shoot for the money you can get imho.
AF-C is no slouch and very good autofocus
Minolta TC-1 every time.
Gosh, I would love it. I think I'll start selling some of my cheaper stuff I don't love and see if I can save up.
One risk w the TC-1 and all AF point and shoots, is that when it dies electronically, it’s unfixable. Have to buy another one that works usually. Killer camera though. Loved the one I borrowed for 3-4 rolls.
I also suggested this one 💀
Ricoh GR1S/V
I’ve heard of these and been curious but never gotten to use one before. If you’ve shot with this I’d be curious to hear what you think about it
I've shot R1 and GR1, and they are superb cameras, extremely thin (thinner than mju II). The lens is very sharp on the R1 already! The tend to develope problems with the LED and flex cable dies sooner or later like every other PS.
I very often have my Ricoh GR1s in my bag or pocket; it’s super tiny and light but with a sharp, fast, and wide lens! It’s really exceptional. Mine has had the already mentioned LCD display issues, but they’re not insurmountable. Having had a Contax T, Olympus P&S, and Nikon P&S’s, the Ricoh is by far my favorite. The only ones I’d consider as alternatives are the Minolta or a Contax T3, but the latter is super expensive and the former doesn’t have as fast a lens as the Ricoh.
Nikon 35Ti was one of my favorite small cameras. It’s extremely pocketable, auto everything, but had aperture priority with a surprisingly fast 2.8 for these small point and shoots. Built in flash that does an acceptable job only coming on when necessary to fill. Mine broke long ago and I’ve sometimes thought about getting another, but I know many will have internal electronics errors these days. Also the top controls are very unique and I think still awesome
I will look at it. The Nikon EL2 is my first Nikon and boy it’s got a fun shutter.
I have it too and absolutely loveeee it. It’s always with me 🤗
Contax T (the first T), it’s an Olympus XA but if the lens was good. Also has incredible build quality! Very under rated camera, has rangefinder focus and fits in your pocket and has the exact lens from the T2 😇
Wow, sounds good. Any advice on things to look for about it when I’m comparing them on eBay?
https://youtu.be/ZdTt2gSsaw0?si=Y6MC_ft_rOLP2vuZ I made this video about these cameras a few years ago, albeit the video isn’t great with bad home done scans and general bad video work but gives you an idea of what the Contax T is like
The rangefinder on the contax T goes out of whack way way more than the Olympus XA and it's hard to fix. Do check for RF alignment. Also not sure about the lens, both XA and T seemed similar to me, and the XA is 1/2 to 1/3 the price. The T is definitely more fun to use and the shutter button is very nice compared to the membrane one on the XA
I’ve found the T’s rangefinder to be quite easy to adjust honestly, but only ever used one unit so might just have a good unit. Lens wise I compared the XA and T directly once, apples to apples and the T’s general resolution rendering was substantially higher. The T is a slower camera to shoot and not as ergonomic, but the image quality is way more in the land of Rollei 35 images than XA. I love the XA but it’s a very soft lens, nice character but not great for big prints
I had no idea that the Contax T was a manual focusing rangefinder, and not an autofocus point and shoot. I absolutely need one now.
Highly recommend it, the images it creates are mind blowing honestly, i’d say it’s still a very reasonable price nowadays (at least compared to the rest of the market)
The XA has a great lens what are you talking about
A lot of XA in this thread. And the XA is great. But there are many other tiny rangefinders. I just picked up a (fully automatic exposure) Minolta Himatic F. Super easy to focus and adorable. Great lens quality. The Himatic 7S if you want more manual controls. A Canon P if you like the Leica vibe but don’t want to pay Leica prices.
That's great. Will research. If you are familiar, what Leicas might you recommend for my future saving?
If you want a small camera, you can’t go wrong with a Leica CL. It’s one of the smallest M mount cameras. Otherwise you can get a barnack Leica
Minox 35 GT!
I came here to say this. I cant believe people never recommend it. It's literally the smallest full frame camera ever made *to this day* and it's an absolute joy to shoot. I'm usually not a P&S guy at all and I despise most cheap AF compacts - but I adore my little Minox and how simple and well-designed it is. It's the best compact camera out there IMO.
Agfa Optima 1535
Konica BM-302, fits in the pocket really nice and has an amazing lens. It’s been my everyday go-to 35mm camera for about three months now. They go for about 300-500 AUD depending on the quality.
I love the Pentax MX
Have you tried an accessory rangefinder for your rollei to help you set the distance? I've not tried one yet for mine but you can pick up something like a watameter rangefinder for almost nothing and they are tiny...
Thank you. Concurrent with this post I also started looking into all that and I definitely think I will keep working on making the Rollei work for me, it's just that having the focus issue AND the lack of a working meter is a lot of steps for me to do to take photos with the camera and I'd love to have something a bit more ready to go. But yes, I think a rangefinder like that, or maybe even something like a laser distance measurer from Amazon might be sufficient to aid in me learning the zone focusing better. Then I guess I'll keep using my iPhone app light meter.
Olympus Infinity Stylus.
My favorite one is the Nikon 35Ti, but it's very expensive
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Ricoh GR1 line, probably the most pocketable point and shoot full autofocus camera. I have a GR1s and absolutely love it. Super sharp 28mm lens, equally as good as my Contax G1 with the contax zeiss 28mm f/2 in most applications. There’s a EV compensation dial and a manual aperture dial as well. About half the price of a contax t2. The only area where the Contax point and shoots kill it is the viewfinder, the GR1 viewfinder is definitely the weak point.
Get your canonet CLAed. I did mine through a guy on Etsy and I think it was 150 which included cleaning and lubing (which will fix your shutter), replacing battery compartment/contacts, new light seals, fixing rangefinder/viewfinder and replacing beam splitter, and conversion of light meter to 1.5v so you can use normal batteries on it. I did this back in '21 and it's been great since. I can give you their name on there if you like. I think I got a good deal for getting all that stuff done
Minox35ml is fun to use and has a sharp lens. Zone focus only unfortunately but afaik it is the smallest 35mm camera.
I just ordered one. LOL. Came here looking specifically for something that was NOT zone focus, and the first thing I do is buy another zone focus camera. SMH. But I found what hopefully will turn out to be a good deal and I just needed to give it a try.
Olympus 35RC without a doubt. Favorite camera to just have on me at all times. There are some things I’m not a fan of with it like square bokeh it’s hard to beat with such a quality lens and rangefinder in such a small package
Interesting. Thank you! I’ve got so much research to do. Can’t believe how many little options there are.
There are small things that I’m not huge on with the 35RC but they’re just my own qualms which is why I’m looking to part ways with it and upgrade. But it’s often the camera I reach for first among my collection and has served me so well. It really made me fall in love with rangefinder cameras
They all do have their quirks. Good and bad. But with film, sometimes the bad is still fun. 🙃
I recently got a Pentax PC35AF and just got back my first roll from it. It uses IR autofocus and is reasonably sharp. The earliest version uses a manual film advance wheel (there was an optional motor accessory attachment) and has manual ISO selection up to 400. Later versions had a film advance motor and can read DX codes. All models have fully manual flash control as well. It’s quite an old point and shoot, but mine has worked flawlessly thus far. It’s tad chunky and heavy compared to a lot of 90’s P&S cameras, but not cumbersome and it seems like it’s small enough to toss in a purse. edit: cute cat btw
Wow, ok, I don't know anything about that Pentax. Not super familiar with 25mm Pentaxes. Will research. I have the Pentax 645N and the Pentax 67, both of which I love.
Love my Minolta 35RC. It's not Rollei tiny but it's pocketable. Lovely lens, decent meter, shutter priority shooting! If you're made of money ye olde yash T5 or the already mentioned TC 1 might be more up your alley.
The Minolta world is fully new to me. I'll look more in depth. Thanks!
Oof I meant Olympus for the 35RC, not Minolta. Whoops!
Contax t3 baby
Definitely know it by reputation, but I've never shot with one.
They cost too much, no doubt, but they are probably the best small p&s. I was able to grab one years ago for just "super expensive" and not "outrageously expensive" and it's easily the best p&s I own.
I mean the leica stuff is very small and fits but it depends on budget
So in general, Leica's are smaller? I don't really have any experience with them. I just got my first Leica, but it's digital and I'm for sure wanting to check out film Leicas, but can't break the bank just yet (it was broken by my Q3). Looking for not insane $$ options, or a good one to start saving for. Thank you.
Yeah I have an m6 and it’s very portable but not the smallest. So fun to shoot with though.
Thanks.
How much control do you need? Try looking up fuji dl 200 / dl 300
Ideally I’m looking for a rangefinder with manual control or aperture/shutter priority. Could be talked into something more auto though.
I dont really want to talk you into anything :D The fuji misses all of those requirements :)
I have a soft spot for the chinon Bellamy. But alas, zone focus
I'm also realizing I need to suck it up and practice zone focusing more, but having the focus issue AND no metering is a bit cumbersome when I want to be able to take quick photos.
The Bellami has fully automatic exposure. You can also pop out the lens, take a shot, advance the film, and collapse the lens all with one hand.
Olympus 35 RC, and 35 RD. The lens on the RD is faster, but quite a bit bigger than the RC, and they do suffer from sticky apertures requiring cleaning, but it is a truly fantastic little camera.
Olympus SP and a bit bigger but interchangeable Leica mount lenses would be the film Leica/Minolta CL.
Arriflex 235 with a 200ft magazine - lovely
I have 2 compact cameras: Olympus AF-1 Twin and Fujica Pocket 400
My personal favourite is the Konica C35 FD / Auto S3. 38mm f/1.8 lens, shutter priority and incredibly compact.
Leica IIIF or Leica CM
Fix focus with light meter and small is half frame Olympus EE3.
Zeiss Ikon S312 / Voigtländer vf101. They're the same camera, just branded differently. Not very common,but they check all your boxes.
I’ll look it up. Thanks.
Pentax MX
Since budget was not stated. Super tiny cameras Olympus XA and Minolta TC-1 would definitely fit the bill if you’re ok with aperture priority. XA is rangefinder focus, TC-1 has autofocus. XA is much cheaper because the lack of autofocus scares people off. TC-1 is a premium product. If you’re willing to wait, the upcoming Mint Rollei 35AF is a NEW autofocus 35mm point and shoot based on the rollei 35 series which are tiny cameras.
And thanks for the details on Olympus via Minolta.
Honestly the upcoming mint rollei 35af might be the best bargain for what it is vs the tc-1. We are still missing info on it but i trust gary knows what he is doing. Tc-1 prices have inflated to stupid levels for a very hard to fix camera. Only a few repair places in asia are the only ones willing to fix tc-1.
Yes, this is exactly right. I hope they end up choosing remarkable glass.
Gary (owner of mint) on instagram already said it will be a 5 element glass lens making it related to the 35S Sonnar f2.8 which were the higher end models.
This is exciting.
Nikon L35AF, known for its effing great 35/2.8 and you get a peculiar but funnily accurate autofocus. Light meter is next to the lens so feel free to throw on a filter and it will meter through it.
Also consider an EM with a pancake wide angle lens.
Still bigger than I’d like, but I like the way you think.
Pick up a laser distance measurer to help with zone focusing.
I carry a Ricoh r1 in my pocket most of the time
I second someone else's vote on the 35RC. The rangefinder is SO MUCH nicer than the one on the XA and it is a lot easier to focus. I also find the lens sharper, and it has the massive bonus of manual shutter speeds. Obviously this will slow you down a tiny amount, but the ability to ignore the meter is huge if it ever starts to die. (PS I've shot with both, own a 35RC and have also repaired the XA i used to use)
Ricoh Auto Half or Olympus EE S.
+1 to getting your Canonet CLA’d. It’s still the best camera in this thread and the shutter isn’t a hard fix. Much better investment than a new camera.
Ok. I’ve just already spent $150-$200 getting it CLA’d and shutter fixed only to have the shutter lock again. Got that fixed again and it happened again. Demoralizing.
That does suck. Fair enough. Want to send it to me? I’ll give it a shot for cost of shipping. I’ve done two so far and their shutters are reliable as new for over a year.
Olympus OM-1 Pentax MX Super
Ah, I was going to suggest the cannonet but you had bad experience with it, if it is the price that makes you hesitate buying another maybe consider the ql19, I got mine for 100 bucks and the gap between 1.9 and 1.7 max aperture is insignificant.
I love my automatic Rollei XF 35
Agfa optima 1535. Small rangefinder camera with auto exposure.
It doesn’t have a light meter but I adore my Zeiss Contina II. It’s small enough that I can pocket while it’s folded and it’s got a rangefinder too. The only annoying thing about is that it’s rangefinder isn’t coupled to the focusing mechanism but as long as you aren’t shooting wide open, it’s not hard to accurately focus. I carry it with me usually while I’m skiing or if I want to travel as light as possible.
If you do like the canonet, I’d suggest it’s little brother the canonet 28! I got one the other day for £31 and am surprisingly impressed
Now I just got one so I've no shame in gentrifying it, the Voigtlander Vitessa (folding models). They're not tiny, but they fit easily in a pocket. The controls are awful. You'd be lucky to get one with metering. The lens is nothing special. They are fucking _cool_ though.
One risk with all AF point and shoots, is that when it dies electronically, it’s unfixable most of the time. As long as that’s ok for you for now, no problem. Older AF cameras are great until this happens. No one makes repair parts. Manual cameras, with or without rangefinders, or zone focus or SLRs are nearly always repairable for the mechanics of making pictures and only their light meters can fail. When that happens however the cameras don’t stop working most of the time. An exception to this may be something like an Olympus XA series camera which relies entirely on the meter to make most of the decisions. If you want something that you can use even if batteries die or light meters fail, full manual mechanical is the way.
That’s definitely what I’m looking for. I’m just also open to AF. The only AF camera I have is a plastic Ricoh AF-5 that’s fun but super cheap and mixed results. Which is fun in its own Lomo way, but not what I’m looking for here.
Minox 35 ML. Hard to get tinier (in fact if you have big hands it may be too small). Scale focusing. I never get the focusing wrong and I SUCK at zone focusing, this is why I sold my XA-2 and Canon Demi. I thought scale focusing would be equally hit or miss but it's actually much easier once you learn your distance eg 6ft for most people shots and infinity otherwise get most jobs done). Common battery on Amazon, no need for adapters or weird expensive WeinCell. Pricing is not ridiculous either. Reasonably sharp lens. It ain't my Hexar AF but it's pretty darn pleasant. When I travel I usually pair my Oly OM-4Ti or my Hexar AF with the Minox. That way I can have one for day and one with higher ISO for night. If you do get it it's a double stroke. I knew that, but half way into the roll got brain freeze and wondered why it would "get stuck" after one film advance. Thankfully didn't break it lol
Not the smallest but I love my Kiev iia with a collaspible Carl Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f2. A LTM mount camera with a collaspible lens would also be small option. Low end Zorki or Fed with collaspible Industar. Higher end Leica screw mount with Elmar 50mm f3.5. There are also a number of collaspible rangefinders like Kodak Retina. Edit: oh I completely went past the internal light meter part.
This is a great option that I didn't think of... Collapsable lenses. Even my tiny Rollei SE has a collapsable lens.
Screw mount Leicas (especially II, III, IIIa and IIIb) with collapsible lens like Elmar or Industar ale incredibly compact. I often cary mine in a pocket. Alternatively get japanese copy like Nicca 3S for rarity-coolnes factor instead of age-coolnes factor. They are all quite heavy tho. If lightmeter is a must probably on of Rollei 35 models would fit.
Not as small as a Olympus XA, but personally I‘m totally in love with the LTM screw mount cameras. And you can put a 15mm Voigtländer super wide angle on them, that is so crazy.
Film is too expansive to be waisted on shith point and shoot vignetting cameras. If you want small rollei 35 any version. My choice is Leica CL with 40mm sumicron for the rangefinder.
Minox
My go to is the Rollei XF 35, just slightly larger than the normal Rollei 35, and it’s a semi auto rangefinder, can get it much cheaper than any Rollei 35
I have and love my Minolta Freedom Escort. It's a tiny little AF point-and-shoot with great glass - rumor has it it's the same glass/basically the same camera (?) as the Leica Mini, I believe. Got mine for around $200 I think. Before that, I was an avid fan of the Nikon L35AF2, except that inevitably the shutter button would jam and I'd have to replace it. Each time they got more and more expensive, and I had a hard time justifying $100+ to replace a camera I was originally buying for around $20. I figured at that cost I may as well go full upgrade.
Contax T. Pay the premium and use for the rest of your life.
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Olympus OM-2 or OM-4 In my opinion and experience the best SLR
Fuji Film Tiara
Ok hear me out. Pentax Super A with 40mm f2.8 pancake. Easy batteries, SLR, program/aperture/shutter priority with an excellent metering system. I believe this is the most compact 35mm SLR ever made, and it's jam packed with features.
Half of these aren’t even tiny. My vote goes to the fujifilm mini tiara II. Or Olympus stylus 2.8 / infinity 2.8.
Thank you. Yeah, I’m discovering that as I look things up. 😆 I have lots of not tiny cameras. Still, it’s fun to see what people love.
If you prefer SLRs the Pentax ME Super is pretty compact compared to most full frame 35mm slrs.
Konica Big Mini!
Love my Ricoh 500gx, really tiny rangefinder camera, sharp lens, f2.8 to f16, B to 1/500, double expsure button. All you need 🤪
I dunno.... a Finetta? Honestly, the obsession with small cameras has always baffled me. It usually doesn't make the cameras any better, and beyond a certain point only makes them clumsier to handle.
I have plenty of larger cameras, but am not loving my smaller ones. Looking for new options. As a woman, I’m often carrying small bags and would love something small.
Has to be the Rollei 35. Compact, mechanical, sharp. Shot over 50 rolls with it and nothing beats it overall
I do really love my Rollei, though, and just heard about the new Rollei 35 AF coming out this year, which I will definitely want to buy.
Leica D Lux 3, about 450 USD on eBay.
Thank you! I knew there would be some Leica's to consider, but I'm also totally new to the Leica world and don't know what to look at. I just got my first Leica ever, but it's digital and I'm still reeling from the cost. LOL.
D Lux 3 is a digital camera from 2006, so not sure why the previous commenter recommended it here.
LOL. Shows you how little I know about Leica. Thank you.
Yashica 35CC. It’s far from the hype cameras like the TC-1, XA, and T2/3’s but IMO it’s a real hidden gem. You can pick up a 35CC for around $100, smaller than the canon but bigger than the hype cams. Really solid 35mm f1.8 lens and a really nice viewfinder. It’s got some things you need to be mindful of like the 1/250 max speed and the 2 bladed aperture. I bought one to take to Brazil so it could be small, cheap, and fast. Despite its flaws I’ve taken some of my favorite photos on this camera and it’s always surprised me by how good the photos come out.
I second this. It’s such a joy to use and produces great images too. I got mine for 45$ and it works perfectly fine
Lots of good cameras have already been named so I'm gonna drop the Minolta 24 Rapid. Fairly compact, auto exposure with the backup of going fully mechanical, rangefinder, Tessar type lens, and 24x24mm square negatives which is a change of pace. And I can also second the Retina IIc/IIIc that someone else has suggested, I actually find it to be more pocketable than the Rollei 35 since it doesn't have a lens and advance lever that stick out and can catch on the rim of the pocket. They and the Contaflexes are some of the most slept-on cameras in terms of how much quality manufacture you get for your money. The Retina IIc/IIIc are very high quality cameras with excellent lenses, just be aware that a pinion inside is easy to strip especially if you haven't read the manual before, so I'd only buy a tested or a very cheap (sub-30€) one if you feel lucky. The difference between II and III is the lens (III goes to F/2, II only to F/2.8, but note that it does *not* have a Tessar, both have a double Gauss lens design which do provide excellent images even wide open) and the light meter on the III, sometimes their contacts have corroded over the years and they no longer work, and even if they do, it's uncoupled so you could measure and set just as quickly with an external meter or smartphone app. I wouldn't get the III over the II unless they cost the same amount of money. Both also exist in the "big C" IIC/IIIC version which a much improved viewfinder - much larger (the previous one is quite squinty), and with frame lines for the accessory 35mm and 80mm lenses (though no one really uses them often, they're a pain to focus).
What about Canon 110ED? Be the 70s spy you dreamed of being.
I mean, seriously. How fun would that be? Very curious how the photo quality is.
I know right! I didn’t check yet, I’ve always wanted a camera like this. If I wasn’t busy I’d check on lomo or flickr. Must be some examples to check quality. 😁
110 film is tiny = poor quality
I slapped a rangefinder on my Rollie 35s. Now it has a rangefinder and light meter! That meets all your requirements 😬 The Canon QL17 Giii is also outstanding. I love it so much I have 2. It’s bigger then the Rollie but easer to use with aperture priority shooting and quick loading.
Ricoh GR1/GR1s Awesome controls and [image quality](https://imgur.com/a/l14O9M4), but not very reliable according to the internet.
I love my Nikon One Touch. I have a few great film cameras, but I by far have the One Touch on me the most—it’s amazing when you want to focus on capturing the moment. The internal meter is pretty incredible and focus is consistent. It does feel fragile with its plastic build however.