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where is the pocket camera of the past?
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 6:23 pm    Post subject: where is the pocket camera of the past? Reply with quote

Hi all,
I really miss a film camera (35mm) that will be small and light. Many range finder cameras I tried are built on metal and they are rather heavy. Also many lenses protrude a lot and camera does not fit very well on small bags.

What are the options of the past where one could have a lightweight camera that also allows some manual settings when needed (or even better automatic with exposure compensation!!).

Any proposals that fit?
Alex


PostPosted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 10:14 pm    Post subject: Re: where is the pocket camera of the past? Reply with quote

alaios wrote:
Hi all,
I really miss a film camera (35mm) that will be small and light. Many range finder cameras I tried are built on metal and they are rather heavy. Also many lenses protrude a lot and camera does not fit very well on small bags.

What are the options of the past where one could have a lightweight camera that also allows some manual settings when needed (or even better automatic with exposure compensation!!).

Any proposals that fit?
Alex

Hi Alex, you should be able to find what you need from this list: https://www.cameraquest.com/com35s.htm


PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 7:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Olympus XA [nothing] (do not confuse with the XA2, XA3)


PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kansalliskalaCafe wrote:
Olympus XA


Indeed a very good option!

This question seems to pup up on a regular base these days. I think film is really making small steps to becoming more and more popular.
It's a pity that there are a lot of very fine small 35mm cameras around which are, although really good, full automatic. Cameras like the Minolta AF-C, Canon MC, Olympus Mju-II, Konica Big-Mini are becoming more and more sought after.

I have this aperture priority manual focus Revue camera, a very well built metal case and really small. It's on the "to shoot soon" list, i have never used it before, i found it again recently, it got lost in moving to our new house. I'm quite curious about what it can do, apparently it goes to 1/1000 sec. Btw: it's the same as the Vivitar 35EM.
Revue 35 Compact Electronic by René Maly, on Flickr

You can have fun with the all-auto point-and-shoot cams as well, i'm using a few every now and then just for fun.
Some samples:
AF-C: https://flic.kr/s/aHski82ZWN
AF-Z: https://flic.kr/s/aHskZvrF5Y
Canon MC: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk7kJhFs
Leica Mini: https://flic.kr/s/aHskggsoi9
Konica BigMini: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk8N5WDk
AF-J2: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm2mcTHw

Cheers, René!


PostPosted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 11:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well I've had plenty of the more modern auto focus primes (zooms IMO are not so good) and the results from all the top makes are very similar i.e. can't see the difference in sharpness etc.
Just for an example for Nikon http://www.nicovandijk.net/compact.htm


PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 4:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree, the Oly XA is a great choice. Especially if you get the dedicated A11 flash for it. If space is not as tight as an XA can fit into, I'd also recommend the Oly Trip 35. An excellent little camera. And if even a bit more space is permissible, then I'd recommend the Canon QL17 GIII. Minolta also made some great compacts -- the 7s I believe it's called? And various flavors related to it.


PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 4:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cooltouch wrote:
Canon QL17 GIII. Minolta 7s


Great cameras, but they won't fit your pocket! Wink

The Canonet 28 and the HiMatic 7S-II are smaller but i would not call those pocketable as well.


PostPosted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 3:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not really pocketable but I suppose it depends on the size of your pockets!

Excellent all round camera.



PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Edgar, I have a Classic 120 but I thought the OP wanted something with manual controls. And then I reread his post and I see where he also mentions an automatic so yeah, if your pockets are big enough, why not?

And speaking of big pockets, TrueLoveOne, I have a photojournalist's vest with a few pockets that are big enough to swallow up a QL17 without problem.

Another cool little automatic to consider -- well actually, it's an entire range. Oly built a range of clamshell P&S cameras back in the 90s,, the Infinity Stylus series, any one of which would make a capable shooter.


PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2017 8:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If automatics are accepted I could sell you a working Yashica T3.

(I have otherwise working XA with flash too, but it is missing the speed indicator)


PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks all for the replies! and suggestions!

actually I need a camera with exposure compensation. After shooting some time I have a feeling what an auto mode will pick and I lik emany times to compenmsate on that.
Nikon 35 and 28 Ti have that spec but they are really really expensive....
Automatic are fine, manual focusing also just give me EC.

Any ideas?
Regards
Alex


PostPosted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks all for the replies! and suggestions!

actually I need a camera with exposure compensation. After shooting some time I have a feeling what an auto mode will pick and I lik emany times to compenmsate on that.
Nikon 35 and 28 Ti have that spec but they are really really expensive....
Automatic are fine, manual focusing also just give me EC.

Any ideas?
Regards
Alex


PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 11:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

alaios wrote:
Thanks all for the replies! and suggestions!

actually I need a camera with exposure compensation. After shooting some time I have a feeling what an auto mode will pick and I lik emany times to compenmsate on that.
Nikon 35 and 28 Ti have that spec but they are really really expensive....
Automatic are fine, manual focusing also just give me EC.

Any ideas?
Regards
Alex


Work arounds that may broaden your choice Alex -

In auto mode you can change the ASA/ISO speed to mimic the same compensation.

In manual mode you can change the shutter speed or aperture to do the same.

If the camera has an auto exposure lock, like say the Minolta 7sII, you can compensate by closing in on your subject, or a similarly lighted subject near you, the back of your hand for example, and locking the exposure before recomposing and taking the shot.


PostPosted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks for the reply. The biggest problem I had in the past with changing iso was that it was not that fast to do as a dedicated EV button.
If there are cameras that allows you fast iso changing that will be of course something of interest Smile