A 35mm compact cameras that focus closer than 1m

Mewael · Jun 1, 2014

I recently bought a Contax T and I love the thing, however, I have one complaint: the minimum focus distance is 1m. This isn't a deal breaker, as I still love the camera, but I'd really love to shoot at 0.7m.

I would like a camera that is compact, semi-wide (38mm-45mm), sports a good viewfinder, is manual focus (rangefinder), and has a 0.7m MFD.

The T is all of the above, but with a 1m MFD limitation.
The T2 has a MFD of 0.7m, but is auto focus.
The T3 is more costly than the T2 and doesn't provide me with any practical advantage over the T/T2, so I'm not considering this camera.

I have the Kodak Retina IIIc and Rollei 35 too. Great cameras, but they aren't what I'm looking for.

I'm most likely going to try a T2 next, but I'm wondering if there is any other camera that I should look into.

Hatchetman · Jun 1, 2014

Kodak Signet 35 plus a CLA will cost you $100.

pen s · Jun 1, 2014

Was going to mention an Olympus RC but I checked mine and yep, close focus is 3 feet, no help there.

Chan Tran · Jun 1, 2014

put a close up lens in front of your Contax T.

snapguy · Jun 1, 2014

mount

It appears there is to way to mount filters on the front of the camera.

nsurit · Jun 1, 2014

It might not have everything you are looking for, however the Olympus XA $ might be worth a look. www.cameraquest.com/xa4.htm

Bill Barber

Oren Grad · Jun 2, 2014

Canonet G-III QL17 rangefinder-focuses down to a marked 2.6 feet / 0.8 meter.

RattyMouse · Jun 2, 2014

Fujifilm Klasse S....focuses down to 0.4M.

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Fujifilm_Klasse_S

JW PHOTO · Jun 2, 2014

Always wanted an XA-4 Olympus for this very reason. Close-focus macro compact.............JW

John Bragg · Jun 2, 2014

Olympus Mju ii Stylus epic focusses down to 35cm or 1.2 ft.

jambun · Jun 3, 2014

Hexar AF = 0.6m

... sorta kinda manual focus

pentaxuser · Jun 3, 2014

John Bragg said:
Olympus Mju ii Stylus epic focusses down to 35cm or 1.2 ft.

This is a great little camera and it really is little and the OP is unlikely to find one that focuses closer. Pity it fails to meet the manual focus rangefinder requirement. It's biggest drawback for me is that filters for B&W work cannot be fitted to it.

pentaxuser

Mewael · Jun 3, 2014

pentaxuser said:
This is a great little camera and it really is little and the OP is unlikely to find one that focuses closer. Pity it fails to meet the manual focus rangefinder requirement. It's biggest drawback for me is that filters for B&W work cannot be fitted to it.

pentaxuser

It doesn't have to be manual focus, what I listed are my preferences.

What I listed are my preferences.

AgX · Jun 3, 2014

jambun said:
Hexar AF = 0.6m

... sorta kinda manual focus

Macro refers to scale of reproduction. Just employing a facility to focus at closer distance whilst substituting the lens for a wider angle may not lead to larger scale. In this case the gain is minimal:

(simplified calculation)

0.13 @50mm/50cm (35mm SLR)

0.05 @40mm/90cm (Rollei 35)

0.15 @35mm/30cm (XA-4 and µ-II)

0.07 @35mm/60cm (Hexar AF)

jambun · Jun 4, 2014

Ok, I'll unpack a little ...

Hexar against OP's preferences:

compact - not tiny, but compact enough

semi-wide (38mm-45mm) - ok so 35mm is 3mm out of bounds

sports a good viewfinder - not the best, but pretty nice

manual focus (rangefinder) - you can focus it manually, but I'm not sure you'd want to

0.7m MFD - 0.6m, or equivalent to 0.69m for a 40mm

elcabezagrande · Jun 4, 2014

Nikon L35AF3, third camera in the L35AF series. Focus to .45m, and the option to use lens filters. 35mm f2.8 lens.

Axle · Jun 4, 2014

I'll second to recommendation for the XA4, used one before great little cameras.

A 35mm compact cameras that focus closer than 1m

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