Canon Demi - S

[HiNDri]

I have the chance to pick one of these up for about $60. It is very clean and everything is working except the light meter. The Demi, as you all probably know, is a half frame camera. What does this mean in modern terms? Is the camera incapable of taking a full frame picture? How would one go about developing and printing such film? Does it require a specialized film? I've looked around on the net but not found much. Any help greatly appreciated.

Robert

 

[furcafe]

I'm not familiar w/the Demi cameras, but yes, it will probably be incapable of taking full frame shots. There should be no problem developing or printing since it uses regular 35mm film, though if you're getting your stuff developed @ a commercial lab you might want to warn them so they don't think something's wrong w/their equipment.

You might want to check out the Sub Club site (http://subclub.org/). It has a lot of information on subminiature (35mm being miniature format) cameras, including 1/2-frames.

 

[John Koehrer]

I don't remember the camera having separate shutter speed/aperture controls & seem to recall the meter has to function or the camera won't.
It's been soooo long.

 

[Ian Grant]

I had a canon Demi-S it'll work even if the meters broken, a fiend borrowed mine and dropped it He bought me a replacement Olympus and used the Canon with a hand held meter..

All half frames are standard 35mm film so there's no problem with processing although not all labs can/will print them even though with modern digital minilabs there should be no problems at all.

Ian

 

[Jerevan]

Just one of all the cameras I at least once have wanted...

A couple of links for more info on the Demi:

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/demi.html
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/film/series_demi.html

 

[Steve Roberts]

a fiend borrowed mine and dropped it Ian

Great typo, Ian, in view of what he did to your camera!
Steve

 

[Emil]

I bought one 6 months ago, as a gift for my brother and I spent a week repairing it. The selenium cell had burnt out and the shutter was sticky. Mechanically it is not very well made; the lens assembly feels loose and the shutter button is 'crunchy'.

That being said, it is just about the only fast lens half frame camera that is somewhat common and affordable. I'd rather take an Olympus Pen D3 anytime, but those are much too rare and expensive.

Don't worry much about the broken meter, it isn't very good when it's working. The needle bottoms out if it gets much darker than daylight, so no use indoors. If you really need it, it is an easy fix, I just replaced the cell with one from an old light meter, and recalibrated the needle.

My local lab has no problem developing half frame, since they are all digital. Even easier if you have a darkroom.

Emil

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I almost bought one sometime ago at a thrift store, I came by the next day and they already sold it.

Jeff

 

[HiNDri]

Thanks guys for the responses. I keep looking for the truly portable camera to always have with me. Not sure if this is the one or not. The half frame thing is a bit off-putting. I looked up the Oly Pen. Yep, not very many and folks are real proud of them!! The thing about the Demi is that it is so darn cute. Well, I'm still thinking. Anybody have any suggestions for my small, portable, pocketable camera obsession?

Robert

 

[Anscojohn]

I had a Demi. Lent it to someone who returned it broken. I set it manually. Picture results were quite satisfactory. I replaced it with a Dial 35, basically same camera with spring motor. Used that sealed in plastic bags as a cheapo underwater camera. Eventually included it in a trade package for 5c7 Ansco View camera.

 

[Galah]

Anybody have any suggestions for my small, portable, pocketable camera obsession?

Robert

How about the Olympus Trip 35 ? Plentiful, full-frame, cheap, very sharp lens and effective metering. (I have two in full working order)

 

[furcafe]

Olympus XA, the original clamshell. Full-frame, manually-focused 35/2.8 lens; but no full manual, only aperture priority.

Anybody have any suggestions for my small, portable, pocketable camera obsession?

Robert