favorite compact 35mm

Kirks518

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2013
Messages
1,494
Location
Flori-DUH
Format
Multi Format
I have two favorites;

Minolta Hi-Matic 7SII and Canon QL17 GIII

I would have to say I'll reach for the Minolta first though. Sharp lens, good meter, and small.
 

donkee

Member
Joined
May 3, 2011
Messages
219
Location
Mid Michigan
Format
Multi Format
I really like my Sears 35|rf (Ricoh 500g) and the recently acquired Canon Canonet QL17 (not GIII).
 

fotch

Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
4,774
Location
SE WI- USA
Format
Multi Format
Minox 35, I think mine is a GS, purchased new. Great quality photos, easy to take candid photos, however, poor reputation for reliability. I should look for a better quality replacement, maybe the Rollie.
 

filmamigo

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
315
Location
Toronto, Ont
Format
Multi Format
Zeiss Ikonta 35

My favourite compact is the Zeiss Ikonta 35 (522/24.) The lens is really nice, the whole thing folds into a tiny package, and the construction seems bomb-proof.

My example looks like it was kept as a prize in someone's top drawer for most of its life, but amazingly the shutter and focus work as well as the day it was new. I didn't have to do any service on it at all.
 

craigclu

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 8, 2002
Messages
1,305
Location
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Format
Multi Format
I've had the Contax T (nice but I had trouble with it), Leica Mini-Lux (Gave up after 2 electronic fails), Mini III (just a Minolta but decent grab shot rig/still have and use it), Hi-Matic E (great lens/wonky functionality), Konica A4 (super lens/bad electronics). My easy favorite is the Konica S3. It's got a great GN flash system, quick focus, as good of a lens as far more expensive cameras. The lens mounting/housing isn't confidence inspiring but it's just the housing that floats around, it appears.

I sent one of these with a friend on a mountain pack-horse hunting trip. He also packed his Canon F-1 gear and Canon optics. His favorite darkroom prints from the trip were from the Konica and he promptly bought a pair of them for himself and made many fine images over the years.
 

Spicy

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Messages
66
Format
35mm RF
Rollei 35 and XA are both pretty epic, just depends on how much automation you need/want... Exceeellllleeennnntttt
 

mgb74

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
4,774
Location
MN and MA US
Format
Multi Format
My favorite is (was) the Olympus XA - because that was the one I always had with me when my kids were growing up. Not sure why I don't have one now.

I guess my favorite of what I do have is the Rollei 35. Crappy ergonomics - great images.
 

Snapshot

Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
913
Location
Toronto, Ont
Format
Multi Format
My favourite is the Konica C35 rangefinder. As for an SLR, my Nikon FA with a 50mm 1.8 lens is great.
 

Les Sarile

Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Messages
3,425
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Format
35mm
Not only is the Pentax MX the most compact fully manual mechanical SLR, but it also has the biggest full info viewfinder.





The Olympus Epic is truly pocket size.

 

ambaker

Member
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
661
Location
Missouri, US
Format
Multi Format
Olympus XA.

Disclaimer... It is the only compact 35 I own. So I really do not have what one could call an "informed" opinion.
 

mjs

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
1,123
Location
Elkhart, Ind
Format
Multi Format
I can't decide. Olympus Stylus Epic DLX. Konica Big Mini. Excellent lenses, very compact and easy to use.

Mike
 

BetterSense

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
3,151
Location
North Caroli
Format
35mm
The XA2 and XA4 have the XA beat handily. I have all of them and the XA is my least favorite.

If the MX can be called a compact, then my Agfa Isolette surely qualifies as one.
 

Uncle Brian

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
8
Location
Tauranga
Format
Multi Format
My XA4 I guess is the best compact camera I have used, my hands are large and the GSN is a much better fit but the ones I have owned have been nothing but electronic trouble.
With my XXL hands a F80 Nikon feels like a nice compact camera ... the OM series would also qualify as they are so tiny and beautiful & smaller than a GSN.
 

GarageBoy

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2012
Messages
993
Format
35mm
My only issue with most AF P&S film cameras is that they're SOOOO SLOW. Spoiled by D*gital
 

lancekingphoto

I'd vote for my Olympus Stylus Zoom 70. It's an underrated little performer, and definitely pocketable. (The Zoom 80 is even smaller but it has issues with light reflecting inside the barrel and creating little crescent leaks on images.) They're quite cheap online, and you can even buy inexpensive remote controls that facilitate shooting in low light.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…