I need a pocket camera

[EdColorado]

I need some help finding a small pocket size 35mm camera. I'm looking for this to take out on motorcycle rides, and it will need to fit in a jacket pocket. Things I want:

Sharp lens
Good meter
Smooth shape so it doesn't get hung up or damaged. Either a retractable lens, or one that is in the body
a zoom would be nice but not required
Tough design, its a rough life on a bike
Relatively cheap price.

I like my Canon Elf 370Z, except for the fact that it uses APS film. An Elph for 35mm is what I'd like, any ideas?

 

[Anscojohn]

Olympus Stylus comes to mind. If you can find one with the fixed lens I think you will find the results totally acceptable. I had the 3.5 and it was great. The older XA allows you control of shutter speed vial f.stop selection.

 

[Soeren]

Or the Canon Prima AS1. 32mm f/3,5 lens is reasonably sharp and the camera is waterproof.
Its a bit bigger than the olympus though. Or Yashica T(somthing) or Ricoh GR1.

 

[Rvoge]

Bessa R3M

I can highl recommend a Bessa Voigtlander Bessa R3M(manual), this is a light rangefinder with a sharp lens, very easy to carry around.

 

[Toffle]

Olympus XA/XA2... Very nice Zuiko lens. The shutter firing mechanism is a little touchy, but this little clamshell disguises a highly versatlie and reliable camera. It has been called the photographer's vacation camera. The XA is a rangefinder, while the XA2 uses zone focusing. They can both take the A11 or A16 flash attachment.

Cheers,

 

[perkeleellinen]

The Olympus Mju II (Stylus Epic) was the first thing I thought of. I've had 2, the first I sold, the second I gave to my mother-in-law and I think it's still working for her. A friend dropped his down a toilet and it still worked. He actually completed a photography degree using that camera whilst all his fellow students dropped four figure sums on Nikons. Guess who got the higher mark!!

I'm wondering if the Mju II is still in production. Olympus's UK website seems to indicate so...

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/195_mju_mju__-II.htm

 

[elekm]

I'd head to a local thrift shop and look at their collection of point and shoot models. Should cost you only a few dollars.

And once you get into P&S models, it's pretty much wide open as there are hundreds of different models.

The Minox 35 cameras also are recommended often. Just make sure the meter is working correctly.

As well, there is the Rollei 35, 35T and 35S; numerous folding cameras such as the Vito, Vito II and Vito IIa, the early folding Kodak Retinas, the Balda CE35 and the Rollei Rolleimatic -- to name a few.

 

[Vonder]

Don't think so

I'm wondering if the Mju II is still in production. Olympus's UK website seems to indicate so...

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/195_mju_mju__-II.htm

Here in the US, I received a Stylus Epics for a present a few years ago. Alas, despite the all-black version with no date function being my preference, I received the gold, date model. So I put the black one on my B&H wish list where it sat for years, until last Summer when I finally decided to go ahead and buy it. I was amazed. It shipped the next day. When I looked at my wishlist it said either out of stock or discontinued, so I believe I got the very last one. It sits in a box, unused, for the day my other one dies.

Super little cameras.

 

[Rick A]

Definitly Olympus XA or XA2 . I prefer the XA for more exposure control. Without flash, not much bigger than a pack of smokes, dedicated flash with (A11) settings for iso 100, 200, or full. Also rangefinder focusing. The XA2 uses same flash, but only zone focus that doesnt show in viewfinder. Its totally auto function, so no exposure control.
Rick

 

[rosey]

I have a nice little Nikon Lite Touch brand new in box. I also have one like new without box at a bit less. Let me know if interested. It has a 28mm lens, very sharp. Also, you might look at the Olumpus Stylus Epic zoom. Also a nice camera. And I have a few absolutely mint Konica Big Mini models with 35mm lenses. I even have a new Konica A4, I think, still in box.

I have a drawer full of new and like-new P&S cameras by Olympus, Konica, Nikon, Samsung. Many have zooms. I'm cutting down my collection, and several APUG members have picked up one of my cameras.

Soon they'll go to eBay. The cameras, not the APUG members (LOL).

Contact me if you want a nice little 35mm camera. I bet I have what you want at a very reasonable price.

Some examples: I'd highly recomment the shirt-pocket size Konica Big Mini. Has 35mm f3.5 lens. Very sharp. Like new with case for $40.

Or a similar Konica A4, sort of a cult classic. Or the Nikon Lite-Touch with the 28mm f3.5. That's also like new. Need $50 for that. Have a sister Lite-Touch with 35-70 zoom for $40. Just a bit bigger is the jacket-pocket sized Ricoh FF-90 f2.8 35mm lens that uses AA cells. Was Euro camera of the year a while back. Very highly regarded. It's $35.

All plus shipping.

 

[rternbach]

Might be outside the budget limit but the Canon Canonet QL17 GIII f/1.7 is one I've been considering. See the auction site. I'd get one that's been cla'd and has a warranty.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I bought an Olympus XA in 1980, specifically for motorcycle traveling.

It takes superb transparency pictures if so desired, however with negative film you can make brilliant enlargements.

Basically the day I purchased it I wrapped it in a clean cotton rag, I then placed it in a small zip lock type plastic bag. It has been wrapped like that ever since.

It has survived so awful weather.

The backlight lever is brilliant for changing the shutter speed when in a hurry.

I just weighed mine, 238gm without a film.

It's also great on a pushbike.

Mick.

 

[Ektagraphic]

All of the Canon Shureshot cameras are great little cameras. I have a couple that I take along on biking trips.

 

[Jeff L]

I have an Olympus Stylus Wide (28-80) All-Weather since '99. It has been pounded, scraped, accidentally submerged, and has had a tonne of film through it. It looks bad and still takes great photos. I bought two more off the eBay Olympus site for about $15.00 each to use as back up, but the 1st one just keeps going.

 

[bwakel]

My Ricoh GR1v is by far the best pocket film camera I've ever used. I've tried Contax T-series (too chunky and slow), various Olympus including the XA and more modern zoom cameras and Canon models and none of them come close. The Ricoh fits perfectly in a pocket has great manual controls and a very sharp lens with better colour fidelity than my Leica Tri-Elmar. The 28mm fixed lens is both a benefit and a drawback and you'll either get on with it or you won't but for landscape work it's superb. Only the poor viewfinder and relatively small exposure window (1/30 to 1/500) lets it down but even here the T mode enables good low light shots with a tripod. The ability to focus at the hyper-focal distance enables rapid shots where slower auto-focus pocket cameras would be hunting around.

 

[zenrhino]

I have an Epic Stylus with the f/2.8 35mm lens in my pocket right now. It's my carry everywhere camera. I have only one complaint about it, and that's being you have to dink with buttons to turn the flash off. Id rather it had a memory of some sort to remember that setting. But really, that's it. Maybe a Canonet with the dedicated flash as your other choice, but it only takes up to 800 speed film where the Stylus takes up to 3200.

 

[Chaplain Jeff]

Hello,

Gotta second the Oly Stylus. Great little cameras! Get one that zooms and you'll never leave home without it. Small enough to throw in the pocket of your jacket. They must be the exception that proves the rule about p/s cameras. Even though I shoot Nikon, Minolta and Leica, you gotta respect that Zuiko glass!

 

[FM2N]

I love the Minolta Hi-Matic G as well as the Trip 35. Also the XA-2

 

[srs5694]

I've got a Minolta Explorer Freedom Zoom 35mm P&S camera that fits the original requirements -- retractable 28-70mm zoom lens, rounded shape, etc. (here's one seller with a photo of it.) I've not done any formal tests, but my impression is that it produces sharper photos than the other small cameras I've got. It's an all-automatic camera, though; if you want manual control of focus or exposure, you should look elsewhere. I'm also not sure what the maximum aperture is, since it's not marked and I bought mine used on eBay without a manual. I generally load ISO 400 film in mine.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Yashica T4, Nikon 35ti/28ti

 

[Rick A]

I took your look at the thrift shop to heart this morningand ended up with a Pentax IQZ 140M for $4.00, A Fuji 1000 Zoom for $5.00 including manual and soft case,and an OlympusMulti AF with manual and case for $4.00. All three came with fresh lithium batteries. My daughter glomed the Pentax -the smallest of the bunch and has shot half a roll through it . Cant wait to see the results from the new trio.
Rick

 

[paladin1420]

I second the vote for a Canon Canonet QL17. I bought one last year and have been very happy with it. It travels well as it's small enough to fit in a jacket pocket or belly pack, but not a pants pocket. I takes magnificent pictures though and has full manual control, even if the battery is dead.

 

[walter23]

Get a Zeiss Super Ikonta in good shape (e.g. from certo6 on ebay). That's a pocket 120 6x6 folder.

 

[nsurit]

Olympus XA would fit the bill. I have a 16X20 enlargement hanging on my wall done with mine. Sharp lens, easily fits in pocket. Closes up in clam shell case. Bill Barber

 

[alan doyle]

the olympus xa is one of the best compact pocket cameras.
the konica big mini and the konica a4 as per rosie have fantastic lens and are i believe one of the great internet bargains. at 20-50 dollars.
konica is a really underrated company.
if you are rich my choice for the smallest greatest most expensive is nikon 28ti amazing build quality and matrix metering,and the smallest of them all the lovely minolta tc1.