Looking for a small pocket sized 35mm camera?

Pioneer · Dec 17, 2013

I have this little, black Olympus Infinity 2000 with a medium zoom that is very compact and yet takes surprisingly good pictures. I think you can control whether the flash is on or off, which you have to do everytime you turn on the camera, and the zoom range. But that's about it. The camera decides every thing else. Though it isn't much it is reliable. I keep waiting for the retracting 35-70 zoom lens to hang up or something, but it keeps on working.

It is shirt pocket friendly, uses 35mm film, has a nice retracting zoom lens that does not require focusing, auto exposes very well, and seems pretty reliable. I don't know if it fits what you need but it is certainly inexpensive. Ranges from about $9 to $15 on ebay. At those prices you really are not risking much.

polka · Dec 17, 2013

In the seventies I bought the first Minox35 model, called EL. It is to my opinion the most pocketable, the lightest and the quietest full format 35mm camera, and in these times it was almost the only one. It is surely of my cameras the one that I most often used (and abused) but it is still working like a charm. When Minox was to stop their production, I decided to buy their last model, called GT-S, to put my EL on retirement ; but my new GT-S works not so well as my old EL : the frame spacing is more irregular, there are no superposed frames but almost, and for automated slides framing, it is not too convenient. Thus, I did not retire my EL, I still use this one, and my GT-S remains "structurally unemployed".

P.S. and I do not support on the GT-S that the film speed is mandatorily determined by the cartridge DX coding, I prefer to choose it myself.

Paul

elekm · Dec 17, 2013

For pocket cameras, the Ricoh FF-1 or the Chinon Bellami. The Rolleimatic is an excellent camera that I've used often.

There is the Pentax 110 SLR, and Lomography now offers 110 film in color and b/w. And if you are going to do 110, you could add the boxy A110/E110 to your list.

If you like the square format, there is the pre- and post-war Tenax I and also the postwar Taxona. I think the postwar models are a bit easier to pocket.

The Voigtlander Vito I, II and IIa are very nice little cameras.

And there are numerous early Retina models (a bit heavy, however)

gone · Dec 18, 2013

I owned a few of those little Konica C35 rangefinders. The lens is just wonderful, and it has AE lock. Fun little camera that is light, small, looks cool, and cheap. I have 12x18 prints from them that are tack sharp. They're not a Leica, but then they're $40, and very fast to shoot.

My other recommendation is totally different. A Kodak Retina Ia 35mm folder. It's heavy, but teeny tiny when folded up. Scale focus, and also very fast to shoot if you're OK w/ Sunny 16 or using a hand held meter. Again, excellent lenses on these. Even the bottom of the line Xenar is truly great. Build quality is very good, which makes it heavy.

I have also owned a few of the Minox cameras. Diminutive little things. None of them worked, which is not that unusual w/ those cameras. The two cameras I recommended are dead reliable.

elekm · Dec 18, 2013

I might also suggest to think about the features that you want. Easy loading? Autoexposure? Zoom lens? Plastic point and shoot? Metal body?

As always, think about your budget. You can usually find a plastic point and shoot in nearly any thrift shop for less than $10.

elcabezagrande · Dec 18, 2013

For a nice zoom point and shoot with a great lens and a "retro" look, I can recommend the Canon Sure Shot Classic 120.

JW PHOTO · Dec 19, 2013

I've had many of the older, manual focus, auto and non-auto exposure cameras for the pocket. I still have things like the Rollei 35, Konica, c35, Canon QL17, Retina IIa.................you get the drift. The list is to let you know I've tried a few and have my own opinion. The most pocket-friendly cameras I still own are the Minox 35mm cameras all six of them. I love one old EL in particular 'cause of it's extremely good and sharp lens. I have the Russian version also and it's equally sharp. The Minox I use the most is the Minox ML since it is more modern and reliable in the battery - lens/shutter department. I really like my Rollei35's also(especially the Tessar version), but they just ain't as pocket friendly as the little Minox 35's are. I have bought more than my fair share of non-working Minox 35's and got a very high percentage (probably close to 65-70%) of them going again. The secret is finding non-workers that haven't been opened and tampered with by somebody else. Find one of those and you're half way home. Search the web for the "How To's) and give it a shot. You won't be out much and if you get lucky you'll have a very good pocket camera. Just my opinion of course! JohnW

Charles Wass · Dec 21, 2013

Got some great shots on my Minox 35, however, does not have the best reputation for reliability.

The Minox 35s apparently have that reputation. I used the 35EL regularly for 25 years without the slightest problem. During that time I probably shot more images with the Minox than any other more serious camera. Perhaps I was lucky or perhaps the first model, the 35EL, was more reliable.

I certainly endorse the Olympus 35RC, one of the smallest 35s with an RF and with an excellent lens. Unfortunately the prices rose considerably after Ken Rockwell praised it.

BradleyK · Dec 21, 2013

Olympus XA/2/3. Pocketable, sharp optics and an accurate metering system (worthy enough, back in the day, to have shot Kodachrome!).

NZed · Dec 21, 2013

Ricoh GR series.

JW PHOTO · Dec 27, 2013

Well, I had to open my big mouth! I just got out of the darkroom and discovered my Minox ML's shutter was malfunctioning. I had the first four frames come out fine and then every frame after was crossly over-exposed. I pulled the back and learned why in a big hurry. The Minox 35 has a double stroke shutter wind and it seems on the second wind that the shutter would open and stay open until I tripped the shutter release. I tore into it and now have it working the way it should. The shutters and so sneaky on these guys that they make the same sound whether they are working or not. Just some winter ice storm shots so no big lose, but it still pisses me off. My old EL never lets me down and I even thing it's lens might be a tad bit sharper to boot. Still the best darn pocket size camera. My wife bought me a brand new Oly XA when they first came out and I really liked the design of that camera, but the lens could never match the Rollei 35 or the Minox 35 for sharpness near wide open. I liked the XA2 and thought my pics were better from that then the XA. Just me and my opinion of course. JohnW

Looking for a small pocket sized 35mm camera?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency