Minox 35

Might see if you can find a 1930s to 1950s 35mm folder with a Tessar or Heliar. A Heliar, especially, at f/3.5 or so, will compete with any modern compact lens for sharpness, and some of those folders (scale focus, like a Minox 35) were barely bigger than the Minox -- but completely mechanical, so no electronics or actuators to fail, no dependency on batteries that have been out of production for thirty years.

I've had very good results with my Jubilette, even with an f/2.9 triplet. Haven't got my Weltini fixed yet...

blockend said:

The search for a great pocket 35 continues. Most of them are hamstrung, one way or another. Olympus were the best compromise between reliability (flaky shutter membrane notwithstanding), sharpness, size and value, but prices have got sillier with each passing year. Not as crazy as anything with a Contax badge, but too much for an ornament in waiting.

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Ricoh FF-1, FF-1s. Minox copy but superb and reliable.