need small, fixed objective, wide angle, camera

[game]

hi everyone,
I am looking for a small camera, that'll take 35mm film.
has one fixed objective, around 20mm to 30mm. which is cheap,
but with decent optics, and well build.

Any ideas...?
thanks, I'll stay tuned!
kind regards GAme

 

[Roger Hicks]

hi everyone,
I am looking for a small camera, that'll take 35mm film.
has one fixed objective, around 20mm to 30mm. which is cheap,
but with decent optics, and well build.

Any ideas...?
thanks, I'll stay tuned!
kind regards GAme

If you don't mind electronics, Fuji Natura with 24/1.9 from Stephen Gandy.

Mechanical cameras -- not many that I can think of.

Cheers,

R.

 

[game]

what doe you mean bij mechanical? without a battery?
I would not mind a penlite inside...

maybe 35mm, would still do...

I'll check the fuji, thanks, anymore suggestions?

(price range: till 70 dollar) game

 

[HerrBremerhaven]

Konica, and I think one other company, made a small one-time-use camera that had a 17mm lens in it. Not sure how easy it is to find one, but it would certainly be low cost.

With more dedicated cameras, you might want to look at older Ricoh 35mm cameras. Some of those had a 21mm lens, and several just slightly less wide of a view.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
Dead Link Removed

 

[zenrhino]

If you dont mind autofocus, an Olympus Epic Stylus (35mm f2.8 lens) can be had refurbed for $40 or so on eBay. The only downside to it other than the autofocus is it only reads DX and if your cart isnt dx coded, it defaults to ISO 100. Which wouldnt be bad if I had Delta 100 instead of PanF+ in the freezer.

 

[copake_ham]

Olympus OM-1 would do it. Since they only cost $120 when new (15 to 20 years ago) if you find one on eBay now - it's likely the shipping will cost more than the camera!

 

[Nick Merritt]

I cannot think of any mechanical (i.e. not battery-dependent) cameras that fit this description. But I can heartily recommend the Ricoh GR1 series of cameras. One of the best point and shoot cameras ever, I think (28mm lens).

 

[keithwms]

How about an olympus XA. The lens is 35mm f/2.8 and actually pretty damn good for the price. I prefer the konica hexar AF but that is about ten times more expensive!

The XA is extremely well engineered, it has a very clever clamshell design.

I don't care for the later XAs, e.g. the XA2 etc.

The XA should cost you no more than maybe 50 euros at the very most.

 

[celerystalksme]

your price range is 70 dollars? hmm...

i can't think of any wide angle, fixed focal length cameras in the price range...

 

[Xmas]

XA4 has a 28mm lens may be more expensive than XA. but it is compact and does not need a case.

Noel

 

[Paul Howell]

Konica made a point shoot called the OFF ROAD, 28mm lens in a rain proof body, I have one that I carry in foul weather (not often in Arizona) but came in real handy when I last traveled to Alaska. No manual override.

 

[narsuitus]

Here is another vote for the Ricoh GR1.

 

[nyrich]

Another vote for the Olympus Stylus Epic. Excellent 35mm f2.8 lens. It also has a pretty nice spot meter option and decent flash.

As already mentioned, it would mean living with DX coding and autofocus.

I scored a refurb on ebay (with factory warranty) for about $10 last year.

I've also owned the Olympus XA and loved using it until my eyesight started giving me problems. It's rangefinder seemed pretty dim to me, but I'm used to Leica M's. Horrible flash interface, if that's an issue for you.

 

[Abbazz]

XA4 has a 28mm lens may be more expensive than XA. but it is compact and does not need a case.

I second Noel on the Olympus XA4. You can't go wrong with any of the XA series cameras (except for the ugly duckling XA1): they are well built, easy to use, very small and highly pocketable cameras, yet they deliver wonderfully sharp pictures.

Of course, for an all-purpose camera, the XA is nicer with its 35mm lens, coupled rangefinder and aperture priority AE (and yes, speeds are displayed in the viewfinder). But if you want a wider lens, the XA4 is hard to beat. Zone focusing is not a problem with a 28mm lens and the program AE works very well. The 28mm lens is a gem. It's even better than the 35mm lens on the XA, and it focuses down to 0.3m.

Unfortunately, while there are tons of original XAs selling for cheap, the XA4 is quite a rare animal. Even worse, legions of Lomomaniacs and other Holgazoids are driving the prices up, because they consider it to be fashionable. Nevertheless, if you are not in a hurry, you should be able to find one for around $70.

Cheers,

Sebastien