Smallest fixed lens RF camera?

ToddB · Jan 13, 2015

Hey guys,

I'm digging these rangefinder cameras, classy look and very portable. I was wondering what the smallest fixed lens camera out there. One with great lens and classic look.

ToddB

Hatchetman · Jan 13, 2015

Rollei 35 if you don't want a rangefinder, I mean focusing mechanism.

Jerevan · Jan 13, 2015

Olympus XA?

Oren Grad · Jan 13, 2015

https://cameraquest.com/com35s.htm

Chan Tran · Jan 13, 2015

Jerevan said:
Olympus XA?

I think so! It's about the only little one that has a rangefinder.

snapguy · Jan 13, 2015

Monolta

Minolta Hi-matics are mighty small. And nice.

jamie young · Jan 13, 2015

Leica CL was pretty small. There was a minolta variant as well that can be had for much less money

Ko.Fe. · Jan 13, 2015

XA if you want RF, really small size, good lens and pocketability. It is classic on its own as well.

Brian Legge · Jan 13, 2015

The Contax T is just slightly larger than the Olympus XA.

darkosaric · Jan 13, 2015

XA. Excellent, one can not believe that in such small package they put: full rangefinder, f2.8 lens, self timer, battery check, overexposure option, shutter speed in viewfinder, f stop, manual iso settings ... great, silent...

blockend · Jan 13, 2015

The smallest metal-bodied fixed lens rangefinder is probably the Olympus 35RC.

AllanD · Jan 13, 2015

The Ricoh 500G is worth considering as a value for money option. It is the same size as the 35RC.

AgX · Jan 13, 2015

Agfa Optima 1535

elekm · Jan 13, 2015

It's not fixed lens, but it is one of the smallest.

It's smaller than a Rollei 35.

The Ducati Sogno.

This is a half-frame rangefinder that uses preloaded film cassettes with a limit of 16 shots, I think. It was made in Italy by the same company that today is known for its high-speed, high-end motorcycles. The price for these regularly goes into four figures - unless you find one that is in rough condition.

For something more affordable, the Olympus XA cameras would fit the bill. the Olympus 35 RC also is a nice camera. The Minolta Hi-Matics and the Konica C35 Automatic/Vivitar 35CA are good choices.

Among older cameras, there is the folding Zeiss Ikon Contina II. The Zeiss Ikon S 312/Voigtlander VF 101 also are small cameras - just a bit larger than a Rollei 35 although considerably heavier.

ciniframe · Jan 13, 2015

Yeah, I'd recommend a Olympus 35rc also. Reason? Solid build and FULL MANUAL CONTROL!
I don't care how smart a meter is, sometime you just need manual control.

The minus features of the 35rc are;

Excessively long shutter stroke, a product of trapped needle exposure control in auto.
You will find that with a little practice you can take up the slack in the shutter button every time and then press that last 1/2mm to take the shot.

The stupid 43.5mm filter size.
I solved this by ordering a 43.5mm to 43mm step down filter adapter from a Chinese vendor. I just leave it on all the time. It does not interfere with the meter window and and only adds 3mm to the thickness of the camera. The 43mm size in filters and hoods are very easy to find.

Uses a 625 size mercury battery no longer available.
I substitute a zinc air #675 hearing aid battery. Bought in cards of 12 about 85 cents each and will last about 3 months or more after you pull the sticker off. After you pull the seal off let the battery sit open for 5 min. to let it come up to power, then install it. I don't even use a centering ring and mine works fine.

Red Robin · Jan 14, 2015

Small?

The XA has gotten a lot of attention here and lose that flash unit it gets tiny. Some of the 1/2 frames also come to mind like the Minolta Repo or the Olympus Pen 'S' both midgets that make the film go on, and on, and on.

baachitraka · Jan 14, 2015

pschwart · Jan 14, 2015

Don't forget the Minox 35. I think it might be a bit smaller than the Rollei 35.

elekm · Jan 14, 2015

The Minox isn't a rangefinder - although it is a small camera.

AgX · Jan 14, 2015

Rollei 35 and Minox 35 are neither fixed-lens nor have rangefinders.

Or does "fixed-lens" means "not-exchangable"?

Steve Roberts · Jan 14, 2015

ciniframe said:
Yeah, I'd recommend a Olympus 35rc also. Reason? Solid build and FULL MANUAL CONTROL!
I don't care how smart a meter is, sometime you just need manual control.

The minus features of the 35rc are;

Excessively long shutter stroke, a product of trapped needle exposure control in auto.
You will find that with a little practice you can take up the slack in the shutter button every time and then press that last 1/2mm to take the shot.

The stupid 43.5mm filter size.
I solved this by ordering a 43.5mm to 43mm step down filter adapter from a Chinese vendor. I just leave it on all the time. It does not interfere with the meter window and and only adds 3mm to the thickness of the camera. The 43mm size in filters and hoods are very easy to find.

Uses a 625 size mercury battery no longer available.
I substitute a zinc air #675 hearing aid battery. Bought in cards of 12 about 85 cents each and will last about 3 months or more after you pull the sticker off. After you pull the seal off let the battery sit open for 5 min. to let it come up to power, then install it. I don't even use a centering ring and mine works fine.

Another vote for the 35RC (not that I've tried all the others). At the weekend I noted that of nine mounted and framed 10 x 7 photos of mine that hang in my home 'gallery', four were taken on my 35RC. It's not that I set out to use it for things I might want to do, but more that because of its convenience I'm more likely to have it in my rucksack when a photo presents itself. I use a silver oxide cell. it's easy to tweak the exposure but I've found it unnecessary. The cell is unceremoniously stuffed into the compartment with a crumpled piece of aluminium cooking foil to ensure a good contact!

Best wishes,

Steve

Too old to care · Jan 14, 2015

AgX said:
Rollei 35 and Minox 35 are neither fixed-lens nor have rangefinders.

Or does "fixed-lens" means "not-exchangable"?

Fixed lens to me means not exchangeable. And yes, the Rollei is not rangefinder either, but still a nice camera. I have no knowledge of the Minox, never owned one.

AllanD · Jan 14, 2015

I am always surprised by the quality of the pictures I get from my Olympus 35RC. However, it sits on the shelf awaiting new light seals. I have high hopes for my Ricoh 500G given what online reviews say about its lens, but I have yet to put a film through it. The build quality is not as good as the 35RC, and it too can suffer from rotten seals; a notoriously messy, but not difficult, thing to fix due to the size of the seal. In its favour, it has some advantages over the 35RC. The first is that it will meter in both auto and manual modes (the 35RC does not meter in manual mode, but does show the selected aperture) and it takes 46mm filters, not the scarce 43.5mm size. For what it is worth, the lens has 4 aperture blades compared with 2 for the 35RC, so the aperture shape is rounder. As I said in my previous post, the 500G can be found for very little money. I paid £4 for mine.

AgX · Jan 14, 2015

I asked as "fixed-lens" could also mean "not-exchangable and not-retractable"

ciniframe · Jan 14, 2015

AllanD said:
I am always surprised by the quality of the pictures I get from my Olympus 35RC. However, it sits on the shelf awaiting new light seals. I have high hopes for my Ricoh 500G given what online reviews say about its lens, but I have yet to put a film through it. The build quality is not as good as the 35RC, and it too can suffer from rotten seals; a notoriously messy, but not difficult, thing to fix due to the size of the seal. In its favour, it has some advantages over the 35RC. The first is that it will meter in both auto and manual modes (the 35RC does not meter in manual mode, but does show the selected aperture) and it takes 46mm filters, not the scarce 43.5mm size. For what it is worth, the lens has 4 aperture blades compared with 2 for the 35RC, so the aperture shape is rounder. As I said in my previous post, the 500G can be found for very little money. I paid £4 for mine.

I've only handled the Ricoh but not owned or used one. However quite a few commentaries on it indicate it is a 'sleeper', a real good value for the money. As for the 35RC filter size, as I noted in my too long winded post, just order a 43.5mm to 43mm step down ring and leave it on the lens. There are plenty of 43mm accessories available. In my case I already have a Pen F set up and the lenses for that camera mostly take 43mm filters so I was already all set with the adapter.

Smallest fixed lens RF camera?

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