Smallest fully mechanical rangefinder

Trask · Jan 13, 2022

Cholentpot said:
If you need service there's a nice fellow on the West Coast who works on these machines. Did an excellent job on my IIc.

Can you share with us who this nice fellow is, and perhaps how to contact him? Thanks!

madNbad · Jan 13, 2022

Cholentpot said:
https://kodakretina.exposure.co/the-story-of-the-kodak-retina-camera

Mr. Paul Barden did an excellent job on my IIc with a quick turn around.

Here is the link.

Cholentpot · Jan 14, 2022

Trask said:
Can you share with us who this nice fellow is, and perhaps how to contact him? Thanks!

Just as madnbad says.

You can PM him on Insta too.

abruzzi · Jan 15, 2022

Not the smallest, but probably one of the best ratio of size of negative to size of camera is the Konica Pearl (III in my case)—small pocketable 6x4.5 medium format.

ciniframe · Jan 16, 2022

I have seen several mentions of the long shutter release travel of the 35RC and other ‘trapped needle’ auto exposure systems.
However with my RC it is easy to take up the slack, and release the shutter with a tiny move using the ball of my index finger. In fact for any camera that is generally true. Just takes a little practice.
The one accessory necessary for a RC is a 43.5mm to 43mm filter step down ring. The 43mm filter/lens hood size is much easier to find and the adapter on my camera does not block the meter eye. (Although I don’t use the meter anyway.)
Also had to change out the light sealing foam on mine. Kind of a chore.

ericB&W · Jan 17, 2022

I have a Zeiss Ikon Contessa, is not the smallest but quite small even if weights a lot.
Is in perfect shape and the meter still works well.

Paul Howell · Jan 17, 2022

OP is looking for a MF not a 35mm.

grat · Jan 17, 2022

Then why did he specifically mention the Canonet QL17, the Leica and the Rollei 35?

Paul Howell · Jan 18, 2022

Got 2 threads mixed up, my mistake. Another small all mechanical that had be had dirt cheap, Argus C3, took mine out for a spin, lens is coated, 3 element, pretty sharp at F8 or so. Fiddley to use, and changing out the 50 for a 100 or 35 is a chore.

Huss · Jan 18, 2022

Atlas 35 (also under other brand names) is a fully mechanical small 35mm RF camera that mimics Leicas. Here against my M3 for a size comparison:

Cholentpot · Jan 18, 2022

I sent my Signet 35 in for an overhaul today.

I hate everyone here.

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2022

Cholentpot said:
I sent my Signet 35 in for an overhaul today.

I hate everyone here.

Well you can sleep well knowing that the feeling is mutual.

Oldwino · Jan 18, 2022

Huss said:
Atlas 35 (also under other brand names) is a fully mechanical small 35mm RF camera that mimics Leicas. Here against my M3 for a size comparison:

Look at all that wasted space in the Leica!

rulnacco · Jan 18, 2022

Steve Roberts said:
Another vote for the 35RC. Great lens and take-everywhere smallness, which has enabled me to capture many shots when I didn't want to be lumping a bigger camera around.
Steve

There are other contenders out there, definitely. But I'll also put in a vote for the 35RC. I had one--I foolishly loaned it to an acquaintance a good while back, and sadly never saw it (or them) again. I bought mine in a second-hand shop in Bremen, Germany, in the very late 90s, for about 20 DM (roughly $12). The front element looked like someone had taken very fine-grained sandpaper to it--but it still took great images. I brought it back to the US with me and always carried it in my car. I contributed photos and stories to a local weekly paper in Mississippi; one day it was the only camera I had when I stumbled across the police investigating a fatal accident. I took a shot of a couple of the cops comparing notes next to the destroyed car, and that ran in the paper. It had a haunting quality beyond the facts of the accident from, I believe, the superb lens accompanied by the "qualities" introduced by the condition of the front element.

Yeah, it's not the most precisely built piece of machinery ever. But the lens is indeed brilliant--and the size is fantastic. If you know what to do with it, you can definitely make great images with it. And it's small and just tough enough you can *always* have it with you.

Looking on eBay though, I definitely wouldn't call them *cheap* nowadays!

Cholentpot · Jan 18, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Well you can sleep well knowing that the feeling is mutual. View attachment 295973

Sig35 is one of the finest cameras when it comes to how it feels in the hand. It's a great little package. I think it deserves another chance to shine in my stable.

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2022

Cholentpot said:
Sig35 is one of the finest cameras when it comes to how it feels in the hand. It's a great little package. I think it deserves another chance to shine in my stable.

Then go enjoy the camera when you get it back in your hands.

Cholentpot · Jan 18, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Then go enjoy the camera when you get it back in your hands.

Let's hope the capable hands that are working on the machine can bring it back to it's former glory.

Sirius Glass · Jan 18, 2022

Cholentpot said:
Let's hope the capable hands that are working on the machine can bring it back to it's former glory.

I feel confident they will.

BAC1967 · Jan 18, 2022

One nice thing about the Signet 35 is how easy it is to work on.

albada · Jan 19, 2022

The Atlas 35 is a rebadged Yamato Pax M3. It's a cute little camera, but it has some downsides: (1) Weak components means the film-advance mechanism is often found damaged, (2) stiff grease means they often need a thorough overhaul, (3) weak middle-plate in shutter often bends if the camera has had a substantial nose-bump -- it might look and work fine, but focus will be uneven and sharpness poor, (4) oil often creeps onto the shutter blades, slowing or sticking them, and (5) the pressure plate puts too much pressure on film, and it's often scratched, resulting in horizontal scratches on negatives. I know these things because I have several Pax cameras that I've overhauled and used. All in all, the Olympus RC is much better, albeit less attractive.

Mark Overton

Kodachromeguy · Jan 19, 2022

Huss said:
Atlas 35 (also under other brand names) is a fully mechanical small 35mm RF camera that mimics Leicas. Here against my M3 for a size comparison:

This is a nice M3, Huss! Serial number >1,000,000, the correct plugs on the flash ports, and that nice blue leather. Also, the 50 DR is a beauty.

Huss · Jan 19, 2022

albada said:
The Atlas 35 is a rebadged Yamato Pax M3. It's a cute little camera, but it has some downsides: (1) Weak components means the film-advance mechanism is often found damaged, (2) stiff grease means they often need a thorough overhaul, (3) weak middle-plate in shutter often bends if the camera has had a substantial nose-bump -- it might look and work fine, but focus will be uneven and sharpness poor, (4) oil often creeps onto the shutter blades, slowing or sticking them, and (5) the pressure plate puts too much pressure on film, and it's often scratched, resulting in horizontal scratches on negatives. I know these things because I have several Pax cameras that I've overhauled and used. All in all, the Olympus RC is much better, albeit less attractive.

Mark Overton

It is definitely a cute camera. And that's about it....

Huss · Jan 19, 2022

Kodachromeguy said:
This is a nice M3, Huss! Serial number >1,000,000, the correct plugs on the flash ports, and that nice blue leather. Also, the 50 DR is a beauty.

Thanks! The blue leather came about because one day the perfect condition vulcanite literally started to crumble off in my hands.

Donald Qualls · Jan 19, 2022

Oldwino said:
Look at all that wasted space in the Leica!

That's not wasted, that's necessary to fit all the Leicaness in.

Huss · Jan 19, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
That's not wasted, that's necessary to fit all the Leicaness in.

The correct term, according to the owner's manual page 12, section 3, is Der Mojo. The Leica's physical dimensions maximize the Decisive Moment/Mojo ratio.

Smallest fully mechanical rangefinder

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