Smallest reflex system?

[makanakijones]

May be I am looking for an impossible camera:
- Smallest film reflex avalaible.
- Superb optics.
- Very quiet shutter sound (not very far from my leica).
- Almost spot metering.
- Not rare batteries.

 

[frdrx]

The only one I can think of is the Contax S2b. Or the Contax 139Q if you can live with centre-weighted, albeit very good, metering.

 

[benjiboy]

I'm looking for a deaf and dumb nymphomaniac who owns a liquor store, but in answer to you're question the nearest thing available IMHO is the Olympus OM4.

 

[Ian Grant]

Olympus Pen F or FT half frame, for full frame Pentax ME Super, I prefer the MX but the ME is quieter.

Ian

 

[Peter de Groot]

I think the smallest system would be the pentax 110. Useless but it is the smallest.

 

[makanakijones]

Well, then I have to make a point: Non useless smallest 35 reflex system avalaible?

 

[Steve Smith]

Olympus OM, Pentax ME or Nikon FG.


Steve.

 

[Peter de Groot]

I would recommend the Olympus ME Super. I have one of those and I like it a lot. Got a nice little kit together. Only need a 24 mm wide angle lens with it. Or 35 would be nice to.

 

[Anscojohn]

May be I am looking for an impossible camera:
- Smallest film reflex avalaible.
- Superb optics.
- Very quiet shutter sound (not very far from my leica).
- Almost spot metering.
- Not rare batteries.

***********
Olympus Pen F slr

 

[elekm]

The Pen F is somewhat wide, and the shutter is noisy. Originally took the PX13 mercury battery, which is no longer available (works great with hearing-aid batteries).

Great piece of engineering, however.

The Tessina with a chimney finder might fit the bill, although it isn't full frame.

But basically, what you want doesn't exist. And there is a point where an SLR can be too small.

The Yashica/Kyocera Contax cameras are well made, and the Carl Zeiss lenses are outstanding. The Minolta XD11 has a well-damped shutter and is among the cameras that were part of the mid-1970s downsizing that occurred (led by Olympus).

 

[bsdunek]

I think the smallest system would be the pentax 110. Useless but it is the smallest.

But it was so cute! Too bad the 110 film system wasn't better.

 

[Jesper]

As has been said, when it comes down to size the Pentax auto 110 is hard to beat.

 

[Mark Fisher]

If you want the smallest 35mm with all those features, you must be looking for an OM4T with the associated small lenses, The 110 cameras are smaller, but getting common batteries are the least of your problems!

 

[Ian Grant]

Getting film is even harder for 110 It's an obsolete format Like 116, 126, 828 etc.

Ian

 

[John Koehrer]

Smallest practical system will be Olympus OM's. They're compact and reasonably quiet.
The Pen F is more compact but the sound is sharper & IMO noticeable. It's also 1/2 frame
so to get a similar size enlargement the grain would be more obvious.
Effective focal length of the lenses will be different be cause of the smaller format the same
as digital sensors.

 

[wiltw]

I would recommend the Olympus ME Super. I have one of those and I like it a lot. Got a nice little kit together. Only need a 24 mm wide angle lens with it. Or 35 would be nice to.

Olympus OM-n, Pentax ME Super...you mixed them up, or are you using a home brewed b*stard unit?!

 

[MattKing]

The Olympus OM2s also offers a "spot" metering function, although it isn't as refined as in the OM4 or OM4T.

Matt

 

[Pumal]

OLYMPUS
I favor the OM-1 and OM4T

 

[Rick A]

My OM-1 and OM-4 are both smaller than my Contax 139Q, and the OM-1 weighs one ounce less with the winder-2 attached compared to the Contax with winder. If the 110 format was still viable, then the Pentax 110 would far and away beat almost everything on the market.

Rick

 

[wblynch]

OM10 weighs even less - but it is a bit bigger than the OM1.

Lots of people put 'em down but I've got 3 OM10's (along with 4 OM1's) and they are robust and handy little cams. Very cheap right now. Take great pics.

 

[Rick A]

I've owned 2 OM-10's--bought one for my(ex)wife and one to fill in for my OM-1 they are trash and not worth owning. Neither of mine lived longer than a year. By comparison, my Om-1 was purchased new in 1982, OM-4 in 1985, OM-10's in 1983, replaced by OM-4 and tossed both 10's in the trash can. Still shoot the OM-1, the OM-4 is headed to the shop for CLA.

Rick

 

[frdrx]

My OM-1 and OM-4 are both smaller than my Contax 139Q, and the OM-1 weighs one ounce less with the winder-2 attached compared to the Contax with winder. If the 110 format was still viable, then the Pentax 110 would far and away beat almost everything on the market.

Rick

No doubt the OM4 is a superior machine. But are you sure that the OMs are smaller than the 139Q (without winders attached)? I have never seed an Olympus and a Contax side by side, but I found the following dimensions and weights in the specifications (Wikipedia and the Contax 139Q manual, respectively):

Contax 139Q: 85.5 mm x 135 mm x 50 mm, 500 g
Olympus OM4: 87 mm x 139 mm x 50 mm, 540 g

 

[MattKing]

No doubt the OM4 is a superior machine. But are you sure that the OMs are smaller than the 139Q (without winders attached)? I have never seed an Olympus and a Contax side by side, but I found the following dimensions and weights in the specifications (Wikipedia and the Contax 139Q manual, respectively):

Contax 139Q: 85.5 mm x 135 mm x 50 mm, 500 g
Olympus OM4: 87 mm x 139 mm x 50 mm, 540 g

If these dimensions don't include the lenses, this comparison may not answer the question.

The Olympus Zuiko lenses contribute greatly to the small size of the system.

Matt

 

[frdrx]

If these dimensions don't include the lenses, this comparison may not answer the question.

The Olympus Zuiko lenses contribute greatly to the small size of the system.

Matt

Of course. It is true that Contax lenses aren't particularly small, possibly with the exception of the 45 mm Tessar.

 

[wblynch]

...tossed both 10's in the trash can.

Off topic but for community info, OM10 prisms are identical replacements for the OM1.

Many OM1s suffer the 'green-gunge' prism problem from melted foam. I have fixed a few OM1s with OM10 donor prisms.