The power of the simplest camera

NB23 · Jan 19, 2022

The power of the simplest camera.

A mechanical rangefinder, Leica M, Nikon S, Canon rf, Barnack... but simplest is not easiest. It takes a LONG time to create something simple. It takes ultimate mastery. Simple is the ultimate form. You get down to simple only after a long and complicate journey.

Anyhow. I could travel the world with just a rolleiflex. Just a Leica. No matter which Leica; M or barnack. But the other day I went into a local camera shop and this little camera just kept looking at me. I tried to hide, to ignore its stare at me, went from one side of the store to the other, it wouldn’t stop staring at me. I bought it. It chose me.

The simplest, smallest, most beautiful, yet a powerhouse, dominating device. And fits in my jacket pocket. Even my jean backpocket.

I’m seriously thinking of locking away ALL my gear except this baby and use it a few years exclusively. To hell with the rest.

This is another level. Buddha had a Leica II hidden in his belly Tire crack. I’m sure he did. How could he not.

foc · Jan 19, 2022

This is simple.
This will fit in your pocket.
This will leave you with change (spare cash) to buy film.

NB23 · Jan 19, 2022

foc said:
This is simple.
This will fit in your pocket.
This will leave you with change (spare cash) to buy film.

View attachment 296011

this ilford device would tangibly complicate things. No focus capability; how can I possibly expect my vision to be respected?
No shutter speeds. No apertures. This condemns me to complicated darkroom work to save just about all misexposed the shots. And since I care about actual decent composition, the 70% viewfinder would be a nightmare to rely on. Hello centered images!

No, there’s nothing simple about this unflexible camera.

I know you were joking, but I wasn’t. I could shoot an entire assignment, including a wedding, with just one Leica II and collapsible elmar. All shots in focus, all shots well exposed, stellar results from frame 1 to 1000 inclusive. And I could repeat this 50 times a year for 50 years straight. ah yes, all 50 years without a camera bag, just a pocket.

Mike Lopez · Jan 19, 2022

NB23 said:
...It takes a LONG time to create something simple. It takes ultimate mastery. Simple is the ultimate form. You get down to simple only after a long and complicate journey...

View attachment 296006

To paraphrase: "I have made this letter longer because I did not have time to make it shorter." --Blaise Pascal

I've kept this quote in mind for over 20 years, having had it dropped on me by my thesis supervisor (ouch!).

ciniframe · Jan 19, 2022

Following foc’s reasoning one could say the simplest camera is a cardboard box with a piece of photo paper taped on one side and a pinhole at the other end.
However I do understand the OP’s meaning. Basic cameras with no electronics and in his sample, at least coat pocketable.
In that vein my favorite, for many years, (4 decades actually) has been an Olympus Pen viewfinder half frame. Now, I’m talking about the original model, NOT the more common Pen EE. The original has a 28mm f3.5 with stops to f22, scale focusing to just under 2 feet, in a Copal with speeds from 1/25 to 1/200 plus B. All functions are completely manual and it has a wonderful projected frame viewfinder that alone would cost $250 to make today.
For my own use at least, nearly perfect as a pocket film camera.

NB23 · Jan 19, 2022

Mike Lopez said:
To paraphrase: "I have made this letter longer because I did not have time to make it shorter." --Blaise Pascal

I've kept this quote in mind for over 20 years, having had it dropped on me by my thesis supervisor (ouch!).

That’s Great!

Another perfect quote is “not rich enough to buy cheap” and all its derivatives. I’m always amazed at how true this is.

Huss · Jan 19, 2022

ciniframe said:
Following foc’s reasoning one could say the simplest camera is a cardboard box with a piece of photo paper taped on one side and a pinhole at the other end.
However I do understand the OP’s meaning. Basic cameras with no electronics and in his sample, at least coat pocketable.
In that vein my favorite, for many years, (4 decades actually) has been an Olympus Pen viewfinder half frame. Now, I’m talking about the original model, NOT the more common Pen EE. The original has a 28mm f3.5 with stops to f22, scale focusing to just under 2 feet, in a Copal with speeds from 1/25 to 1/200 plus B. All functions are completely manual and it has a wonderful projected frame viewfinder that alone would cost $250 to make today.
For my own use at least, nearly perfect as a pocket film camera.

Yes! I'm looking for a decent OG Pen, the only ones I've been finding have been the ones with the (now dead) selenium meter.

In the mean time the $20 (or as Eli would say, two $10 Leica Ms) Agat 18K fits the description as a fully manual 35mm camera, with the benefit of being tiny and 1/2 frame. Travelling light always means carrying as little film as possible!

Nodda Duma · Jan 19, 2022

I agree, though a Leica isn’t the simple camera for me.

A camera and lens that gets out of the way is a wonderful thing to have.

Paul Howell · Jan 19, 2022

Petri, Color 35, scale focus, has a distance scale visible in the viewfinder, lens is pretty good collapsible 4 element tessar, well coated, slow top shutter speed of 1/250, worst feature is that the battery compartment is inside the film chamber, if you battery dies, need to rewind remaining film. I've was shooting a roll of Ultafine 400 36ex at around frame 10, managed to rewind with rolling up the leader and then shoot with cap on to frame 15, lost 4 frames. .

snusmumriken · Jan 20, 2022

Someone has to say Rollei35, so it might as well be me! Let's at least say it is a viable alternative, offering full control to a serious photographer. It's a bit fiddly, but the Barnack is more so. Better lens than that Elmar. Excellent integrated viewfinder. No rangefinder, but not needed with a 40mm lens. Light meter built in. Screw-in filters and lens hoods. Very simple film loading. Robust shutter.

Deleted member 88956 · Jan 20, 2022

For small, simple, and great. Yeah, need a battery, but one will last a very long trip.

Huss · Jan 20, 2022

snusmumriken said:
Someone has to say Rollei35, so it might as well be me! Let's at least say it is a viable alternative, offering full control to a serious photographer. It's a bit fiddly, but the Barnack is more so. Better lens than that Elmar. Excellent integrated viewfinder. No rangefinder, but not needed with a 40mm lens. Light meter built in. Screw-in filters and lens hoods. Very simple film loading. Robust shutter.

I'd agree but you lost me at robust shutter. I have yet to come across one that does not have issues with the slow speeds. Or then again, maybe that's why the owner is selling it!
But 100% working? Then yep that fits the bill.

warden · Jan 20, 2022

Mike Lopez said:
To paraphrase: "I have made this letter longer because I did not have time to make it shorter." --Blaise Pascal

I've kept this quote in mind for over 20 years, having had it dropped on me by my thesis supervisor (ouch!).

When I was in product design school the students would ask the professors how to know when the design is finished.

"When there is nothing left that you can remove" was usually the response.

NB23 · Jan 20, 2022

warden said:
When I was in product design school the students would ask the professors how to know when the design is finished.

"When there is nothing left that you can remove" was usually the response.

low leveling standard, I guess.

snusmumriken · Jan 20, 2022

Huss said:
I'd agree but you lost me at robust shutter. I have yet to come across one that does not have issues with the slow speeds. Or then again, maybe that's why the owner is selling it!

Do you mean that they had issues that a simple clean and lube would not fix? Maybe I was lucky with mine, because it had been used regularly and the sticky slow speeds came right with a bit of exercise. What I meant, however, was that the shutter mech is a clever but straightforward design in metal that has no rubberised cloth or plastic parts. You can't accidentally burn a hole in it!

Don't get me wrong, I love my Leica, but to my mind Waaske/Rollei made an inspired set of compromises in a very clever design. Interesting history too.

Mike Lopez · Jan 20, 2022

warden said:
When I was in product design school the students would ask the professors how to know when the design is finished.

"When there is nothing left that you can remove" was usually the response.

Art Wright: "How do you know when you have something?"
Brett Weston: "When I feel an orgasm coming on."

warden · Jan 20, 2022

Mike Lopez said:
Art Wright: "How do you know when you have something?"
Brett Weston: "When I feel an orgasm coming on."

Excellent.

Sirius Glass · Jan 20, 2022

Mike Lopez said:
Art Wright: "How do you know when you have something?"
Brett Weston: "When I feel an orgasm coming on."

Well give him credit. He came to the point.

awty · Jan 20, 2022

They nailed it early, everything afterwards was a slight alteration.
It's a good thing having no 1000th to bunch up the dial and who uses the slow speeds.
The external view finder is as bright as they come.
Disappointing its not all brassed up, hope you can take care of that.

NB23 · Jan 20, 2022

awty said:
They nailed it early, everything afterwards was a slight alteration.
It's a good thing having no 1000th to bunch up the dial and who uses the slow speeds.
The external view finder is as bright as they come.
Disappointing its not all brassed up, hope you can take care of that.

It was in mint condition, hardly ever used. Collector grade, Huge find!

And last month I found a IIIg, mint collector, I even ask myself if it was ever used at all. And the price was half market value.

I’ll use them a lot.

ProfessorC1983 · Jan 20, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Well give him credit. He came to the point.

I see what you did there.

ic-racer · Jan 21, 2022

NB23 said:
The simplest, smallest, most beautiful, yet a powerhouse, dominating device. And fits in my jacket pocket.

The cellphone?
That camera is a marvel in mechanical engineering. Kudos to those that can master its complexity and limitations to make a photograph.

radiant · Jan 21, 2022

Many modern point-and-shoots will do the job.

Anything that comes between is bad. That is why I'm 99% time shooting with automatic exposure and auto-focus.

Deleted member 88956 · Jan 21, 2022

ic-racer said:
The cellphone?
That camera is a marvel in mechanical engineering. Kudos to those that can master its complexity and limitations to make a photograph.

Referring to the cellphone I assume?

Brian B Bednarek · Jan 21, 2022

I agree that a simple mechanical camera is the best!!! The pocketable aspect is less important to me, I prefer an SLR, but do have a number of rangefinders that I have acquired over the r=years. The best camera is always whatever you have and shoot with!!!

The power of the simplest camera

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

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