what are the most compact SLR's

puketronic · Mar 13, 2014

I'm looking for a compact SLR. I have compact PS's, RF's, but I want reflex focusing.

I would prefer it to be all-mechanical and with a 50mm lens. I am OK with an electronic shutter and a lens that is a little wider (but not wider than 40mm).

I can think of,
OM-1/2 + 50mm f1.8 and 40mm f2.0
Pentax MX + 45mm f2.8

What are other options? I'm trying to gather a short so that I can evaluate the pros/cons and features of different cameras so that I can decide which to pursue.

elekm · Mar 13, 2014

For the Pentax, that's a 40mm pancake lens (not 45mm).

- Also compact, Pentax ME Super (smaller than the MX). Has buttons that let you select shutter speeds. Not as easy as a dial, but it works.

- Minolta XD 11 with the 45mm f/2.0. (Other Minolta XD and XG bodies are the same size, I think.)

Offerings from other camera makers were about the same size: Contax 139, Yashica FX-D, Ricoh KR series, Nikon FE/FM (especially with that 45mm Nikkor).

- The Nikon EM is small but lacks manual shutter speeds.

- Smallest SLR would be the Pentax 110, but it's not 35mm and is autoexposure only.

- If you attach the prism finder to a Tessina, it's probably the smallest 35mm SLR, but it's not full frame.

fretlessdavis · Mar 13, 2014

Yeah, the ME Super is a bit smaller. I am one of the few who actually likes the push button shutter speed adjustment on them. They're cheap, too!

I actually recommend the Chinon 45mm f/2.8 pancake over the SMC-M 40mm f/2.8 pancake. The Pentax one has more fame, but doesn't have the performance to back it up.

cramej · Mar 13, 2014

Minolta X-570 or 370 and 45mm f/2. Killer combination especially if you like aperture priority. X570 displays both shutter speed and aperture in the viewfinder.

Nikon FG series are pretty compact, too.

Fixcinater · Mar 13, 2014

Pentax in the pre-Spotmatic days are even smaller and fully mechanical, with impressive fit and finish closer to Leicas than the K-mount Pentax models.

The Auto Takumar line is quite small, something like the 55/2.0 or 2.2 would be quite compact but a bit deeper than the later pancakes. The 35/3.5 is tiny but obviously wider than 40mm.

Oren Grad · Mar 13, 2014

Miranda dx-3, if you want to stand out from everybody else. Also, Vivitar XV series cameras - I think probably Cosina-made, so there should be equivalents under the Cosina brand.

The OM-1/2/3/4 and Pentax MX and ME Super are quite a bit smaller than the Nikon FM/FE series. The Nikon EM/FG/FG-20 are Nikon's mini-SLRs.

Xmas · Mar 13, 2014

Pentax K1000 with /1.7 or /2 5cm
Olympus OM1 with /1.8 5cm
Nikon FG with /1.8 5cm series E

all light and small

The FG shutter is electronically timed (single manual speed with flat battery), the OM1 needs adaption for non mercury battery.

The Pentax and Olympus are more easy to maintain.

Alan Gales · Mar 13, 2014

I bought a Contax 139 brand new in the early 1980's. Not only was it small, it was also very ergonomic. I loved mine.

The only downsides to the camera were the absence of mirror lock-up and the nice, cushy leatherette covering ended up falling apart in just a few years. Of course there are alternative replacement coverings available today.

Paul Howell · Mar 13, 2014

Oren Grad said:
Miranda dx-3, if you want to stand out from everybody else. Also, Vivitar XV series cameras - I think probably Cosina-made, so there should be equivalents under the Cosina brand.

The OM-1/2/3/4 and Pentax MX and ME Super are quite a bit smaller than the Nikon FM/FE series. The Nikon EM/FG/FG-20 are Nikon's mini-SLRs.

I agree with the XV, very nice compact, the 42mm SM body although stop down, metering is accurate. I would not recommend a Dx 3, it is the camera that did Miranda in, most are not working, takes 4 odd button batteries. In auto focus I like the Sigma SD 7.

Mark_S · Mar 13, 2014

Olympus PEN F is probably the smallest 35mm SLR that was ever made. I think that Leica once did a prototype version of a similar camera, but I don't think that it made it into production.

puketronic · Mar 13, 2014

I'm aware of the PEN's but I'm not too familiar.

Half-frame might be OK.

I'm wondering...what is the focusing like? They don't have mirrors, do they?

Chan Tran · Mar 13, 2014

If you say most compact 35mm full frame SLR then yeah it's either the Pentax ME, MX or the Olympus OM-1, OM-2. But there are 110 SLR's from Pentax and Minolta and they are much smaller..

Paul Howell · Mar 13, 2014

Chan Tran said:
If you say most compact 35mm full frame SLR then yeah it's either the Pentax ME, MX or the Olympus OM-1, OM-2. But there are 110 SLR's from Pentax and Minolta and they are much smaller..

Is anyone makieing 110 film? Last I knew of was Ferrinia.

Oren Grad · Mar 13, 2014

puketronic said:
I'm aware of the PEN's but I'm not too familiar.

Half-frame might be OK.

I'm wondering...what is the focusing like? They don't have mirrors, do they?

Not sure what you mean by "don't have mirrors". The Pen F series are true reflex cameras, and half frame is great fun. But having used them all, to my eye, among the OM-1, Pentax MX, Nikon FM and Olympus Pen FT, focusing is hardest by far with the Pen FT, even with the 40/1.4 Pen Zuiko mounted. The finder is very small and very dim compared to the others. The Pen F and FV are marginally brighter, but still not remotely in the league of the full-frame cameras for ease of focusing.

Oren Grad · Mar 13, 2014

PDH said:
Is anyone makieing 110 film? Last I knew of was Ferrinia.

http://shop.lomography.com/us/films/110-film

Ricardo Miranda · Mar 13, 2014

There is a factory somewhere producing/packaging 110 film for Lomography. They are B&W, colour negative and positive. There is also a "redscale" version.
There is another company doing a ISO 400 colour negative film called Fukkatsu. You can see them on the FPP site: Dead Link Removed
Photo warehouse in the USA also sells fresh B&W and colour Fukkatsu films and some older films: http://www.ultrafineonline.com/110formatfilms.html

Film Ferrania have stated they have capacity to spool 110 and 126 films.

MattKing · Mar 13, 2014

An OM20/OM-G would be a lighter option than an OM1 or OM2. Not fully mechanical but an excellent accompanyment to a single digit Olympus body.

AgX · Mar 13, 2014

puketronic said:
I'm aware of the PEN's but I'm not too familiar.

Half-frame might be OK.

I'm wondering...what is the focusing like? They don't have mirrors, do they?

It got two mirrors (one swinging) and two prisms.

Richard Jepsen · Mar 13, 2014

OM-1 and 2.

Les Sarile · Mar 14, 2014

puketronic said:
I'm looking for a compact SLR. I have compact PS's, RF's, but I want reflex focusing.

I would prefer it to be all-mechanical and with a 50mm lens. I am OK with an electronic shutter and a lens that is a little wider (but not wider than 40mm).

I can think of,
OM-1/2 + 50mm f1.8 and 40mm f2.0
Pentax MX + 45mm f2.8

What are other options? I'm trying to gather a short so that I can evaluate the pros/cons and features of different cameras so that I can decide which to pursue.

Of course the Pentax MX with the 40mm f2.8 pancake lens. If you don't wear glasses then you will appreciate the largest and brightest full info viewfinder in the smallest all mechanical (batteries for meter only) SLR.

The Olympus Pen FT has TTL meter but it is not as straightforward to use as the OMs. Half a frame of TMAX100 or Kodak Ektar 100 is very usable. But as you can see, it's not that much smaller than an OM and it is certainly not much lighter - very well built.

Side by side of the MX and the OM1

RalphLambrecht · Mar 14, 2014

I second NikonFE/FMand add an older 50mmmf/1.8 or f/2

fretlessdavis · Mar 14, 2014

Les Sarile said:
Of course the Pentax MX with the 40mm f2.8 pancake lens. If you don't wear glasses then you will appreciate the largest and brightest full info viewfinder in the smallest all mechanical (batteries for meter only) SLR.

I've always wanted a black MX. They are quite sexy and sleek machines =)

John Koehrer · Mar 14, 2014

puketronic said:
I'm looking for a compact SLR.
I would prefer it to be all-mechanical and with a 50mm lens. I am OK with an electronic shutter and a lens that is a little wider (but not wider than 40mm).

I can think of,
OM-1/2 + 50mm f1.8 and 40mm f2.0
Pentax MX + 45mm f2.8

Compact & mechanical SLR eliminates many of the suggested cameras above.
OM-1, MX, are likely the most compact.
Pentax Spotmatics are larger than OM& MX but smaller than the following........
FM's, SRT's, Miranda, Pentax K series, and Older Canon, before A series are relatively large.

lxdude · Mar 14, 2014

puketronic said:
I'm looking for a compact SLR. I have compact PS's, RF's, but I want reflex focusing.

I would prefer it to be all-mechanical and with a 50mm lens. I am OK with an electronic shutter and a lens that is a little wider (but not wider than 40mm).

I can think of,
OM-1/2 + 50mm f1.8 and 40mm f2.0
Pentax MX + 45mm f2.8

I never knew there was an OM-1/2. It must have been really small. Half-frame successor to the Pen?

lxdude · Mar 14, 2014

fretlessdavis said:
Yeah, the ME Super is a bit smaller. I am one of the few who actually likes the push button shutter speed adjustment on them. They're cheap, too!

I didn't like the push-button shutter changing, but I found the ME Super so pleasant to use once I actually used one that I put up with it. Now I've gotten used to it and it doesn't bother me anymore.

what are the most compact SLR's

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