What's a robust compact 35mm with good optics?

[Iskra 2]

Darn, my Minox 35 GL dropped out of my shirt pocket and landed on the floor and bounced, again, still "ticking" afterword. Loaded with Kodak Max GT800-4 it will match any digital P&S. Minox was a division of Leitz. The 35mm/2.8 lens is Elmar derived. There is no smaller quality 35mm sized camera, is there? I think they called it a "spy" camera back in the late 70's. Not a bad choice. Regards.

 

[mcgrattan]

I have a Minolta Freedom Zoom Explorer which has 28mm at the wide end of the zoom. It's pretty decent -- I put a few films through it on a recent trip to Granada and was quite happy with the results. Tiny bit of distortion on a few shots at 28mm but nothing dreadful.

I like my Mju-II more -- it's hard to think of a smaller and more convenient compact camera than that -- but the Mju has a longer focal length.

 

[erikhaugsby]

I prefer Olympus XAs...the clamshell is made of plastic, but the rest of the body is a nice, solid metal. The lens is exceptional, too.

 

[mike_j]

Update on GR1. I have just returned from a trip to Italian Dolomites. Ricoh GR1 was brilliant, easy to carry, no problems, excellent results and has the great virtue that it will take a pic even if it is not happy with focus etc - often the only way to get a grab shot.

My wife's Coolpix 4500 on the other hand was a pain in the arse - locks up on any shots with movement and eats batteries.

 

[rfshootist]

I need to carry around a compact with me all the time in a backpack or jacket pocket, it's a project I'm doing. It also needs to have a 28mm lens and a built in flash.
Andrew

This is what I use for this purpose. Manual fstops, manual focussing possible too, filterthread, hotshoe, +2/-2 compensation, 4/30 lens. Pics here:

Dead Link Removed

 

[nze]

The resulting image image with ricoh looks nice. Where do you find this camera in Europe.
in fact I already have an Xa and an Xa4 but the filter possibility of this camera will may be change my choice.

best

 

[rfshootist]

The resulting image image with ricoh looks nice. Where do you find this camera in Europe.
in fact I already have an Xa and an Xa4 but the filter possibility of this camera will may be change my choice.

best

I once bought it at a German dealer, www.fotobrenner.de, a pack of three for € 260,- , but they don't sell it anymore. And I doubt it is still offered new anywhere.
The ingenious thing with the filter is that the adapter goes from 37 to 49 , so it can take both filter sizes. Look at Ebay.... or for stockware in camera stores.

Regards,

bertram

 

[pedrosolorzano]

The Contax T3 is an excellent choice. But it has a 35 mm f2.8 lens, not 28mm.

 

[vazquez]

My carry around slr compact is an old Nikon F with a plain prism and the GN Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 attached to it.

 

[rfshootist]

My carry around slr compact is an old Nikon F with a plain prism and the GN Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 attached to it.

Andrew is surely happy to learn finally what your understanding of "compact" is, but his question was:

I need to carry around a compact with me all the time in a backpack or jacket pocket, it's a project I'm doing. It also needs to have a 28mm lens and a built in flash.

So even if your pockets are huge and if you got one of these very rare F models with a built in flash it is still the wrong lens.

A precise question earns a precise answer IMHO, not intimate confessions.

bertram

 

[vazquez]

rfshoot, what's the problem? Some sugested a Leica M, why cant' I do the same with my F? Are they so different to you? Not to me. Take it easy ;-)

Nikon F 146.1 x 100 x 70 mm 86Og
Leica M5 150 x 88 x 36 mm 700 g

 

[rfshootist]

rfshoot, what's the problem? Some sugested a Leica M, why cant' I do the same with my F? Are they so different to you? Not to me. Take it easy ;-)

Nikon F 146.1 x 100 x 70 mm 86Og
Leica M5 150 x 88 x 36 mm 700 g

Ah, I see ! You mean if others posted answers which did not refer to the original question, why not put another misleading one on top ? Interesting POV. :rolleyes:
Don't worry, I do take it easy, I wasn't the one who asked.

bertram