Need compact 35mm film camera with full manual controls...

<p>I used a Contax T2 for many years. It was incredibly good - compact, one of the best optics I have ever used, beautiful. Get one used, you´ll never regret.</p>

<p>Olympus 35RC. 'Nuff said.</p>

<p>A Leica M with the 50mm Elmar or 35mm Summaron or Summicron is not really very large. You won't find better quality.</p>

<p>If you are thinking 120 format, the most compact camera I have, and still am using reguarly, is the excellent Mamiya 6 with 75 mm normal lens. For me, Mamiya gave up a great thing when it increased size to the non-retractable Mamiya 7 (and 7-II). The two other Mamiya 6 lenses (50 and 150) are great performers as well. You really have to put one in your hands for a short while to appreciate it, and its portability and ease of use for a 120 camera, and the square image gives a multitude of portrait and landscape framing possibilities as well as the square frame.</p>

<p>Not 35mm, but very compact.</p><div></div>

<p>Try goodwill/Salvation army. They may have one for a prayer. I was at my local goodwill and they had film point and shoots, even a nikon which I have never seen before and not sure what type of camera it is but me thinks it's a point and shoot.. It is in the original box. They were asking 20 bucks for it.</p>

<p>For personal use' I can recommend the Rollei 35. I also had excellent results with the Olympus Stylus Epic, an automated camera. It was VERY handy, with great lens.</p>

<p>Asim, I'm thinking about your post, and I wonder if you should forget about all manual. Just get one of the small or medium point and shoots, something that auto focuses fast. It's not just the size of the camera that divides your time from your family, could it not also be the time it takes to focus and set exposure with your meter? If you want to shoot quickly, go auto, even digital. Makes more sense if you think about it.<br>

If you really just dig manual etc. Than why not just get an M6 or something and one lens. That's all you need really. Sling it over your shoulder, have a few rolls of film, simple as pie. Then, if you have time for your regular photography you can use your different lenses etc.</p>

 

<p>I can certainly empathize with your desire to go light and simple.</p>

<p>There are numerous great fixed-lens rangefinder cameras out there with excellent leaf-shutter lenses: Minolta, Konica, Ricoh, Canon, etc. Some have fast lenses, like f/1.7, some have slower lenses, like f/2.8 or 3.5.<br>

Some are bigger than you might think, though, and a really compact SLR with one of your Limiteds might compare surprisingly well.</p>

<p>I have the LX, MX and ME Super. I find the MX and ME super are quite a bit smaller than the LX, especially the ME Super, which is much less wide. Both are less obtrusive and much more pocketable than the LX. And the LX, as you know, is fairly compact itself. I like the ME Super for just the situation you're talking about. I wish it had DOF preview and a conventional shutter dial instead of buttons, but it's a sweet little machine, tiny for an SLR, with a great viewfinder. And you could carry an extra lens or two in another pocket, just in case, instead of the meter. You might find yourself really wanting that 31 or 77 for something. Speaking of just in case, Pentax has a cool small clamshell case for holding three compact lenses. It costs $50 though!<br>

The MX is not quite as small as the ME Super but it is close. I like its DOF preview, conventional shutter dial, and interchangeable focusing screens (though with your fast primes I think the ME Super's fixed screen would be fine).</p>

<p>If you do get an old fixed-lens rangefinder, make sure its rangefinder spot is distinct and that it focuses accurately. Also make sure the shutter is not sticking. It's a good ides to get a CLA, just to be sure.</p>

<p>The camera that is perfect for family outings shooting slide film is the Olympus Stylus Epic, known as the Olympus mju-ii outside North America. It is the ultimate family/children picture camera. It has lightning fast, super accurate focusing, can focus as close as 1 foot/.3M, has a very sharp and fast f2.8 lens, and a fill flash. Fits in the palm of your hand, and also your pocket. Can be pulled out of pocket, lens cover slid back, aimed, and fired in a few seconds, with only 1 hand ! From a functionality and usefulness perspective, one of the best 35mm cameras ever built, definitely one of the best compact cameras of all time. Exposes slide film accurately, has a spot meter, IR Remote, self timer, night flash mode, and a 4 second to 1/1000 shutter speed range also.<br />I have lots of cameras, including medium format and digital, but I have taken more great pics of my family with the Stylus Epic than all my other cameras combined! You will love the lightning fast deployment and focus, and small size. The exposure system is deadly accurate, so you dont need to fumble with a meter, and can focus on getting the shot. <br />You can pick up a used one for about $60 on ebay.<br>

Oh yes, did I mention it is super sharp? Popular Photography ranked it along side top SLR lenses in sharpness. Not bad for an inexpensive Point and Shoot!</p>

<p>Not bad for scenic shots either:<br>

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<p>This question comes up regularly. I have many fixed lens rf cameras. My favorite small model with full manual control is the Minolta Hi-Matic 7SII. Other nice ones include the Olympus 35RC, Olympus 35RD, Canonet QL17GIII and Olympus 35SP and SPN. If you don't mind zone focusing then the Rollei 35 models are nice too. I have an original 1966 German model and a later Singapore model also with the 40/3.5 lens. </p>

I agree with what Randall Pukalo said about the stylus epic. Did he mention it's water resistant?

<p>Keith, that fuji looks interesting. I know that Fujinon lenses are top notch and the equal to Zeiss in the Medium Format world.</p>

 

<p>I have for sale a Rollei 35 SE in Perfect Condition. It includes the camera, which is in 97.5% mint condition. some would say "like-new" or "Mint". I rate conservatively though, but it is a beauty! It includes the Rollei 35SE with the Zeiss Sonnar (Rollei 40mm F/2.8 HFT Lens), Original Rollei Case, new Rollei Gray Belt Case, B+W MRC UV Filter, Strap, batteries extra set, box (some tape on it), but still ok, and manual, papers etc. This camera look as if it has been used much if at all.<br>

Recent CLA from Harry Fleenor, Oceanside Camera Repair.<br>

Asking: $325.00 shipped within the USA<br>

<br />See link:<br>

<br /><a href="http://www.photo.net/gc/view-one?classified_ad_id=1061550">http://www.photo.net/gc/view-one?classified_ad_id=1061550</a><br>

<br />or email for info:<br>

<br /><a href="mailto:bherman@townisp.com">bherman@townisp.com</a><br>

<br />Brad</p><div></div>