Looking for Small but Really Cool Camera

I've just returned from a trip to Seattle/Washington state. I didn't take tons of photos, but got my share of nice ones. I used a Nikon D800E for many, but also a 1937 Voigtlander Bessa RF (with 105mm Heliar,) loaded with FP4. My best shots from that camera came from the Scab Lands and downtown Seattle. I always have fun wandering in larger cities with a film camera & b&w film,and decided to send my Kodak Bantam Special in for cleaning & service. The repairman said someone has switched out the front cell of the lens and it wasn't fixable! It's such a cool little camera, hate to end up selling it for parts. I could buy another, or buy a parts camera and fix the first one. I do like the camera, despite the funky 828 film issue.

 

Another thought is I could just get a whole 'nother camera! I liked the Baby Rolleiflex so I bought a very early one, sent it off for CLA. But what else is out there? I want something that looks really nice, and it has to have a very high "cool" factor, like the Bantam Special and Baby Rollei. I'm looking at Kodak Vest Pocket Special (the early ones, and with fancy lens,) or maybe something like a Rollei 35s? The coupled meter on that one attracts me, it's modernity repels me (made after WW2,) but it is pretty cool looking! What else is out there? I'll mention the other small and cool camera I have is an Ansco Memo, from about 1929.

 

 

Kent in SD

Here are four which provoke a lot of "Kool" comments when I use them. Agfa Isolette II. Common 120 film, Prontor shutter has 10 second timer for "selfies". Weston 853 meter is straight out of art deco, although it is early 50's like the camera. Voightlander Vito II. 35mm with a super sharp lens. It, like the Agfa, is zone focusing so you get to twiddle with everything. Both are folders. The Vito will fit into your jeans back pocket, the Agfa will be a tight squeeze. Just don't sit on either.

A bit more "modern" & both 35mm are the Fed-2 & Fed-3. These are Leica Thread Mount (LTM) cameras from the former Soviet Union (FSU). Priced from $75 to $125, they are available with CLA's from Ukraine dealers on Ebay. Superb shooters, I have a somewhat large collection which provide most of the work I throw out on various forum of this site. Put Rollei 80's film thru any of these cameras, and 11x14's are yours to put on the trophy wall. Aloha from the Mainland, Bill

I should add that finding either the Isolette or Vito fully functional is vary hard. The Isolette is almost guaranteed to have pin holes in the bellows & the focusing helicoil frozen with dried up grease. If working, the Vito will suffer from shutter speeds way off the mark. The Iso pictured was fully restored (not by me) & the Vito "tinkered" to get the speeds close-enough. Bill

Love the blue bellows on the Isolette 2! Yes, there is "cool" factor there.:)

 

 

Kent in SD

Retrophotogangstahip.

;)

Hmm...Depends rather a lot on one's definition of "cool"; I don't think I've ever tried to apply the terminology to a camera, before! One tiny camera that really is an oddity, but also takes very good pictures, is the steampunk Samoca Super 35. I guess it's kinda cool...

 

Samoca Super 35

 

The Baby Rollei takes 127 film which is almost as difficult to find as 828. Of course with practice you can slit 120 down to size or roll up a length of 35mm in 127 paper and live with sprocket holes in top and bottom of frames.

Any of the Rollei 35's are good. I like my B35 for its light weight and selenium meter, but I like my 35S for its f 2.8 lens.

A Werra.

 

Small, works well and terrific looks.

If I decide to take along a simple small camera it is the Agfa Ambi Silette. As simple as it gets, a bit limited in shutter speed but easy to find and inexpensive. 35mm too.

 

Rick H.

The cameras I take travelling include:

* Super Sport Dolly, a 1930s folder for 120 film; either 2¼-inch square or 6x4.5cm, depending which mask you have in the back. Mine has a coupled RF.

* Zeh Goldi; again a 1930s folder, for 3x4cm on 127 film. Scale focus.

* Yashica 44LM, like the baby Rolleiflex; but 1950s..

* Zenit 3 (one of the early Zenits with 39mm lens thread), with at least a standard and a wide lens. My 'long' lens is the 85/1.5 Helios 40, which is big and heavy if you're not sure you'll use it. Again, a bit young for the OP: so, what about an Exakta?

The Agfa Ambi Silette is a good suggestion. Very much like it is the Lordomat also 35mm.

It may not be retro enough for you, but it's really hard to beat the Olympus XA. Just a solid, great little rangefinder.

It may not be retro enough for you, but it's really hard to beat the Olympus XA. Just a solid, great little rangefinder.

 

 

Yeah, plastic cameras just don't do it for me. I've heard it's very small and the lens is excellent though. Right now I'm leaning towards a second version Kodak Vest Pocket Special autographic with fancy lens, or the Samoca 35 Super!

 

Kent in SD

What about an Olympus Pen FT?

 

Granted it has the downside of being half frame, but the optics are outstanding, it's small, and it's a well built piece.

Looking Cool vs. doing a great job, film or digital, never cared / or considered how others might appreciate my cameras - just me, I guess.

On looking cool.....

One mustn’t let one’s fans down.

Over the last 40 years I only managed to make one happy it seems.

 

I was always, and remain, a big Classic Pentax fan in a Canon / Nikon world.

I never seem to catch up with the trends.

Closest I come is when they circle back ‘round and pass me again.

I must admit I have enjoyed that with the film thing recently.

Mostly in showing my old cameras to youngsters.

Edited August 31, 2018 by Moving On

Carry a Koni Omega to a look out crowded with tourists armed with phones and compacts. Twice I've been cornered and bombarded with questions

 

Another time I was trying to do a "self portrait" at a look out with my Olympus XA by sitting the camera on a post and using the self timer. A lady offered to take the photo for me but asked where the shutter button was, I showed her and she did such a great job of framing the shot, it's now one of my favorite photos

Drag out a Agfa Record 3, with its blue bellows & watch what happens with the phone crowd. . .it is comical !!

Rollei 35

 

not ergonomic at first, but easy to accommodate to.

 

I "cool" is to be judged from the reaction of bystanders, in my own experience it is very difficult to beat a Super Ikonta 531. Plus - convenient format, superb build quality, excellent lens, and truly pocketable.

Two23 said :

But what else is out there?

 

You might be interested in my current thread featuring the Minox 35 GT...

Cool factor: Penti. Half-frame. Exists in many funky (East German) colors. Requires Rapid cassettes.

http://cameracollector.proboards.com/thread/7002

 

Class (however you define that): Voigtlander Vito IIa.

Small is relative, and cool is subjective!

 

In 35mm classics there would be plenty of folders to choose from. My favorite is the Retina II; the Voigtlander Vito series is a great one too.

 

If you allow the larger size of non-folding cameras, best recommendation would be a Barnack Leica such as the IIIa.

 

On the 35mm modern line, that would be the XA series of which my favorite is the XA2. The Rollei 35 has a lot of loyal fans too.

 

In 120 size, small means folder. Smaller sizes are 4.5 x 6r such as the previous Super Ikonta post, or the Daichii Zenobia, to name just two. I find the 6x6 size more convenient so I use a Nettar.

I guess all things are relative and as mentioned the definition of "cool" will vary. as will the definition of "small". I think Bill responded first on and hit two winners in my corner. The Fed aka Leica II replica. These are quite small and it won hearts quickly for that reason alone...in the pre-war period. Another pre-war beauty is the same series as bosignore_eiko displays above, the predecessor 645/520 the standard Ikonta. This is punching above it size for sure. And then yet another plug for the beautiful Vito II. I have three variations of this model, the older original Vito, made for paper format 828 can still take a 35mm cassette.. and it is quite small, but classy. Although a post-war camera.. .and similar to the Vito in concept... but of course leagues away in class, quality and build etc (NOT!) is the esteemed Contessa from Zeiss Ikon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fine collection there, Chuck!