What are considered Rare point and shoot cameras?

<p>I've wondered if there is a list for Rare cameras, using the word sparingly and in your judgement instead of the comments on ebay. Lets put a limit of 40 and this is your opinion, no provenance needed. I believe this will be interesting because I am amazed every week with some of the wonderful examples I see on this forum. It is one of the most interesting sites on the net. Bring em on, with photos if you have them. This could turn into a shopping list.</p>

<p>I haven't time to compile a list, <strong>Robert</strong>, but here's the only example of this little P&S-type camera I've come across, though it's sometimes a little difficult defining the P&S genre! It's a Japanese Konilette 35, battered but still functioning sweetly; speeds 1/25 to 1/200 plus B, 45mm Konitor f/3.5 lens, and that's it. No frills, a surprisingly good performer.</p><div></div>

<p>I only have one I would consider 'rare'. In fact I only have 2 cameras (out of about 300) that I would call rare; this, and a Thornton-Pickard Bijou Reflex.</p>

<p>Edit: of course once you start thinking of what's in your collection, you realize you have more than 2 rare cameras. A bakelite SIDA Turf?</p><div></div>

<blockquote>

<p>sometimes a little difficult defining the P&S genre!</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Hmm, how about we use August's definition from the Optima thread: a Classic Manual P&S would be a zone focus (or possibly fixed-focus) compact camera that does not require batteries. The classic examples would be the Rollei 35 (manual) or Olympus Trip 35 (auto). We could optionally allow compact rangefinders if they are automatic only like the Ansco Anscoset. Of course, none of these examples are rare. For rarity, we can use the McKeown-derived scale from the description pages at <a href="http://www.collection-appareils.fr/carrousel/html/index.php">http://www.collection-appareils.fr/carrousel/html/index.php</a></p>

<p>Ones that I have that fit this definition are:<br /> Pentacon Prakti (Although technically you could disqualify it on the grounds in needs batteries to advance the film.)<br /> <img src="http://www.pbase.com/image/141339714/large.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>The Honeywell Electric Eye (aka Mamiya EE Merit) is also rare:<br /> <img src="http://www.pbase.com/maderik/image/128381659/large.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Let's get everyone exorcised and foaming at the mouth ... :o)<br>

My list of usual suspects - not too rare, but not much great looking, working and affordable units available without some patient looking and cherry picking.<br>

Canonet Q17-III<br>

Konica Auto S2<br>

Minolta HiMatic 9<br>

Nikon L35AF, L35AW & 35Ti<br>

Olympus 35RC, 35SP & Trip35<br>

Yashica GSN, Lynx 14e & Lynx 5000<br>

Heck, I'm older than most of these, but I don't work nearly as well as some of these do.</p>

<p>... or how I spent my milk money on ebay.</p>

 

<p>Well, the Kodak original #1 and follow up String models were point and shoots. I have the first model Kodak Panoram from 1899 and it did not have a view finder and was single rotation speed only. So it is a rare panoramic P&S. It needs repairs and is going out for that so I can put it to use. Here is a picture of it. I have not seen one on ebay either.</p>

<p>Almost any of the early digital cameras that were call P&S will fall into this class. There are collectors for them. Being able to use them is a different matter. Matching computer software usage can be a pain if it is even with the camera.</p>

<p>CHEERS...Mathew</p>

<p>Forgot the photo. Here ya go...</p><div></div>

<p><img src="http://www.photoscala.de/grafik/2009/Olympus-Ecru.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="268" /><br>

Olympus ECRU</p>

<p><img src="http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/image-archives/camera/popup/image/pop_zoom_o-product.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="360" /><br>

<img src="http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/image-archives/camera/popup/image/pop_zoom_lt-1.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="360" /><br>

<img src="http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/image-archives/camera/popup/image/pop_zoom_lt-zoom.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="360" /><br>

<img src="http://old.photosharp.com.tw/cameraimage/minolta/minolta-tc1-2.jpg" alt="" width="327" height="300" /><br>

Rare among the rare.</p>

<p>This could easily fill many pages because so many small manufacturers came and went and put out one or two point and shoot cameras. If you count folders and box cameras you could fill several books...<br /> Some interesting ones off the top of my head:<br /> Argus K (rare camera from a big company)<br /> Winpro 35 (not really rare but unusual anyway)<br /> La Belle Pal (A Bolsey without the rangefinder)<br /> Finetta (not rare in general, but some of the variations are rare as hen's teeth)<br /> Gemflex (subminiature pseudo TLR MIOJ)<br /> I'll come back with more if they pop into my brain.</p>

<p>pssst: fred - <em>classic manual </em>cameras! ;)</p>

<p>The rarest I've personally encountered was a very early Agfa 6x6 folder for which I could find no documentation. Outwardly it resembled the supposedly first generation "Jsolette" I'd already successfully restored.</p>

<p>But upon disassembly I realized I'd encountered a mess beyond my ken. The shutter and diaphragm appeared to be one unit, with the overlapping leaves serving to block light until actuating, at which time the leaves would open to the desired aperture. I realized too late it was made up of many fiber-board type leaves - the leaves were very thin and shiny dark gray, and appeared metallic to me. Since I'd soaked the mechanism in solvent, same as I'd done with the Isolette, the fiber leaves were swollen and distorted beyond repair. It was a basket case, so I gave it to a nephew who wanted to tackle the reassembly.</p>

<p>Unfortunately I can't find my before-disassembly snapshot of the creature. I never found any documentation for this particular camera, but haven't bothered to research it since around 2005. Does this ring a bell with anyone else here?</p>

<p>Then there are all the novelty "cameras", possibly rare only because so many people just threw them out. You certainly don't see many tourists walking around with one of these. ;-0</p><div></div>

<p>I've always wanted to find a <strong><a href="http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/film/data/1956-1965/1963_nex.html?lang=us&categ=crn&page=1956-1965">Canonex</a></strong>, but have never actually seen one outside of the Canon online museum.</p>

<p>Konica Hexar, autofocus, autoexposure with built in winder and rewind.</p>

<p>A very modern point and shoot, possibly rare because it is relatively new.</p>

<p>Ed K.</p>

 

<p>Really, point and shoot cameras were made to be mass-produced. They were designed to be simple and marketed toward the public. Even so-called limited cameras regularly show up on the bay.<br>

There are a few high-end point and shoots that fetch high-prices like the hexar as noted above.</p>