Author Topic: In pursuit of the smallest 28mm focal length camera (Read 4228 times)

hookstrapped · « **on:** October 25, 2014, 01:19:16 PM »

I never bonded with my Ricoh. Didn't like the noise of the AF and advance, and something else I haven't put my finger on. I'm missing my M2 with CV 1.9 28mm lens. Was talking to a friend who recommended the CV Skopar pancake 3.5 and that looks to be the ticket. But for a body... there's the Bessa 4M with its nice wide angle frame lines, there's the M2 whose entire viewfinder frame is a good approximation of the 28mm field of view.

But I'd like something smaller and cheaper. Don't really need the rangefinder since zone focus works well with a 28. Any suggestions for a small cheap body that takes an M mount? Or something else completely different?

Thanks!

02Pilot · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2014, 01:35:47 PM »

Are you willing to work with an external viewfinder, or do you want something with 28mm built-in? If the former, the Leica CL is probably a good option (especially if you want a meter), as is a FED-2 (screwmount, though); neither one has a stellar reputation for reliability, but there are good ones out there. The CV Bessa T is pretty small as well, but I never warmed up to the design (and I believe it's LTM as well, not M). I second the recommendation of the CV 28/3.5 - I haven't used one, but I love my CV 21/4, which has a similar external design.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2014, 01:51:18 PM »

have you looked at the minolta tc-1?
http://www.35mmc.com/27/09/2014/minolta-tc-1-eccentric-beauty/

I have a fujifilm klasse w and that works for me.

Ezzie · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2014, 02:20:39 PM »

Kowa SW is very cute. My most wanted camera.

Late Developer · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2014, 02:28:58 PM »

I know you said "cheaper" but if you can afford a Nikon 28Ti they are stunners.

Francois · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2014, 02:47:52 PM »

You could also go the Fed5B or Zorki6 route. When you get a good one, they are indeed very good.

hookstrapped · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2014, 03:51:20 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions! I've only got through checking out the Minolta and I am very intrigued by it. Will check out the other suggestions as well.

SLVR · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2014, 07:48:16 PM »

X2 on the 28Ti

edthened · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2014, 08:54:18 PM »

Och a chust luv ma wee Ricoh GR1, an nae fergetin ma teenie wee Olympus XA tae

jojonas~ · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2014, 09:40:59 PM »

ohyeah! nice taking up the XA, ed! their xa4 is actually a good little 28mm

hookstrapped · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2014, 03:27:26 AM »

That XA4 looks pretty nifty but they are extremely rare.

I just remembered I have a Bessa-L body, so thinking about the 28mm Skopar but they aren't available in screw mount nowadays and there's the added expense of a viewfinder. So now I'm thinking of the 21mm Skopar which is screw mount and comes with the external viewfinder. I remembered I wanted though have never used a 21 other than in a Vivitar UWS (I think that's a 21). Anyway, though that Minolta really appeals to me, the noise of the focus and advance kinda scares me. A Bessa-L with a Skopar is more like what I had in mind... manual zone focus, manual advance. It doesn't have the quietest shutter but I'm jazzed by the idea.

Thanks for telling me about these cool cameras.

02Pilot · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2014, 01:42:27 PM »

The 21/4 Skopar is a really fun lens. I grabbed mine after considering several other wide focal lengths (28, 25, 15). I've found more uses for it than I originally imagined. Zone focusing is all that's necessary; the DOF is ridiculous. The Voigtländer VF is excellent as well.

hookstrapped · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2014, 02:25:42 PM »

Ezzie · « **Reply #13 on:** October 26, 2014, 07:08:00 PM »

I had one, and sold it. Reminds me I need to kick myself - again

SLVR · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2014, 08:38:54 PM »

Not sure what your quality expectations are but the LC-A is a 32mm. A hair tighter than a 28.

artobest · « **Reply #15 on:** October 27, 2014, 03:23:10 PM »

One more for the Nikon 28Ti. I have the 35mm version, it's been my travel companion for many years. The only thing that ever went wrong was when the viewfinder melted off in the hot Sicilian sun. I put it back in my bag and it glued itself back on!

Aksel · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2014, 07:26:16 PM »

I had the Nikon 35Ti, same body as the 28Ti at the same time as my GR1s, just to put it out there - the Ti is a bulky thing with non-existing ergonomics compared to the GR. The cv 28/3.5 mated with a Minolta CLE used to be my favourite combination as a walk around, not much bigger than a compact but with all the manual control it´s a real winner!

hookstrapped · « **Reply #17 on:** December 11, 2014, 12:42:24 PM »

I just found out about this Fujifilm P&S, the Natura Classica -- there have been other versions in the past, famously the 1.9. But this camera, with a 28-56 zoom, features an aperture range of f2.8-5.4. Bizarre. I get that it's marketed as a low-light camera, with a special auto low-light / high speed film feature, but still... Fuji, keep being Fuji and making little weird cameras

http://microsites.lomography.com/fujinatura/specs

They are ridiculously expensive at around $900 but there's a used one in town that I'm going to check out.

02Pilot · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2014, 01:56:44 PM »

The Night Program feature would make a lot more sense if you could still get Fuji's own 1600- or 800-speed films, both of which have disappeared (at least from the US market). If you can manually set the ISO so you can push the film then at least there's a work-around.

Ezzie · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2014, 01:59:40 PM »

If you are thinking of a Fuji, what about the Classe W?

hookstrapped · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2014, 02:49:06 PM »

Quote from: 02Pilot on December 11, 2014, 01:56:44 PM

The Night Program feature would make a lot more sense if you could still get Fuji's own 1600- or 800-speed films, both of which have disappeared (at least from the US market). If you can manually set the ISO so you can push the film then at least there's a work-around.

That's one of the things I want to check out with the used one in town.

hookstrapped · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2014, 02:51:55 PM »

Quote from: Ezzie on December 11, 2014, 01:59:40 PM

If you are thinking of a Fuji, what about the Classe W?

I had that in mind until I read a review that said the camera is extremely slow to autofocus. And zone focusing for the street in manual mode... maybe but I would need to check that out.

tkmedia · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2014, 07:29:03 PM »

Nikon Lite touch, konica eu mini, 24mm Minolta P's / Freedom Vista.

Hungry Mike · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2014, 07:44:38 PM »

I've looked at getting a Natura Classica but my hesitation was that I had read that it wasn't great for outdoors, even in overcast conditions. I've never used one so I could be wrong so perhaps someone could confirm that? I thought there was someone on FW who used one? They are a handsome P&S regardless.