Ultra compact 35mm cameras

During the 1970s and 80s most camera manufacturers concentrated on building the latest technology into ever more capable (and larger) SLR cameras that represented the bulk of sales. At this time however a few manufacturers built a range of ultra-compact 35mm cameras. These were aimed at more discerning photographers often as a companion to their SLR. The concept was to have a very small pocketable camera that could be carried everywhere yet still yield excellent photo quality.

They differed from the point-and-shoot consumer models available at the time, offering less automation but better lenses, better build quality and some degree of manual control.

The results were a set of extremely compact cameras which are still unrivalled today for their combination of features.

The main camera ranges falling into this category are:

  • Rollei 35 range
  • Olympus XA range
  • Minox 35 range

Rollei 35 overview

The Rollei 35 range have an iconic design with a mechanism to slide out the lens and lock it into place before shooting. The original Rollei 35 was introduced in 1966 and quickly became a favourite for travelers and street photographers.

Most of the Rollei 35 range feature top quality Zeiss lenses and have most controls on the front of the camera. They tend towards manual exposure control, with a meter on top indicating if the exposure is set correctly.

Minox 35 range

The Minox 35 range was first available in 1974 with the release of the Minox 35 EL. They have a folding cover on the front of the camera that when opened slides the lens out into position. This cover protects the lens when closed and also acts as the power switch for the camera.

Compared to Rollei, Minox cameras are slightly more automated, generally offering either Aperture Priority automatic, or full Program automatic exposure control depending on the model.

 

Olympus XA range

The Olympus XA range is a legendary series of ultra-compact 35mm film cameras introduced by Olympus in 1979. Designed by famed engineer Yoshihisa Maitani—also behind the OM and Pen series—the XA cameras are well known for their ingenious design, sharp lenses, and portability, fitting easily into a shirt pocket while delivering high-quality images.