Retro compact camera guide

Compact cameras exploded in popularity during the 60s and 70s as colour film became more accessible.

Many manufacturers competed to offer small, easy to use cameras with new technologies and features regularly being introduced.

Some example models include:

Konica C35 EF: introduced in 1975 as the first camera with built-in electronic flash
Olympus Trip 35: a timeless design, in a sleek package
Flash Fujica: an early model with built-in flash, with some impressive features
Yashica 35 MF: a very stylish compact camera with pop-up flash.
Olympus 35 EC: one of the most compact of the type, with lovely styling.

 

 All of these models have manual focusing, where you turn a ring on the lens so that it indicates the distance to your subject. This is easy to get the hang of, and gives you good control to focus on what you want to.

 They all have automatic exposure control, and some also give some information in the viewfinder about the aperture, and/or focus setting which is very useful.