[tonyzoc]

I've always liked the compact 35mm cameras...like the Minox 35, Olympus XA, and Rollei 35. The Chinon Bellami is another pretty nice compact 35 with auto exposure for ASA 25-400. It has a matched compact flash unit that attaches on the side also. I grabbed this one recently and I have one other with the flash.

[Michail_P]

That type of camera is always interesting, the design, the ease of use..

[tonyzoc]

That type of camera is always interesting, the design, the ease of use..

I always liked the barn doors on the Bellami coupled with the lens having a bellows to pop out in use. It makes it especially compact. The Minox EL is supposed to be smaller but I'm not sure. I had a Minox and they seemed taller. Whats nice about a camera like this is it fits in any pocket. You can take it with you when you don't feel like hanging anything on your shoulder. Also the multi-coated 35mm f/2.8 lens is pretty good. It is scale focus though...as are most except the original Olympus XA, which was an actual rangefinder. A clean XA costs as much as a clean Pentax MX.

[ismaelg]

Nice! Very elegant design.

Thanks,
Ismael

[BigMackCam]

Oh, I like that one, Tony. Out of curiosity, how big is it - compared to, say, the Minox 35? The viewfinder looks like it might be fairly decent... plenty of "glass" (?) at the front, for what looks like a pretty small camera...

[Sam_I_am]

Wow, that is a beautiful camera.

[tonyzoc]

Oh, I like that one, Tony. Out of curiosity, how big is it - compared to, say, the Minox 35? The viewfinder looks like it might be fairly decent... plenty of "glass" (?) at the front, for what looks like a pretty small camera...

The Minox 35 is reported to be 4 x 2.3 x 1.25" and the Bellamy is 4.13″ x 2.48″x 1.29" so it's slightly bigger than the Minox. The Bellamy takes 2 1.5v silver or alkaline button batteries and the Minox PX27 5.6v mercury battery. I'm not sure if it handles a 6v substitute. The viewfinder is decent but not as big as my Rollei 35. It's scale focus as with the Minox or the Rollei. The lens is 4 element in 3 groups... basically the same as the Rollei's Tessar. Here's the specs I found ...

Lens: Chinonex Color 35mm, f/2.8 (4 elements in 3 groups).
Focusing: Manual scale focusing with Zone Focus Marks - 3.3ft/1m - infinity.
Shutter: SEIKO Program EE Shutter, Speeds from 1/8 to 1/1000 sec.
Exposure Meter: Cds EE Exposure System, EV6 - 17(ASA 100), ASA25-400 (DIN 15 - 27)
Controls: Manual single stroke film advance, ASA dial 25-400, Battery check green LED and low light warning Red LED.
Film format: 35mm.

[ChrisPlatt]

Note that later Minox 35 models use the *still available* PX28 6V battery.

Like four 44/76/357 cells stacked, this is the same model used in the popular Canon A series cameras.

I find the Duracell lithium version lasts for several years in my Minox 35ML cameras.

Chris

[TwoUptons]

I also have a XA, which is awesome, and a Petri Color 35, which is also awesome, in a slightly different way.
I wish the Petri was a rangefinder, which it looks like it should be, but the extra viewfinder window is just for the bright lines... but it takes a regular flash on the top of the camera (see that, Rollei?)



They're both about the same size, though a bit thicker than the Chinon since they don't have retractable lenses.
The Petri is about 4 1/8" wide (because of the strap lug) 2" thick and 2 5/8" tall.
The XA is about 4 1/8" wide, 1 1/2" deep, and 2 5/8" tall.

I've bid on Bellamis a couple of times, but never been after one hard enough to win
I've always been a little worried about the reliability of the doors and lens extension mechanism.

-Eric

[Eyewanders]

I'm not familiar with that Chinon (though I've had some rough Chinon experiences and may have subconsciously ignored it).
I do have an XA, an Auto S3 (C35FD), and a Rollei 35. Love them all.
Those Rollei have the molecular density of a small star. <3

[tonyzoc]

I'm not familiar with that Chinon (though I've had some rough Chinon experiences and may have subconsciously ignored it).
I do have an XA, an Auto S3 (C35FD), and a Rollei 35. Love them all.
Those Rollei have the molecular density of a small star. <3

Yeah, I've got a Rollei 35 also. I bought it back in the 80s from a local camera shop (Hendrick's) in Syracuse, NY. It was in the junk bin for $25. It wasn't working but I got the shutter to fire on the ride home. It turns out the problem was the winder lever has a metal gear that meshes with a plastic gear... so metal on plastic and metal always wins. The plastic gear was chewed up preventing shutter cocking and film transport. I repaired the plastic gear by rebuilding it with epoxy and recutting the teeth with a Dremel tool. Then I contacted the Rollei repair expert Harry Fleenor and he told me that part was replaced with a brass gear and he had some. So I bought that and a few replacement screws I needed and the Rollei has worked perfectly ever since. I paid more for the leather case and wrist strap than for the camera.

[ChrisPlatt]

I tried a Rollei 35, due to its reputation for excellent image quality.

However the ergonomics of this model leave much to be desired.
Rather than struggle with my fingers tied in knots I soon sold it.

Chris

[brineb]

I've always liked the compact 35mm cameras...like the Minox 35, Olympus XA, and Rollei 35. The Chinon Bellami is another pretty nice compact 35 with auto exposure for ASA 25-400. It has a matched compact flash unit that attaches on the side also. I grabbed this one recently and I have one other with the flash.

I always wanted one of those!!! I do have a Minox and Soviet copiy somewhere in my collection!!!