UC-1 and 35mm film Compacts

Hinomaru · 02-11-2012, 02:22 PM

Hi
Went thru storage boxes and dug out my P&S collection after reading and posting a pix of my Pentax film compacts here yesterday. I've come across the Non-Zoom single focal length compacts that I've collected years ago. These are all auto focus models that came out about the time of Pentax UC-1.

Pentax UC-1 : Pentax 32mm f/3.5
Fujifilm Tiara II : Fujinon Super EBC 28mm f/3.5
Olympus Stylus Epic / Epic DLX / Epic Limited : Olympus 35mm f/2.8
Konica Big Mini 300 / 302 : Konica 35mm f/3.5
Ricoh R1 : 24mm in Panorama mode / 30mm Normal - f/3.5

Richard

Last edited by Hinomaru; 02-11-2012 at 02:29 PM.

Skullsroad · 02-11-2012, 03:22 PM

I've been looking into these for the past week. You seem to have a great collection. All the ones I REALLY want are too expensive i.e. the Fujifilm Natura Black.

Which one is your favorite?

Hinomaru · 02-11-2012, 03:53 PM

Hello Skullsroad

Thanks for your comments. Yes, the Natura Black is a beauty! A fast f/1.9 and an ultra wide 24mm. That's a compact to behold!
Back then I wanted a Ricoh GR21 so baaaad but couldn't afford - it had a 21mm wide lens and I believe it also had external flash socket which was so cool. And an external exposure comp dial. It was outrageously priced just like the Fujifilm Natura Black & Classica. Those are the real "Posh Compacts". Also the Nikon 28 & 35Ti.

Well, strangely I favor among the pocketables is the vintage manual rangefinder focusing Olympus clamshell XA. Its an aperture priority compact. No amenities - like you have to wind film with thumb wheel and even set ASA/ISO manually - no DX coding. But it has +1.5 exposure comp for backlit scenes and the slow shutter speed goes all the way down to a full 10 seconds. Its really a fun camera to carry about.

Few more collections uploaded to my flicker photostream: Flickr: rickinazaki's Photostream

Richard

Skullsroad · 02-11-2012, 05:13 PM

The XA really seems to top everyones list. The features sound really cool, however unfortunately, and this is my opinion, it's butt-ugly. I much prefer the soap-bar and flat-faced look of the Konica and Ricoh.

Hinomaru · 02-11-2012, 06:00 PM

Yes, the design of the XA series was unconventional that either you loved it or didn't. It broke the aesthetic mold of the traditional compact when it came out and did away with folding lens of the Rollei 35 by placing internal focusing elements which at the time was revolutionary. It makes me feel even older - mind you, being a senior citizen - when the XA came out over thirty years ago, I thought the camera looked so futuristic. I didn't like the design initially but I love how it looks and handles after shooting with it for many years.

Cheers
Richard

**ChrisPlatt** · 02-25-2012, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by Skullsroad

The XA really seems to top everyones list.

Not mine.

Chris

elho_cid · 02-26-2012, 11:54 PM

Very nice collection, congrats!
From what I recall, you actually miss Minolta TC-1 in that set, an perhaps some Leica. Are you going to look them up as well?

Skullsroad · 02-27-2012, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

Not mine.

Chris

Heh. Care to finish that post and tell us what does?

**Clarkey** · 06-09-2012, 10:27 AM

Lovely collection. I still have my cheapie Canon BF Prima (35mm, f2.8), The oly trip 35 has unfortunately died.
I wish I could get something that is the size of any one of the the film camera soapbox designs (that accommodated 35mm film coverage lens) that had a larger sensor....for a bit less than the X100!

02-11-2012, 02:22 PM	#1
Hinomaru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Silicon Valley California Photos: Gallery Posts: 122	UC-1 and 35mm film Compacts Hi Went thru storage boxes and dug out my P&S collection after reading and posting a pix of my Pentax film compacts here yesterday. I've come across the Non-Zoom single focal length compacts that I've collected years ago. These are all auto focus models that came out about the time of Pentax UC-1. Pentax UC-1 : Pentax 32mm f/3.5 Fujifilm Tiara II : Fujinon Super EBC 28mm f/3.5 Olympus Stylus Epic / Epic DLX / Epic Limited : Olympus 35mm f/2.8 Konica Big Mini 300 / 302 : Konica 35mm f/3.5 Ricoh R1 : 24mm in Panorama mode / 30mm Normal - f/3.5 Richard Last edited by Hinomaru; 02-11-2012 at 02:29 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Starting to HATE waterproof compacts.	schmik	Pentax Compact Cameras	30	05-18-2012 02:50 PM
Samsung patents shallow DOF for compacts	RioRico	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	3	07-26-2011 02:57 PM
Film and 35mm Film Cameras Still Made?	InStitches49	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	110	12-09-2010 07:01 AM
Wacky new Pentax RS1000 and NB1000 compacts	deadwolfbones	Pentax News and Rumors	16	09-14-2010 03:43 AM
Rumor: One SLR, one prime plus two compacts on Sept. 9th	Noisychip	Pentax News and Rumors	75	09-09-2010 02:46 AM

02-11-2012, 03:22 PM	#2
Skullsroad Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area Posts: 267	I've been looking into these for the past week. You seem to have a great collection. All the ones I REALLY want are too expensive i.e. the Fujifilm Natura Black. Which one is your favorite?

02-11-2012, 03:53 PM	#3
Hinomaru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Silicon Valley California Photos: Gallery Posts: 122 Original Poster	Hello Skullsroad Thanks for your comments. Yes, the Natura Black is a beauty! A fast f/1.9 and an ultra wide 24mm. That's a compact to behold! Back then I wanted a Ricoh GR21 so baaaad but couldn't afford - it had a 21mm wide lens and I believe it also had external flash socket which was so cool. And an external exposure comp dial. It was outrageously priced just like the Fujifilm Natura Black & Classica. Those are the real "Posh Compacts". Also the Nikon 28 & 35Ti. Well, strangely I favor among the pocketables is the vintage manual rangefinder focusing Olympus clamshell XA. Its an aperture priority compact. No amenities - like you have to wind film with thumb wheel and even set ASA/ISO manually - no DX coding. But it has +1.5 exposure comp for backlit scenes and the slow shutter speed goes all the way down to a full 10 seconds. Its really a fun camera to carry about. Few more collections uploaded to my flicker photostream: Flickr: rickinazaki's Photostream Richard

02-11-2012, 05:13 PM	#4
Skullsroad Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area Posts: 267	The XA really seems to top everyones list. The features sound really cool, however unfortunately, and this is my opinion, it's butt-ugly. I much prefer the soap-bar and flat-faced look of the Konica and Ricoh.

02-11-2012, 06:00 PM	#5
Hinomaru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Silicon Valley California Photos: Gallery Posts: 122 Original Poster	Yes, the design of the XA series was unconventional that either you loved it or didn't. It broke the aesthetic mold of the traditional compact when it came out and did away with folding lens of the Rollei 35 by placing internal focusing elements which at the time was revolutionary. It makes me feel even older - mind you, being a senior citizen - when the XA came out over thirty years ago, I thought the camera looked so futuristic. I didn't like the design initially but I love how it looks and handles after shooting with it for many years. Cheers Richard

02-25-2012, 08:03 PM	#6
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	Originally posted by Skullsroad The XA really seems to top everyones list. Not mine. Chris

02-26-2012, 11:54 PM	#7
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Very nice collection, congrats! From what I recall, you actually miss Minolta TC-1 in that set, an perhaps some Leica. Are you going to look them up as well?

02-27-2012, 11:17 PM	#8
Skullsroad Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bay Area Posts: 267	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt Not mine. Chris Heh. Care to finish that post and tell us what does?

06-09-2012, 10:27 AM	#9
Clarkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,456	Lovely collection. I still have my cheapie Canon BF Prima (35mm, f2.8), The oly trip 35 has unfortunately died. I wish I could get something that is the size of any one of the the film camera soapbox designs (that accommodated 35mm film coverage lens) that had a larger sensor....for a bit less than the X100!