[cheekygeek]

Dec. 1976 Camera 35 magazine. Scans of cover and article pages:

Dec. 1976, Camera 35 Cover (featuring the new Pentax ME & ? | Flickr
Dec. 1976, Camera 35 magazine: Ultra-Compact Pentax ME and? | Flickr
Dec. 1976, Camera 35 magazine: Ultra-Compact Pentax ME and? | Flickr
Dec. 1976, Camera 35 magazine: Ultra-Compact Pentax ME and? | Flickr

[murrelet]

Thanks for scanning and posting. This is great, considering the MX is my go-to camera and I just acquired an ME (might become my street shooter).

[pete-tarmigan]

I wonder what they meant by "full-frame" in 1976? The ME was released long before the Advanced Photo System (APS) used part of the 24x36 mm frame for non image-related data, thereby leaving the image significantly smaller than 24x36 mm. I never heard the term "full-frame" applied to image size until DSLRs became affordable for non-professionals and buyers discovered that the sensors were smaller than 24x36 mm despite having lens mounts designed for 24x36 mm images.

[LesDMess]

I wonder what they meant by "full-frame" in 1976?

There were half frame cameras then going back to the 60's if not earlier.

[pete-tarmigan]

There were half frame cameras then going back to the 60's if not earlier.

Oh, I see...that was before my time. They seem to have disappeared from the market by the time I was old enough to earn enough money from delivering newspapers to be able to afford a 126 format film Kodak camera (mid-1970s).

[LesDMess]

Oh, I see...that was before my time. They seem to have disappeared from the market by the time I was old enough to earn enough money from delivering newspapers to be able to afford a 126 format film Kodak camera (mid-1970s).

Half frame cameras were a weight and size savings before the Olympus OM series and subsequently the Pentax M series.



They could me your number of exposures too!

[boriscleto]

Oh, I see...that was before my time. They seem to have disappeared from the market by the time I was old enough to earn enough money from delivering newspapers to be able to afford a 126 format film Kodak camera (mid-1970s).

There were half-frame cameras into the 1980s, like the Yeshica Samurai...The Olympus Pen series made it into the '80s too...but the heyday was the 1960s. Small full frame cameras like the Rollei 35 and Olympus XA made them kind of pointless...but it would be hard to find a SLR smaller than the Pen F...

[ChrisPlatt]

Another reason half-frame 35mm cameras became popular in the 1960's was that
color film and processing had become widely available but was relatively expensive.

Chris

[cheekygeek]

Half Frame is only part of the story. If you peruse the ads in the magazines at this same time, 110 film was the rage. You may recall that Minolta made two models of an SLR 110 film camera and that Pentax got into the act also with its 110 SLR system. This is the back cover ad (prime real estate) of the Nov. 1975 Camera 35 magazine (same issue that had the K2, KM, KX reviews).


However, speaking of 1/2 Frame cameras, here is mine: Agfa Optima Parat

[Pentax Syntax]

Fantastic. Still have and use my original Pentax ME. Had the winder too before it died. Nice little camera and works pretty well in its aperture mode or manual.

[pathdoc]

Thanks for scanning and posting. This is great, considering the MX is my go-to camera and I just acquired an ME (might become my street shooter).

You'll have trouble deciding between them - each has its advantages, and the ME with SMC-M 40/2.8 is so compact it's practically pocketable (depending on the size & location of your pocket). For street shooting with bright light, the lens stopped well down and zone focused, and a relatively fast film loaded to keep the shutter speeds high, I can't think of a more ideal combination. Sure you might want to go to a 28mm or 35mm if you want a still wider view, but for handling in a compact package the M-series 40/2.8 pancake can't be beaten. Better still, carry a K mount to 49mm-thread reversing ring and you have macro available at the drop of a hat.

[deus ursus]

Half frame cameras were a weight and size savings before the Olympus OM series and subsequently the Pentax M series.

Wow, that Olympus Pen is pretty huge! I always thought it was compact, but compared to the MX and Olympus' own OM-1 it's really big. I'd get really disappointed if I'd bought it from ebay or something to get a compact film camera, when I already have an ME Super.

[LesDMess]

Wow, that Olympus Pen is pretty huge! I always thought it was compact, but compared to the MX and Olympus' own OM-1 it's really big. I'd get really disappointed if I'd bought it from ebay or something to get a compact film camera, when I already have an ME Super.

Of course back when it was released, the Olympus Pen F series was significantly smaller compared to others.



But it is fun to shoot a roll as you get double the number of exposures and it is setup in portrait mode.



It was probably the first true adaptable mount as Olympus made an adapter for practically ever lens mount available then. Here I was able to use it on my Nikon bellows with the Nikon adapter.



One thing you won't be disappointed with is the quality of the build - it is outstanding.

[murrelet]

You'll have trouble deciding between them - each has its advantages, and the ME with SMC-M 40/2.8 is so compact it's practically pocketable (depending on the size & location of your pocket). For street shooting with bright light, the lens stopped well down and zone focused, and a relatively fast film loaded to keep the shutter speeds high, I can't think of a more ideal combination. Sure you might want to go to a 28mm or 35mm if you want a still wider view, but for handling in a compact package the M-series 40/2.8 pancake can't be beaten. Better still, carry a K mount to 49mm-thread reversing ring and you have macro available at the drop of a hat.

I have a 28, 35, and 50. All M lenses. But... one of the local shops has a 40. Price is on the high side but I know it'll be in tip-top shape, so may be worth the premium. Really tempting. When I had my K100D, my main lens was the DA40. I loved that lens. So there's a sentimental calling to pick up the M40.

[Ranchu]

Thank you very much for doing these, cheekygeek!