Smallest reflex system?

[dynachrome]

If I want a small and light 35mm SLR with a sharp lens and an easy to find battery I take out a Konica TC-X with the 40/1.8 Hexanon and put in a fresh AAA battery. The shutter is not overly loud. I still sometimes use my Pentax Auto 110. The focusing 18mm wide angle is my favorite lens for it. Getting good processing is more difficult than finding film. Once I used the camera at a Bar-B-Q and someone asked "Does it squirt water?"

The Olympus OM-10 can have the oily magnet problem but it's not the only camera to have this problem. This is easily solved with an overhaul. The OM-10 is very light, has a bright viewfinder and a sensitive meter. With the Manual Adapter everything can be set manually. I would not compare the construction of an OM-10 with that of a Nikon FE2 but if you are not too rough with it, an OM-10 can be a pleasant camera to use.

A Pentax MX or ME Super with a 50/1.7 M lens is a small package. The 40mm lens is not any sharper but slightly smaller and much more expensive. A Minolta X-370 or X-700 with a 50/1.7 MD lens is not very heavy and the cloth shutters are fairly quiet. Even an inexpensive Vivitar V4000S with a 55/1.8 SMC Pentax lens is not too heavy and still quite capable.

[goros]

Hola Maka,

As many have pointed out here, it would be an Olympus and, as you want a "spotish" light meter, it must be either the OM3 or OM4 with a true spot meter. The OM3 is very difficult and/or expensive to find in the second hand market. My choose will be a OM4Ti. Also, Zuiko lenses are very compact comparing with Nikkors or Canons.

Nos vemos en el nuevo CUFAE.

[Pumal]

Try to get a used Pentax Hand Held Spotmeter and you can use any Olympus.

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Of course. It is true that Contax lenses aren't particularly small, possibly with the exception of the 45 mm Tessar.

The Zeiss 35 & 85mm f/2.8 for Rolleiflex are actually very good and tiny, though I've heard rumours that they aren't identical to the C/Y versions (anyone know more?).
Also the 18mm isn't too big or heavy for its FL (try using Leica R lenses!!!)

I use Zeiss lenses on Rolleflexes as my compact SLR system (however I'm not giving an unreserved reccomendation for the camera bodies).

If you can do without SLR capabilities, rangefinders are acgtually the lightest and most compact (tiny lenses!).

[Pumal]

I agree. I use my Yashica 14e IC f/1.4 a lot. ( for street and night)

[elekm]

I think the f/2.8 85mm Sonnar for the Rolleiflex SL 35 series is a terrific, underrated lens. Very sharp with great character. And as mentioned, it's compact.

[Shaggysk8]

I have an Ensign Autorange 16-20 not sure how it compares and it does not have any metering, but it is small, almost pocket size

[naaldvoerder]

The Contax Aria is very small and has spotmetering

Jaap Jan

[frdrx]

The Zeiss 35 & 85mm f/2.8 for Rolleiflex are actually very good and tiny, though I've heard rumours that they aren't identical to the C/Y versions (anyone know more?).

I have both of these lenses in Contax/Yashica mount (along with the 2.8/28 and 1.4/50, which are similar in size), and although they are relatively small, I think they are far from being the smallest around.

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I have both of these lenses in Contax/Yashica mount (along with the 2.8/28 and 1.4/50, which are similar in size), and although they are relatively small, I think they are far from being the smallest around.

Again, it's very possible that the Rolleiflex & C/Y versions were different schemes and builds. The only SLR 35mm lenses which I've seen similar in size to the Rolleiflex CZ 35mm (L: 51mm W: 61mm) are the Pentax 35mm f/3.5 and the Schneider Curtagon (a "short mount" version).
As far as short teles go, I've seen no automatic diaphragm SLR lens close to the size of the CZ 85mm (L: 49mm W: 62mm).
(Big caveat, I haven't seen many Olympus OM lenses and I've heard that many Pentax M lenses weren't stellar).