Great story! Thanks for sharing. Yes it’s what you do with cameras that counts!

Thanks Richard, great tip/ info on the soft release and yes the step ring idea is the way to do it. I just haven't used mine enough to get that far with upgrades to it. Thanks for info on the Ricohs, i've never used these cameras...and sorry for my late answer..

Thanks Gary! I’m trying to do a video for all the cameras I’ve used / have written reviews for on MrLeica.com :) + some new stuff

Ah thanks Carlos, yes I like my manual cameras as I shoot in M mode anyway. Thanks for info.

Thanks on the SP and congrats on your Leica!

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks! Nice one for covering all the canon ltm lenses. Fancied them but little real world examples of them size wise. I like small lenses so appreciate you taking the time to show them! Especially loved your vid on the smallest L lenses. PS early risers 😂

Thanks Vadim! I try to include photos in most of my vids so people can see examples with that equipment.

Thanks and thanks for the info on the RD. Sounds a good balance of features and size.

Thanks Bernard, great tip! Yes I know the Rollei 35 is small, I just wish it was a RF I think! Nice combo BTW!

Sorry I missed this and sorry to hear your RC was trashed :(

Thanks yes quiet, especially vs SLRs!

Thanks Steve! Yes much better than it’s price tag / looks and thanks for tip on the battery.

Thanks Ian! No I’m trying to review all the cameras I own and especially those on the blog to provide a visual. I don’t own many fixed lens cameras so this is a bit unusual for me. It can still take nice photos though. :)

Don't like rangefinders!? Sorry your sort are not welcome here! :) :) :) Haha joking of course, yes they are not for everyone and in my defense I use SLRs too. See the various SLR vids. Great to here you pimped you RC. Yes the step ring approach would be my way to do it too if I used the camera more. I do this with other lenses (Heliar 50/3.5 for example).

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom 😂👍

Thanks! Yes I need to put another roll of film through mine after lockdown.

Thanks Simon, yes i'm a lover of small cameras too! :) Voigtlander Perkeo or a Barnack with a 50mm f3.5 lens are tiny :)

Ah yes great idea, it looks a non threatening camera so good for street! Haha if the price moves it wasn’t me! :)

Thanks Ulf!

Haha thanks Rhys!

Yes fun little camera!

Thanks, no problem! Yes nice little camera

Thanks Jerome! I feel Google didn’t help me with this video. For some details I did some research and all the sites I read said the RC was the smallest and no mention of the XA. Thanks for correcting me. I’ll look out for the XA :)

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom RC35 look nice but XA is much smaller plus the A11 flash you can connect to the body. Apperture Priority very quiet shutter ... Excellent for street photos

For the price they go, I don't think is worth taking it to repair tho

Sorry to hear battery problems. Yes it’s common with old camera sadly

Thanks Tom! Sadly I cheat and just try to buy clean cameras and then just look after them. I don’t clean them at all. Sorry I can’t help with this!

Ah great, thanks for the info!

Thanks sorry a few websites mention the RC that’s why I said it. I will check it out, thanks!

Yeah! I have the first XA and it's definitely smaller than the RC. It also has an amazing 6 element F.Zuiko lens.

@@atroche1978 thanks Bert, great info 🙏🏻

Viewfinder and rangefinder are difference, XA does not has function of "rangefinder" but RC has

@@tfylhk wrong, first generation of XA has rangefinder, I own one. XA2, 3, etc. have viewfinders

Thanks Matteo! Yes I love the flash sync speed in particular! Did you see my Leicaflex SL video? Great camera!

But the viewfinder of a Leica is more precise, and the mechanics the best. You can hear it just by the sound of the cocking and release...

@@luc5798 yes I guess that’s why I use mostly Leica :)

Thanks Nick! Great to hear you have run camera too! I’m waiting for someone in the post and then I’ll do a quick video to share my favourite run setup and a few options. Sorry to hear you patch isn’t great, mine is useable so I must be lucky. It sounds like you have a great setup for your needs. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻

Rangefinder patch close to useless? Try to put a pink filter on the finder! 😉 (A piece of old multigrade filter will do...)

@@luc5798 Thanks for the advice. I’d not replied since I’d been intending to give the rangefinder etc a good clean first, which I have just done. Watched video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o7KYqtF73qeoooU.html which although a different camera in Olympus range is helpful…particularly that self timer screw which needs to be removed clockwise (which is what he does NOT what he says). Seems better after a clean. I have bought a load of cheapish rangefinder cameras but I gave in and bought a Leica M2 and the difference is staggering! Perhaps not so staggering with the price difference.

@@nickRS100 thanks for the link, I'll clean the finder of my RC!

​@@nickRS100 Thanks again, because today I cleaned the viewfinder and rangefinder of my 35RC. Like new. And the difference is so obvious that I don't even need the pink filter anymore 🙂 I wouldn't have thought it was that easy to remove the camera cover and clean it! On the other hand on my camera the speed reminder in the viewfinder never worked right. It's not that bad and I've always done without it. But when I removed the cover I discovered a kind of micro spring that had come off... I'm sure that's what it's for, but I couldn't find the right way to put it back in place. If anyone knows how to do this, I thank him in advance...

Or, try the Oly RD, which has a lens which competes easily in the Leica class. The Contax T is a great camera for a small pocket camera, but it's getting hard to find in good condition and is very expensive. Frankly, I'm not sure of tthe point of comparing a fixed lens, auto and manual exposure camera using a leaf shutter with a much older generation Leica with a much older and simpler lens, focal plane shutter and interchangeable lenses, which costs 5 times the Oly (or more). Apples and oranges.

Hi Peter thanks and sorry for my delayed reply. Yes the Contax T sounds more my thing. I was never tempted by the T2 or T3 but as you say it would be hard to find one! Thanks for confirming the details regarding the XA vs RC too. I learn a lot from the comments on my videos.

Thanks Randall, the comparison was because I often pick a small camera to use / carry based on it's form. Despite the Leica having the older 5cm f3.5 lens that lens can beat many much more modern lenses without breaking sweat so I still rank the vintage Leica above the Olys, that's why I use them. The leaf shutter lens in the 35RC can be fun though* (I don't buy Leica for the badge, purely for their function but agree you can get a lot more for you money if buy cheaper cameras). Thanks for info on the RD. That is not a model i've come across in my reading so I will check it out. Thanks.

Hi Matt, Thanks for your reply. I've just acquired a Ricoh R1 (probably not your thing) which has a 30mm f3.5 lens, but can be switched to a 24mm f8 lens. It's the same form factor as the GR1, but mostly plastic, so a real point and shoot. I'm thinking of doing a 4 way battle between my Contax T, Ricoh GR1, Ricoh R1 and Olympus XA. I could throw the 35RC in as well, but my thing is cameras that can be carried in a shirt breast pocket. The 4 cameras I mentioned will all fit in said pocket (not simultaneously) but are all very different. Five focal lengths are covered; 24mm, 28mm, 30mm, 35mm and 38mm. Two of the cameras are premium compacts; the other two being largely plastic; three have the option for aperture priority and either have proper exposure compensation, or it can be achieved through adjusting film speed. There are a host of other differences, but first I have to replace the seals in the R1 and XA and some other minor repairs would be useful. Do you think such a comparison would be of interest? I would be going out with 4 cameras on the same day, with the same film, plus tripod, to fight it out.

@@peterculkin811 I think it is a lovely idea Peter! Are you UK based and do you share your own testing results somewhere?

Thanks me too, the 35RC is still good if anyone is on a tight budget. I still need to get a nice iiif at some point :)

I meant Leica

Thanks Sean, that’s very kind of you. I will take a look!

They have lots of nice stuff! I’m a bit scared of online auctions now as the last camera I bought like this needed repair before I can use it which adds a lot to the cost. It’s always tempting though! :)

Thanks Mohammad, great tip thanks!

It also has auto-exposure lol. the XA should be the camera under this title.

Thanks I’ll check it

@@TheFallOfSaigon22345 thanks, sorry quite a few website quote the RC as the smallest and none I read mentioned the XA. I’m less up to speed on Olympus so rely on the Internet. Thanks for confirming.

@@TheFallOfSaigon22345 , XA is viewfinder and not rangefinder, do you understand?

@@tfylhk There are 4 versions of the XA. The XA is a rangefinder.

Thanks Kevin!

Thanks I will look for it tomorrow. KZfaq sometimes doesn’t notify me of comments, especially if a reply. Apologies.

Hi sorry I’ve not used the small Minoltas. I like my X300 (see video) but that is an SLR.

Thanks Lucy, sorry not without Googling. The RC is said to be sharp too but I’m putting up against Leica so it’s all relative!

Thanks Matt!

The SP is much more versatile and sharper, but much bigger more expensive.

@@AGL93311 Thank you!

@@LucyS565 check Ade Torrent’s “Old Cameras” channel, he compares both head to head. Spoiler: he prefers the RC.

Haha no it’s because I used to us AF when I shot Nikon (10yrs or so ago). I missed some shots and it annoyed me. If you manual focus you never need to miss. (..and for exposure if you shoot with the light the camera should get it right but I prefer to shoot at the light and the cameras (all) will get it wrong. I just use what works for me. Many shoot full auto like some wedding shooters and they prefer that. Do what works for you.

Thanks Garvin, noted thanks!

Thanks, yes audio on some older videos is not the best. Content is the same.

Haha thanks John.. I think I am living a similar lifestyle to you now, discovered amazing lower cost lenses and using Leica M less.

Sometimes you can still find deals. Just keep an eye on eBay