TOP TEN LIST

If YOUR camera's lens isn't included, don't panic -- I'm sure it's number ELEVEN on the list!  P.S. Since White did not consider half-frame cameras to be subminis, none of the many, superb half-frame optics were even considered for his list.

• 1951 -- 25mm f2.0 Goerz Helgor on the Minicord

  Six element TLR lens stopping down to f11 and focusing down to 12 inches. "This is one of the top three subminiature cameras; it is a precision instrument of high optical and mechanical quality, capable of outstanding results."

• 1953 -- 25mm f1.9 Esamitar on the GaMi

  Six element, rangefinder-coupled lens stopping down to f11 and focusing down to 13 inches. "The best subminiature camera ever made, and the all-time favorite of subminiature photographers."

• 1958 -- 15mm f3.5 Complan on the Minox B

  Four element, fixed aperture lens focusing down to 8 inches.

• 1960 -- 25mm f2.8 Rokkor on the Minolta 16 II

  Four element, fixed-focus lens stopping down to f16. The point of focus is about nine feet from the camera. Focusing to 21 inches with add-on closeup lens, or at infinity with a add-on distance lenses. "This model is one of the premier subminiatures ever designed. Its simplicity and durability have rarely been matched, and it has every feature really required for good quality still photography of any format."

• 1960 -- 25mm f2.8 Tessinon on the Tessina

  Six element TLR lens stopping down to f22 and focusing down to 10 inches. "The camera is well-made like the proverbial 'fine Swiss watch'."

• 1963 -- 25mm f2.8 Zeiss Tessar on the Rollei 16

  Multi-element lens stopping down to f22 and focusing down to 15 inches with additional closeup, wide-angle and telphoto adapters. "Let us confess here our unabashed prejudice that this was, and still is, the best German-made 16mm format camera of them all."

• 1980 -- 25mm f2.8 Minotar on the Minox 110s

  Multi-element lens stopping down to f16 and focusing down to 24. "The best all-around camera in its format in the early 1980s."

• 1980 -- 25-87mm f3.5 Macro-Zoom Rokkor on the Minolta Mark II

  Multi-element SLR zoom lens focusing down to 3 inches!. "This was without a doubt the finest integrated SLR 110 manufactured. This camera achieves as fine a result as any other Japanese 110 camera."

• 1983 -- 24mm f2.8 Pentax on the Pentax Auto 110 Super

  Multi-element, interchangeable, focusing SLR lens with various close-up lenses. "It was a breakthrough design and for the general photographer, all the subminiature he or she would need in a lifetime. In fact, even the sophistcated viewer cannot tell whether the enlargement was from a 35mm or a 110."

• 1987 -- 30mm f5.0 Xenagon on the Robot SC

  Fixed aperture lens stopping focusing down to 31 inches. "The Robot SC was tested under a variety of conditions and with a number of different emulsions and found to be a star performer."

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