"MINI" CAMERAS -- SMALL FULL-FRAME 35mm AND APS CAMERAS

Some people are under the impression that all APS cameras are smaller than 35mm mini-cameras, or that the smallest APS cameras are smaller than the smallest 35mm cameras.  It makes sense that this would be the case, since the APS format is so much smaller than the 35mm format.  But, in fact, there are many 35mm cameras that are as small -- or smaller -- than the smallest APS cameras.  For example, the Canon ELPH (APS) is truly a tiny wonder at 3.5 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches and 6.3 ounces.  But the Minolta TC-1 is a full frame 35mm camera and only 3.9 x 2.3 x 1.1 inches and only 6.5 ounces.  Since the TC-1 has a superior lens and a much larger format, the results from the TC-1 are far superior to the ELPH -- in a camera that is the same size and weight.

Anyway, all of the cameras in this section do not technically meet our definition of a submini camera, but they are very small nonetheless -- and of interest to some subbers.  But since there is no clear-cut definition of what a "MINI" (let alone submini) camera is we will state that to be included in this list, the longest dimension of the camera must be less than 4 inches.  Needless to say there are many good, small cameras (both 35mm and APS) that are just outside of this definition, but they are not listed here.  Many 35mm, and APS cameras are big because of all the features that they include, such as motorized film advance, electronic flash, auto-focus lens, etc.  If these features were to be removed the camera could become very small, but there are very few that meet these criteria.

A list of links for web sites that deal with "MINI" 35 cameras can be found at http://www.canalvip.com.br/nagano/rol_link.htm.

Please contact us if you have additional information to add to this list.

• Balda CA 35

  35mm format. Same as the Minox ML, Voightlander Vito C, and Revue 35XE (below).

• Canon ELPH LT

  APS format. (1998)  23mm (f4.8) auto-focusing lens. Built-in flash.

• Canon ELPH JR

  APS format. (1998)  26mm (f2.8) auto-focusing lens. Built-in flash.

• Canon ELPH 370Z

  APS format. (1998)  23-69mm (f4.5/9.9) auto-focusing zoom lens. Built-in flash.

• Canon ELPH

  APS format. (1998)  24-48mm (f4.5/6.2) auto-focusing zoom lens. Built-in flash.

• Canon ELPH LTD

  APS format. (1998)  24-48mm (f4.5/6.2) auto-focusing zoom lens. Built-in flash. Gold color.

• Canon ELPH 2

  APS format. (1999)  23-46mm (f4.5/6.2) auto-focusing zoom lens. Built-in flash.

• Chinon Bellami

  35mm format. (1981)  35mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Viewfinder.  Electronic shutter speeds of 1/8 to 1/500.  Pop-out lens. Special flash attached to the side.  Available in three colors.

• Compass

  35mm format. Many want this one listed as a submini, but it isn't. It produces full-frame 35mm images despite its tiny body.  Undoubtedly the smallest 35mm full-format camera.  

• Contax T

  35mm format. (1984)  38mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Coupled rangefinder.  Electronic shutter speeds of 8 seconds to 1/500.  Pop-out lens. The series continued with the T2, the TVS, etc. but these cameras added features, such as a built-in flash which increased the size.  

• Cosina CX-1

  35mm format. (1980) 33mm (f3.5) focusing lens. Very similar in appearance to the Olympus XA. Viewfinder. CDS meter. Shutter speeds of 2 seconds to 1/500. Hot shoe on top. Tripod socket. Neat, twisting lens/viewfinder cover. Film speeds from 25 - 400.

• Cosina CX-2

  35mm format. (1980) 35mm (f2.8-16) five-element, focusing lens. Very similar in appearance to the Olympus XA. Viewfinder. CDS meter. Aperture-priority autoamtic exposure.  Shutter speeds of 2 seconds to 1/500. Special motor drive available. Special flash available. Hot shoe on top. Self-timer, tripod socket. Neat, twisting lens/viewfinder cover. Film speeds from 25 - 400.

• Elikon

  35mm format. see

• Elikon 1

  35mm format.

• Elikon 535

  35mm format.

• Exxel

  see Kiev 35A

• Fuji Endeavor 1000 IX MRC

  APS format. (1998) 24mm (f3.5) autofocusing lens. Built-in flash.

• Fuji Endeavor 3500 IX MRC

  APS format. (1998) 21-58mm (f4.9/6.8) autofocusing zoom lens. Built-in flash.

• Kiev 35A

  35mm format. (1985)  Very close copy of the Minox 35 GT with 35mm (f2.8) focusing lens. Aperture-priority exposure automation.  Speeds of 4 seconds to 1/500.  Needle readout in viewfinder.  Hot shoe.  Also sold as the Exxel in Germany.

• Kiev 35AM

  35mm format. New design with LED's.

• Konica Revio

  APS format. (1998) 24-48mm (f4.0/7.6) autofocusing zoom lens. Built-in flash. Exposure compensation.

• Lomo LC-A

  35mm format. (1983)  32mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Speeds of 2 seconds to 1/500.  Seen with various nameplates.

• Lomo LC-M

  35mm format. (1987)  32mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Speeds of 2 seconds to 1/500.  The body styling was redesigned slightly and looks like a cross between a 35mm Minox and Cosina CX.

• Minolta TC-1

  35mm format. (1995) Minolta TC1 Classic Styled 35mm Compact Camera. This is the world's smallest luxury lens-shutter camera with a titanium steel body, superior-quality optics, aperture-priority AE, plus auto and manual focusing. The Minolta TC-1 is an ultra-high-quality, miniaturized, multi-featured camera with a titanium steel body for long-lasting durability. It is a camera unrivaled in both form and function. Fitting easily in a shirt pocket, the TC-1 is the smallest lens shutter camera available that offers the creative functions and sharp image quality of an SLR. The advanced automated features provide point and shoot simplicity, while the manual overrides and function control dial allow for personal style and creative expression. Also, the TC-1's superior optics and exposure control let you get the high-quality results you expect from slide films.

  • Miniature Size with Top-Quality Performance -- The Minolta TC-1 is an ultra-high-quality, miniaturized, multi-featured camera with a titanium steel body for long-lasting durability. It is a camera which is unrivaled in both form and function. Fitting easily in a shirt pocket, the TC-1 is the smallest lens shutter camera available that offers the creative functions and sharp image quality of an SLR. The advanced automated features allow point and shoot simplicity, while the manual overrides and function control dial allow for personal style and creative expression. Additionally, the superior optical quality and exposure control allows the full potential of color reversal (slide) films to be achieved. The Minolta TC-1 is the ideal companion for those who love to take pictures, have some knowledge of photography, and want a camera that can be taken anywhere, anytime, easily and conveniently.
  • Superior-Quality Lens -- The TC-1 features an ultra-wide-angle 28mm aspherical glass lens (five elements in five groups) which delivers superior image quality with edge-to-edge sharpness even at a maximum aperture of f/3.5. Aspherical lens elements reduce aberrations and also improve the quality of off-center images with wide angles of view. Lens performance is further enhanced by multi-coated surfaces which reduce flare and allow high light transmittance for exceptionally clear images. The lens system also features circular apertures which create natural-looking backgrounds and highlights. Additionally, an all-metal lens housing provides stable and precise optical alignment even in extreme temperatures.
  • Wide Angle Real-Image Viewfinder with Diopter Adjustment -- For maximum eye comfort, the Minolta TC-1 features a large, high-magnification viewfinder with the world’s widest angle-of-view. This real-image viewfinder uses aspherical lenses and glass roof prisms to provide a bright image and clear displays. Pushing the shutter-release button partway down displays shutter speed, flash status, focus OK indicator, and focus distance scale. Viewfinder diopter adjustment controls allow the user to set the viewfinder optics from -2.5 to +1 diopters, to match his or her eyesight requirements.  
  • Auto and Manual Focusing -- The TC-1 uses an external passive-type 455-step autofocus system which is able to focus accurately even on distant subjects, objects behind glass, or mirror images. An analog focus indicator displays the focus distance inside the viewfinder. Manual focus is also available, with 22-step presets in the data panel. Pressing the shutter-release button partway down activates the AF system and the analog focus indicator. The focus indicator is displayed in both auto and manual focus modes.
  • Aperture Priority AE -- The TC-1 provides user-selectable circular apertures of 3.5, 5.6, 8, and 16. The photographer can choose the aperture that best suits his or her particular needs, and the camera will select the proper shutter speed. The circular-type aperture provides a beautiful background blur and circular highlights as opposed to the angular highlights produced by most lens-shutter cameras.
  • Elegant and Durable Body Design  -- The Minolta TC-1 features a strong and lightweight titanium steel body which is both corrosion proof and shock proof. Titanium provides a lightweight, long lasting and durable exterior which protects the inside components while providing a beautiful appearance throughout the camera's lifetime. Inside, the TC-1's film pressure plate and film guiderails are crafted from aluminum for strength, precise film flatness, and long life.
  • Function Selector Dial/Lever Combination  -- Instead of numerous buttons, the TC-1 incorporates nearly all its function controls into a large, easy to operate, all-metal dial. The dial has settings for +/- exposure compensation, auto and manual focus modes, flash, red-eye reduction, ISO, self-timer, and a setting lock, with distinctive click stops for each position. Additionally, a function-selector lever conveniently positioned in front of the dial provides easy, one-finger operation.
  • +/- Exposure Compensation -- This allows the user to deliberately over expose or under expose the shot up to +/-4EV, in 0.5 EV increments. Exposure compensation is very useful with predominantly white or dark subjects or scenes, scenes with strong highlights or shadows, strongly back-lit subjects out of flash range, landscapes with a large portion of sky, or for bracketing exposures.
  • Spot Metering -- The TC-1 is equipped with the same spot metering system as some of today's SLR cameras. The diameter of the spot meter circle is 5.5mm, and the EV range is 2.5 - 17 (at ISO 100). Spot metering is very helpful in unusual lighting situations where accurate subject exposure is critical, since it allows the user to base the exposure on a small and specific area of the scene. To take a spot meter reading, place the viewfinder's spot meter circle on the subject, press and hold the spot button, and press the shutter-release button down to take the picture.
  • Built-In Flash -- The built-in flash has a guide number of 23 ft. and provides 28mm lens coverage. It features off, on, fill, night portrait, and red-eye reduction (via lamp) modes. In backlit scenes, fill/night portrait mode properly exposes the subject while slightly overexposing the background to maintain a backlit appearance. At sunset or with illuminated night scenes, the same mode uses a slow shutter speed to balance the flash illumination on the subject with the background's ambient light. In red-eye reduction mode, the TC-1 fires three bursts from the red-eye reduction lamp to close down the subject's pupils before the exposure flash is fired.
  • Automatic Film Transport -- The Minolta TC-1 features a miniaturized film transport motor (developed from SLR technology) which is 60% the size of conventional film transport motors with the same power output. This high-power motor provides automatic first frame setting, auto film advance, and auto rewind. In addition, power rewind may be activated at any time.
  • Additional Features -- Pan Focus To maximize depth-of-field, set the manual focus to 3m and the aperture to f/16. This will provide the greatest depth-of-field within the focus range. Highlight Compensation To accurately reproduce a highlight, set +2 to +2.5 EV compensation and spot meter the highlight. Shadow Compensation To accurately reproduce shadow areas, set -2 to -2.5 EV compensation and spot meter the shadow. Dual-Mode Self-Timer Once activated, this function delays shutter release by either two seconds or ten seconds, depending on the user's setting. The two-second timer is recommended along with tripod mounting to prevent camera shake in low-light situations with slow shutter speeds. The ten-second setting allows the user to set up the shot and appear in the photo. To signal countdown, the red-eye reduction lamp blinks with increasing speed. Data Panel Illuminator If the light is low, the user can illuminate the body data panel simply by pressing the illuminator button located to the left of the viewfinder eyepiece. The data panel will remain lit for 5 seconds after the button is pressed. Auto Power OFF To conserve battery power, the TC-1 automatically shuts off if not used for 5 minutes.

• Minolta Vectis 10

  APS format. (1998) 25-50mm (f4.8/9.1) autofocusing zoom lens. Built-in flash.

• Minolta Vectis 200

  APS format. (1998) 25-50mm (f4.8/9.1) autofocusing zoom lens. Built-in flash.

• Minolta Vectis 300

  APS format. (1998) 24-70mm (f5.7/9.8) autofocusing zoom lens. Built-in flash.

• Minox 35 AF

  35mm format. A genuine german autofocus, autoexposure, DX encoded camera based on the GL series. It should be obvious that it could not have a folding lens, but remarkably it is only very slightly larger than the GL! It has a full length clear plastic cover over the sensors at the top of the camera, making it a serious candidate for the most ugly camera ever made. It has exactly one control - on or off. The autofocus response is very rapid, the camera is very quiet for an autofocus, and it takes excellent pictures.

• Minox 35 EL

  35mm format.

• Minox 35 GL

  35mm format.

• Minox 35 GT

  35mm format. (1985) 35mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Shutter speeds of 30 seconds to 1/500. ISO settings of 25 - 800. Self timer and hot shoe.  Shutter speeds visible in the viewfinder.  Backlight button.  CDS meter.  Pop-out lens.

• Minox 35 GT-E

  35mm format. 35mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Hot shoe.  CDS meter.  Pop-out lens.

• Minox 35 GT-S

  35mm format. 35mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Hot shoe.  CDS meter.  Pop-out lens.

• Minox 35 GT-X

  35mm format.

• Minox 35 ML

  35mm format.

• Minox 35 PE

  35mm format.

• Minox 35 PL

  35mm format. (1985) 35mm (f2.8) focusing lens.  Shutter speeds of 4 seconds to 1/500. ISO settings of 25 - 800. Self timer .  No hot shoe, but special flash was available.  Slow speed warning in viewfinder.  Programmed exposure automation from 4 seconds at f2.8 to 1/500 at f16.   Backlight button.  CDS meter.  Pop-out lens.

• Nikon Nuvis S

  APS format. (1999) 22.5mm-66mm (f 5.2/7.5) autofocusing lens (6 elements in 6 groups).   Programmed exposure.  Electronic shutter. ISO settings of 25 - 800. Distance range from 1.5 ft. to infinity. ISO 50 to 1600.

• Olympus XA

  35mm format. (1979) Compact, aspheric lens which did not need to pop out of the camera for use -- like in other designs.  35mm (f2.8-22) focusing lens.  Rangefinder.  CDS meter.  Aperture-priority exposure automation.  Film speeds of 25-1000.  Shutter speeds of 10 seconds to 1/500. Shutter speed display in viewfinder.  Detachable flashes, such as A11 (first and smallest and weakest), and A16.  Tripod socket, battery check, backlight setting, self-timer.  What more could you want?  How about a built-in sliding cover to protect the lens, viewfinder and meter.  No filter thread.

• Olympus XA-2

  35mm format. Basically it a simplified version of the XA.  35mm (f3.5-14) focusing lens.  The lens only has idiot-symbols for focusing, however.  Viewfinder instead of rangefinder.  Programmed exposure automation.  CDS meter. Shutter speeds of 2 seconds to 1/750.  Tripod socket, battery check, self-timer.  No backlight setting,  Film speeds of 25-800.  No shutter speed display in viewfinder.  Detachable flashes, such as A11 (first and smallest and weakest), and A16.  No filter thread.

• Olympus XA-3

  35mm format.

• Olympus XA-4

  35mm format. Designed for close-up work, the f-stop scale on the front of the original model camera is replaced by a distance scale.  It can be used at all distances, and has additional features to make cloe-up work easier.  It's just the ticket for a backpacker who loves closeup work, but talk about a niche!  Viewfinder focusing, since a rangefinder is impractical for closeup use.

• Pentax Efina

  APS format. (1998) 24-48mm (f4.5/6.2) autofocusing zoom lens. Built-in flash. Backlight button.

• Petri Color 35

  35mm format. (1968) Just about the only attempt to copy the Rollei 35, it was -- in some ways -- an improvement on it, featuring better ergonomics. For example, all controls can be manipulated and monitored while looking through the viewfinder, the hot shoe is not on the bottom, and the film advance lever is on the right side where it belongs. Comparable in size to Rollei 35 or Olympus Pen cameras. When not in use, the lens sinks into the body by turning the top-mounted focus dial all the way back. Also top-mounted are the shutter speed and aperture dials, cable release-threaded shutter release button, hot shoe, battery-test button, advance lever, and ingeniously small rewind crank. Sharp 40mm/2.8 lens, shutter speeds from 1/15 to 1/250 plus B, coupled CDS light meter supporting film speeds to ASA 800 with match-needle display in viewfinder. Zone focus with metric scale shown in viewfinder including head-shot, group-shot, and mountain icons. Made in both chrome and black finishes; cost around $60 new. Succeeded by two autoexposure-only models in the '70's. While the lens performance isn't quite up to the Rollei 35's 40mm/3.5 Tessar (what is?), the Petri Color 35 is still a fine little camera capable of producing excellent results, but relatively few were sold and it is now harder to find.  

• Photo-Quelle

  See Revue (below)

• Revue 35XE

  35mm format. Same as the Balda CA 35 (above), Minox ML (above), and the Voightlander Vito C (below).

• Ricoh 35

  35mm format.

• Ricoh FF-1

  35mm format. (1980) Pop-out lens.  35mm f2.8) zone-focusing lens.  Viewfinder.  CDS meter.  Shutter speeds of 2 seconds to 1/500. Like other mini cameras, Ricoh continued the series, but added features, such as a built-in flash that increased the size.

• Rollei 35

  35mm format. (1966-1974)  

• Rollei B35

  35mm format.

• Rollei 35 LED

  35mm format.

• Rollei C35

  35mm format.

• Rollei 35 T

  35mm format.

• Rollei 35 TE

  35mm format.

• Rollei 35 S

  35mm format.

• Rollei 35 SE

  35mm format.

• Rollei 35 Platin

  35mm format.

• Rollei 35 Classic

  35mm format.

• Rollei Nano 80

  APS format. (1999) 28-80mm (f4.0/10.8) autofocusing zoom lens. Built in flash. Diopter adjustment. Optional wireless remote.

• Samsung IMPAX 300i

  APS format. 28-80mm (f4.6/10.6) auto-focusing zoom lens. Built-in flash. Diopter adjustment.

• Vivitar 35EM

  35mm format. Sports a scale-focusing 35mm, 2.8 lens. Shutter speeds to 1/1000.  Small and quiet.

• Voightlander Vito C

  35mm format. Not to be confused with the earlier, original -- and larger Voightlander Vito C -- this later Voightlander Vito C was made by Balda (see above) and also sold by Minox and Revue. (see above).

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