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1950 German 35mm Rangefinder
Voigtländer Vitessa A
Voigtländer Vitessa is a German folding 35mm film rangefinder camera, manufactured in the mid-1950s. Variant A is the first Vitessa in this remarkable 35mm shooter lineup. The appeal of an almost-pocketable full-frame 35mm rangefinder camera with full manual control, an almost “magical” lens, and top-notch German engineering is rather strong.— Dmitri.
1950s Soviet 35mm Rangefinder
FED-2 II/b With Industar-10
FED-2 is a beautiful camera with its share of flaws and imperfections. A Soviet copy of the Leica II that I could not resist at $50.— Dmitri.
1966 German 35mm Viewfinder
Rollei 35B
As far as full-frame cameras go, Rollei 35 surely is compact — even by today’s standards. But it’s not just the size that makes this little lens box desirable. Averaging $300 across different models in the series, it can fetch over $10K (use this link & “order by:” highest price) for special editions.— Dmitri.
1967 Japanese 35mm Half-Frame SLR
Olympus Pen FV
A detailed review of the only professional-grade half-frame film SLR, its unique features, and an incredible lens selection.— Danilo Leonardi.
1972 American Instant Film SLR
Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1
Camera specs, user guide, hacks/mods, and accessories. Also: repair and maintenance, history, and a buying guide.— Dmitri and Betty.
1976 Japanese 120 SLR
Bronica ETRSi 645
A review of a relatively cheap medium format SLR option, complete with lenses, and film holders.— Kent.
1977 USSR 35mm Rangefinder
FED 5b with Industar-61
ФЭД 5в is a Russian LTM rangefinder with a kit 𝑓2. 8 55mm Industar-61 L/D lens. It’s a large, fully-mechanical 730g metal beast with a silk shutter curtain that can be set between 1s and 1/500s. The camera features a hot shoe, flash sync at 1/30s, self-timer, and a dioptry adjustment.— Dmitri.
1979 Japanese 35mm Rangefinder
Olympus XA
A tiny camera weighing a mere 225g and just over 100cm/4” on its longest side, Olympus XA fits an impressive 35mm F. Zuiko 𝑓2. 8-22 lens that can focus between 0. 9m and infinity. To this day, the original XA remains the smallest full-frame rangefinder camera.— Dmitri and Betty.
1980 Japanese 35mm Viewfinder
Chinon Bellami
A small, pocketable camera, with a unique look, decent 35mm f/2.8 lens and everything-auto, except focus.— Dmitri.
1982 Japanese 35mm Autofocus Viewfinder
Pentax PC35AF
Manufactured in the 1980s, this fully-automatic shooter features a unique autofocus mechanism, and a futuristic, for the time, design. The gadget packs quality, fast optics, and a reasonably-powerful flash into a pocketable, pleasing to hold and operate black plastic chassis.— Dmitri and Betty.
