My first pocket camera 1970: I bought this Olympus RC35 in 1970 for about $90. It was touted as the budget version of the Leica CL with the 40mm F2. Much smaller than my Rolleiflex...

fabphoto

I bought this Olympus RC35 in 1970 for about $90. It was touted as the budget version of the Leica CL with the 40mm F2. Much smaller than my Rolleiflex F2.8 TLR, or my Brooks Veriwide 100 (21/4 X 31/4) that were my serious cameras at the time. Fabian in Tampabay

Bill_de Loc: US

fabphoto wrote:

I bought this Olympus RC35 in 1970 for about $90. It was touted as the budget version of the Leica CL with the 40mm F2. Much smaller than my Rolleiflex F2.8 TLR, or my Brooks Veriwide (21/2 X 31/4)that were my serious cameras at the time. Fabian in Tampabay

Good to know.

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PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

My first poscket camera was sold a couple years ago to a collector in Japan. I think he paid more for it than I did when it was new. It was a Minolta 16mm camera that came with a leather case, a flash arttachment, and was smaller than a pack of cigarettes. It was a fun camera, but did not get much use as I bought it as more of a novelty than as an actual camera to be used.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

fabphoto wrote:

I bought this Olympus RC35 in 1970 for about $90. It was touted as the budget version of the Leica CL with the 40mm F2. Much smaller than my Rolleiflex F2.8 TLR, or my Brooks Veriwide 100 (21/4 X 31/4) that were my serious cameras at the time. Fabian in Tampabay

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

About the same time, I had the Kodak Retina 3C. Marvel of a camera. I am trying to get my hands on a good used copy. Canon and Yashica and others had comparable cameras to what you had, all pretty good and compact.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

I had a little Minox B... back in the '70s.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

fabphoto wrote:

I bought this Olympus RC35 in 1970 for about $90. It was touted as the budget version of the Leica CL with the 40mm F2. Much smaller than my Rolleiflex F2.8 TLR, or my Brooks Veriwide 100 (21/4 X 31/4) that were my serious cameras at the time. Fabian in Tampabay

The Minolta 7 SII has mostly been considered the closest analogy to the Leica ......https://www.ebay.com/itm/354234165285?hash=item527a006825:g:fu0AAOSwvm9jADXP&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4FbIdcmmkGT7GVEkk6q02O40tqucOqSrBgp1MAqIpRO0mUX%2Ft4Q02qdy56SRyoEqkfoVd%2FV1WJAkhIi%2BfynXa%2FamhgrKtYnk2NKxVa8AFS6mIkBkYkiq93gIWSAvZQo25v5F%2BI6GMVCCzqQRU1dNEsTQVmNighERdsQcOe7eofmaA9OUclM5oNSbWt%2BG2T2D1P2e6FrI2mKa28EN%2BsQFUvc%2FPc5ZGR4kMNmMUnFbsCKXFSzH7ug%2FMi81uKm9U%2Fc8h6BI9uWvkt579SmCteITVDitTZ0st0z7X3jGOkOx%2BMxe%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-bj-d-2YQ
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JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

The Olympus 35RC was also my first 35mm camera. My parents gave it to me as a college graduation gift. After using it for a few years I upgraded to a Fujica SLR and passed the Oly to my Dad. Later he handed it off to one of my sisters, and then it came back to me.

I have it on a shelf in my computer room and glance at it ocasionally. The shutter release button sticks, so I haven't used it in many years.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

imagemeister wrote:

The Minolta 7 SII has mostly been considered the ... (show quote)

What about the Minolta CL and CLE? Both were clones of the Leica CL and like the Leica CL, used most Leica lenses. There were also a few compact lenses made by Minolta in the Leica mount. My friend Diane had a Minolta CL with one of the older Leica 35 mm lenses, it took great pics and was quite pocketable. A doctor I know has his office decorated with 20x30s that he took with his Leica CL, though I don't know with which lenses.

fabphoto

My 35 RC is in very good condition. However I haven't shot film in a long time. My current pocket cameras are Sony Rx100 Va and Rx100 VII. I also use my Nikon D7500 and D5600.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nice one

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Alafoto wrote:

What about the Minolta CL and CLE? Both were clones of the Leica CL and like the Leica CL, used most Leica lenses. There were also a few compact lenses made by Minolta in the Leica mount. My friend Diane had a Minolta CL with one of the older Leica 35 mm lenses, it took great pics and was quite pocketable. A doctor I know has his office decorated with 20x30s that he took with his Leica CL, though I don't know with which lenses.

I'm talking about the CL ! .....The Minolta connection is why the reference to the 7SII.

delder Loc: Maryland

My first SMALL camera 📷 was the Minox.
[You have probably seen these in Movies/TV]
Didn't get much use of it because of difficulty in finding the tiny film cartridges.
My Go To camera @ the time was a Yashicaflex. FILM was somewhat larger!

cascom Loc: Redmond

fabphoto wrote:

I bought this Olympus RC35 in 1970 for about $90. It was touted as the budget version of the Leica CL with the 40mm F2. Much smaller than my Rolleiflex F2.8 TLR, or my Brooks Veriwide 100 (21/4 X 31/4) that were my serious cameras at the time. Fabian in Tampabay

My first camera was a bit earlier - a Brownie #2 in about 1946. Kodak used this photo to celebrate its 50th birthday. I used a Demi C Canon, a half-frame camera in RVN and brought home a Topcon RE 35mm, the first SLR to use a meter on the mirror. I am now a Nikon man.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

GLC for sure 👍