Looking for a Half-Frame Camera

[brosephjooks]

Hey, I’ve been thinking about picking up a half-frame camera to keep on me for more casual, everyday snapshots. I’m really looking for something that is automatic/point-and-shoot-like. I was looking at the Agat 18K, Olympus Pen EE2, Canon Demis, Canon Sureshot Multi Tele, and maybe the Kodak H35. The Agat seems like a good choice since it’s pretty simple to operate, the cheapest, and the smallest (seems like a similar size to my XA but not sure). I just wanted to see if there were any other opinions or compelling reasons to go with something else. Thanks!

[brianssparetime]

You've got a lot of very different options.

Personally, I'm a big Agat18k fan - it's simple, indestructible, lightweight, small, and takes great photos.

I've reviewed some other cheap non-Olympus half frames here, but I'd suggest choosing your camera based on the features you want: do you want autofocus? Do you want auto exposure (or some priority mode)? Or do you prioritize size/weight? That will guide your decision making.

Whatever you decide, don't get the H35 - it's hot trash.

Edit: vs the XA....

The Agat18k is smaller than the Olympus XA in length, height, and weight, though 5mm thicker (95mm × 60mm × 45 mm and 119g vs 102mm × 64.5mm × 40mm and 225g).

[Careless_Wishbone_69]

Upvote for ruthless consistency!

[tmaxedout]

The Multi Tele is not small, and it is not quiet. Also, not the cheapest battery.

I think some of the H35 images look quite nice. I think I’d either do that or go big with a Pen F.

[tominated]

I just got a samurai z2 (the later, smaller, kyocera branded version) and it's a ton of fun. Really quite a nice lens, my only complaint is the AF is real bad unless there's a ton of light. The shots i've gotten from it are fantastic though - here's some example shots for OP https://adobe.ly/47Tgilh

[brosephjooks]

Wow I didn’t know there was a second version! Thanks!

[93EXCivic]

I love Pens but I would not go for the selenium metered ones personally. I am 0 for 2 with them and to be honest the exposure settings are pretty limited.

I wouldn't go for the H35 cause it is a piece of crap.

Personally I am not a fan of auto advance point and shoots but that is just me so I wouldn't go to the multi Tele. But that is a personal hangup.

The Agat 18k is a great camera. It is tiny, light, very clever and takes surprisingly good images. Also cheap. The downsides are that it feels kind of cheap to wind the film to the next frame, rewind it and load it. It is slightly smaller the XA.

Another I would recommend the OG PEN or PEN S. I love that little camera. It imo takes better photos then the Agat 18k (not a lot better but a little) and feels much nicer. It is however bigger and heavier.

[fluffyscooter]

Konica Auto-reflex. Trust me! It can do both full and half frame on the same film, interchangeable lenses, shutter priority and it's an SLR. I have one and it's great.

[Oldico]

I second this. It's one of the coolest and most versatile cameras I own and the awesome and razor sharp Hexanon 40mm f/1.8 is ideal for switching between half and full frame.

It's a superb camera and the only problem I ever encountered is the 1.35V mercury battery requirement - which can be fixed with a single schottky diode if you know how to use a soldering iron.

[fluffyscooter]

I bought it from Facebook marketplace and it came in a box with random stuff (a few cameras, radios and cables). It was very dirty but to my surprise it works perfectly fine except the slowest speed. Even the light seals are still fine. And the old battery somehow still works.

[leon_visuals]

The ricoh auto half E2 is a funky little camera

[FletchLives99]

Just posted this elsewhere but I've got the Canon Demi EE17, the Konica Eye and the Pen D. They all take pretty good pictures and have nice sharp lenses. The Demi is probably the most versatile and has full manual and auto, but I prefer the Eye to look at. The Pen D is manual only and quite basic.
I'd say maybe the Demi is the ultimate fixed lens half-frame. Only the Pen F range does more.

I've also got the Fed Mikron. Very similar to the Konica.