Re: [Leica] Petri Color 35

[Kip Babington <cbabing3@swbell.net>]

I owned two of these little gems in 1969 or 1970.  I don't remember all the
specifics, but I do remember the very user friendly controls, especially in so small
a camera.  It had a rather flimsy feel to it, though, as I recall.  I didn't have
either one of them long because both scratched the film with something that careful
cleaning didn't remove.  I don't have any particular recollection about their
optical quality, and my negatives from that era are not well enough indexed that I
can go back and check, but my "regular" camera at the time was  Leica IIIf with f/2
Summitar and I don't remember being UNimpressed with the Petri.  I do remember being
disappointed that we couldn't get another one to try because I liked using it (I was
in the service at the time, dealing with the base exchange.)  I have the impression
that the camera didn't last long on the market.  I'd love to find another one today,
if only to handle it again.

Cheers,
Kip

Stephen Gandy wrote:

> at the moment I'm doing an article on the Petri Color 35.  Everyone seems to
> know about the Rollei 35 series, but I was very surprised how very much better
> the controls are laid out on the little Petri.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with it or observations ?  how did a camera this
> well designed end up at Petri ?
>
> Stephen Gandy