Rollei 35mm Camera - Still A Mini Mechanical Marvel

There were already several models of miniature still cameras in the early 60's by the time camera designer Heinz Waaske cast his eye toward the concept.  He had already designed a prototype of a still camera that shot onto 16mm film in 1948, but he wanted to design a compact camera that could use conventional 35mm.  Miniature cameras often yielded pictures of unusual dimensions, so the challenge facing Waaske was whether he could design a camera capable of taking "normal" pictures, but reduce the size of the instrument by two-thirds.

He built a prototype at home in 1962 in his spare time, was spurned by his bosses at Wirgin Musterbau who accused him of using their facilities for his pet project.  He left the firm, which was later  forced to shutter their doors after losing their brilliant chief engineer.  He went to work at Rollei keeping his pocket camera design secret, but one of his chiefs caught a glimpse of the remarkable device and Rollei rolled out the first of a very successful line of compact cameras at the Photokina in 1966.

The camera remains the smallest all-mechanical 135 format camera.  The clever telescoping lens tube makes the camera's compact size possible, though the lack of real estate for all the controls pushed the flash shoe to the bottom. 

These are still serviceable cameras today.  The extinct internal battery for the light meter has a number of modern equivalents, and you can still get 35mm film just about anywhere.  So take along a Rollei 35... just make sure to wear your loose pants with the big pockets.

Related:

Minox subminiature camera
HIT miniature 16mm still camera - from a gumball machine!
Other sumbiniature cameras