Chinon Bellami
Cameras don't happen by accident, of course. The research, design, engineering, tooling up, and marketing of a new camera takes a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money. So when we look at cameras that resemble others already on the market, it can be a quick reaction to just assume that the second camera copied the first, but that's rarely the case. In looking at the Chinon Bellami, it's very easy to compare it quickly to the Olympus XA or even the Voigtlander Vitessa. Upon closer inspection, though, the Bellami is a camera that stands out on its own merits.
When it was rolled out in 1980, the world of small, quality cameras was still pretty narrow. Besides the Olympus XA, there was the Rollei 35 series and not many others. The Chinon Bellami managed to fill a niche that was between both of those examples. Unlike the XA, the Bellami is a zone focus camera and has shutter speeds that go up to 1/1000th of a second. And unlike the Rollei 35s, the Bellami had an automatic Cds meter coupling system that ensured properly exposed images. These features combined to make the Bellami a great fit for people who wanted a small camera with good features.
Like the other cameras in its class, the Chinon Bellami featured a prime lens. Chinon outfitted this camera with a 35mm f/2.8 Chinonex lens that holds its own with its competitors. Thanks to its "barn doors" style cover, the Bellami is small enough to fit in a vest pocket when closed. At under 4.25"x 2.25" and weighing in at under 9 ounces, the Chinon Bellami delivers the quality images of cameras that are much larger and heavier.
So when you come across a Chinon Bellami, please avoid the trap of comparing it other cameras it may resemble. The Chinon team of engineers and designers have earned more than that.
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