35MM Zoom Compacts

Cliffy13 · Feb 22, 2010

Always had a bit of a soft spot for 35mm zoom compacts and recently due to non photographer friends having a clear out I have acquired a Canon Z135 and a Yashica Zoomtec 90.The first roll of film has gone through the Canon and I am well pleased with the results .

Rick A · Feb 22, 2010

Yes, they are truely amazing little tools. I buy them all the time at the local thrift shop for next to nothing, and give them(and a roll of film) to the neighborhood kids, we use them for a few lessons, then turn the kids loose on the town. They, of course, get to keep the cams, and occasionally they come back for more lessons, or to show off what they have done on their own. I have a couple of kids that spend a little time in the DR as well.

BobD · Feb 22, 2010

I like the early models with fixed lenses such as the Olympus Stylus cameras,
the Nikon L35AF & One Touch, Yashica T-series, etc. Some of these early
P&S cameras also have a filter ring making them well suited for shooting B&W.

Focus No. 9 · Feb 22, 2010

Well I just learned something BobD. Thank you. I had to check out my Fixed P&S and found one that would perhaps accept a filter.
It was part of a wholesale lot buy on ebwary. Its a Konica C35 EFP. It has a hexanon 38mm F4 lens.
Anxious to try it out. Now i need to search for a small filter. Darn it more $_collecting_$.

BobD · Feb 22, 2010

^You're welcome.

Here's another obscure fact: When Nikon made the original "One Touch" P&S
camera (the one with fixed 35mm lens) they omitted a filter ring but they
offered a separate accessory filter ring adapter that snaps onto the camera
and can accept filters. I just bought one on eBay new in the box for a
few dollars.

Rick A · Feb 22, 2010

Something to keep in mind all you who have the fixed variety, I have a set of screw on tele and wide angle lenses that fit 48mm FOR FREE I'll mail to anyone who woud like the set. They are for a Canon Sure Shot, but will fit any thing, and have the matching view finders, and 48mm 1A filter, all in a case.

Rick

Cliffy13 · Feb 22, 2010

I still have the Ricoh AF-5 that I bought for my wife when our youngest was born 24 years ago,sadly someone (probably aforementioned youngest) put recahrgeables in and left it for a good 12 months which I think has fried the electrics.Its a real shame because that 38mm lens was pin sharp

Christopher Walrath · Feb 22, 2010

Goes to show two things. A chimp can screw up a photo with a Linhof. And Ansel could have nailed it with an Instamatic. The photographer makes the camera, not the other way around. Great shots.

andrewc · Feb 22, 2010

I have a bit of a soft spot for these cameras too. About 3 years ago I found a Canon Z180u at a Goodwill store for $15 in "like new" condition. Of course I bought it and I absolutely love it as it's really a pretty amazing little camera, and I do mean little; it's significantly smaller than my PowerShot SX110, but still has focus tracking, instant shutter release, and a whole host of other features. Interestingly, a few weeks after I bought it I went to Best Buy to look at camera stuff and saw an identical camera on the shelf being sold for $179! I figure someone must have given the one I bought to Goodwill after just acquiring a new digital camera.

Cliffy13 · Feb 23, 2010

Thanks for all the comments guys glad that I am not lone in using these cameras

Focus No. 9 · Feb 23, 2010

You have better luck with ebay...I spend tens and tens of dollars : (. Thanks for the tip I will look that up,,,,maybe it will fit my Tele-touch wide/macro. Your post sent me on a mission and i discovered in the same lot that my buy included a Ricoh FF-90 with a close up adapter and a tele conversion lens attachmentsthat snap on . Extraordinaire. I also discovered that my Yashica MF-2 has threads.

to get back on thread... I have a fuji discovery compact 290Zoom 38-90mm. In the wholesale lot I got a Olympus Infinity Zoom 80 and another Oly XB40AF. I tested the electronics with fresh batteries but haven't run any film. Trying to find a cheap source for 12 exp.film as testing 24 exp.with horrible results hurts a bit. The Infinity was mistreated or a beater for fishing trips which would be what I would use if for. The XB40AF isn't zoom but it sports a 27mm lens. Well gotta run,,,,still work for a living. Bye.
.

narsuitus · Feb 24, 2010

One 35mm zoom compact that I liked was the Canon Prima 35mm with a 38 to 65mm zoom lens.

Poisson Du Jour · Feb 24, 2010

Christopher Walrath said:
Goes to show two things. A chimp can screw up a photo with a Linhof. And Ansel could have nailed it with an Instamatic. The photographer makes the camera, not the other way around. Great shots.

<nods agreement> So true.
The poplars (?) shot is the sort of thing I would aim my Canon PC lens at, but for a compact, these are really pleasing photos. My favourite camera though remains the Olympus XA and you can really turn out beautiful images with that if you refine your skill beyond just being a "point and shooter" carrying a compact.

Pumal · Feb 24, 2010

The Leica Z2X with a Vario-Elmar 35-70mm is pretty good too.

Denis R · Feb 25, 2010

bait and switch

the cheap P&S is simply a convenient bait and switch

you bait the kid interested in photography with a P&S
after a few rolls developed and some prints made
if the kid is still interested in FILM, you switch
switch them to a proper SLR of whatever they want and can afford

with the prices of semi-pro gear, it is easy to be set up with N8008 and two autofocus zoom lenses for less than $100

just keep shooting!

Pumal · Feb 25, 2010

Thw whole purpose of a P&S is that you can slide it into your shirt pocket easily.

Cliffy13 · Feb 26, 2010

Poisson Du Jour said:
<nods agreement> So true.
The poplars (?) shot is the sort of thing I would aim my Canon PC lens at, but for a compact, these are really pleasing photos. My favourite camera though remains the Olympus XA and you can really turn out beautiful images with that if you refine your skill beyond just being a "point and shooter" carrying a compact.

Thanks for the nce comments the trees are actually Silver Birch and as soon as I saw them I thought of Ansel Adams shot of the Aspens,I know I am not within a million miles of tht masterpiece but it was still the inspiration

35MM Zoom Compacts

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