Compact Point and Shoot Camera advice..

Felinik · Sep 19, 2012

I'm looking for a P&S, compact, as a supplementary camera for color film.

Features:

Manual ISO setting
Aperture Priority
~35-70mm zoom / ~45 .. 55mm fixed, and at least f/3.x
HQ optics and useful viewfinder
Manual Focus preferred, but not crucial
Slim (preferably with pancake or retractable lens)
Price, preferably not more than ~$100

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

/J.F. Felinik

sr44 · Sep 19, 2012

An Olympus XA checks all the boxes if you can live with a 35mm fixed lens instead of a zoom.

Felinik · Sep 19, 2012

Looks like a nice little shooter, I would really like something less wide than 35 if a fixed lens, though the XA seems indeed to be a truly interesting gem!

Chan Tran · Sep 19, 2012

Newer P&S do have zoom but so far I have found them only have programmed automatic exposure control and not aperture priority type. So many of them would check all boxes except that aperture priority one and no manual focus either.

mcgrattan · Sep 19, 2012

The Fuji Klasses [or Rollei AFM] have aperture priority, as do the Contax T2 and T3, Nikon 35Ti, and I think the various Ricoh R/GRs. Almost all of them wider angled than you are looking for. The Klasse S or Rollei AFM has a 38mm lens. All of them are going to cost more than your $100. Higher end film compacts still sell for more like 3 - 5 times that. Also, given your description -- manual focus, manual or aperture priority exposure, manual film speed, etc -- you don't sound like you want a P&S. You want a small all-manual camera.

Felinik · Sep 19, 2012

mcgrattan said:
Also, given your description -- manual focus, manual or aperture priority exposure, manual film speed, etc -- you don't sound like you want a P&S. You want a small all-manual camera.

I want a pocket camera, small enough to actually fit the pocket, to always carry with me as a color camera (I shoot b&w mostly, using my Pentax SLR system)..

mcgrattan · Sep 19, 2012

I don't think you'll get the combination you are looking for: size, manual control, focal length. If the camera is under $100, it will probably have no manual control at all, and probably have a wider lens [e.g. the XA]. If it is under $100, and has the level of manual control you want, e.g. some of the 70s rangefinders, or similar, it'll not fit the pocket. Almost all of the higher end point and shoots that have all of these features will fit in a jacket pocket, but not a trouser pocket, and they'll cost a lot more.

I've been through a similar quest myself, so I'm not being dismissive. It tends to be: small, manual control, cheap. Pick two of three. If you add in the focal length requirement, pick two of four.

jeffreyg · Sep 19, 2012

Although it probably runs somewhere close to $300 a Contax TVS 28-56mm + panoramic can be used program mode or aperture manual and auto focus or manual focus. A titanium body and Ziess lens. Pocket size.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

ColdEye · Sep 19, 2012

A 70's rangefinder that will fit the pocket is a Konica C35 (and it's many other variations). Give it a look, I love mine (a Chinon 35ee, essentially the same camera).

Felinik · Sep 19, 2012

ColdEye said:
A 70's rangefinder that will fit the pocket is a Konica C35 (and it's many other variations). Give it a look, I love mine (a Chinon 35ee, essentially the same camera).

Interesting indeed, and the price is totally right!! How do you experience the optics on those babies?

Poisson Du Jour · Sep 19, 2012

Olympus XA.
No zoom. Don't need one. Ever.

Felinik · Sep 19, 2012

Poisson Du Jour said:
Olympus XA.
No zoom. Don't need one. Ever.

I'm more or less convinced about the Konica ... and it looks sweet too!

ColdEye · Sep 19, 2012

Felinik said:
Interesting indeed, and the price is totally right!! How do you experience the optics on those babies?

You will be surprised, it is very good! I like the contrast, and sharpness is just right. I have not yet processed the color shots, but I believe they will turn out well too. Here is a picture taken with it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashramranie/7841416372/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashramranie/7841416260/in/photostream

The metering works surprisingly well too.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 19, 2012

Under $100? Zoom? Pocketable? I'm at a loss....

elekm · Sep 19, 2012

You're trying to buy champagne on a beer budget.

There are few pocketable advanced P&S cameras with zooms and aperture-priority autoexposure. Actually, I would say none.

If you forego the aperture-priority autoexposure, you ought to check out the Olympus Epic Stylus Zoom (the black model), which had a 35-70 lens. Also, the Rollei Prego 70 has a 35-70 lens.

Among fixed-lens cameras, there are a bunch from the 1970s. I like the Olympus 35 RC, which has shutter-priority autoexposure or all-manual exposure.

If you can adapt to its quirks, the Rollei 35 cameras are excellent choices, although you probably will NOT find one for less than $100.

nexus757 · Sep 19, 2012

With lomography and Fukkatsu now selling new pocket film again, if you want something really small maybe you should get a 110 camera. Many were quite sophisticated. Fujica and Minolta both made them with zoom lenses and many others including Kodak, Canon and Vivitar models incorporated a switchable normal/zoom lens. But the Cadillac was really the Pentax auto 110 which was like a tiny SLR with interchangable lenses. Lots of good info here: http://subclub.org/shop/110.htm

Steve Roberts · Sep 20, 2012

That's a bit of a tall order! I'll respond as I've done to at least two similar threads in the past (and indeed as someone has already done here). Check out the Olympus 35RC. Manual focus. Manual ISO setting. Good metering. Works even if the batteries die. Excellent lens. It's not a zoom, though.

On a slightly different off-topic note, beware of some P & S cameras, as they are starting to show their age. Neither of my two Konica Zoom 70Ws will turn on any more, the Pentax Espio (metal clam shell version) leaks light around the extending lens sections, the Yashica wouldn't turn on and the Olympus mjuII would be wonderful if it didn't leak light in the back where the seal goes around the viewfinder. I'm tending to think that all of this generation and market level of P & S cameras, some of which weren't cheap when sold, are now pretty much at their sell-by date. Something older, albeit with fewer features, is more likely to be working or at least repairable (e.g. the 35RC, Rollei, etc.)

Two weeks ago I went to a motoring event where photography isn't the main reason for going but I've previously gone with a P & S that has a 28mm wide zoom (the Konica, Pentax or Yashica have/had this). With those all dud, I opted for the Pentax MV with the 28mm M series wide. Though not as small or as light as a P & S, it served my needs very well.

Steve

darkosaric · Sep 20, 2012

Steve Roberts said:
That's a bit of a tall order! I'll respond as I've done to at least two similar threads in the past (and indeed as someone has already done here). Check out the Olympus 35RC. Manual focus. Manual ISO setting. Good metering. Works even if the batteries die. Excellent lens. It's not a zoom, though.
Steve

+1 for 35RC. And also it shows f stop and shutter speed in viewfinder. Mine 35RC has lens in bad shape, but produces nice quality images anyhow

Felinik · Sep 20, 2012

Does the 35RC provide Aperture Priority too?

darkosaric · Sep 20, 2012

Felinik said:
Does the 35RC provide Aperture Priority too?

Shutter priority only.

Felinik · Sep 20, 2012

darkosaric said:
Shutter priority only.

Thats a real pity, how does it work in "all manual" with the metering?

Steve Roberts · Sep 20, 2012

Felinik said:
Thats a real pity, how does it work in "all manual" with the metering?

It's a bit of a fudge but works well: in auto mode, select shutter speed and press the shutter button half way to see where the aperture indicator stops. It's then a simple matter to manual and re-calculate for different shutter speed/aperture combinations. However, I've found the auto to be generally pretty good and of course if you need to open up or stop down you can always tweak the ASA setting (as long as you remember to put it back again!)
Steve

Felinik · Sep 20, 2012

Hmm, sounds like the Konica c35 is the one to go with here then, unless I manage to find a cpl of hundreds more and look into the Contax or Fuji machines...

Compact Point and Shoot Camera advice..

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