Help me find a point & shoot!

sammyhiggs

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Hello all, my names Sammy! I'm new to the forum and am looking for your help! I'm in the search for a 35mm point and shoot and would like some suggestions. What do you all recommend for good quality photos and/or what’s the best? My price range is anywhere around $60-200. Thank you!
 
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Sirius Glass

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Welcome to Photrio!
 

xkaes

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Welcome to the FORUM. You'll get a million responses from people telling you what camera they love -- and which ones they hate. That really won't help you out much, because what they hated, you might love -- or vice versa.

Given the range of $60-200, there are about 200 million cameras to choose from. You should narrow down what you want in a camera. That will help. How important is size and weight? On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most), how much automation do you want in the camera? Under what conditions will you use this camera the most -- just you taking pictures or the whole family? Just for pix of friends & family, or serious quality results for hanging on the walls?

I could go on all day.
 

Dwayne Martin

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a good friend loaned me a canon rebel with a 40 mm pancake on it and the damned thing was spot on every shot. Great negs too. Dirt cheap on eBay and tons on auto focus lenses fit it…
 

Nicholas Lindan

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sammyhiggs said:
What do you all recommend ... My price range is anywhere around $60-200.
Click to expand...

One big question is do you - need/want/will put up with - a zoom lens.

Non-zoom P&S cameras are commanding idiotic prices as they tempt Gen XYZLMNOP - who seem to have far more money than sense (I'm sure my parents said the same of me).

Zoom P&S cameras can be had for a pittance. Almost cheaper than a disposable camera from the drug store.

If pocket ability isn't really a requirement consider some of the consumer SLRs, such as the Nikon N75.. They usually come with a zoom kit lens but you can change that for any other lens you desire. In program mode with autofocus on they function as P&S cameras.
 

Cholentpot

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Yashica T2.

They're around your budget because it has an f/3.5 lens instead of a 2.8 but is a very capable camera although it's kind of chunky.

Olympus MJU Mk1.

The first one is still the best one, again it has the 3.5 so the price ain't whack.

Olympus XA, XA2.

One is a rangefinder the XA, in my opinion one of the greatest cameras of all time. The XA2 is a point and shoot and really nice.

Canon Sureshot 130u.

Tiny, has a zoom lens and is overlooked. The camera is really small and capable.

Olympus Infinity Zoom 70.

Very cheap very capable very light.

Canon sureshot 60.

Small and cheap.

So every single one of the cameras I listed has one main thing that sets them apart from most point and shoots I've used. They're responsive. I cannot stand the point and shoots that don't shoot as soon as you hit the shutter or give some indication that the photo was taken or the lens is focusing. Mushy shutters, no feedback etc.

If you count fixed lens rangefinders as a point and shoot there's another world. And this being Photrio everyone is going to bombard you with SLR pancake lens combos even though you specifically asked for a point and shoot. Ignore them.
 

Nitroplait

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Olympus Trip 35 - Load it with 400iso film and get shooting. It is easy, compact, has an excellent lens and still feels like a real camera.
 

Chan Tran

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I have to ask the question. Do you want a camera so that you can just point and shoot without having to control it or you want a compact camera that you can put in your pocket or both?
 

Steve Roberts

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Olympus 35RC
Fully auto or fully manual, still usable if the battery dies. Excellent optics. More of the the pictures I have hanging on my wall were taken with my 35RC than with fancier cameras, purely because the 35RC is so small and light that it's the one I've usually got on me for those unexpected photo opportunities. I keep mine loaded with Ilford HP5 and a yellow filter fitted.
Steve
 

Chan Tran

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I must point out that camera like Olympus XA, Olympus 35RC are not considered point and shoot in my opinion. They are less of a point and shoot than a Nikon F5. They are just compact cameras not point and shoot. So must ask the OP whether he wanted a Point and Shoot or a Compact camera.?
 

xkaes

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The avalanche has started. I'm gettin' out of the way!!!
 

Paul Howell

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As noted, there are a number of choices, in the compact zoom range I have had many, Konica, Pentax, Minolta, Canon, and Nikon. Pentax models have good lens, they seem to be holding up better than Minolta or Nikon. Down side is that DX coded film must be used as with DX the camera default to ISO 50. Second is the longer the zoom the slower the lens, Pentax made zooms that range from 38 to 80 to 105, 120, 135 and even a 180, but each each the lens become slower and slower, the 180 was F11 or 16 at the long end. I have the Pentax WR with short zoom, the WR stands for weather resistant 38 to 85mm. I also have a Konica wide, 28 to 50, great lens. Early model point and shoots had fixed lens, 28, 35, 38 or 40mm. These first generation models were not DX coded, so the camera can be fooled into bracketing for backlite scenes. Many had filter rings with the meter inside the filter ring. My current fav is a Chinon Infrafocus with 35mm 2.8, problem is that it is rare to find one with a working flash. In terms of fast lens, Canon 1ist generation Sure shot, with 50mm 1.7 (?). Just keep in mind that although Yashica, Contex, Konica, Rollie, and Minolta made expensive models with great lens, still bring high prices, most point and shoot were consumer grade and were not built to last.
 

Sirius Glass

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Call up KEH.com at 800 342 5534 and ask what they recommend, for ease of use, reliability, …
 

eli griggs

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Olympus Mju, search out the thrift shops and resale shops, they do hit the shelves in working condition from time to time.
 

KitosLAB

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This photo was taken by my daughter using a simple German camera with a Tronik zoom. This is my favorite camera line. Simple, lightweight, with zoom, powered by a CR123A battery. Convenient for all occasions, light weight and low price. You can buy it for $10 in Ukraine. For my daughter, this is a camera for every day, but for her soul, she discovered the Lubitel
 

Hassasin

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All I will say; none of the hosh posh cameras that are called P&S and command $600 price and deliver nothing out of ordinary. Don't believe the hype, they will not make better photos, nor make you a better photographer.

The big question is: why P&S? Wanting one is not enough detail to make a recommendation.
 
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Chan Tran

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The OP never answer my question whether he wanted a P&S or compact camera or a camera that is both.
Many suggestions about the Olympus XA, Olympus 35RC etc.. they are not really P&S as one has to focus them manually with a rangefinder. Something like the Roleii 35 you would also have to set exposure manually but they are compact. Something like a Canon EOS-1V HS or Nikon F5 can be set as pure P&S that is you only have to push the shutter release button but they are not compact.
A Canon EOS-1V is more expensive but a Nikon F5 can be had for less than $600 with something like a 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 G zoom which is a lot more versatile than most compact camera. It also can deliver images about as good as the 35mm format can.
 
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xkaes

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Right. The OP asked:

"Help me find a point & shoot!"​

And we ask "Do you want a camera that you just point and shoot?"

DUH!!!
 

fabrio27

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If your definition of point and shoot lies on how the camera will automatically choose the right exposure for you and also auto focus on the subject, I could give you several suggestions that match your budget criteria:

1. Olympus Mjuii
2. Canon Sure Shot supreme
3. Nikon lite touch AF zoom
4. Pentax Espio

Or you can just go to your closest thrift store, they usually have one in the inventory.

One thing about point and shoot is most of them are the same. They are all dependent on their electronics and often times the only thing that differentiates them is their lenses, be it focal length, or how fast it is. The idea of having a point and shoot is to expedite the the time that you spend setting up the camera so that you won’t miss that “decisive moment”. Since they are all mostly electronics, somehow think of them as disposable. Once they break, wellp thats it. So in my honest opinion, it doesn’t matter which one you get. Don’t over complicate your selections, just go get a cheap one from ebay or your nearest thrift and start shooting!

Cheers,
 
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