Hexar AF or Minolta TC-1

[johnny9fingers]

I'm looking for a camera to have with me all the time. The first choice was to get the Hexar, this is a camera I used to have and now regret selling. There has been a lot of good things said about the TC-1, and being smaller might find it's way in my pocket daily. Any folks out there with experience with these cameras that could share pros & cons between them. I would use the camera as an everyday shooter taking snapshots, landscapes, and street in a wide variety of lighting. Primary film would probably be Fuji Neopan 100 Acros & 400.
Regards,
John

 

[MPandolfo]

Konica-Minolta

I own both, and they are completely different animals. The Konica is an excellent camera, but it's a "standard" camera, not especially small. The Minolta is incredibly small and its lens is just marvelous. With it I can make 11"x14" prints of handheld night scenes. The only other camera as pocketable as the Minolta that I know is the Olympus Stylus Epic, but this one does not "remember" the settings when you turn it off and on again, so you have to turn off the flash each time you grab the camera. The Minolta remembers, it's perfect for discreet shooting and its 28mm focal lenght is very good for shooting from the hip. The main problem is that the TC-1 seems to be still extremely expensive (but woth it).

 

[johnny9fingers]

Thank you for the reply MPandolfo. One of my concerns with the TC-1 is its size, and is it difficult to operate the controls. I'm starting to lean towards the TC-1. And having owned a Hexar I'm aware of its size. I'm interested in learning about the TC-1's ease of use and the quality of the pictures it produces. Your photo is quite nice....