Maybe another 35mm P&S recommendation?

azk404 · Dec 12, 2021

Hello, I am looking to buy a 35mm P&S camera for my partner as a present and am having trouble choosing. I would have liked to have got her one camera I own and love, the MJI II but the prices are more than I want to spend atm so I've been looking at over choices.

I think I've narrowed it down to the below but still not sure which one would be best. She doesn't have much technical photographic experience but loves shooting with my P&S's with good success. I feel automated would be best for a start so nothing with too many settings.

I think this would mostly be used on trips but also on other events, festivals, etc. Any suggestions or remarks about the below would be great.

Olympus AF-1
Olympus XA2

Cheers
az

Chan Tran · Dec 12, 2021

azk404 said:
Hello, I am looking to buy a 35mm P&S camera for my partner as a present and am having trouble choosing. I would have liked to have got her one camera I own and love, the MJI II but the prices are more than I want to spend atm so I've been looking at over choices.

I think I've narrowed it down to the below but still not sure which one would be best. She doesn't have much technical photographic experience but loves shooting with my P&S's with good success. I feel automated would be best for a start so nothing with too many settings.

I think this would mostly be used on trips but also on other events, festivals, etc. Any suggestions or remarks about the below would be great.

Olympus AF-1
Olympus XA2

Cheers
az

Why don't you ask her? She may not even want a P&S.

removed account4 · Dec 12, 2021

HI az
I haven't used either of those cameras but I always hear love stories about them so I think either would be OK
*I think* the AX2 has zone focus. ... ( personally im not a big fan of zone focus ). ...
Have fun!
John

Chan Tran · Dec 12, 2021

I have the XA-2. It's OK but I much prefer the XA but that's me. That is why I tell you to ask her because you said your favorite is the MJu II which before I knew about the insane price on Ebay I wouldn't even want to pick it up for $5. I definitely wouldn't want to use it. If I got one I would certainly sell it for the money.

Huss · Dec 12, 2021

There are SO many excellent P&S cameras out there for under $20 in superb shape. Just pick one that is not beat up. Pretty much anything 'recent' from Pentax, Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc.
As long as you stay away from the Instagram hyped cameras - pretty much because those people are just parroting each other - you can get a killer camera for a killer price.

azk404 · Dec 13, 2021

Hi there,
From what I know she would like a P&S 35mm camera so all good on that.

I looked into the zone focusing of the XA2 which doesn’t sound that popular but surely it’s not that bad to have a load of blurry photos so I went with that due to price as well.

I wouldn’t say the mju-II is my fav but it’s certainly great for me in particular situations, plus it’s so easy to have on me due to the size. Although right now they are waay to expensive for what it is.

It’s a good shout to pick up some cheapesh P&S’s also for myself to have some variations to play with though !

removed account4 · Dec 13, 2021

Not sure if I am allowed to add my 2 pennies but, you might also look into a Nikon L 35AF. I inherited one last year and works pretty well. Auto focus, auto flash, self timer, normal batteries ( AA ) and they don't cost too much at the yard sale ( EBOO ).

Have Fun!
John

Patrick Robert James · Dec 13, 2021

If you like the Mju II why not get the original Mju? I think the original Mju is the best deal from a size/performance/cost standpoint.

azk404 · Dec 13, 2021

I did also look at the Nikon L35 but it’s plus £200 over here on the uk eBay at least.

Same for the MJU-II it’s plus £200 atm over here

Paul Howell · Dec 13, 2021

I have a box of 35mm AF point and shoots, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax, Canon, zooms and few fixed lens. I agree that the MJU is a very good buy, the MJUII is weather resistant. In terms of zoom I like Konica Zups, lens are very good, flash is good, for pocketable any of the moderate Pentax IQ zooms. Fixed lens, Canon with 50 1.7, or my recent fav, Chinon 35F-MA, with 35mm 2.8, the meter cell is inside the lens filter thread so meaning you can use filter, downside is that it takes 46mm filters, hard to find. The ISO is manual, gives some flexibility of overriding the auto set exposure. Not auto focus, the Vivitar 35 ES, not sure who made for Vivitar, manual wind rangefinder, manual set ISO, high end 800, top shutter speed of 1/500th, can fit in a somewhat large pocket, downside, need to use hearing aid batteries.

Craig75 · Dec 13, 2021

I've had a few xa2s but currently only have xa3.

Personally I think xa2 is better as iso selector gives you option of exposure compensation vs dx coding of xa3

Maybe another 35mm P&S recommendation?

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