Shoebox of 35mm family P&S - rate them!

[jay moussy]

I dug up the proverbial shoebox of 35mm P&S cameras from family member, all from the late 70s-80s. Excellent shape as seldom used, and batteries removed!

I need to decide on two, as I would need to chase weird batteries for some.
Here they are:

These two pretty classics I know work, finished and processed rolls left in for, like 30 years:
Olympus (Infinity) Stylus Zoom, back body
Olympus (Infinity) Stylus Zoom 140, the pretty silver one, with slight discoloration, sadly.

Olympus AF-1 TWIN (a 35 and a 70 lens combo, I read)
Ricoch AF-45 DX AUTO
Fujifilm Discovery 270 Zoom
Minolta HI-MATIC AF 2 (can take filters, I read!)

In a prefect world I should give each a whirl, but help me pick two first - not sure if the Stylii are to be considered on their merits, ignoring the flattering looks?

 

[Paul Howell]

I have or had all but the Rioch, the Olympus' are pretty good shooters, the 140 even at 140 is sharp enough, just pretty slow, need to shoot 400 or 800 speed film. They can fetch for as much as $200 online. The Minolta is a non zoom, 38mm either 2.8 or 3.5 I don't recall, and it does takes filters, the ISO is set manually, non DX coded which gives you some abilitie to override the exposure.

 

[Don_ih]

The Olympus unzoomed are about as good as the Stylus prime lensed cameras, just without the larger aperture. Perfectly good.
I'd say all those cameras have sharp lenses and take good photos. I'd probably choose the Minolta - it's is probably the fastest to use - it if works. I think I've had two that don't. One worked but drastically underexposed everything (that's much worse than not working at all).

 

[Don_ih]

Oh - I've found the gaskets in the zoom lenses are starting to die on those Olympus zooms. Generally not a problem unless you zoom. If you plan on selling them, you should check, or expect a return.

 

[jay moussy]

The Minolta HI-MATIC took in the AA batteries and started right up.
The film speed manual setting may lend itself to interesting B&W works?

The Ricoh film advance took a while to agree to work, and it inssits on popping the flash in broad daylight - temperamental!

That leaves the Olympus TWIN, which looks like the big brother of the Stylus.
The Fuji seems a bit odd.

 

[Paul Howell]

The Fuji is somewhat odd, but it has a very good lens. I have the Chinon version of the Minolta, 35mm 2.8, non Dx coated, has a built in motor winder, what I like that there is a scale in the viewfinder, shows mountain, a person, flower for close up, easy to figure out what the AF is looking at. Fastest 1st generation point and shoot was the Canon Auto Boy with a 1.9 lens.

 

[Huss]

The first gen AF systems inP&S cameras were really bad. An exercise in frustration. So I’d get rid of whatever has that.

 

[Paul Howell]

I agree with most, but find the Chinon easy to use, sharp lens, somewhat fast. I had the Auto Boy, only about 60% of the frames were in focus.

 

[Nitroplait]

Nothing worth drooling over I'm afraid.
If I must pick one, I'd take the Minolta, but probably give it to someone.

 

[xkaes]

I'd ask, "What to you NORMALLY use?"

Why are you keeping TWO?

What do you plan to use it (them) for?

 

[cramej]

The Minolta is nice. No motor drive, simple, good lens. If the batteries were removed (AA!) there is a very good chance that it works fine. Definitely a focus and recompose camera as far as the AF goes.

 

[Paul Howell]

The shutter and rangefinder are battery dependent. The Olympus' are the best of the lot, pocketable, good lens, meter is accurate, just a little on the slow side works best with fast film.

 

[AZD]

The Hi-Matic AF2 is a winner. It is pretty quiet as it doesn’t have an annoying motor drive to draw attention. Pretty accurate metering, and you can easily compensate for backlight by dialing down the film speed. Cheap AA batteries. Takes 46mm filters, which are unfortunately kinda pricey, but use an adapter for 49mm or 52mm filter which are almost free.

I found one at a thrift store last year and have been carrying it everywhere since. It’s kinda surprising how good it is.

In the 80s a goofy guy in the right place at the right time used one to document the rise of hip hop in NYC. Check out Ricky Powell. Proof it’s the hustle, not the camera, that gets the shot.

 

[AZD]

Moderator fixed your posting issue .