What's the best point and shoot (happy snapper)?

[Loose Gravel]

My wife goes through P&S cameras very fast. She takes LOTS of pictures of everything, especially the kids. Now she has three of them, all on the brink of death and will need a new one soon. She has used Fuji, Olympus, and Canon. Of course, it needs to be auto everything. A sharp lens. 2x zoom is probably good enough, although a non zoom is okay. Finding one that runs on AA batts would be good, but that is a pipe dream. Flash is a must. NOT digital, must be a film camera.

So what's the best one for the buck? How long should they last in your experience?

Thanks for the help.

 

[CraigK]

I have a Yashica T4 but I am not sure if they are made anymore. I love that little camera. Fits in a pocket, fast, sharp lens, good viewfinder.

I also really like the Olympus Stylus Epic. A tiny camera with fast, sharp lens and just about the best bang for the buck in the point and shoot market..down right cheap! Over the years I have purchased 6 of these cameras as gifts to Mom, sisters, friends.

All are still working just fine.

 

[ann]

I have a Rollie Prego 90 which is great. I believe the newer models are cheaper than that model that was very pricey but great. Will do everything but fix coffee.

 

[Eric Rose]

My vote would have been for the T4 as well, but Ricoh make an outstanding P&S as well. Although kind of expensive and has a 21mm lens on it.

 

[Sean]

If I had money to blow on one I'd get a little Leica or Contax

 

[Flotsam]

If I had money to blow on one I'd get a little Leica or Contax

Me too, but my wife would never get her hands on it

 

[Jorge Oliveira]

My wife used an Olympus Stylus 80. Nice shots, small, 3X zoom, she loved it.
But do not let it fall to the ground.

Anyone has a cheap one for sale?
((-:

Jorge O

 

[bjorke]

The non-zoom stylus's are the best quality-wise. Yashica T4's still go on ebay at around new price -- they are good.

If you can get over the usual APUG blinders, I recommend the Finecam SL300R highly (see http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/sl300r.html). There's also supposedly a Contax version of essentailly the same thing , for about twice the price (don't see it on Kyocera's website though). Comes with a cute little metal lens shade for the extra expense I guess.

KB
Contax Brat

 

[FrankB]

A quick vote for the Olympus mju-II.

A very compact 35mm camera with a sharp f2.8 35mm fixed focal length lens. Weatherproof, flash (including red-eye reduction) and even a spotmeter (if you can find it!) all for £74 (http://www.7dayshop.com).

I've had one for about five years (which proves it's tough) and I'd have another anytime.

 

[Ailsa]

Absolutely without a shadow of a doubt any of the models in the Ricoh GR1 range. Unbelievably sharp lens (fixed, 28mm), and the compact camera of choice for many professionals such as Joe Cornish and Charlie Waite. I even know photographers who've shot 35mm slide with it and had them used as magazine covers.

I've had one for a few years, it's still performing perfectly, and believe me I've given it quite a battering.

You'd better be quick, however, as Ricoh recently announced it won't be manufacturing them any more. Some dealers might still have stock, or you could pick one up second hand - although they don't appear too often because they're so darn good.

 

[brimc76]

I use to use a Yashica T4 with good results (it has the Zeiss T* lens). My wife uses a Fuji camera and loves it. The negs are very sharp and she has had no trouble with it since it was purchased.

 

[DrPhil]

I've been thinking of getting myself a GA645. They even have a zoom model. This would be the best point and shoot.

 

[Black Dog]

That's the GA645zi. The current Yashica is the T5. Agree that the GR1 and Olympus Mju are good. Though I'd probably go for a Contax T or Rollei 35 if I felt flush.

 

[canoeguy]

Absolutely without a shadow of a doubt any of the models in the Ricoh GR1 range. Unbelievably sharp lens (fixed, 28mm), and the compact camera of choice for many professionals such as Joe Cornish and Charlie Waite. I even know photographers who've shot 35mm slide with it and had them used as magazine covers.

I've got a picture I took in Italy 25 years ago with an Olympus XA/Kodachrome 64 . Blown up to 16x 20, still looks great.

I'd try to find a used XA or XA2...what a lens in a fine little camera.. DB

 

[livemoa]

What, no votes for an 8x10 Hobo......

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Nope, no Hobo for me! I'm happy with the Deardorff and cyanotypes.

 

[happysnapper]

Someone named a camera after me? I'm touched.

 

[frank]

I recently aquired a Konica Hexar AF with fixed 35mm f2 lens. It is a pretty capable performer. With my aging eye-sight (47 years) I'm beginning to appreciate auto-focus (I can't believe I'm admitting to this!) Anyway, even for someone like me who loves older mechanical cameras (of all formats) this Konica is an easy camera to like. It has the same quality feel, and is indeed made of metal rather than plastic. It gets my vote as a quick to use "happy-snapper" and also capable of quality results.

 

[jovo]

the oly epic without a doubt. my wife has made some wonderful pics with it.

 

[Jim Moore]

My vote is for the HASSELBLAD XPan II

 

[snapnsam]

Someone named a camera after me? I'm touched.

I too carried an Olympus XAII on a trip to Europe and took hundreds of pictures. The ease of use and the quality made me also a happy snapper. I still have the camera. If you want you are welcome to borrow it. Then you'ld be known as (happy snapper)².

Sam

 

[happysnapper]

happy snappin snapnsam?

Are you trying to hurt someone here with that, or do you just like the way it sounds?

*post edited by admin*

 

[happysnapper]

Sam,

I see that we are in the same burg... do you remember the little camera shop that used to be in WC several years ago??? There was a photo group that organized out of that area too, but it was so many years ago that I can't remember the name... local folks mostly, way before the computer! We may have been at the same store at the same time way back when, way before the computer. Remember sales clerks actually counting back your change? Remember using change?

Ray

 

[snapnsam]

Sam,

do you remember the little camera shop that used to be in WC several years ago??? Ray

Hi Ray,

Yes I do remember that little shop. It was in the lane beside the building that now houses Nordstroms, I think the building was named Bullock's at the time. I loved that little camera shop. The service was great and so were the owner and the customers that came in there. Most of all I remember the group of customers that arranged the local photo trips. I may be wrong, but I think they also called themselves 'The Happy Snappers.' They gave me the nickname 'Snap'n Sam.' If you went along on any of those excursions I've probably met you. btw: I live in WC and work in Lafayette.

Regards,

Sam

 

[happysnapper]

Sam...

THANK YOU for jogging my memory! "Happy Snappers" was the name exactly! You would think that I of all people should have remembered that one! I do sorta remember a guy named Sam too, I think. If I recall correctly, there was a field trip that involved getting over and around the barbed wire at the Lafayette Reservoir, long day's worth of shooting and a bunch of skinny dipping photo hippies sometime after the sun went down and the EBMUD trucks went home. I cannot tell you about of the photos done that day, but the laughter was unbelievable! I think you might have been the guy with the 8x10 and the best vintage beverage if I am not mistaken. I wonder whatever became of all those folks. I was not able to participate in too many of the trips, but the discussions and critiquing was incredible. Did you used to have a ponytail?
Wow, what a small damn world!

Ray