You favorite "socially acceptable" 35mm camera?

GarageBoy · Oct 1, 2015

I hate being "that guy" who whips out my Nikon F100 during parties and social gatherings- I guess I need something more "socially acceptable"
Any ideas? Olympus XA? Contax G1?

Gerald C Koch · Oct 1, 2015

"Socially acceptable" camera ??? You use what you have and make no apologies. The idea is to make pictures. If all you want to do is please people at parties then get a digital or use your phone. Then they can see the results immediately. Now less intrusive is something entirely different. The Nikon F is only a wee bit smaller than a brontosaurus.

absolutedesmond · Oct 1, 2015

Kodak Retina Ib is my go to camera for such occasions. A lot of guesswork though - no focusing aids or light meter

frank · Oct 1, 2015

Rollei tlr's seem to be very socially acceptable, but really any classic metal camera before the advent of the polycarbonate globs of the 1980s-90s.

Before the Nikon 801s, before the canon t90, and definitely before the god awful Minolta dynaxes.

mweintraub · Oct 1, 2015

To me, "socially acceptable" means without getting attention. So that would mean a camera that looks like a digital. The N80/F80s, F100, F6, etc.

Rhodes · Oct 1, 2015

Here is one for that occasion. "How, it's just a fine mechanical watch, that also takes pictures"!

Bipin · Oct 1, 2015

My Autocord always raises a few eyebrows, especially among older folks who remember having one or having a similar TLR. A side-effect of being an excellent camera, it's led to some interesting discussions with characters I'd likely of never met. Of course, while shooting with the Autocord downtown, you always get a few people who ask if the thing you're taking pictures of them with actually works...

M Stat · Oct 1, 2015

I used my black Leica M4-P to photograph at my Dad's funeral. It is small, lightweight and oh so quiet that I felt that I didn't intrude at all on the solemn service.

markbarendt · Oct 1, 2015

Holga, roll up your pant cuffs, pointy goatee, ...

antmar · Oct 1, 2015

My Nikon 35Ti is a party animal and also escorts me in every moment of my life.

jeffreythree · Oct 1, 2015

Classic metal cameras could be seen as a fashion accessory these days. I started taking along my smallish Contina IIa because the meter works well and it takes nice pictures in B&W, but comments from interested folks led me to continue carrying it along.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 1, 2015

If I were to take a camera to a party it would be my Nikon N80. Zoom lens and automatic everything with built-in flash. Perhaps not the smallest but you don't want to be setting aperture, speed, etc at a party.

bvy · Oct 1, 2015

I have several XA's, but I always seem to spend more time adjusting the focus slider than taking pictures. And I still end up either missing the focus or the shot altogether. I've had better luck with the Yashica T5 (T4 Super). The auto-focus is always dead on. The downside is shutter lag time. The Olympus Stylus Epic is also small and very disarming, but I find the focus to be less accurate. There's always a trade-off I guess...

removed account4 · Oct 1, 2015

m3 or pen ft ( if it has to be small and 35 )
series d if not ..

j-dogg · Oct 1, 2015

I've brought my 5x7 and RB67 to parties, they are great icebreakers with ladies.

Who cares what's socially acceptable.

Hatchetman · Oct 1, 2015

How about Zeiss Ikon Contessa folder?

Sirius Glass · Oct 1, 2015

All 35mm cameras are socially acceptable. The Nikon F-100 is a good choice. If the people around you at social settings are too self conscious to tolerate 35mm camera, then you have the wrong friends. Get new friends, not a new camera.

j-dogg has it right. A Hasselblad is a great icebreaker.

If you want to be creepy use a Minox or Tessina.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Oct 1, 2015

markbarendt said:
Holga, roll up your pant cuffs, pointy goatee, ...

I think the Holga is usually paired with a neck beard and flannel.

dugrant153 · Oct 1, 2015

Nothing says "socially acceptable" like a 20x24 Polaroid camera that you roll into the party... from the garage. Because it won't fit through the front door.

If we're talking seriously, a cell phone camera is the most "Socially acceptable" camera at the moment. Anything other than that will get you stares and/or conversations. Just roll with it and have fun. The way you act with the camera will probably be more of the attention-drawer than any particular camera.

Unless it's so loud that the shutter vibrations and motor-wind cause the vinyl player to skip?

leicarfcam · Oct 1, 2015

I don't have a "socially acceptable" camera. I use what I want to use and anyboby who doesn't like it knows what part of my anatomy they can kiss..

"socially acceptable" is just another word for "PC" and I'm not "PC"...

Sirius Glass · Oct 1, 2015

bvy · Oct 1, 2015

Oh, please. How about helping the OP find a camera that he's comfortable using in social situations. Comfort is more conducive to better picture taking than bravado.

MattKing · Oct 1, 2015

A Canon Rebel 2000 with the 40mm f/2.8 lens.

Alan Gales · Oct 1, 2015

I shot a Contax 139 35mm camera for many years and then later a Pentax 645Nll. I know exactly what you are talking about. Some people are intimidated by cameras. I now shoot a tiny Fujifilm X100s and it doesn't bother anyone. Of course it's a digital camera but it looks like a film rangefinder.

I recommend buying a 35mm rangefinder of your choice.

Ken Nadvornick · Oct 1, 2015

Olympus XA4. Good quality. Tiny. Inconspicuous. A miniature cult camera. The 28mm lens uses zone focusing. Just set a zone, point and click. Pair it with an almost equally tiny A11 or A16 flash unit and you're good to go. Just walk around with the camera hidden in your hand, raise it on the fly (or not) when something looks interesting, and click.

Someone here was selling a NIB sample years ago for US$200+. I still kick myself for not grabbing it. And I have an original XA/A16 I purchased new back in the day.

Ken

You favorite "socially acceptable" 35mm camera?

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