Zoom P&S cameras of the 90s

miha · Aug 14, 2019

Today I put a pair of fresh batteries and a roll of Portra 800 in my '92 Canon Prima Zoom Mini camera https://global.canon/en/c-museum/product/film157.html (or Sure Shot Zoom Max in the US - what a name choice..!) I haven't been using this camera for at least a decade if not longer but after a few shots all the memories came back. Such a liberating feeling; just point and shoot, not fiddling with anything but composition! The camera is feather-light and quick, the finder is small but bright and I can use it with my glasses on easily...So I wonder if anyone is still using their Sure Shot, Pentax Espion, Olympus Stylus, etc. zoom P&S, maybe even on a regular basis?

Paul Howell · Aug 14, 2019

I have a box full of point and shoots, Pentax, Konica, Olympus, Minolta, Vivitar, and one lone Canon, the first generation with a 45mm 1.7 prime, need to find it and confirm the lens. I recently found a Konica Z UP wide with 28 to 56mm, very sharp lens. The other day I took it along with a Pentax WR (weather resistant) with 38 to 88mm out for a shoot, ISO 400 black and white film in both. Negatives came out much better than I anticipated, exposure was in most cases spot on, fill in flash was good. I have a Serires 6 VI lens hood and yellow filter that I can fit to an Pentax IQ Zoom when the lens is extended. I have fixed lens Minolta, Vivitar and the Canon, the Canon a 45mm the Minolta and Vivitar 35mm with 2.8 lens, what I like about these is that they will take filters, the meter sensor is covered by what every filter you are you using, and the ISO is manually set so I can adjust the ISO to some degree. I dont consider these as my primary shooters, but I often carry one along with a SLR or MF gear.

miha · Aug 15, 2019

Looks like we are in a great minority, Paul. These unpretentious cameras, now made obsolete by smartphones, were made easy enough for the whole family to use. I guess their pedigree and lack of any (or most) controls make them unappealing to us (experts?).

Alan Johnson · Aug 15, 2019

I have 4 wide angle P&S for occasional use when wanting a lightweight B&W camera well when shooting sport on digital .
Nikon lite touch zoom 70W - not very sharp.
Rollei Giro 70WA - better but still a bit soft at the edges
Rollei Prego 90 - quite sharp but the exposure compensation cancels itself after each shot.
Pentax Espio 928 - quite sharp and the exposure compensation stays fixed meaning it can be shot holding a filter over the lens, this is the one I actually use.
The pentax weighs about 350g with battery and film.

Ariston · Aug 15, 2019

I keep rescuing these things from thrift shops. I usually shoot a roll through them and then sell them, unless I like them. They are hit and miss in quality, but some of the most interesting designs I’ve ever seen for cameras are in point and shoots.

I want to get an XA to keep, if I can ever find one reasonably priced. I bought a cheap one and loved it, but the ISO selector didn’t work, so I sent it back.

ph · Aug 15, 2019

A Leica C11 APS zoom caught my eye at a flea market because of its tiny container box. Very elegant and according to a Swedish photo journal, quite good. But currently useless since both film and development has deisappeared. Looks Ok on its shelf, however.

p.

Ariston · Aug 15, 2019

ph said:
A Leica C11 APS zoom caught my eye at a flea market because of its tiny container box. Very elegant and according to a Swedish photo journal, quite good. But currently useless since both film and development has deisappeared. Looks Ok on its shelf, however.

p.

The Film Photography Project store still has some. I don't know about shipping to Norway, though.

blockend · Aug 15, 2019

I own about 30 P&S cameras. They're fun and some are capable shooters. The issue with them is old age and planned obsolescence, mechanisms are plastic and were designed to only last a few years. Batteries can be expensive for some models, and AF systems can lag. Compact cameras became very large by the 1990s, fully specc'd but complex, which defeated the object. Optical quality can vary from indistinguishable to SLR, to mushy, especially at the telephoto end.

Paul Howell · Aug 15, 2019

I agree, at the long end of the longer teles image quality suffers, and F stops range from 6.3 to F11, coupled with slow shutter speeds, need to use a tripod. I have a few longer Pentax IQ the longest a 180, but I tend to keep the zoom in the mid range.

blockend · Aug 15, 2019

Paul Howell said:
I have a few longer Pentax IQ the longest a 180, but I tend to keep the zoom in the mid range.

I have the Pentax Espio 200, the longest 35mm compact camera. It's a novelty to be honest, the aperture is so small at the tele end that the shutter speed requires fast film even in good light.

This site has lots of point-and-shoot camera reviews: https://austerityphoto.co.uk/

wjlapier · Aug 16, 2019

So far, I've been impressed by Olympus' Zooms like the 115 and 140. The wide end is sharp enough and that's where I usually shoot these, rarely on the tele end.

Helios 1984 · Aug 16, 2019

ph said:
A Leica C11 APS zoom caught my eye at a flea market because of its tiny container box. Very elegant and according to a Swedish photo journal, quite good. But currently useless since both film and development has deisappeared. Looks Ok on its shelf, however.

p.

I have a small stash of expired APS cartridges in the fridge. Results ain’t what they used to but sometimes I get a nice picture. Also, it reminds me of the days when I was dropping my films at the drugstore...I was a terrible shot when I was a kid but my Fuji Endeavor 400ix was fun to use.

Concerning development, you can use a universal reel and set the height with a rubber band.

cooltouch · Aug 16, 2019

I've never owned many P&S 35mm cameras. I think I might own 5 or 6 right now, most of which came along as part of package deals I bought. My favorite, an Oly Trip 35, I acquired that way, but it isn't a camera of the 90s.

The only 90s era 35mm P&S that I own is a Canon Sure Shot Classic 120, which I bought specifically because of its picture taking capabilities -- about 5 or 6 years ago. It does take really good photos, but you gotta be on your toes when you prepare the camera to shoot with the flash. The flash pops out of the side of the camera and, if you're not expecting it, it will hit your hand. People have been known to drop their SS120s in surprise when the flash pops out.

ph · Aug 17, 2019

Helios 1984 said:
I have a small stash of expired APS cartridges in the fridge. Results ain’t what they used to but sometimes I get a nice picture. Also, it reminds me of the days when I was dropping my films at the drugstore...I was a terrible shot when I was a kid but my Fuji Endeavor 400ix was fun to use.

Concerning development, you can use a universal reel and set the height with a rubber band.

A long time since i ditched my Paterson "easy loading" devices. they always crumpled the film as opposed to <Nikor steel reels. My enlarger is resting in the basement. .So I have to rely on commercial c41 .Chemicals always went off before the next session was due..

George Mann · Aug 18, 2019

I still use a Pentax Espio (IQ Zoom) 120. It is the less wide version of the 928.

Zoom P&S cameras of the 90s

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