Best AF P&S film camera?

[urban_alchemist]

Minolta TC-1. Minolta's f-you to all other camera makers. Titanium case, fully round manual apertures on a 28mm f3.5 rokkor lense, ultra-taught film feed, manual focus, Spot-meter, EV+-, built like a little rock. Probably the best p+s camera ever made:

Second place is my GR1s - probably a better shape (longer and thinner), faster lense (f2.8) but noisy as sin and less intuitive interface.

 

[Avotius]

its funny, just yesterday my friend and I were discussing this. I like the Ricoh GR1v and Contax T3, he is more on the Rollei 35AFM thing and the Contax T3.

Frankly its hard to go wrong with any of those unless you get a Leica CM.

 

[PMCC]

Nice work! Didn't think about the TC-1, compact, great lens -- but if it's MF, and manual aperture, we're no longer in p&s territory. OP said AF. But you wouldn't have to ask me twice to take one.

 

[steamer]

I'm not personally familiar with the Contax T2 ... All reputedly worthy machines, but to my mind they tend toward the larger, heftier end of the spectrum. I do know the Contax T: it's a compact (minus flash) ...

I just checked my T against the T2 for size and found that it was about 2cm or less than an inch smaller, just about the exact size of the T2's built-in flash. Got me to dreaming about what a wonderful ps camera the T2 would be if it had a detachable flash like the T.

 

[urban_alchemist]

Nice work! Didn't think about the TC-1, compact, great lens -- but if it's MF, and manual aperture, we're no longer in p&s territory. OP said AF. But you wouldn't have to ask me twice to take one.

Only the aperture is permanently manual (and not really a big deal when you get used to it) - the focus is AF or MF at the touch of a button, controlled by a nifty little rocker switch on the front of the camera, and a great head-up-display in the viewfinder...

 

[PMCC]

Nothing's a big deal when you get used to it. Getting used to it is the big deal. 🙂

Nitey nite, the lights are going out all over America.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

Another Vote for Minilux

Another Vote for Minilux

Leica Minilux (non-zoom)

I like my Minilux a lot too. Here's a flickr set using it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yophoto/sets/72157606101774072/

 

[richard_l]

The Minilux (with the 40mm f/2.4 Summarit lens) is outstanding!

 

[Ronald_H]

The Olympus Mju-II (Stylus Epic in other markets).

Completely foolproof. Accurate and fast AF. Excellent metering. Strong body, can take a bump and a splash. Spot meter!

Good, fast(ish) lens, although vignetting is evident at larger apertures (which the camera reverts to too quickly.

If it would have aperture priority it would be perfect. Still use mine, it's 7 years old now. Been everywhere, seen everything. And nobody takes it seriously.

 

[Rayt]

I really like using the clam shelled Olympus Stylus but for sheer lens quality the Minilux is great. The color and tone of the Summarit do look like any other Leica lens.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Currently: Leica Minilux.

Thinking about: Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim.

 

[MichaelW]

Nikon 35ti. It has a great 35/f2.8 lens and a lot of controls that belong in an AF SLR. And I have one! 🙂

Agree! Except that I have the 28mm version - the 28ti.
I've owned it for 10 years & have been using it regularly all that time.

Choice of matrix or centre weighted metering
exposure modes - auto or aperture priority
Exposure compensation - plus or minus 2 stops in 1/3 increments
widest aperture f/2.8
superb quality lens
auto focus with manual focus override

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Wow! It seems there are a lot of great P&S cameras out there. I actually shot all my family pictures with a Stylus Zoom 70 for years, and they're quite nice...really I should just get a new battery for that. But (sorry if this seems shallow) I hate the styling. I really should just get over that.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I'll add that the Fuji Klasse W (or S) looks pretty good too.

 

[urban_alchemist]

Thought I'd just overload you with info of my little baby.

Photo of the Minolta TC-1

And a little more info:

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?MinoltaTC1.html~mainFrame

 

[urban_alchemist]

I'll add that the Fuji Klasse W (or S) looks pretty good too.

I've gotta say, if I could find a Fuji Natura Black and a load of Natura 1600 I'd be sorely tempted (despite the IMO overly wide 24mm lense)...

 

[FrankS]

I'm a B+W nut, but realize that there are occaisions where colour makes the image, so I'll carry a P+S camera loaded with colour film for these opportunities. Here's an example, taken with Leica MiniLux non-zoom 40mm Summarit.

 

[womby68]

Best AF P&S film camera?

No other camera equals the Contax T3, with the superlative Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f2.8... But at today's price, get a Contax T2 with a Zeiss Sonnar T* 38mm f/2.8, great camera!!!


Have fun
Cheers
Womby
T3:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/womby68/480569564/
T3 and flash:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/womby68/2407128557/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/womby68/2058441245/

 

[Wouter Brandsma]

The Ricoh GR1 remains my favorite P&S film camera. Wonderful lens.

 

[hjfischer]

Since no one else has mentioned it, I'll nominate my Rollei Prego 30 as a favorite P & S. I bought it after a mini review of both it and the Oly Epic in Pop photography. Both have a lot in common but I think the Rollei has a bit wider lens.