35mm fixed focal length P&S recommendation?

[camera.bear]

When looking for a great P&S, it really is about research and patience. Figure out which ones you would like to shoot and then get out to the thrift stores and do some trolling. It is really possible to get most of the cameras mentioned here for less than 10.00. You just have to be patient and not get caught up in the hype of a particular camera. Most of the cameras mentioned take very good pictures. Pick up the ones that you find and shoot.

Just as an illustration since alot of folks here are voting for the Olys, I got this grouping for 10.00 total at a thrift store.

The only P&S that I've spent a larger sum on has been the Olympus XA. After searching for over a year, I was not able to find one locally. I disregarded the auction sites and watched the camera sites and was able to get a beauty with an A16 flash, presentation case and paperwork in the original box for 100.00. It works like a champ.

 

[MikeAUS]

Thrift Stores

Thrift Stores

Point taken, however not everyone lives in the US and has access to thrift stores. We have to rely mainly on the auction site. Happy hunting to those who do!

 

[Jamie123]

Point taken, however not everyone lives in the US and has access to thrift stores. We have to rely mainly on the auction site. Happy hunting to those who do!

Exactly! There are no "yard sales" where I live and very few thrift stores. I have to rely on the internet if I want to find something decent.

Right now I have a minimum bid going on both a Nikon AF35 ML and a Leica mini. I'm not sure I even want them so if I win the auctions I'll most likely sell them again.

In the end, I think I'll just try to hunt down a Nikon 35Ti for a decent price.

 

[chipgreenberg]

Another vote for the contax T2. Very well built. Great lens/platform. Have nice 16x20's of drum scanned velvia when it was on a tripod. Manual focus works well. In between shutter speeds are a bit of a drag, the finder display keeps you guessing. Finder is bright, framing not as "precise" as my Bronica RF645. Gotten really nice results with Ektar 100. In my briefcase whenever I can't manage the Bronica

 

[Jamie123]

Saw an Olympus mju (I) at a photo store for $49 but didn't buy it. I didn't buy it but now after I had another look at some pictures on flickr I might go back and get it. It's not exactly cheap but still cheaper than the ones on eBay.

 

[zupstermix]

+1 for the Mju I. I am currently using one for the streets and photos turn out great, especially with higher ISO films.

 

[Andy Kibber]

Two very good, low cost options are Olympus Stylus Epic (35/2.8) and Yashica T4 (35/3.5).

Yep. The T4 used to be a bit pricey, but perhaps that bubble has burst now that Terry Richardson doesn't have a spread in every upstart fashion magazine.

I've used the Stylus Epic for years and it's never given me any trouble, which is more than I can say about some other cameras that cost a lot more! It's controls are very limited, but once you learn how to use it it's actually quite versitile (considering 🙂).

 

[Jamie123]

Yep. The T4 used to be a bit pricey, but perhaps that bubble has burst now that Terry Richardson doesn't have a spread in every upstart fashion magazine.

Terry Richardson's still going strong as far as I can tell (I see LOTS of his stuff in mags) so that's probably not it. Also, his new blog (http://www.terrysdiary.com/) might cause prices for T4s to go up again 🙂

 

[Jamie123]

Just found a Contax T2 offered locally for only $150. But wait, there's a caveat. It's the gold model.

It's a pretty good deal but I just don't think I can use a gold camera 🙁

 

[ZeissFan]

The Olympus XA is a nice little camera and very portable. Very good lens, too.

I have a Contax TVS, which has an excellent lens and didn't cost me too much.

As already mentioned, the Rollei AFM 35. It's odd that the Fuji Klasse is twice as much money, considering that it's the identical camera.

As always, the excellent Rollei 35 / 35T / 35S cameras can be considered.

 

[ZeissFan]

One other camera that I've been shooting with is the Rollei Rolleimatic.

 

[monochromeimages]

I have a Contax T3. Very neat and truly stunning results. I love it. They do tend to go for rather high prices but if you can get one within your budget I can highly recommend it.

 

[Andy Kibber]

Terry Richardson's still going strong as far as I can tell [...]

Perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places!

The Contax T2 is also a fantastic camera. Quite a step up from the Stylus Epic and T4, but significantly more expensive.

 

[Jamie123]

Perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places!

The Contax T2 is also a fantastic camera. Quite a step up from the Stylus Epic and T4, but significantly more expensive.

He did the recent Pirelli calendar, an editorial in the current issue of V and I saw a shot of his on the cover of Wired the other day. Besides, he started his own tumblr a while ago which has been making waves.

I enjoy his work but I'm not really following it much. Nonetheless I seem to stumble upon it quite often.

As for the T2, I missed out on that mint gold T2 for $150 the other day. Someone else was quicker. Finally I gave in and just went ahead and ordered a Nikon 35Ti from KEH. Spent a bit more than I was planning but I'd rather pay once for a nice P&S which I'll actually use instead of accumulating a bunch of cheap compacts that I'll end up not using at all.

 

[Borghesia]

I have a lot of P&S's, the Yashica T5, XA, XA2, Contax T2 and T3 etc... and best of all the bulkier Hexar AF.
The Hexar AF is my favorite, because the results do not have that modern - but more a bit vintage sharpish, feel.
Like many others, I find the Oly MjuII the best designed quality P&S. The results are always great. Like an Oly 35RC with autofocus, just as sharp with a nice bokeh.