50mm options

[f16sunshine]

I've grown pretty attached to my Hexar AF. This camera has opened up the possibility that autofocus is a viable option for me.
Aging and damaged eyes have made AF quite valuable.

The one thing I miss is a 50mm lens.
Just a touch more "compression" compared to 35mm. It's something I like and would like an option that features 50mm and Autofocus.

So the question is... is there anything available?

I know about the Contax G system. I've owned a G1 and G2 with 2/45 Planar in the past.
I could try that again although... never was all that thrilled before (at that time I hated AF and struggled to get used to it). It's bigger and heavier than I would like if possible.
At the moment I'm using an Eos 650 and 50mm f1.8. I've started looking at trying an Eos3 with that same lens (humble as it is).
I expect it won't work out because it's huge and heavy!

Are there any 50mm AF Compact/P&S Cameras?
Suggestions... Comments ??

 

[sevo]

Excluding the Contax G as being somewhat beyond point-and-shoots, 50mm means zoom. Quite a few zoom point and shoots have a stepped zoom, where one to three steps from the start mean a well-defined 50mm.

 

[NeeZee]

Your best bet would be one of the zoom lens P&S, I'm afraid (most 1990s models from the big manufacturers are quite decent but also quite slow at 50mm). Some of the early AF ones had a 40mm lens (Canon AF35ML for example), also the Leica Minilux in the upper class, but I'm not aware of any 50mm fixed lens AF cameras.

 

[xyz3450]

Contax t2 is 38mm, small and has AF. But not close enough I suspect...

 

[DNG]

I think the Canon EF 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 USM is a better lens for a kit lens for your EOS 3, and has a 28/35/50/70/105 markings
Used, they are under $140, and have a Focus Scale..

 

[kxl]

You can also look at the dual lens options from Fuji (DL 500) Konica and Minolta. Not quite 50mm, but 45mm, and I believe 55mm and 60mm for the longer FL options. They're typically paired with wider 28-35mm FL's. Don't really know what IQ would be like form those. Myself, if I wanted a 50mm on film with AF, I'd take a smallish AF SLR.

 

[NeeZee]

Just found this old thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104391
Scrolling down a bit you see the names of a few dual focal length P&S cameras which might be worth considering.

 

[f16sunshine]

Your best bet would be one of the zoom lens P&S, I'm afraid (most 1990s models from the big manufacturers are quite decent but also quite slow at 50mm). Some of the early AF ones had a 40mm lens (Canon AF35ML for example), also the Leica Minilux in the upper class, but I'm not aware of any 50mm fixed lens AF cameras.

I have the Canon with it's f1.9/40mm. It's fun but not all that reliable as far as accuracy plus no control of apperture.
I also have a Rollei Prego with it's Schnieder lens. It has high IQ but is very slow.

I guess it's the G1/45mm or SLR.

 

[GaryLH]

Minolta/Leica CL w/ 40f2 or 50f2 may not be a p&s but is extremely compact. For film p&s, I would also recommend the Minolta Dual. There was an APS and 35mm version, go for the 35. Personally in film, contax g2 w/45f2 is hard to beat in terms of iq. Leica also had several p&s cameras in the film era that had 38-40mm focal length if I remember correctly. I have never used them so would defer to others.

I am more of a 40 to 50 fov type person, so when I use a lens focal length on a p&s that is wider, I just crop to a 40fov even when using film whether under the enlarger or in photo editing sw.

Gary

Ps. My favorite pocketable cameras when I was using film were Contax T & T2 and Rollei 35S.

 

[iamzip]

The Fuji Zoom-Date F2.8, or Silvi F2.8 as it is also known, is quite a nice little camera with a Super EBC Fujinon 24 to 50mm lens, and of course a reasonably quick F2.8 max aperature. They are not the easiest to track down, but they can be found on the Bay.

 

[f16sunshine]

Those dual FL point and shoots are cool but! With a max aperture of f5.6 at 50mm I can just scale focus a Rangefinder with 50mm mounted just as easily.

My favorite rangefinder at the moment and for the foreseeable time is a Bessa R3M with a Color Skopar 50mm f2.5 mounted.
I'm happy to use that.

Was hoping to find an AF option o the Hexar AF. I'll look for a Contax G1 and 45mm. Barely missed on one in the RFF classified the other day.
The Eos is fine and I really like the f1.8/50mm lens. It's just effin huge. Not heavy so much as plain old big booty huge!