A good travel camera

anorak

anorak

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Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a camera to take with me while i'm on vacation.
I already have a camera for my personal and more serious projects (a Mamiya 7), but I need a 35mm for the "travel snapshots".

I tried some digital compacts, but in the end I always edit them in PS to look like film. So I think I will just stick with film.

So far I'm between an Olympus Mju II (I had one not long ago, but the fact that the flash was always on when I turned on the camera was a PITA) and an Olympus OM-1N with 35mm. I don't need ultra high lens IQ, since I won't make prints larger than 8x10 and I will post them on Facebook and Tumblr most of the time.

I just need something small and convenient that won't let me down. A quiet shutter is appreciated too.

Any suggestions (under 200eur / $200)?
 
If under 200 EUR - you can find a Contax T for that price occasionally (bought mine for 150, fantastic camera). Contax go and go (mine never let me down).
 
I'd go with a Konica S3, Olympus XA (or XA4), or Nikon 35Ti. All three have great glass, are well made, and are pretty pocket-able. Not sure about the prices in your market, but prices of film cameras are dropping over here in the states.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with and how you make out.

B2

BTW, take a look at a Ricoh GR or the older GR-D models as a great traveling digital camera with pretty good IQ.
 
Same reason why I'm still using film compacts as everyday camera, not digital :)

To me compact means - into the pocket. Oly SLR is not compact, but Olympus Mju II is.

I have Oly XA for two years, used it a lot, but it is dead now. I have Minox 35, but it is malfunctioning after two months. They are really compact and fast to operate. Lens in Minox first generation cameras is outstanding. But electronics in small compacts seems to be problematic and very difficult to service because of the compact size.

I'm thinking of going back to Rollei 35. This thing is small, it just has weight of the brick and awkward, slow in use if you taking it out from the pouch for single shot.

But it doesn't have finicky electronics, will operate without battery and as someone described Rollei 35 here - it has lens so good it could be in use as adequate backup for full size camera. I had two less expensive models with 3.5 lens and results are enjoyable. The lens is prone to flares, so maybe more expensive 2.8 lens would be better.
Should be no problem to find one within specified budget.
 
Hi,

I always carry on travel an XA2 and a Rollei 35 and for me, they are good travelling camera.

All the best
 
anorak said:
Good tip! But I never found a Contax T that not cost a fortune.
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While not what you are looking for there was a F2 kit for a bargain here on the classified that was priced aggressively. Sadly my darkroom is years away from completion so I'm not jumping back in any time soon.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...ct.php/product/47437/title/nikon-f2-kit/cat/3

Prices for film cameras from individual sellers are dropping. Stores are trying to keep prices propped up as they have a lot more invested.

B2
 
An XA2 or XA3 - that's my choice for an everyday camera. Pretty foolproof and has a much better (to my mind) shutter action than the Mju cameras. I just slide away the lens protection, frame and shoot.
 
Hi,

Those automatically on flashes are a pita. Here's my 2d worth.

Any of the XA range are worth a look and you can take the flash off and leave it at home.

XA; "A" mode RF, XA1; basic and no battery needed but only takes 100 or 400 ASA film (giving -2 or +2 using the film speed switch), XA2; "P" mode and 3 zone focussing, XA3; an improved XA2 with DX and +1½EV (like the XA) and XA4 like the XA3 with close-ups.

Or there's old fashioned cameras with hot shoes like the RF version of the Konica C35; a decent lens for the money and you don't have to fit a flash to it. Or the Olympus Trip 35.

I can remember just one camera that could be started with the flash off and that was the Pentax efina but that was an APS one...

Regards, David
 
Ko.Fe. said:
...I have Oly XA for two years, used it a lot, but it is dead now.
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Hi,

I've had XA's of all varieties serviced and repaired. It might be worth your while to look around for a specialist in your part of the world. None of them were expensive to buy or repair.

Regards, David
 
My standard compact 35 for many many years has been a Rollei 35S. Super lens, quick enough for me, and easily pocketable. The one I have now is a black paint model from 1975 or so, which I purchased after having a Tessar 3.5 model from '82-'88. Superb camera, and yes the Sonnar f/2.8 lens is a better performer than either the Tessar or Triotar models.

My other standard, after having three XAs break on me unrepairably, is a Minox 35GT-E. Another excellent lens, very compact and with the folding trapdoor to protect the lens in my pocket, and aperture priority AE. I started with a tatty used EL and was impressed with the fact that the lens was as good as the Rollei, and much better than the XA. Bought the GT-E new in 1996 and still occasionally shoot with it. It's slimmer and easier to carry than the Rollei, and a little faster to shoot with.

G
 
Re the above...why not reconsider and just by the excellent Fuji X-100T. A great camera and you can ''film/fake'' it to your hearts content. Cheers, P
 
Another vote for the Rollei 35, 35S or 35SE (if you find an S or SE in your budget). Very sturdy, great IQ, very quiet. Some love, some hate the handling, so would be good if you can play with one before you buy.
 
David Hughes said:
Hi,

I've had XA's of all varieties serviced and repaired. It might be worth your while to look around for a specialist in your part of the world. None of them were expensive to buy or repair.

Regards, David
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I was never impressed with XA lens. Mine has dead exposure meters.
Repair would costs same as Rollei 35S.
 
I second the Rollei 35S.
I use mine a lot for travelling, and you get used to scale focusing quickly.
The lens is superb, usability is fine once you get used to it, meter is a accurate within its design, it accepts filters (Great for BW)....all in all a great travel companion
 
Yashica Electro 35MC, probably best out of Electro line Av automated cameras. Smallest one, smaller than 35CC. Scale focus, which is great. No need to turn off flash each time...'cause there's no flash. Runs on current battery. Load black version with color film, and chrome covers version with black & white film, or vice versa, matching your coding scheme.
 
I like the Konica C35 Automatic, but I would probably take two in case one deteriorated. The zuiko 35mm f2.8 is one of my least favorite lenses, an SP1000 and a super takumar 35mm f3.5 is so much better. Actually, the takumar adapted to a Canon Ti works really well, the metering is great but you have to scale focus. I don't have the patience to get something like the Rollei deployed, myself.
 
I've got a Rollei 35 (Tessar) and an XA4, both of which are pretty easy to carry when traveling. As noted above, the Rollei weighs a lot more than the later plastic options, but I also trust it a lot more than any of them. The XA4 is really handy, but decades-old plastic and electronics do not fill me with confidence. If you're only taking one, I'd say Rollei; if you're taking two, then your options open up, as you'll have a backup, so reliability is less critical.
 
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