Any Small PASSIVE AF Camera's?

[murrayb53]

I have been asked a question which I do not have an answer. Are there any small Point & Shoot camera's which use a PASSIVE AF (not Active) system?
A zoom lens is not required.

Steve

 

[Jacob]

I know of the Ricoh GR series that have passive AF combined with active AF for darkness. Very compact body, aperture priority or program, super sharp 28/2.8 lens. Recommended!
Jacob

 

[Matthew Runkel]

The Contax T3 is one. And you won't find a better lens in any compact.

 

[celerystalksme]

Minolta TC-1
Contax T3
Rollei AFM35/Fuji Klasse
Ricoh GR series

i'm sure there are some cheaper or older ones. but i can't think of them...

 

[bcostin]

The Canon AF 35ML used passive autofocus. Some models before and after use IR instead.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

The Canon AF 35ML used passive autofocus. Some models before and after use IR instead.

Most long zoom lens film P&S cameras had passive autofocus, since IR usually does not have sufficient range to work reliably at long focal lengths. All digital P&S cameras with autofocus also have passive autofocus.

Passive is not necessarily better for short zoom or prime lens compacts, since IR autofocus is very fast and reliable if focusing through windows is not important. There are some other situations where it may fail, but passive systems have their own weaknessess as well. My 1980s prime lens compacts with IR autofocus can focus as fast or faster than any other P&S camera I have tried and low light focusing is not an issue. Digital P&S compacts use contrast autofocus since it is inexpensive to implement with a live feed from the sensor and does not require additional sensors.

 

[NormanFX]

The Fuji Natura is an ideal candidate. 24mm fixed lens with an incredibly fast f 1.9 lens. With high speed film, its the perfect low light camera. You can find yourself taking night shots without a flash! Its not a rangefinder but a rangefinder with those kind of specs would be at the top of most people's lists. No one makes film cameras anymore in the West, let alone a compact fixed lens rangefinder.

 

[awilder]

Don't forget the Contax TVS series. The last one, the TVS III, is optically the best of the series and most compact with sharpness similar to the T3. Usually sells for a few hundred less than the T3.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

The Contax G1 body uses passive AF technology.

 

[urban_alchemist]

I have 3:

Minolta TC-1 (film 28/f3.5)
Ricoh GR1s (film 28/f2.8)
Ricoh GRD (digital 28/f2.8)

 

[Monte920]

The Fuji Natura is an ideal candidate. 24mm fixed lens with an incredibly fast f 1.9 lens..............

Fuji Natura uses an acitve-type AF, not passive AF. Its cousins, Natura Classica and Silvi, are also active AF. Klasse series are passive AF. Although without a doubt, they are all excellent cameras.

 

[btgc]

If price level is below that TC-1 and Contax tag, then let's ask "why passive AF" ? If this to overcome limitations of active AF in situations like focusing to objects behind fence/mesh or similar, then maybe scale focus camera could work as well ? Pretty fast and reliable way to focus.