Brutally sharp in a budget?

Brennotdan said:
Uwe, does your vivitar have swirly bokeh wide open? just curious.
Click to expand...

Not that I noted.

Probably not the best example to evaluate swirly bokeh, but definitely wide open:
U9369I1180126960.SEQ.0.jpg


Cheers,
Uwe
 
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Olympus Stylus Epic / Mju-II is very sharp but the camera defaults quite quickly to the largest aperture... where it vignettes. I am also very impressed with the Canonet GIII QL17.

But the first answer seems the best to me. Get yourself an working FED with an Industar 61 L/D. That lens is really sharp. And a FED5 with that lens can be had for much less than your budget. But get one that works...
 
Don't know why Yashica T4 is more popular, get this one instead:

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It's f/2.8, albada super-scope, ... and just as sharp!

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Any of the Yashica Electro 35 range. They are sharp with good micro-contrast and, I have seen many scans with nice 3D effect. So many out there and can be had for really cheap . Got mine from thrifty store in good condition.
 
If it does not have to be a super-small compact, consider an OM-1 with bundled 50mm f/1.8, and buy an additional 28mm f/3.5. You should be able to get all of that within your budget. It is an SLR, but it's a SMALL one, as are the lenses I mentioned. Like a rangefinder, it is very easy to carry around all day, but it does not fit in a trouser pocket like a compact would. You won't find a fast normal lens or a wide lens with as good quality as these two on a comopact camera. I have extensive experience with it and recommend it unreservedly. However, I don't have any RF experience other than the M8, so can't give you any meaningful info in that direction.

Only caveat: don't go this route if you want automatic controls and easy (or regular) flash use.

If you prefer a digital compact, I would recomend the Fuji F31fd if you can find one (now out of production, but I got mine on clearout for £100 about 18 months ago). But really, if I was in this budget and could only have one camera to do it all, I would go with the OM-1 without question.

By the way, I also have a Yashica T-zoom compact (later descendent of the T4) that I took mountaineering in Bolivia with some Velvia film. It has a decent wide angle lens on it, but is far too automated... I found it quite frustrating after three months intensive use.

Good luck with your decision.
 
Hi Matt,

In my humble opinion, nowadays, on exchange of up to $150 you can find around 50 different brutally sharp lens cameras. This is not the point at all.

The question is how are you going to avoid waisting your money in a camera with brutally sharp lens which is mechanically deffective, not to speak unpossible to use. Here the considerations about who is the seller, and what camera are we talking about, and if it has some back up fixers around, that you or we know, come to the forefront.

Therefore, if your budget is about $150, it will be smart that you allocate half of it for either a fixing or a Cleaning-Lubricating-Adjusting job that will ensure your new old camera will enable its brutal lens to dispaly their job, unmolested.

Then we are left with $ 75. I think that this being the case, all Soviet gear should be considered out. You can indeed buy many Soviet cameras by this price, but for an ensured brutall sharpness lens you have to pass through www.Fedka.com, and for Fedka your budget is not enough.

Fedka cameras are generally good, but not ensured for the case you find a problem.

Nevertheless you can ask about Edy Smolov CLA price, recently discovered service which is making happy many guys, and make your accounts with Soviet gear.

Soviet cameras, enjoy the advantage of an almost ensured good yellow patch for focusing. The Yashica Electro series and to a lesser extent the Konica Auto S2, bring both the advantage of being cheap and carrying well maintained yellow patches, the Electros first and foremost. Besides there is here around at RFF a fixer who can CLA it.

With the Konicas Auto S2 it is very hard you go wrong if you select a model that looks relatively pricy in comparizon with the others. If it happens your new old Konica has a deffect, then at your second one, chances are very hard it will be a bad camera. Within your budget you can buy two highly good looking Konicas.

But both the Yashicas and Konicas referred are not the most compact size type. The mechanical differences among both is for you to be observed in depht.

Of course, I have not mentioned a lot of many other cameras within $150, but I would not run the chance to buy a used camera discarding the great chance I will have to send it to overhaul.

I think this way you will not get any rotten tomato nor be brutalized yourself.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
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For the most flexibility in your quest for brutal sharpness on a budget, I have to second those who have mentioned getting an SLR setup, particularly an Olympus setup if you are after small size. I certainly can't speak for your area, but craigslist generally has loads of slr kits for 100 to 150 bucks, often with multiple lenses.
 
Heck, just get the door fixed on your Canonet. It shouldn't be more than 75 U.S. Dollars. If you want brutally sharp, get a the Yashica Electro 35 GSN, GTN, or MG-1.
 
A kind and generous RFFer recently sent me a Nikon P&S with 28mm lens for free.

It's a cracker.

Photography is not about 'GAS' and big bucks 'gear'. Use what you have and enjoy it.
 
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