F 2.8

[wildmuskellunge]

Hi all,

Like many people here, I love researching and at times collecting point and shoot cameras.

One qualifier for me seems to be a lens that is at least an f2.8. However, I'm beginning to wonder if I should start to consider f3.5's. It seems like it would open up a lot of options. Can anyone make a case for this?

 

[valdas]

Hi all,
It seems like it would open up a lot of options.

Too many options, perhaps? I used to buy every f2.8 P&S camera I could put my hands on (at reasonable price, of course). I am down now to Contax T2. It does everything P&S needs to do for me. And IQ is very good. Excellent, in fact. This is the key for me.

 

[petronius]

My main interest has always been the way the camera feels in my hand, then the position of the buttons and then all the rest.

 

[Fixcinater]

Do you really need the extra light to pull off the images you are trying to make?

After using the Olympus Stylus and Stylus Epic, the extra bit of lens speed doesn't matter for me, with the images I am going to make with a point and shoot.

If I'm interested in using a camera in less of a casual fashion and more thoughtfully, I may like to have the option to open it up a bit and therefore a 35/2.8 is more useful. I have a Nikon 35Ti and it's very good in this respect but the max shutter speed limits the aperture if using fast film in bright light.

 

[pvdhaar]

..
One qualifier for me seems to be a lens that is at least an f2.8. However, I'm beginning to wonder if I should start to consider f3.5's. It seems like it would open up a lot of options. Can anyone make a case for this?

Depends on whether you're looking for a particular type of P&S or not.
With f2.8 and faster you mainly have the more luxurious compacts, like for instance the Leica Minilux, Nikon 28/35Ti, Rollei 35AFM. If that style is what you're attracted to in P&S, then at 3.5 there doesn't seem to be a sudden flood of candidates.. The only two I can think of are the Minolta TC-1 and Ricoh GR21. But if you look less up-market, like at Olympus Mju-1 or Yashica T4/5 level, then sure, there are more options.

 

[sevo]

On point-and-shoot cameras with program AE only a f/2.8 lens is rather wasted - the f/2.8 will only be used in combination with the longest possible time.

 

[mod2001]

On point-and-shoot cameras with program AE only a f/2.8 lens is rather wasted - the f/2.8 will only be used in combination with the longest possible time.

The Contax T3 uses 2.8 in program AE mode until the shortest shutter speed (1/1200) reaches it limits for a correct exposure, so the limit depends on film-ISO and light conditions, the same limits you have with any analog camera.

Jürgen

 

[sleepyhead]

The best point-and-shoot camera that I ever used was Contax TVS III. If I remember correctly, it was f/3.5 at the short end of its zoom (around 28mm) and f/6.7 at the long end (around 60mm). The pictures out of it were beautiful.

So, Yes, I would say that you're closing some potentially interesting doors by requiring f/2.8 lenses of faster.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Contax T3 program auto chart

 

[sevo]

The Contax T3 uses 2.8 in program AE mode until the shortest shutter speed (1/1200) reaches it limits for a correct exposure, so the limit depends on film-ISO and light conditions, the same limits you have with any analog camera.

No, it does not (see the chart) - but it has a rather unusual 1:2 time/aperture ratio and late start of the program range. Most compacts use a fixed 1:1 ratio of time and aperture reduction throughout their range, i.e. half steps each, like f/2.8@1/30-f/16@1/1000, and switch to flash (or - sometimes optional - long time exposure) where they run out of long range.

 

[mod2001]

damned, mixed it up with AE mode (no program) but there I was wrong too, it goes until 1/500s with 2.8. Sorry for the confusion.



Jürgen

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

My main interest has always been the way the camera feels in my hand, then the position of the buttons and then all the rest.

Exactamundo!

 

[wildmuskellunge]

My main interest has always been the way the camera feels in my hand, then the position of the buttons and then all the rest.

Certainly an important factor for me as well. I do a lot of shooting with one hand. So AF and button layout are definitely key components.

 

[f16sunshine]

Contax T3 program auto chart

I've searched for such a chart for the Olympus mju2.
Does anyone know if there is one to be found ?
Thanks!

 

[wjlapier]

I'd be curious to know of a similar chart for the Fujifilm Zoom Date 2.8.