FILM P&S recommendation?

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Terao

Kiloran
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Aug 14, 2006
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I have a GR1v which is seeing some serious use currently, what do you recommend to complement it? Basically I'd like a GR1v with a lens in the 40-50mm range, or maybe a short range zoom. Compact is important, manual control is important, and an AF and flash system as good as the GR1v's would be a bonus...

Now I know I could buy a *insert name of random digi P&S here* but where is the fun in that? :rolleyes:
 
I've just bought a Contax TVS III. The choice was based on web searches and recommendations. The focal range is 30-60 and they say Vario-Sonnar is nice.
 
I had a Rollei AFM-35 (made in 2002) and loved it. The lens was a fixed 38mm S-Apogon lens if memory serves me correctly. Truly a great P&S RF, but alas I forgot it for a few hours it in a cafe in Paris and sadly never saw it again...
 
P&S cameras don't generally have manual controls. If you can live with 35mm lens length, and AE only, get an Olympus XA. These are tiny, have great lenses, and offer control over ISO and aperture (though not shutter speed, except in that you can trick the camera by changing film speed, or use the "backlight/add 1.5 stops" feature). The XA has a useable RF, though I scale focus as often as not- it's not an AF camera. There are at least two different flash units available (A11, A16) which screw onto the side of the camera; both work well.

The only real film P&S I own is the Yashica T4 Zoom, which has an excellent Carl Zeiss 28-70 zoom lens. It takes great pictures, but offers no manual control at all; the only control it offers is over a few flash modes: auto, anti red-eye, night-time (longer shutter speed) and off.

Lots of folks like the Olympus Stylus Epic range, which have basically the same lens as the XA in a more modern P&S, but unless you get the zoom version, you are back to 35mm lens rather than the 40-50 you are looking for, and again, there is no manual control.
 
I don't think the lens in the XA and the lens in the mju (stylus epic) are the same at all. I have both and they look completely different both in terms of their construction and in terms of the end product.

I personally much prefer the look of images taken with the Stylus Epic, and I know other people who have the opposite preference.

Anyway, both are 35mm lenses.

I'd love to hear of a compact with a normal 50mm lens as I'd probably use one, too.
 
The discontinued Leica CM would fit your needs: 40mm, AF, exposure compensation in 1/3 stops, manual focus capability (though a bit finicky at it), about a dozen flash modes, including front and rear curtain flash.
 
Yes, there are several models you may consider:
1. Minolta TC-1: Also 28mm, f3.5, but considered to be even upper scale than GR-1v. It is smaller. It has program & aperture priority AE, MF possible, and Spot AE lock.
2. Nikon 35ti: 35mm f2.8. Analog display, program & aperture priority AE (TTL, very unique!), MF possible. 28ti is similar, with 28mm f2.8 lens.
3. Contax T2: 38mm f2.8, program & aperture priority AE, MF possible.
4. Contax T3: 35mm f2.8, program & aperture priority AE, MF possible. It is smaller than T2, and Zeiss Sonnar lens is even sharper than T2!
5. Leica CM or Minilux: Both are 40mm f2.4, program & aperture priority AE, MF possible. CM is made in Germany. It has better coating than Minilux, which is made in Japan. CM can also attach an external flash.
All the above cameras are made of titanium, considered to be even more solid than the magnesium-alloy made GR-1v!
 
Well, the Minilux is decent, but the viewfinder is crap. The CM is better, but still overpriced. The only P&S I would bother with is the Hexar AF.
 
heummm....

heummm....

Excellent choice with the TVS and you can get a Contax T2 for cheap these days... and even a second body in order to cannibalized spares later on...
Cheers...
Womby
 
Hexar AF far too big for a truly compact camera, which is a shame as I would have had one in a heartbeat otherwise. Camera needs to be truly pocketable to meet my requirements which means it has to have a collapsible lens...
 
Terao we are thinking along the same lines. I have a $36.00 Olympus RC on the way, and I am anxious to try it out. Gandy gives it two thumbs up. I hear it is well built.
But although I might like the form factor, and 42mm lense, it is still not truly pocketable.
I just lost out on an XA on ebay. I'm bidding on others. That and the Contax T are my preferences as of now. I have never used either, but there are a lot of nice XA photos in the galleries. Seems plebian enough. Both are close 'em up and stuff 'em cameras.
The T2 is larger and the T3 is too much. I read of shutter lag. Someone on Craigslist has one locally for $850.00! I offered $550.00 and didn't get a response.
I feel the same way about the Hexar. Perfect but too big. I just sold my G2 kit here yesterday because it sat at home. I want a carry everywhere camera. Thanks to the man for turning me on to these cams. I'm just a parrot at the moment.
You got a TVS? Pocketable? I figured the TVS III would be the one for a zoom?
 
I loved my Minilux I've never loved a P&S camera so much it felt so good in my hands I just loved using it, then it died thanks to E02 error. I would get the CM-I really want one now but instead have to use a digi fuji.

The olympus stylus line is very nice also I had one for several years of great use
 
otaku said:
I loved my Minilux I've never loved a P&S camera so much it felt so good in my hands I just loved using it, then it died thanks to E02 error. I would get the CM-I really want one now but instead have to use a digi fuji.
Click to expand...


E02 problem can be repaired, and it should not break your bank.

I have to warn you about the CM, though. CM is also a time bomb. Many mysterious break downs have been reported. And worse, many can not be repaired. I have a friend in Taiwan who owns a CM. His CM died without any warning. Fortunately, his CM was still under the 3-year warranty. Taiwan Leica told him that CM could no longer be repaired as the Leica Germany had stopped producing its parts. They offered a new CM Zoom to swap with his broken CM, not a bad deal at all. Now, he can only keep his fingers crossed that CM Zoom won't break down like that !!! :bang:
 
I was told the E02 error would cost me 100+ dollars and would need to go to germany. Seemed like it would be a hassle if I could get it done at all. I ended up selling it for half what I paid (about 250) and just picked up a little fuji digital to tide me over till my yashica and argus arrive (80 bucks for the two of them!)
 
The Stylus Epic is a really good choice. If you want a fun, older camera look for a Canon MC, from about 1984 or somewhere around that time. It has a superb f/2.8 lens and is pocketable, Canon's AF version of the XA. It's been referred to as the best p&s ever made.

Andy
 
FWIW - XA repair, CLA

John Hermanson at Camtech in NY still works on Olympus XAs.
His rates are published on his website. John has CLA'd several (I think 4),
Olympus cameras for me over the years and does really excellent work.
 
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