Film Point and shoot zoom recomendations?

[lawnpotter]

Hi, Could you people give me rcomendations on a good point and shoot zoom film camera. I am looking for something sharp and with little distortion if possible. I used an Olymps stylus zoom but it distorted too much. I can by a new Yashica micro Elite zoom but I dont know any thing about these cameras. Any recomendations?

 

[Johann Espiritu]

Check out the Contax TVS cameras. I use a TVS III. The Zeiss lens is sharp enough and you get a little extra on the wide angle side, which I appreciate.

Some photos of the unboxing of the TVS III on my blog here: http://manilacamerastyle.com/post/269762225/contax-tvs-iii-unboxing

Short review on the same blog here: http://manilacamerastyle.com/post/322191887/tvs-review

A quick search on my flickr for some samples: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=55728897@N00&q=contax&m=text

Hope that helps!

 

[rxmd]

The Contax TVS has already been recommended.

If you can't live with the distortion produced by an Olympus Stylus/mju, you're going to have a hard time finding a zooming compact. Depending on how much zoom you need, you might get a Ricoh R1 with a 24mm/30mm dual lens.

Another option would be getting a Contax G2 with the 35-70 zoom lens, both the body and the zoom are pretty cheap, and you can use the same system as a platform for some amazing Zeiss primes (45/f2 and so on)

 

[lawnpotter]

Thanks rxmd. I will look at the G2 and zoom. The whole system might be a biy too heavy and expensive but I will concider it.

John I like your camera. I did quick research and they are a bit pricey but this could be what I am looking for. I will continue rsearching it. Thanks.

 

[Greyscale]

Canon Sure Shot Classic 120 and Rollei Prego 90 are both quite good, and niether will cost you a fortune. Another that I was pleased with is the Canon Sure Shot 115U.

 

[charjohncarter]

I've recommended this many times here, but I'll do it again. I really like the Olympus Stylus Infinity:

and a photo:

and

 

[rxmd]

I guess it would be helpful if the OP could post a shot that exhibits the distortion from his Olympus Stylus that he is so disappointed with; that would give us an idea of the standards which he expects.

 

[Gerry M]

I agree on the Rollei Prego 90. Unless your needs/wants are for exceptional IQ (then maybe you shouldn't be thinking P&S), the Prego does a very good job. Just my experience. Have fun with your search.

 

[lawnpotter]

Thanks Greyscale I will look into those

charjohncarter. I own 3 olympus Stylus Epics and I love them, but I want a zoom too.

 

[lawnpotter]

Prego 90 looks good and cheap

 

[Greyscale]

Of course, if compactness is not an issue, there is the Samsung ECX-2, the Samsung ECX-1, and the mighty and massive Canonon Sure Shot Zoom XL to consider, all of which have superior lenses.

And finally, the Leica Mini Zoom will give you that red-dot panache without the premium price tag.

 

[lawnpotter]

Too many choices, my stomach hurts.

 

[Greyscale]

Too many choices, my stomach hurts.

Really, you won't go wrong with the Prego 90 or the Sure Shot 120. I've tried a bunch of these, and all things considered, they are my favorite compact zooms. If you can't live without 28mm, get the Rollei. Otherwise, I would get the Canon.

 

[lawnpotter]

Grey scale do these 2 cameras show any distortion? I hane an Olympus 70mm zoom that distortes bad.

 

[Greyscale]

Look at the sample pics in the sets that I linked them to.

 

[lawnpotter]

Grey scale. I like to use 100 asa film. I have been reading that the sureshot 120 is more suitable with 400asa. Do you find this to be the case? Also, It seems the canon sureshot caption is cheaper than the classic. If turn the caption off, they are the same camera are'nt they?

 

[bastian a.]

Contax TVS (I, II, III)
Leica Mini Zoom, Minilux Zoom, CM Zoom

 

[Greyscale]

Grey scale. I like to use 100 asa film. I have been reading that the sureshot 120 is more suitable with 400asa. Do you find this to be the case? Also, It seems the canon sureshot caption is cheaper than the classic. If turn the caption off, they are the same camera are'nt they?

You will find that most of the compact zooms recommend using ASA 400 film, but in sunlight, there is no reason not to use ASA 100. And yes, the Classic 120 and the Classic 120 caption are the same as far as specs go.

 

[lawnpotter]

I just orderd one from Amazon. might of been smarter to look for one at a thrift shop, but hopefully I can return it no problem if it doesnt work.