Help me choose a 'dog walking camera'!

[FujiLove]

Over the last few months I've been trying to carry a camera in my coat pocket all the time and my XA3 has been doing a pretty good job. However, I'm often out with the dog and it's very hard to open the sliding lens cover, operate the focus selector and shoot with one hand. This morning with thick gloves on, it was nigh on impossible and I almost dropped the camera. Obviously I only have one hand free because the other is holding the dog lead. She's a disobedient bugger and we walk next to main roads, so there's no chance of simply asking her to sit while I fiddle with the camera!

So now I'm thinking it would be great to have a similarly small camera which I could shoot with the press of a single button, or at least with the shutter button plus an on-off switch that's very close to the shutter. Autofocus and autoexposure would be ideal. And of course, I'm going to add that I don't want to spend very much. I had a Hexar AF a while back which would have been perfect if it had been a bit smaller. They are also damn expensive these days.

The XA3 has a 35mm f3.5 lens and that's fine for what I use it for. Clearly a Contax T3 would be great, but about 20 times too expensive 😀

Any thoughts?

 

[John Bragg]

I would heartily reccomend a Canon Sureshot Supreme. Easily shootable with one hand, autofocus and a 38mm f2.8 lens. They go for less than many point and shoot cameras too. I have paid as little as 99p for a good working example.



Canon Sureshot Supreme by John Bragg, on Flickr

 

[madNbad]

If you're staying with film, how about something like a Nikon 35AF? Or a similar point and shoot from that era.

 

[Jake Mongey]

I take my eos 5 and 35-105 USM, Autoexposure, decent zoom and manual options for if i want to stop, usually i can operate all these functions one handed

 

[BLKRCAT]

I say something heavy considering you live in a rough neighborhood.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Buy 5$ P&S those are truly one hand cameras. Good names, good lenses. http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/filmcamera/compact/af240sv_sv_qd/
Fuji mji and Canon Prima Mini are more fancy cameras with prime available.

Get small hand stripe for XA3 for no gloves time. With hand stripe it is one hand camera. Once your hand in the stripe loop, door opening, film advance is all possible with one hand.
If it is in the matching pouch on the belt it is even more faster. Hand in the stripe loop, pooling out camera, doors opens by the pooling from the pouch.

 

[sepiareverb]

T2, only about 10x too expensive...

 

[Richard G]

Olympus mju 2. Easily operated one-handed. Good lens. Cheap second hand. Fits in pocket.

 

[FujiLove]

Thanks for the ideas. The Sureshot looks like it could fit the bill, particularly as they're so cheap. I've got a boat load of wonderful cameras and really just want to spend my money on film and paper now. What's the autofocus and exposure systems like on that one? I'm guessing fairly decent as it's a Canon?

I had a look at the Mju ii but they are getting quite pricey on eBay. More than I want to spend for a simple snappy camera anyway.

Ko.Fe. I see what you mean about the hand strap. I tried it today and it did help, but the problem at the moment is the gloves. I just can't open the damn sliding lens cover with them on. I have bad circulation in my hands, so no gloves is just not possible at this time of year. It's agony after ten minutes on days like this.

I'm off to scour eBay for something cheap and plastic!

Thanks again.

 

[John Bragg]

The Autofocus on the Sureshot is very accurate in my experience, with a hit rate much better than the Mju series, where I have had the odd failure with Mju I and Mju II. Exposure is accurate too but no exposure lock on half press, although the focus lock is exemplary.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Olympus mju 2... Cheap second hand.

Have you checked prices lately? 😱

I recommend the original Stylus, aka mju (1).
They're still cheap as chips...

Chris

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Get small hand stripe for XA3 for no gloves time. With hand stripe it is one hand camera.
Once your hand in the stripe loop, door opening, film advance is all possible with one hand.
If it is in the matching pouch on the belt it is even more faster.
Hand in the stripe loop, pooling out camera, doors opens by the pooling from the pouch.

I have noticed the same with my Olympus XA, XA2 and XA3 cameras.
As they wear the sliding cover opens easier, sometimes inadvertently.
What first seemed to be a defect, now I know is a useful feature! 😉

Chris

 

[viridari]

I keep a Yashica T4 Super D around for that kind of work. Easily operated with one hand. Everything is auto but if you want to push/pull your film, it's easy enough to hack DX codes (right now I've got Tri-X in there at EI1600).

Slaughter Beach by Magnus Hedemark, on Flickr

 

[snot]

Have you checked prices lately? 😱

I recommend the original Stylus, aka mju (1).
They're still cheap as chips...

Chris

I'll recommend a Stylus as well.

The prices for the Epic DLX (Mju-II) have become pretty unreal, however I'd say it's still worth $100 at most. It's a killer P&S.

The Mju-I is just as good, and considerably cheaper. If you can get by with F3.5, snatch one. I think you would love it.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I keep a Yashica T4 Super D around for that kind of work.

Another one that costs $$$+ lately...

Chris

 

[Tim Murphy]

Put a Go-Pro on the critter

Put a Go-Pro on the critter

Dear Fujilove,

That's my honest answer as a dog owner. The perspective would be interesting.

When I am with my dog, a he currently, as well as when I was with the she's that came before him, the dog gets my undivided attention.

I owe that to my dog.

Regards,

Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Just checked and the Stylus/mju 1 has gotten more expensive, too.
Maybe film is back...

Chris

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Dear Fujilove,

That's my honest answer as a dog owner. The perspective would be interesting.

When I am with my dog, a he currently, as well as when I was with the she's that came before him, the dog gets my undivided attention.

I owe that to my dog.

Regards,

Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂

Honestly Tim, I'll bet your dog really wouldn't mind you bringing a camera on walks.

Chris

 

[Tim Murphy]

He likes when it's all about him

He likes when it's all about him

Honestly Tim, I'll bet your dog really wouldn't mind you bringing a camera on walks.

Chris

Dear Chris,

He likes when we go to a place where I can ditch the leash and chuck the Frisbee and take pictures of him doing his stuff but otherwise it'd be difficult to carry a camera and walk in the neighborhood.

I'll try it though!

Regards,

Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[BillBingham2]

Nikon One Touch L35AF.

B2 (;->