High Risk Environment? What camera to sneak along....?

Is this a piece of equipment you're going to have to hide from your employer? Some (many?) railroads frown upon employees carrying cameras, if they're not officially prohibited outright. So, perhaps the smaller, the better.

If it has to be film, I'd go along with the others recommending a small P&S.
 
Hmmm,

Olympus XA - too nice to be wasted,

Olympus XA1 - nice enough but needs 400 ASA film,

Olympus XA2 - dirt cheap and decent lens,

Olympus XA3 - rare and dear,

Olympus XA4 - rare and dear.

In your shoes I'd take a Konica C35 which is a RF but "P" mode only but (2) need s a PX 675 battery substitute but (3) has an f/2.8 lens. OTOH, it is a cheap camera and punches well above its weight. There's also the rough, tough Konica Genbakantoku 28 WB (AKA Konica Off Road).

And there's dozens of zone focusing cameras that are not as easy to use as the XA2, 3 and 4 but you could always learn to judge the distances; f'instance the Mamiya 135, Yashica 35-ME and so on are like the Trip 35 but not yet cult-ish and so dirt cheap.

Regards, David
 
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A beater Nikon F3 titanium and 50mm. And a hard locking case and cable with additional lock to discourage theft. Nikonos used to be the camera of choice for rough and tumble work, but so many photos are missed because of guestimate focusing.
 
One of the non AE Nikkormats you can use them as hammer and they will keep on working. Personally I would choose a Nikkormat FT2 or FT3. The Zenit EM is another candidate built like a brick Sh**thouse very simple and very inexpensive.
I used both in high risk environments climbing, fishing boats etc...
 
In answer to the OP's original question, I'd carry any camera that I wanted to shoot with, with the understanding that it might be lost or destroyed. Why buy a Leica and keep it locked in a vault at home to protect it? It's a camera, not an appreciating jewel or rarity. I bought my Leica cameras to use them, and to make photographs with.

So they're at risk. That's what insurance is for. If you worry about the value of your equipment being lost due to theft, loss, or damage, buy insurance coverage to protect yourself from that loss..

The camera itself ... well, it's just a camera and can easily be replaced (presuming you have the money to do so). The fact that it's expensive is of little consequence: If it is a camera that is more expensive than you can afford to take photographs with, for fear of loss or whatever, buy something less expensive so that you don't have to worry about it.
 
Film or digital?
I would not see "High Risk environment" a reason to not take a good camera. I do it all the time. That said, In environments where knocks are likely...I would shy away from a RF.

Film choice for hard-use environments: Contax T-series, Contax G-series.
Digital: Used Leica X-something or Leica T.
 
Ong, Having worked in many 'high risk' situation, I sometimes use my Leica, but often use a pockectable camera. I've used Rollei 35, Olympus stylus & XA....all are cheaply replaceable. I've place a premium on a camera i can have at hand,& more sturdy or larger cameras like Nikonos or Nikkormats or other currently inexpensive SLRs just don't do it for me. Afterall, I'm not hammering nails with them, I'm taking photos. If i drop or lose it a small pocketable camera is not irreplaceable. Lots of choice out there.
 
I would bring an inexpensive camera with a decent lens. None will survive a 2 meter drop onto a hard surface except maybe one of the Olympus or Panasonic “tough” digital cameras. For film I would echo others and suggest an XA or a Canonnette. If destroyed buy another one.
 
For dgital the tough cameras can be nice. I have a Pentax WGIII and it has taken a beating. Decent quality at base iso (better than the latest Olympus tg5), nice macro mode, 25mm fov on the wide end and it is freezeproof, waterproof to 14m, shockproof to drops from 2m, and crushproof to something like 200 pounds if you sit on it. Fits in a shirt pocket but is odd looking. Comes with a carabiner to attach it to anything.

Shawn
 
buy backups! don't put all of your eggs in one basket.

seconding the recommendations for cheap and easily replaceable cameras. there are many options under $50. you should get two or three cameras to have on hand in case something breaks.

some suggestions:

canonet ql19
yashica electro 35
konica auto s or s2
 
"Needless to say, working with a 47 tonne ungainly hunk of steel is probably going to end up badly when things do go wrong,..."

Yes, like focusing too much on a hobby while at work that you end up causing that 47 ton ungainly hunk of steel to end up badly.

Hate to say it but...

You're on a NEW career path, yet you are thinking about bringing your hobby to your work. You probably should focus (pun intended) on your new job.

You're working on a job (rail work) that impacts thousands of people's lives each day, to the point where a careless mistake could cost people's lives, yet you are worried about what camera to bring to work.

Screw the hobby. While at work, focus on the job you were hired and are being paid to do.
 
shawn said:
I was thinking something from the XA series too. XA4 is zone focus, not fixed focus. It has 5 (if I am remembering correctly) different focus positions compared to 3 on the Xa2/3. The extra two are close up and the strap is used to measure focus distance.
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Thanks for the correction. I've never actually used - or even seen - an XA4, so I was simply quoting what I had read (or perhaps, what I thought I'd read! ;)). I'm glad that you've managed to put the record straight. :)
 
David Hughes said:
In your shoes I'd take a Konica C35 which is a RF but "P" mode only but (2) need s a PX 675 battery substitute but (3) has an f/2.8 lens. OTOH, it is a cheap camera and punches well above its weight.
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I agree, David - that's why I suggested the c35 in my earlier post.

I have one, and it great to use. Excellent lens, small, light, and just very enjoyable! :)
 
I would (and do) take an inexpensive mechanical SLR (usually Canon F-1 or FTb) and/or an XA.

The SLR has the advantage of being able to focus closer, and while working I often find little details to photograph so this is a boone. If it gets knocked around, to some extent it will be possible to see the effects through the viewfinder - unlike a rangefinder where if the focus is off you may not find out until you photos back. The older SLRs can be had for very little money given the capability and therefore are easily replaced. Disadvantage is of course weight/size.

I also carry an XA in my pants pocket everywhere I go. It is light/small enough to generally go unnoticed in my pocket and compact enough not to be taken seriously.

I think one of the cheaper rangefinders would also be a good move - depends a lot on your shooting style and intended subject matter.
 
kxl said:
"Needless to say, working with a 47 tonne ungainly hunk of steel is probably going to end up badly when things do go wrong,..."

Yes, like focusing too much on a hobby while at work that you end up causing that 47 ton ungainly hunk of steel to end up badly.

Hate to say it but...

You're on a NEW career path, yet you are thinking about bringing your hobby to your work. You probably should focus (pun intended) on your new job.

You're working on a job (rail work) that impacts thousands of people's lives each day, to the point where a careless mistake could cost people's lives, yet you are worried about what camera to bring to work.

Screw the hobby. While at work, focus on the job you were hired and are being paid to do.
Click to expand...

That was pretty much what I was thinking when I read the OP’s post. Why take the risk of something going horribly wrong while you might be distracted taking photos? Plus, your employer might not take too kindly to having potentially sensitive machinery and facilities being photographed surreptitiously (that could potentially get you fired, or at the very least would arouse their suspicions as to why you’re taking photos in the first place). You read all these stories about accidents happening by people being distracted by their phones, so why take a similar chance? Unless photography is part of your new job???

My advice - unless it’s part of your actual job, leave the camera at home and focus on your new career path. Then once you’ve established yourself there, maybe broach the subject of photography with your superiors. At least that way you’d have built a track record (excuse the pun!) of employment with them, and if they went along with the photography then you’d have an ‘official’ endorsement without having to ‘sneak’ anything.
 
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