sweathog
Well-known
Tom I think you need to change your avatar 😉
Ah, that's an XA2 in my avatar. As it is scale focus it is exempt from the discussion.
I need a rugged compact RF !
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Ah, that's an XA2 in my avatar. As it is scale focus it is exempt from the discussion.
Svitantti
Well-known
Canonet's and XA are great cameras. Canonet a bit more rugged and working without batteries, but XA is small and nice too.
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
I agree with all the suggestions but let me add the Yashica GSN. It is a tad large but the price is way down because of the availability of the camera. Very sharp lens. The price should be low enough so that if you loose it it will not be costly. (Another camera, that I have not used, is the Konica S2. It gets good reviews and its price is low.)
camera.bear
Well-known
I have the Hi-Matic AF2, the auto focus version of this camera. The 38mm lens works well for groups and landscapes. The camera operates on common AA batteries and has a built-in flash and focus lock. Certainly a great back up camera for a Hi-Matic 7sII or take 2 as they're cheap to find.
btgc
Veteran
If Hi-Matic S2 is considered as option, I can recommend also another scale focus camera - Konica C35 EF3. My favorite from C35 family because of common AA batteries, beautiful contrasty 5-element 35mm f2.8 lens and thought'n'classy design (sorry, Hi-matic...). Pity this scalers don't have aperture control...otherwise perfect compacts.
sweathog
Well-known
The C35EF3 is a smashing little camera. A little limited in manual controls, and it is only f2.8, but it is compact, has a cracking lens as bgtc said, and looks particularily good in red.
pachuco
El ****
Another vote for the Canonet but take two. The ones I have had eventually locked up on me after about a year of heavy use. I would just warn that these cameras were not intended to be weather proof so that is the trade off for the smaller size. Having spent time in the Amazon, I worry about the rain for your gear. But having said that I had my M3 with me the whole time and not one weather related problem with it. So, good luck and remember to have fun!
sanmich
Veteran
I would consider the folowing:
On one hand, it's a one time opportunity. The most important is to take a good camera, even if it's not really something you won't be sad to throw away.
I wouldn't like to come back after a great trip just to discover that I have light leaks or that the meter was kapput on half of the frames.
OTOH you cannot take something that it will take months or even years to replace.
Also, I would feel It needs to be a camera that is easy to use and to be creative with.
For me, it's the hexar AF the would have filed the bill. And yes, in such a situation, I would have taken two or even three cameras. Let say, a Jap mechanical RF as a backup.
And I would do quite a lot of testing on the cameras before going...
Good luck!
On one hand, it's a one time opportunity. The most important is to take a good camera, even if it's not really something you won't be sad to throw away.
I wouldn't like to come back after a great trip just to discover that I have light leaks or that the meter was kapput on half of the frames.
OTOH you cannot take something that it will take months or even years to replace.
Also, I would feel It needs to be a camera that is easy to use and to be creative with.
For me, it's the hexar AF the would have filed the bill. And yes, in such a situation, I would have taken two or even three cameras. Let say, a Jap mechanical RF as a backup.
And I would do quite a lot of testing on the cameras before going...
Good luck!
shimo-kitasnap
everything is temporary..
If you don't mind interchangeable lenses, summicron-c and elmar-c, the CLE is the way to go. Just carry a few tiny batteries.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
The more I think of it, an Olympus Stylus Epic (F2.8 fixed lens) would be an ideal second camera.
Water resistant and a very good lens. Small and light so it's nothing to carry or pack.
Water resistant and a very good lens. Small and light so it's nothing to carry or pack.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
At this point, I can't help presenting a potentially embarrassing (not to say rude) conundrum
If you can afford 15 days in the Amazon, can't you afford a Leica?
I fully accept that you may be overstretched already by the trip. But equally, I'd be hesitant to entrust the photos of a lifetime to an elderly fixed-lens RF, even one I already own and trust like my Konica S III.
Cheers,
R.
If you can afford 15 days in the Amazon, can't you afford a Leica?
I fully accept that you may be overstretched already by the trip. But equally, I'd be hesitant to entrust the photos of a lifetime to an elderly fixed-lens RF, even one I already own and trust like my Konica S III.
Cheers,
R.
FrankS
Registered User
Hi Roger, yes I remember the camera shake from the squeese release of a Nikonos III but Im hoping that the vertical shutter release of the IV and V will result in less camera shake.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
tmfabian
I met a man once...
micromontenegro
Well-known
BIG WARNING: There is a "strange" outbreak going on now with the Waraos that every party involved except the government knows is rabies.
With that out of the way, please feel free to contact me about anything. I live in Venezuela and make expeditions very frecuently. My PhD thesis is abour the Yanomami. Will be most happy to help you in any possible way.
An last, the camera recomendation ;-) I can tell you what I use in my fluvial expeditions: a Nikonos IVa
With that out of the way, please feel free to contact me about anything. I live in Venezuela and make expeditions very frecuently. My PhD thesis is abour the Yanomami. Will be most happy to help you in any possible way.
An last, the camera recomendation ;-) I can tell you what I use in my fluvial expeditions: a Nikonos IVa
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aad
Not so new now.
I'll third the notion that an old compact may be a mistake. I've used Pentax SLRs in rain forest conditions.
Olympus XAs depend on a low voltage battery to run the shutter-a little condensation and everything is just a memory.
I wouldn't hesitate to use my IIIf, but frankly if you're really getting wet a Stylus or Nikonos might be the smart solution.
Olympus XAs depend on a low voltage battery to run the shutter-a little condensation and everything is just a memory.
I wouldn't hesitate to use my IIIf, but frankly if you're really getting wet a Stylus or Nikonos might be the smart solution.
Bill58
Native Texan
Get an old, Minolta Weathermatic RF--tough, waterproof and takes nice images too.
chris00nj
Young Luddite
The Canonet goes for about $50 but can vary. There are always several on eBay. Here's one that is for sale. Make sure it's the GIII QL17. There is also a QL17 (without GIII designation) and there is the slower and cheaper Canonet 28.
You might have to replace the light seals of these compact 70s rangefinders. They were made of foam and have deterioated by now. I bought a light seal kit here . While I paid $15 for a wee bit of foam, it was cut well and saved me a lot of hassle. I've only taken one roll with my Canonet but it's worked well.
I would also second a second camera. Another possibility you might want to consider is the Bessa-L coupled with one of Voigtlander's wide angle lenses, like the 25mm snapshot skopar, which you should be able to get used for a total of $350. (no relation to any seller) You'd have a backup as well as have some flexibility on focal length.
majid
Fazal Majid
In manual-focus cameras I would say a Contax T, but the camera I would recommend is the Olympus Stylus Epic with a fixed 35mm f/2.8 lens (in Europe it is sold as the mju). It is lightweight, water-resistant, has excellent optics, a spotmeter, and since it only costs $70 new, you can just pack 2-3 with you.
peterm1
Veteran
In the normal course of events I would recommend the Contax T2 (which has auto and manual options) but on reading where you are taking it I am not sure about most camera's ability to deal with the conditions. Except one, that is. And this is a strange one.
Would you consider a Nikonos 5 camera. Designed to be taken down to 50 meters below the surface of the ocean and possessing a 35mm standard lens it is the gold standard for rugged. The lens is good although a little prone to flare. I used my Nik 5 MUCH more on the surface when exploring Pacific Island jungles in conditions just as you describe than I ever did below the ocean. You can shoot these babies in full on tropical rainstorms if that is what you want to do.
There are only a couple of downsides. I have to admit that it is quite heavy. It is made from solid alloy body so is no featherweight but for me that is a small price given how tough it is.
It has to be zone focused. But I never found this to be a problem because of the unique depth of field indicator on the lens that automatically tells you whether something will be in focus - assuming you can estimate distances reasonably well.
The other UPside is that it would work well in dark conditions and can be set for aperture priority auto or full manual. The shutter is probably one of the quietest that there is. Quieter even than a Leica M perhaps... like the solid sound of a rolls Royce door closing!
I love these babies and if I had half an excuse would happily buy another just for the joy of owing it. They do happen to be pretty cheap on the Bay right now. But I have too many cameras and need to keep my wife happy so must be reasonable. If I lived in the tropics I would certianly be tempted as I know of no other camera that can handle everything that Ma nature can dish out and for any rugged outdoor conditions these are a good option.
Would you consider a Nikonos 5 camera. Designed to be taken down to 50 meters below the surface of the ocean and possessing a 35mm standard lens it is the gold standard for rugged. The lens is good although a little prone to flare. I used my Nik 5 MUCH more on the surface when exploring Pacific Island jungles in conditions just as you describe than I ever did below the ocean. You can shoot these babies in full on tropical rainstorms if that is what you want to do.
There are only a couple of downsides. I have to admit that it is quite heavy. It is made from solid alloy body so is no featherweight but for me that is a small price given how tough it is.
It has to be zone focused. But I never found this to be a problem because of the unique depth of field indicator on the lens that automatically tells you whether something will be in focus - assuming you can estimate distances reasonably well.
The other UPside is that it would work well in dark conditions and can be set for aperture priority auto or full manual. The shutter is probably one of the quietest that there is. Quieter even than a Leica M perhaps... like the solid sound of a rolls Royce door closing!
I love these babies and if I had half an excuse would happily buy another just for the joy of owing it. They do happen to be pretty cheap on the Bay right now. But I have too many cameras and need to keep my wife happy so must be reasonable. If I lived in the tropics I would certianly be tempted as I know of no other camera that can handle everything that Ma nature can dish out and for any rugged outdoor conditions these are a good option.
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