Looking for a P+S like the Contax T3, but cheaper

[andrew00]

Hey,

I'm going to be travelling in a bit and was looking to pickup a film camera to record the memories.

I've gone back and forth about what to buy, from P+S's to a Leica M6 etc.

Ultimately, I decided it's best to buy something not too expensive so I can spend the money on actually travelling, lol.

A P+S like the Contax T3 seemed ideal. It's small but, in it's usage, really high quality, with a great lens and a nice compact and portable body. I also really like the 35mm focal length for feeling a lot like a memory.

The problem is the T3 has skyrocketed in price, so I'm looking at some other options that are equally a) HQ b) Compact. Ideally also c) with a fast lens (aka f2.8 and better)

I was wondering if anyone can recommend a P+S camera that will do the above?

From what I've been looking at, the super cheap Mju II actually seemed a strong contender, esp since it's so cheap I could always get two, one for colour and one for b+w.

Ironically it's cheap price has typically put me off a little, i.e. as you'd expect it to not quite have the quality of the T3, and I'm really looking for something to record 'once in a lifetime' type memories. But if it's great, then great!

I was wondering if there's any other / more suited suggestions?

 

[retinax]

Maybe also look at the Nikon L35 AF, I have no personal experience to offer, but a member here has posted pictures from it in a thread about sonnar lenses recently, seems to be a special lens (35/2.8, supposedly sonnar type).

 

[valdas]

Mju II is a nice camera (in terms of IQ), but does not have an aperture control, if that is important to you. I would hate to get wide open aperture landscape shots in lower light conditions... In general, P&S with aperture priority are quite rare... and now all of them quite expensive - Contaxes, Minolta TC-1, Nikon 35 Ti, Fuji Klasse...

 

[retinax]

Oh and another idea: the Contax G1 and a lens is also cheaper than a t3, right? Can be used like a p&s and you can buy other lenses for it in the future

 

[valdas]

...so maybe Hexar AF?

 

[jazzwave]

If you ok with manual focus, go to Konica Auto S3
Size and Image Quality comparable with T3.

The Hexanon 38/1.8 on S3 is amazing lens, I prefer this lens rather than 35/2.8 sonar on T3.

regards

 

[Peter_S]

- Leica Minilux, but fitting filters needs work.
- I also quite like the Contax T which I use sometimes along the T3.
- Contax G2 with the 45mm Planar.

In the end, nothing quite beats the T3.

 

[Archlich]

The Konica Big Mini F is often called the poor man's Contax T3. Better lens (35/2.8 lens, 6 elements in 4 groups) than the Mju II, but not as intuitive to use.

The Hexar is extremely capable (even more so than the T3), but since it's quite large it'll be a different route.


Coincidentally my camera of choice for long distance (100+ miles) backcountry hiking was also a Mju II. Now it's a Hexar, which is larger and not weatherproof, but has more controls and better end result.

 

[brbo]

From what I've been looking at, the super cheap Mju II actually seemed a strong contender, esp since it's so cheap I could always get two, one for colour and one for b+w.

If you are surrounded by lots of super cheap mju II cameras. Buy 5 of them, sell them on eBay (have you checked the price of a fully working mju 2 there?!) and then that T3 will be much easier to buy...

Or, since you consider mju 2 super cheap, what about not that more expensive Yashica T4 or T5.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

What's your budget? I'd suggest looking at the Slim-T or Kyocera Proof / Yashica T4 or T5 as mentioned by brbo. These do not have manual controls unfortunately (none for the Slim-T... not used the others but I believe somewhere along the same lines). I am quite impressed w/ the Slim-T's lens though. Auto focus... I get good results and I'm shooting moving targets, from the hip most of the time.

Personally I find the Contax T2 controls better than the T3. The extra 3mm irks me to no end though. 🙂

Finally, a Yashica Electro CC is 35mm, is fully maual, small (not as small as a P&S but small) and pretty cheap all things considered. The 1/250 max shutter speed might hurt you though.

There's not a lot out there that's affordable, with the control you want, and w/ the lens quality you want. Just gotta decide what you can live without (including money, in some cases).

 

[iamzip]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Fuji Klasse / Rollei AFM 35 twins, so I'll do it! Very high quality, very sharp lens, full auto P&S with some manual overrides. f/2.6 38mm lens. I haven't looked at prices since I got my Rollei years ago, but should still be significantly cheaper than the T3 while still being "premium."

 

[benmacphoto]

I've owned the Contax T3, Olympus MJU II, Yashica T2/T3/T4
The Contax T3 is a great camera, but the price caused me to pass it on.
The MJU II focus was good 90% of the time.
The Yashicas were the best for the price to performance.
Nice Zeiss lens, always hit focus, and great price.
The T4 can be found around $300, compared to the Contax T3 at over $1000.
The Yashica T3 has a slightly different lens, 35mm f2.8 Zeiss vs the Yashica T4 which is 35mm f3.5 Zeiss

 

[kuuan]

How about Yashica T3 ( with Zeiss T f2.8/35mm ), if that is too big the T4 and T5, but they have a slower f3.5/35mm lens, or the Minolta AF-C, tiny camera with very good f2.8/35mm lens
( don't have shooting experience yet, only recently picked up both a Yashica T3 and a Minolta AF-C at a junk sale, the red T made me take the Yashica and the Minolta just looked so lovely.. only later "googled them" and found very positive reports! )

 

[Huss]

Nikon 35ti. Same class as the Contax T3, but at about 1/3 of the price now.

 

[Axel]

Thats all about marketing tricks.
Put a Zeiss or a T* brand on the camera and pay ten times more for them.

I had some Yashica T3 in the last years. Sold the last one because the hype
is so heavy now and you get reasonable money for this old point´n shoot again.

A (brandnew) Ricoh FF70 does the job now. Not worse, not better but the FF70 still is
what the Yashicas were for years - cheap 😉

Look at the prices for Konicas BigMini.
The next hype...

 

[NickTrop]

Yashica T3 (or T4)
Ricoh FF70/90
Pentax PC35AF
Nikon L35AF

I've owned all but the T4 (had the T3). The only ones I currently own are the Pentax and the Nikon. All are fine picture takers with simple sharp 35/2.8 coated tessars, exception being the Nikon which has a sonnar lens formulation.

 

[johannielscom]

Look at the Yashica AW-Mini 35.

Greatly resembles the T3 but more automated and a 3.5 lens.

Or get the Yashica T-AF. That even has a 3.5 Zeiss lens.

• AF: Olympus Mju-II
• MF: Revue 400SE
• MF: Minolta 7s-II
• MF: Konica Auto S3
• MF: Vivitar 35ES (Like a black Leica M3 in design and paint quality!)
• MF: Canonet 17
• AF: Hexar AF (but it's expensive)
• MF: Cosina CX-I or CX-II (the ancestor of the Lomo LC-A but better quality control)
• AF: Konica Big Mini or A4 (essentially the same camera)

 

[f16sunshine]

There is a black Contax T in the classified from a great Rfff member for under $350. Similar zeiss lens to T3 but manual focus.
For AF, I recommend mju2 and hexar af.
These are my two along with Olympus xa/xa3.

The fuji klass/Rollei afm35 was also great althogh hard to find in US.
I sold my rollei about a year ago for or $300ish.
Preffer the mju2.

Few of these af cameras are super at infinity for landscapes. Contax models included.
Fair warning!

recent mju2
mju2 6 by Adnan, on Flickr

 

[DanskDynamit]

mju-II e basta.

 

[sepiareverb]

Thanks for the bump on the T Andy.

The original T has a very nice setup for shooting at f8 with DOF markings that lets one shoot quickly. Size is comparable to the T3, volume-wise anyhow. The Nikon 35Ti is also very good, but bigger by a fair bit.