jett
Well-known
I'm looking for a small, quiet, and cheap point-and-shoot with flash.
The auto-focus doesn't have to be that fast but the lens should be a prime and between the 35mm-50mm focal length and no slower than a 2.8. Price range is preferably under $100 but I may go up to $200. Which point-and-shoots should I be looking at? I couldn't find any good websites that compare many different point-and-shoots like camera quest? Is there?
From my limited research it seems like the Olympus MJII is a pretty popular choice, so I'm wondering if there are any other good point-and-shoots within this price range? Maybe even AF cameras that compromise size or have a slightly higher price for a sharper lens or longer focal length. I'm interested in options.
More specifically, does the MJII have a better/worse lens than the XA? How is the flash on this thing? How does the shutter-speed work? If you turn off flash, will it shoot wide-open at a long shutter-speed or does it lock up?
Thanks!
The auto-focus doesn't have to be that fast but the lens should be a prime and between the 35mm-50mm focal length and no slower than a 2.8. Price range is preferably under $100 but I may go up to $200. Which point-and-shoots should I be looking at? I couldn't find any good websites that compare many different point-and-shoots like camera quest? Is there?
From my limited research it seems like the Olympus MJII is a pretty popular choice, so I'm wondering if there are any other good point-and-shoots within this price range? Maybe even AF cameras that compromise size or have a slightly higher price for a sharper lens or longer focal length. I'm interested in options.
More specifically, does the MJII have a better/worse lens than the XA? How is the flash on this thing? How does the shutter-speed work? If you turn off flash, will it shoot wide-open at a long shutter-speed or does it lock up?
Thanks!
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lynnb
Veteran
I have the XA and MJUII, each bought for $5 in good working condition at a charity store.
I much prefer shooting with the XA because of bigger vf, more control (aperture priority with +1.5 backlight switch plus you can easily change the ISO, while the MJUII uses DX coding to set ISO and is auto exposure), and less reliance on battery.
The XA has fixed 35mm lens while the MJU is a zoom. I haven't gone pixel peeping at scanned negs, but my impression is similar IQ with both.
With the MJU I have to keep remembering to turn the auto flash off. It looks fairly low powered but I haven't used it much. Haven't tried using the MJU in very low light so can't comment on slow shutter speeds. The XA will shoot slow, to 1sec in vf; I haven't tried it on a tripod to see if it goes slower than that.
A lot of people like the little f2.8 Canons QLs, Yashicas and Konicas for decent IQ at low cost. You might get lucky and find a Rollei or Minox - IQ samples on these 2 cameras show excellent results. The Petri Color 35 might also be worth a look. However I have no idea of current sale prices of these - maybe have a look at finished auctions on Fleabay and check KEH prices if they stock them.
If you're considering digital a used LX3 might be had for around $200. A very capable little camera with RAW capture, Leica lens, full manual control and flash exposure compensation. I've had one for years and can highly recommend it.
I much prefer shooting with the XA because of bigger vf, more control (aperture priority with +1.5 backlight switch plus you can easily change the ISO, while the MJUII uses DX coding to set ISO and is auto exposure), and less reliance on battery.
The XA has fixed 35mm lens while the MJU is a zoom. I haven't gone pixel peeping at scanned negs, but my impression is similar IQ with both.
With the MJU I have to keep remembering to turn the auto flash off. It looks fairly low powered but I haven't used it much. Haven't tried using the MJU in very low light so can't comment on slow shutter speeds. The XA will shoot slow, to 1sec in vf; I haven't tried it on a tripod to see if it goes slower than that.
A lot of people like the little f2.8 Canons QLs, Yashicas and Konicas for decent IQ at low cost. You might get lucky and find a Rollei or Minox - IQ samples on these 2 cameras show excellent results. The Petri Color 35 might also be worth a look. However I have no idea of current sale prices of these - maybe have a look at finished auctions on Fleabay and check KEH prices if they stock them.
If you're considering digital a used LX3 might be had for around $200. A very capable little camera with RAW capture, Leica lens, full manual control and flash exposure compensation. I've had one for years and can highly recommend it.
photokalia
Established
I haven't tried the XA so I can only speak for the Mju II. Its a handy little pocket camera, very sharp lens. The only feature I wish it had was exposure compensation for shooting backlit stuff. Other than that, it's worked well for me on outings where I want to go light on the camera gear but still get quality images.
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
I'd probably Say a Nikon L35 AF. Kinda cheap and rudimentary in a good way, not all that quiet, but pretty damn good images. You can always turn the iso up or down for exposure compensation. It's got the right lens charactistics that you want and a nice sized VF.
kzphoto
Well-known
Fuji Klasse/Rollei AFM 35. Razor sharp lens and robust construction.
I nabbed mine here for about $125 or so.
Here's what it can do:
Magnolia -- Alameda, CA by kzamani, on Flickr
I nabbed mine here for about $125 or so.
Here's what it can do:
Magnolia -- Alameda, CA by kzamani, on Flickr
Paolo Bonello
3 from 36 on a good day.
Oh yeah, Fuji Klasse. Now there's a good suggestion. I have one of the newer ones which cost a lot more but the older versions as described above would be worth stretching the $100 budget for sure.
cosmonaut
Well-known
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Stylus or Klasse get my vote too.
whitecat
Lone Range(find)er
The Nikon L35 AF has some pretty good optics but if you can afford it go to the Contax T3 or TVS III.
skelk
Member
The Yashica T4 should probably be considered as well, though max aperture is f3.5. Lens is almost as sharp as the Contax T2 (another good one but maybe too pricey). Bear in mind that like the mju/stylus the T4 has virtually no control beyond flash modes (you have to remember to switch the flash off most of the time!), and I think the slowest shutter speed is 1/15 or 1/8 which could be a problem. It gives good results though!
David Hughes
David Hughes
Surely the spot metering is better than exposure compensation? Just asking as curious about it.
My votes for the µ-II or XA, btw.
Regards, David
Out to Lunch
Ventor
Have a look at the Canon Powershot S-95 which now retails for 339 dollars at BHPhoto. My wife and I have used this P&S for a few months now and we are very happy with the output.
valdas
Veteran
for budget under 100$ - Olympus µju-II
spaceman spif
Member
I'm with David Hughes -- XA+A11 flash or Olympus Stylus (variously the µ-II, the mjuII, and iterations thereof). XA if you want control -- and you have quite a bit really. Stylus if you just want to compose & shoot.
TTNC
Member
jett; I have a Nikon AF in really good shape that I will let you have for the price of shipping. Do not know where you are located, but shipping anywhere in the continental US is 11 bucks. Let me know if you want it, and if you don't I will make the same offer to anyone on the site.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
I have owned a Nikon L35AF, an Olympus Stylus Epic, a Yashica T3 and T4. All of them are very good cameras but my personal favourite is the Fuji DL SuperMini. It is a 28mm f/3.5 though....
farlymac
PF McFarland
Canon AF35ML with an f:1.9 40mm lens that takes 48mm filters, ISO range 50-1000, built in flash with a range of 3-18.7ft at ISO 100, self timer, battery check, film advance indicator, and is powered by two standard AA cells. And if I must say so, is very smart looking.
PF
PF
Greyscale
Veteran
Some very good choices in this thread, but I have to say this. I have used dozens of different p&s, rf, or scale focus cameras that meet your criteria from many different manufacturers, including many of those mentioned previously, and what have I discovered? With very few exceptions, the optics on most of them are universally very good, and they are cheap enough that you can buy them like candy for the most part. I think $20 is the most that I have ever spent on a point and shoot camera. Find one that feels good in your hands.
My personal favorites among the fixed focal length examples are the Ricoh FF90, FF3-AF, Canon MC, Olympus AF-10 Super and Stylus 3.5, Konica MT-11, and the Samsung AF Slim. For $100, you could buy a dozen of these plastic fantastic cameras at thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, eBay, or the RFF and APUG classifieds, and I'm sure that you would find at least one that you love.
If "quiet" is one of your main criteria, though, consider the Pentax PC35AF, Minolta Hi-Matic AF or AF2, Konica C35AF or EF, or any of the flavors of the Olympus XA, the motor drive on most of the others are not at all silent.
My personal favorites among the fixed focal length examples are the Ricoh FF90, FF3-AF, Canon MC, Olympus AF-10 Super and Stylus 3.5, Konica MT-11, and the Samsung AF Slim. For $100, you could buy a dozen of these plastic fantastic cameras at thrift stores, garage sales, estate sales, eBay, or the RFF and APUG classifieds, and I'm sure that you would find at least one that you love.
If "quiet" is one of your main criteria, though, consider the Pentax PC35AF, Minolta Hi-Matic AF or AF2, Konica C35AF or EF, or any of the flavors of the Olympus XA, the motor drive on most of the others are not at all silent.
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TTNC
Member
Camera is spoken for...
farlymac
PF McFarland
Don't know if Jett ever found a camera to their liking, but I came across an Olympus Trip AF 50 yesterday. It has a 28mm lens, which I thought would be nice to have with me on those occasions I'm using another fixed focal length p&s. The flash doesn't work, but then I usually try to avoid using it anyways. Haven't put a test roll in it yet as the film drive sounds like a jig saw. But it looks good.
PF
ps: Put a roll of test film in it, and it mangled it! But that roll had been in many cameras already, so maybe it was due for the end. So I stuck another roll in, and everything was okay. The flash only works if there is film in the camera, and the film drive sounds a lot better when it has something to work with. Another thing that I forgot to mention is that it takes AA batteries.
PF
ps: Put a roll of test film in it, and it mangled it! But that roll had been in many cameras already, so maybe it was due for the end. So I stuck another roll in, and everything was okay. The flash only works if there is film in the camera, and the film drive sounds a lot better when it has something to work with. Another thing that I forgot to mention is that it takes AA batteries.