Minolta AF-C vs. Olympus XA

[Davor]

Been thinking about getting this little gem on Tradera (a swedish version of ebay). The problem is that there is very little information about it on the 'net. The few sources that I managed to find are very positive about it, but I would prefer to hear a few more user experiences from you guys.

So far I'll be getting either a Minolta AF-C or a Olympus XA. The camera would be my "carry everywhere, anytime"-camera, that I can just stuff into my pocket before I leave the house. How do these two compare?

 

[Trius]

I've never heard of the AF-C, but as an autofocus camera it will be an entirely different experience than the XA. It really looks like a copy of the XA in many respects, down to the detachable flash.

The real question would be the performance of the glass, of course, and the accuracy of the auto-focus system.

Thanks for point out this camera ... it's interesting.

Edit: Just found a thread here started by peot ... seems he has had an AF-C, so maybe you should ask him via PM to join in. Also search flickr ... one set I found looked nice but the metering may have been a bit off.

 

[zuikologist]

If the glass is anything like the Minolta AFZ P&S I had in the eighties (lovely 35/2.8), then it should be fine. As Trius mentions though, it is also a different experience.

 

[Davor]

The only thing i really know about the Minolta, I have found on a Swedish site about street photography. Over there, they rate the Minolta AF-C as the best point-n-shoot for street photography, ever. The Olympus XA came in fifth.

The optics seem to be excellent. According to the site, the optics (35/2.8) got the best possible rating in several popular magazines about photography. The images taken with this gem, that I have managed to find on flickr seem to indicate the same thing (altough it's difficult to tell by looking at such small images).

http://web.comhem.se/~u13121867/kompakt.html

 

[dazedgonebye]

Auto focus, but can be locked...that's what I read on an ebay listing.
Nice feature.

 

[daniel~]

I became interested in AF-C long ago, mainly for its somewhat quirky look and resemblance to Olympus XA & Lomo LC-A. Perhaps I should've bought it then, because I've noticed its ended price got higher & higher these days on *bay. I wonder why... Is it some new hype happening? 🙄 but there's not even much info or talk about the camera on the net...

Anyway, if you want control, Oly XA is the obvious choice, while Minolta AF-C's (primitive) autofocus & program-only exposure(both considered advanced features back then, ironically) become its disadvantages.

some refernece found here>> http://lauro.fi/minoltaaf.htm

 

[Davor]

Hmm, thanks for your input, guys. So far I'm a bit split on what I'm going to choose. Than god I still have a couple more days to do so.

It looks as if the AF-C can be had for about $6 and the XA for $15.

Another thing to consider is that the AF-C can be used with LR44 batteries -- the same ones that I can put into my M6TTL. That might be yet another argument for choosing the AF-C, since you only need to buy/carry one type of batteries and that lestens your load.

 

[Trius]

For those prices, get both!! Remember, we are here to enable the acquisition of cameras, not narrow the choice! 😛

 

[daniel~]

What Trius said.
At that price... get them both!!
(and you can sell the one you don't like to me any day! 😉 )