Newbie looking for a (relatively) affordable and durable point & shoot with decent IQ

[Sumarongi]

Re batteries:
If you're confused that old cameras that were made for the use of mercury batteries are problematic, I can tell you: There's a lot confusing and even irritating stuff on the web. In my experience, mercury batteries can basically always be replaced with recent batteries, e.g. so called "hearing aid batteries".

Re "Point and Shoot" generally:
One thing to consider is that the more electronics in the cameras, the worse the shutter lag. -- The more a film camera is mechanical, the faster it usually is.

 

[David Hughes]

Which of the recommended cameras take easy to find (cheap) batteries?

The Olympus XA2 takes two SR44's and you can find them in any supermarket around here or buy online for a lot less.

The Konica C35 AF takes two AA's and the older C35 (a RF) takes a mercury PX675 bu there's Wein cells available for it.

As for the Olympus Trip 35 "No Batteries Required" as it's solar powered...

Regards, David

 

[Sumarongi]

(...) SR44's and you can find them in any supermarket around here or buy online for a lot less.

The same here re "hearing aid batteries" -- most supermarkets have them, and certainly all drug stores 🙂

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc–air_battery

 

[newjerseysurf]

anecdotally since i've become obsessed over the last two weeks in finding a decent P&S, i called ~10 local charity shops - mostly Goodwill's - asking them about their stock of cameras. surprisingly, all obliged in telling me...i think there was exactly one, non-desirable Olympus priced at $19.99.

 

[David Hughes]

anecdotally since i've become obsessed over the last two weeks in finding a decent P&S, i called ~10 local charity shops - mostly Goodwill's - asking them about their stock of cameras. surprisingly, all obliged in telling me...i think there was exactly one, non-desirable Olympus priced at $19.99.

It's a difficult time. Wait until the end of February when people are starting to see the dust and dirt and do a bit of spring cleaning and throwing out to charity shops. Then they will start to appear well, they usually do...

Anyway, I'll wish you luck with your quest.

Regards, David

 

[NickTrop]

Cheap? Available? Konica C35 AF or C35 AF2 (same camera). Again. Here's what I like about this camera. I've had 3 point-n-shooters over the years where the advance motors died. I'd avoid, personally, anything with a film advance motor in it. This camera has a manual film advance. These little tessar lenses are pert much the same.

Now. If you want a -GREAT- point-n-shoot. An overlooked pro-level point-n-shoot and my personal all time fave? Pentax PC35AF (not the AF M one, same camera but with an film advance motor). Cracking little 35/2.8 lens, NO autofocus motor to break, and made solid of metal. Fantastic point-n-shoot. Harder to find, more expensive. However, people overlook this one.

 

[Scope79]

Konica MG with 35mm f3.5 Hexanon lens which is very sharp.

and..
a very nice German engineered quality camera that still overlooked today and can be found relatively cheap is Agfa Optima Sensor 1035 or 535 , very sharp optics and easy to use.

 

[Huss]

Konica MG with 35mm f3.5 Hexanon lens which is very sharp.

and..
a very nice German engineered quality camera that still overlooked today and can be found relatively cheap is Agfa Optima Sensor 1035 or 535 , very sharp optics and easy to use.

I have the Agfa Optima 1535 - with the RF - but I can still scale focus it like the 1035. All these scale focus cameras are not P&S cameras. P&S cameras are cameras that you just P&S. The camera does the rest.

 

[Huss]

P&S prices are crazy today. The most expensive are the small fixed focal length cameras from the '90s (i.e. Stylus, Big Mini, the AF600 and the ever so expensive Yashica T4/T5). If you don't wanna pay $100+ at ebay or off the shelf, stick with scale focus cameras, zoom P&S (like some later Olympus Mju: models and Pentax Espio series), or larger '80s cameras. Deals may still be present if you frequent local thrift stores and flea markets. Being patient on ebay is a good choice too.

This is very true. Fixed focal length P&S cameras cost much more than zoom ones. I currently have two Nikon zoom P&S cameras, which cost $20 each in like new condition (bought a week ago!). They both are so much better than my Olympus Mju/Stylus which is much much more expensive now. The Nikons nail focus and exposure. My Mju would often focus on something else, but you don't realise this until you get the film back.
The advantage is size, but only for pocket-ability, not handling.

There are millions of zoom P&S cameras out there for $20 and under!
Just took this with one of my Nikon ZoomTouch cameras:

 

[newjerseysurf]

This is very true. Fixed focal length P&S cameras cost much more than zoom ones. I currently have two Nikon zoom P&S cameras, which cost $20 each in like new condition (bought a week ago!). They both are so much better than my Olympus Mju/Stylus which is much much more expensive now. The Nikons nail focus and exposure. My Mju would often focus on something else, but you don't realise this until you get the film back.
The advantage is size, but only for pocket-ability, not handling.

There are millions of zoom P&S cameras out there for $20 and under!
Just took this with one of my Nikon ZoomTouch cameras:

for right or for wrong, what's keeping me away from the zooms (even given their relative attractive price) is the zoom is one more thing to break and the IQ just doesn't seem to be there in many cases.

 

[littleearth]

All these P&S are getting really old at this point. No point in spending much !
Even the zoom ones will become expensive eventually. Now is the right time to grab a couple of those.

The Rollei Prego 90 was highly praised back in the day. The schneider lens was tested against the premium P&S (Contax T2, TVS, Yashica T4) and did really well. It's still cheap !

 

[Scope79]

I have the Agfa Optima 1535 - with the RF - but I can still scale focus it like the 1035. All these scale focus cameras are not P&S cameras. P&S cameras are cameras that you just P&S. The camera does the rest.

I suggested Optima as alternative and from my personal experience, these are faster to shoot with than most zoom p&s cameras and give much better results.

for right or for wrong, what's keeping me away from the zooms (even given their relative attractive price) is the zoom is one more thing to break and the IQ just doesn't seem to be there in many cases.

yes , also zoom compacts have slow optics, so you will need to use faster iso film, but as you pointed out, image IQ is not there.

 

[markjwyatt]

I will add a vote for the Konica Bug Mini. I ended up with one and it is a nice camera- perhaps a little cumbersome (hard to access buttons on rear), but good quality.

I also used to use the Nikon Action Touch cameras. They are weather sealed + (good to 10' underwater). Longevity is questionable (I went through 2 of them in about 15 years), but they took nice pictures. I took them in boats canoes, wherever without worrying about them. They were rugged when working.

 

[Huss]

I suggested Optima as alternative and from my personal experience, these are faster to shoot with than most zoom p&s cameras and give much better results.

yes , also zoom compacts have slow optics, so you will need to use faster iso film, but as you pointed out, image IQ is not there.

Don't get me wrong, I love Optimas. Just aren't P&S cameras.
Zooms are slow on the far end, but most are almost as fast as fixed focal length P&S on the wide end. I pretty much use these at the wide end with the zoom being an emergency bonus if needed.

Anyway, point being drop $20 on a high end P&S zoom. It's only $20!... 'you' may be surprised.

 

[Huss]

for right or for wrong, what's keeping me away from the zooms (even given their relative attractive price) is the zoom is one more thing to break and the IQ just doesn't seem to be there in many cases.

All this stuff may break at any time. They all are old cameras, made cheaply unless you up for something like a Leica/Contax/Nikon 35ti and if you read into those, those are failing too.
Best indication is the cosmetic condition. If it looks like new/close to new, it's going to be low mileage and have a greater chance of lasting.
These aren't pro cameras designed to chew through thousands of rolls of film.

 

[goamules]

I will second the 1980s Minolta Hi-matic AF2. Lever wind so fewer electronics to go bad. I used one back then in several continents, and it always took fantastic photos.

 

[newjerseysurf]

I will add a vote for the Konica Bug Mini. I ended up with one and it is a nice camera- perhaps a little cumbersome (hard to access buttons on rear), but good quality.

I also used to use the Nikon Action Touch cameras. They are weather sealed + (good to 10' underwater). Longevity is questionable (I went through 2 of them in about 15 years), but they took nice pictures. I took them in boats canoes, wherever without worrying about them. They were rugged when working.

The BM looks awesome but they’re asking $150+ on eBay.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

If you spring for a Pentax pc35af, I have a parts camera if you need spare bits.

Phil Forrest

 

[seany65]

Slightly off-topic, but I sit here knowing full well that I am "out-IQ'd" by any camera I own.

 

[Sumarongi]

Slightly off-topic, but I sit here knowing full well that I am "out-IQ'd" by any camera I own.

I know what you mean. My dear great-grandma, in her 90s and already half blind, certainly made better photos with a simple Triplet-lens than I will ever make with a sophisticated Planar or the like...