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

[Phil_F_NM]

good stuff. here's a stupid question - when is the thing actually powered on? is it only when you flip open the lens door? does it go into some type of hibernation otherwise?

The door activates a lever that opens and closes a circuit. Open door = closed circuit, camera on. Closed door = open circuit, camera off. No hibernation, just simply off and no power drain.
Phil

 

[newjerseysurf]

thanks all. incredibly helpful as you guide this complete newbie down the analog path.

here's a weird one - and one i asked elsewhere.

this XA2, for whatever reason, REEKS of old women's perfume. both the box it came in (original Olympus box), the camera AND the flash.

some people recommended using a bit of isopropyl alcohol to wipe both the camera and box down.

your thoughts?

 

[Scope79]

thanks all. incredibly helpful as you guide this complete newbie down the analog path.

here's a weird one - and one i asked elsewhere.

this XA2, for whatever reason, REEKS of old women's perfume. both the box it came in (original Olympus box), the camera AND the flash.

some people recommended using a bit of isopropyl alcohol to wipe both the camera and box down.

your thoughts?

I would clean old, deteriorated light seals first and install new ones before shooting with film, and while at it give camera a good wipe with slightly diluted alcohol. Box lining can get damaged from alcohol if rubbed too much, so maybe filling it with coffee beans or dry rice for a few days is safer option. I don't know what perfume it is, but trust me, nothing is worse than cigarette smoke.

 

[newjerseysurf]

So my Pentax PC35AF was dropped off today. Seller claims they cannot fire shutter or advance film.

Is this a common issue and are there any things to check first in regards to what he claims is an issue?

This is admittedly me jumping the gun as I’m not home yet to test it.

 

[narsuitus]

I know that the original poster has purchased a compact 35mm but here is my recommendation for new readers to this post.

I have used the Canon Sure Shot and Nikon L35AF compact 35mm cameras. Both are motorized, auto-focus, auto-exposure cameras that are great for the times when I want to shoot with a small, simple, inexpensive, easy to operate camera that takes decent quality photos. Both cameras require two AA batteries.

I prefer the Nikon because of the cameras I have used, it has a lower failure rate than the Canon.


Nikon & Canon Compacts by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[newjerseysurf]

Hi folks. Some more cameras arrived today and brought with them their own unique issues.

1. Nikon AF600 Lite Touch: in excellent condition with original leather case. Haven’t tested much but already it appears the lens door doesn’t close entirely - see photo. Any thoughts?

 

[newjerseysurf]

2. Pentax PC35AF - exterior is mint, literally. Threw batteries in and it appears I can’t press the shutter down fully. It won’t take a shot and it’s fully winded. Seller did make note of this, any thoughts?

 

[B-9]

Shoot Phil a message, he knows his way around the insides of the PC35

I believe he is also working on a few AF600's!

 

[newjerseysurf]

Shoot Phil a message, he knows his way around the insides of the PC35

I believe he is also working on a few AF600's!

He sure is. He and I have been shooting the breeze for a bit now.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Just stop buying all of this junk in unknown, untested condition.

 

[B-9]

Just stop buying all of this junk in unknown, untested condition.

If you like working on things it is a cheap hobby and a lot of fun.

I for one enjoy the thrill of a cheap broken camera to play Frankenstein! As do a few of us floating around this thread.

Learning to repair electronics is a valuable skill in a disposable world of trinkets.

 

[DaveW]

Hey B-9, who is Phil? I would like to know the fix for the Pentax PC35AF as well as mine is in the same condition. It is getting energy from the battery (as the flash indicator lights) but the shutter will not depress. I can attest that the Nikon L35AF takes very sharp pictures.

 

[newjerseysurf]

Just stop buying all of this junk in unknown, untested condition.

To be fair the XA2 was untested (and thus quite cheap) and seems to work fine. Same with the Nikon with the exception of the lens cover.

 

[newjerseysurf]

Just stop buying all of this junk in unknown, untested condition.

To be fair the XA2 was untested (and thus quite cheap) and seems to work fine. Same with the Nikon with the exception of the lens cover.

 

[Huss]

Just stop buying all of this junk in unknown, untested condition.

To be fair the XA2 was untested (and thus quite cheap) and seems to work fine. Same with the Nikon with the exception of the lens cover.

I'm w/ KoFe.
I've recently bought 3 P&S cameras, that are in perfect condition and guaranteed to work perfectly or I could have sent them back. For $20 or under each.
I don't have much patience I guess for buying unknown/broken stuff.

Curious though in your original thread title you mention durable. Nothing that you have bought thus far fits that bill. And the reality is the vast majority of P&S cameras are NOT durable! They were made for the general amateur consumer that takes maybe 3 rolls of film a year - Christmas, summer holiday and maybe some kid's event. These things were not built to last which is why I only buy ones that look to be almost unused, and have been said to work.

 

[newjerseysurf]

I'm w/ KoFe.
I've recently bought 3 P&S cameras, that are in perfect condition and guaranteed to work perfectly or I could have sent them back. For $20 or under each.
I don't have much patience I guess for buying unknown/broken stuff.

Curious though in your original thread title you mention durable. Nothing that you have bought thus far fits that bill. And the reality is the vast majority of P&S cameras are NOT durable! They were made for the general amateur consumer that takes maybe 3 rolls of film a year - Christmas, summer holiday and maybe some kid's event. These things were not built to last which is why I only buy ones that look to be almost unused, and have been said to work.

curious which ones you grabbed for $20?

also i had thought the XA2 was at least "somewhat" durable - whatever that means. and i didn't read much about the AF600 being particularly fragile.

right now, it appears i am 2/3 and if the Pentax is fixable then i get the added enjoyment of a little project. :dance:

 

[wjlapier]

My XA took a tumble about a year ago and bounced and rolled on the pavement. I thought it was a goner. It still works and looks way better than I thought it would. Nothing bent or broken. Id say that’s pretty durable.

 

[Huss]

curious which ones you grabbed for $20?

also i had thought the XA2 was at least "somewhat" durable - whatever that means. and i didn't read much about the AF600 being particularly fragile.

right now, it appears i am 2/3 and if the Pentax is fixable then i get the added enjoyment of a little project. :dance:

Nikon ZT800 ($20)
Nikon Z800 ($20)
Pentax Zoom90WR ($10)

There are so many deals out there like these, as most peeps who bought these cameras actually didn't really use them. They just thought they should have a camera around. Ya know, for a special occasion or some such thing, and then put them away after shooting a few rolls.
When almost new condition cameras like this are so cheap, I would never buy one in beater shape, it just doesnt make any sense unless you like having broken cameras.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Hey there, I'm Phil. Sorry I've been out of touch for a while. I got to play with a Google VR art application at school and have had my mind completely blown. During that time, my phone diedm then it was late, then I repaired my Konica Autoreflex T3, then bed.
Anyway, for those of you with PC35AFs, top mashing down your shutter button. The fix isn't hard but I just thought that I need to provide a caveat for easy. If you can easily put together an Ikea Billy bookshelf, you can probably do this.
I can't write all the steps down right now but it's not difficult to the point that your camera is paperweight. Not if that is the only problem. All bets are off if there are other issues. I've repaired two PC35AFs and have had them apart a bunch of times. The door is the giant pain.
Until I can write down the procedure to repar the PC35AF, google search your camera and the symptom. That's hot I learned to get into this particular model.
As for the Nikon AF600, it's an electronic brick that takes photos. Well it's much more than that but it is pretty smple. Simpler to open to work on and diagnose but since it is highly electronic, the circuits are all integrated, flexible and tiny. Matt, PM me for both cameras. I will be at my intenship till 3 today then will beable to walk you through fixing the Pentax and diganosing the Nikon.
Happy shooting.

Phil Forrest

Sent from my LG-V530 using Tapatalk

 

[David Hughes]

Keep the XA2, use it and read the manual again and again after the next couple of rolls.

Aside, put batteries in the flash and turn it on and leave it for 20 minutes or so to reform the condensers.

Regards, David