P&S - what do you recommend?

Apparently having, ahem, a bit of a small camera fetish, I have several of the models mentioned above: XA, Minox GL, Oly Stylus Epic, Ricoh GR-1v and Minilux Zoom. Of all of them, the GR-1v is the one I will never let go of. The most intelligent, useful and flexible interface of any P&S I've seen. Actual switches for the flash! An exposure compensation dial! Plus aperture priority AE, autofocus of course, hyperfocus snapshot mode, etc. You can over-ride the DX setting. Winds the film all the way onto the take-up spool first, the retracts into the film canister with every shot, so if you open the back by mistake, you only lose one shot, not the whole roll. And it's smaller than any of the others. A true pocket camera. As was said though, pricey. I think I paid around $400 for mine at B&H three years ago. Of the others, the Stylus Epic is the most practical, being water-resistant. Spot metering is pretty cool too, for a P&S.

In fact if anyone's interested in an XA w/A11 flash, a Minox 35 GL and flash, or a Minilux Zoom, let me know. I really should thin the collection....🙂

Rob in Seattle
 
Olympus Stylus Epic... hands down.
sharp 35mm 2.8 Zuiko lens, auto everything, and most important...
available SPOT metering !
 
Buy a used Polaroid SX-70 and a lot of film. You get instant, archival color prints and technology that cost more than you'd even believe in seventies dollars for less than $10 in a thrift shop. Then think about how Land realized that light=pressure and marvel.
 
I'm glad there are other closet p&s'rs out there!
I also own love and use these great little cameras - my favourite is the Ricoh Gr1s (28/ 2.8 ) aperture prioirty and P mode and plenty of flexibility inclding filters(wonderful lens - see below).

Then a mju II (35/2.8 gem) P mode but water resistant and spot meter, a Yashica T4 (more contrasty, great lens 35/ f3.5, a Nikon 35Ti (f2.8) funky analog jet pilot, great meter, have to program the flash off, a Nikon 600 (28/3.5 - so so in this company) a fuji Tiara (28 3.5) Japanese market (DL super mini?)- flash fires almost always unless switched off) and finaly an Oly XA (35/2.8) good fun and nice lens) - and XA4 (28 f3.5 great, sharp contrasty, good macro mode.)

I've been tempted to start an example page in my gallery given their use is not dissimilar to rangefinders, but so far have only posted this:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8307&cat=4730&page=1
 
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I'd suggest an Olympus StylusEpic/MjuII as well, given that they're no more than about $90 new at the moment. But don't expect it to last forever. I've had two that didn't last a month longer than the guarantee period. That was when they were about 2.5x as expensive. I gave up on them because at that point it became cheaper to buy a single Leica Minilux at $500 that lasts than a $250 throw away every year.
 
ROBHAR:

That Ricoh GR 1V sounds intriguing. I looked on ebay, but there aren't any. Where might I go to see a picture of one?

Ted
 
Hello Ted.

I could not imagine I'd teach anything to you, but hey... the GR1's are not really rangefinder cameras. Actually I sold my GR1s (to a famous French photographer, no less !) because I found shutter lag and winding noise distracting, but it took lovely 28mm pics.

GR1 -> GR1s -> GR1v are incremental improvements
(s brings IIRC a plastic eyepiece that's gentler on glasses, plus a bayonet for mounting a lens shade ; v some electronic wizardry like bracketing)

http://www.ricoh.co.jp/camera/gr1v/

Best,

ag
 
Ted,

It's a great little (non-rangefinder!) camera. Here's a link to another info page:
The Essential GR1 Page

Since I posted my orginal reply I 've sent my Minox 35GL in to Don Goldberg for a CLA, and let my XA go...to another rangefinder & OM system fan--so it's in good hands. I'm definitely keeping the Stylus Epic 2.8 too.

Rob
 
Speed Graphic as P&S?

Speed Graphic as P&S?

Skinny McGee said:
How's about a nice Prewar 4x5 Speed Graphic?
Click to expand...

Well, a Speed Graphic sounds to me like a clean and jerk and shoot... but when used for street photography it is a sturdy defence:

- You can tell people that you thought you were still in the year 1947, attending a secret USAF experiment with a time machine...

- If this does not help use the weight of the camera on the opponent's skull. :angel:
 
I'd vote for the GR1v and its sweet lens. I've used the GR1s too, and the v adds some useful improvements. It has a 28mm lens, so that may put off some people, but I find it just right for social photos/snaps and it's always in my pocket or bag. No longer made and now rather expensive (in the UK they retailed for about £250, but I've seen them advertised recently second hand for £300 and up).

The Olympus Mju (Stylus?) is a super little camera and capable of fantastic results (my wife has one), but doesn't offer much by way of control. Very good value, with a 35mm lens. About £80 in the UK.

I've got an Olympus XA, which is a proper aperture priority rangefinder, but I find it fiddly to use with my big paws and the lens, although good, is not up to the GR1 or even the Mju.

I'm worried that if I see a Contax T2/T3 second hand, that I'll suffer a GAS attack, but I can't really justify it, what with the GR1v to hand.......
 
Olympus Stylus Epic question:

I know this is veering OT, but since so many people have recommended the Epic, I thought I might as well ask about its spot metering function. The buttons are fiddly and I haven't used the spot feature consistently. Occasionally I've turned it on and pre-focused on the grass in a backlit scene. But I wonder: Isn't it almost as useful to pre-focus in the same way without turning on the spot feature? Could someone make it simple for this simpleton: In what sort of scene is the spot feature really useful, and how do you use it?
 
Given that there are so many of these little gems out there, you really can't go wrong if you stick with a product from Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Pentax or Minolta. I have some from each of these and they all deliver good results. Once you find one, read the book and learn how to turn off the day/date imprinter. All will be good in your life.
 
fgianni said:
The best three IMHO are:
1st Minolta TC-1
2nd Minolta TC-1
3rd Minolta TC-1
Click to expand...

I would definitely add the Minolta TC-1 to that list. It is sublime. Fixed 28mm which is great except for some barrel distortion. The circular diaphragm (no blades, pure circles) is fantastic for night shots: no diaphragm stars around light sources. It's feels like a manual camera, but by default it's on aperture priority. And it looks so incredibly charming, your girlfriend will definitely demand one when she's seen one.

Check out the Minolta TC-1 product page for more info.

Peter.

PS: while traveling, a guy carrying terrible weights of Mamiya equipment on a shooting assignment for a famous travel guide actually thought I was a pro by just seeing that I had a TC-1. While that probably says more about him than about the camera, it might also be an indication of the reputation of this P&S.
 
P&S - what do you recommend?

I suggest you recommend that your girlfriend get a Yashica T-4 point & shoot....I believe it has a Carl Zeiss 35mm/f.3.5 lens and takes terrific pictures...Used on Ebay or Craigslist might cost about $100...There are at least two versions and both are great...regards, bob
 
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