Abbazz
6x9 and be there!
ernstk said:
You forgot the XA4 with its lovely 28mm lens. The lens is even better that the original XA.
Cheers,
Abbazz
Perfect pocket camera?
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You forgot the XA4 with its lovely 28mm lens. The lens is even better that the original XA.
Cheers,
Abbazz
dazedgonebye
Veteran
Abbazz said:
There are only 2 things I don't like about the XA-4.
1. The price they demand (a local store has one for $300!)
2. Programed exposure. I want to be able to force it to stop down for hip shots.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
I've been watching prices on the Yashica T4 on doh bay...
Have you guys been bidding on them lately? Seems to me that they've just become a bit pricier.
Have you guys been bidding on them lately? Seems to me that they've just become a bit pricier.
like2fiddle
Curious
I just picked-up a Pentax auto 110 on a whim in a "junk" store. It's the smallest SLR ever made and it looks like a toy, but it's a cool and extremely pocketable camera. Too bad it's not 35mm...
nightfly
Well-known
There was a section in Sunday's NY Times Magazine including a shot of him with his T4 that might have had more impact on T4 prices than this list.
clintock
Galleryless Gearhead
the XA2 is king! Focus is over rated with 400 film and the lights on or daytime, so the three zone focus xa2 is plenty, with less to break, and it's smaller than the XA.
The XA2 finder is wonderful too. Common and cheap, but still made and designed by the inspired version of Olympus that has long been dead to me.
The XA2 finder is wonderful too. Common and cheap, but still made and designed by the inspired version of Olympus that has long been dead to me.
anandi
Gotta catch the light.
Geez, kindred spirits here
Geez, kindred spirits here
I am sometimes astounded that asked the same relatively obscure question, so many people come up with the same answer.
I shot, before I knew what GAS was, for nearly ten years only with a Yashica T5 super and was very happy. It never let me down. To a degree you can even do exposure compensation by doing an exposure lock on a brighter or darker subject as is required. Can't go wrong with this camera, but it does lack control. What you gain is capturing shots quickly that might otherwise be lost because you're fiddling with focusing an XA or you left the aperture to something unusable.
One day on impulse (also before RFF) I picked up a Minox 35GL secondhand because I always wanted one and I had a spare couple of C notes. Really liked it. Thinking about DoF and scale focusing made me actively think about shots. Downside was the time to setup and quite commonly out of focus subjects at close range.
Then post-RFF, got a dozen cameras since the T5 (curse you all RFFers) I finally won an auction for an XA. My Minox rarely comes out now, and the T5 battery is depleted waiting to be replaced. When I go on a trip and want to pack light, I bring this along. The XA is a little cheap in places like the film advance and plastics, but I find I can rely on it and have all the control I need for shots.
Bottom line: if price isn't an issue I'd go Yashica T5, XA, Minox
if price is an issue: XA, T5, Minox
Cheers,
-Amit
Geez, kindred spirits here
I am sometimes astounded that asked the same relatively obscure question, so many people come up with the same answer.
I shot, before I knew what GAS was, for nearly ten years only with a Yashica T5 super and was very happy. It never let me down. To a degree you can even do exposure compensation by doing an exposure lock on a brighter or darker subject as is required. Can't go wrong with this camera, but it does lack control. What you gain is capturing shots quickly that might otherwise be lost because you're fiddling with focusing an XA or you left the aperture to something unusable.
One day on impulse (also before RFF) I picked up a Minox 35GL secondhand because I always wanted one and I had a spare couple of C notes. Really liked it. Thinking about DoF and scale focusing made me actively think about shots. Downside was the time to setup and quite commonly out of focus subjects at close range.
Then post-RFF, got a dozen cameras since the T5 (curse you all RFFers) I finally won an auction for an XA. My Minox rarely comes out now, and the T5 battery is depleted waiting to be replaced. When I go on a trip and want to pack light, I bring this along. The XA is a little cheap in places like the film advance and plastics, but I find I can rely on it and have all the control I need for shots.
Bottom line: if price isn't an issue I'd go Yashica T5, XA, Minox
if price is an issue: XA, T5, Minox
Cheers,
-Amit
Jeremy Z
Well-known
Although I'd love to recommend the smaller Yashicas, they're just chunky compared to the Olympi. (Stylus Epic/mju, XA)
Although the XA isn't autofocus, it may as well be for anything more than 10' away.
One advantage the Epic has over the XA is that it is well-sealed against dust. Moisture resistance is secondary for something that will live in the pocket, right? But that confounded default auto flash mode is not good. It has a spotmeter, which is a nice feature at times. It is truly the latest rendition of the XA.
Although the XA isn't autofocus, it may as well be for anything more than 10' away.
One advantage the Epic has over the XA is that it is well-sealed against dust. Moisture resistance is secondary for something that will live in the pocket, right? But that confounded default auto flash mode is not good. It has a spotmeter, which is a nice feature at times. It is truly the latest rendition of the XA.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
Jeremy Z said:
A local camera shop has an old non-zoom epic for sale for $20. I'm tempted to pick it up, in spite of its limitations.
doitashimash1te
Well-known
The GR1 is indeed a very capable camera. I own one (GR1V) and I must say it is worth every cent!tedwhite said:
More info (plus comparison Gr1 - T4) on http://www.geocities.com/jpmccormac/gr1.html
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Rhoyle
Well-known
I second Olympus Stylus Epic. 40mm f2.8 lens, sharp (for what it is), accurate meter, indestructible, under $100 if still available.
dnk512
Well-known
Based on your requirements the Epic (fixed lens) is the best camera for you. Search the web, lots of people wrote short/positive reviews for it (including my self).
Wonderful lens, quick autofocus, spot meter if you wish, weather sealed, protects the lens well, battery lasts long, light, small, cheap, you can shut the flash off, focus by half pressing the button - then compose - then shoot.
I had the XA and the XA2. The epic is much better for your needs. Better lens, smaller, cheaper used (?), with flash.
I gave mine to my 6 year old at the time. Took a beating! Fell from 4 feet on to airport concrete. Soaked in a bag with sunscreen lotion (fully emerged) no one knows for how long. It still works fine!!!
Now the annoyances: Flash off or spot settings go away once you turn the camera off. You need to reset everytime. You must half press the button to set the focus and exposure. Otherwise (straight press down) focuses on infinity. Focus and exposure are linked together. You can not focus on a far object and set the exposure by pointing lets say on your bag. Finaly, the biggest problem for street photography might be that the exposure program favors high shutter (opens the lens wide open unless there is plenty of light). Minor issue if you prefocus (focus works very well) but big problem if you like to shoot from the hip.
Hope this helps!
Wonderful lens, quick autofocus, spot meter if you wish, weather sealed, protects the lens well, battery lasts long, light, small, cheap, you can shut the flash off, focus by half pressing the button - then compose - then shoot.
I had the XA and the XA2. The epic is much better for your needs. Better lens, smaller, cheaper used (?), with flash.
I gave mine to my 6 year old at the time. Took a beating! Fell from 4 feet on to airport concrete. Soaked in a bag with sunscreen lotion (fully emerged) no one knows for how long. It still works fine!!!
Now the annoyances: Flash off or spot settings go away once you turn the camera off. You need to reset everytime. You must half press the button to set the focus and exposure. Otherwise (straight press down) focuses on infinity. Focus and exposure are linked together. You can not focus on a far object and set the exposure by pointing lets say on your bag. Finaly, the biggest problem for street photography might be that the exposure program favors high shutter (opens the lens wide open unless there is plenty of light). Minor issue if you prefocus (focus works very well) but big problem if you like to shoot from the hip.
Hope this helps!
dazedgonebye
Veteran
I picked up that Epic Stylus w/fixed 35mm lens. Dang that thing is tiny!
I'm going to keep it in my car as my "drive by shooter."
I'm going to keep it in my car as my "drive by shooter."
ernstk
Retro Renaissance
Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions. I picked up a GR1s on ebay for just over £100 ($200) which I should have in a day or so.
Regards
Ernst
Regards
Ernst
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Is the Contax T2 too big or automated for you? Excellent glass, easy exposure compensation for the Aperture Priority exposure.
doitashimash1te
Well-known
ernstk said:
Good luck with your GR1s!! If you have any questions regarding this camera then drop me a line. Looks to me like a good deal!
ernstk
Retro Renaissance
doitashimash1te said:
Thanks.
I've been using the camera for a few days now and my initial feelings are very mixed. The size, build quality and handling are very good.
However, when using 400 ASA film, quite often the metering cannot cope with a very bright sunny day and the only way that I can get a useable reading is to use the 'P' setting. Also, the viewfinder display is very difficult to read in bright conditions.
The thing that is worst of all is the noise. This is not a stealth camera. The auto film wind on is dreadfully loud, so much so that I cannot use it in some situations where I wish to remain anonymous.
I have a couple of rolls of film to develop and I have not seen the results yet. However, no matter how sharp the lens may be, the above problems are fairly fundamental and I need to reflect on whether I will keep the camera or not.
Ernst
doitashimash1te
Well-known
Sorry to hear about that. Seems like the quietness of the camera is one of its most important qualities for you; if you'd only mentioned this as one of the criteria in your initial posting, I'm sure I would have advised you otherwise...ernstk said:
Anyway, I am sure that the image quality won't disappoint you!
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ernstk
Retro Renaissance
Noise
Noise
That's a fair comment. It just didn't occur to me to specify that the camera should be quiet! I guess that I assumed it wouldn't be as bad. In other situations, where the noise is not critical, the camera handles extremely well and is very compact and portable. I will have my films developed today and I'll let you know my thoughts on the results.
Ernst
Noise
That's a fair comment. It just didn't occur to me to specify that the camera should be quiet! I guess that I assumed it wouldn't be as bad. In other situations, where the noise is not critical, the camera handles extremely well and is very compact and portable. I will have my films developed today and I'll let you know my thoughts on the results.
Ernst
T
tedwhite
Guest
You want quiet, get the Olympus XA. If you are standing next to a person using an XA, you won't be able to hear the shutter release. AS quiet as a Yashica Electro 35 GSN, but that's definitely not a pocket camera.