school me in the point and shoots (film)

Some of my best shots over the last 6 months have been with a p+s. The simple reason is it's in my pocket all the time and it's cheap enough that I don't worry about it getting wet/dirty/dropped. I've got an Agfa Optima Sensor Flash, but it doesn't meet your requirements as it's scale focus, but they go for about $20 these days and they take amazing pictures IMO.
 
shyoon said:
This rings very true for me. Every point and shoot has their own compromises: T3/28TI/TC-1 is too expensive, GR1s is way too loud, Stylus Epic doesn't offer enough manual controls etc.

At the moment, the Contax T2 is doing it for me. Sure, there's some things I'd like to change, but for the most part, it's pretty darn fantastic. Seems to be going down in price, too.
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well at the moment the criterium is quite limited. i want two... 1 in the 24-28 focal length and 1 in the 35-40. i need the shutter to fire when i press the button. not 2 seconds later... not 3.

the klasse cameras would fit the bill as long as the shutter lag thing has a work around.

i realize the t2 is a fine machine but shutter lag? is there a work around? can it be set up to fire the second i press the shutter?
 
Hexar AF is great, and while of comparable size to an M, certainly weighs less.
 
Auto focus cameras usually have their focus spot in the center of the frame. That's fine if your subject is always in the center of the frame, but sometimes it's not. So, you pre-set the focus point on the auto focus camera, just like you would do on a manual focus camera. Or, you auto focus on the subject then reframe while holding down the shutter release to lock the focus. This is a lot slower than pre-setting focusing distance. No advantage for a P+S camera here.
 
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I personally love my Natura Black (24mm f1.9). The focus for me seems to be quick enough but unsure of precise/exact lag. Only gripe would be sometimes imprecise focusing (foreground gets out of focus when I don't want it to be), perhaps that's my fault.
 
all right. much obliged for the explanation Frank.

pretty set in my ways though. still hunting for a compact 35mm point and shoot.
 
Had a play with the Klasse W (28mm) in Tokyo. Things to note - extremely quite! I couldn't hear the shutter go off in the store. Rewind is quiet too. AF seems to be reasonable - about the same as a fast digital point and shoot, maybe a bit faster. It's not hexar AF big but somewhere in between the ricohs and the hexar in size, more on the hexars side. Prefocus distances are menu based and there's no shutter lag if you've pre-focused.

Seems like a great camera to me. If you'd be willing to spend a little, you could buy the klasse w and the klasse s and have a 28mm/38mm set that are identical in controls and lens performance... May be worth the extra cost!

Edit: Note also that a new klasse camera can be bought new for around $580us on ebay - around the same price as a used old gr1v - I know which I'd rather rely on.
 
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FrankS said:
Auto focus cameras usually have their focus spot in the center of the frame. ... This is a lot slower than pre-setting focusing distance. No advantage for a P+S camera here.
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That's one of the non P&S features of the Hexar AF - you can lock the distance. I have never bothered, but if I were a serious street shooter in decent light, it would have its place.

...

Never used the klasse, but the hexar's reputation for quiet is beyond deserved. Even without quiet mode, people question whether the shot was taken. With it on, even I sometimes don't know. Well suited to photographing skittish animals in complete darkness.
 
merciless49 said:
I personally love my Natura Black (24mm f1.9). The focus for me seems to be quick enough but unsure of precise/exact lag. Only gripe would be sometimes imprecise focusing (foreground gets out of focus when I don't want it to be), perhaps that's my fault.
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It's a great camera and I love mine, but doesn't sound like it would fit the bill. The lens has to deploy first, and then if you want to set infinity mode (which would allow zero lag, provided your subject is X distance out), you have to enter the menu.

Why not an R4A with the WA of your choice? At f/5.6 or f/8, it will be totally P&S + added flexibility AND no menus. There's no shortage of small WA lenses in M and LTM...
 
Also consider the XA. It's not autofocus, but I find that I lose shots to autofocus mishaps on the Epic about as often as I miss shots on the XA due to rangefinder errors.

It's also just about as fast as autofocus once you get used to that little rangefinder lever. Plus, at least you know you're in the right ballpark—most AF cameras give you no indication of distance.
 
it's like you are in my head:D


fdigital said:
Had a play with the Klasse W (28mm) in Tokyo. Things to note - extremely quite! I couldn't hear the shutter go off in the store. Rewind is quiet too. AF seems to be reasonable - about the same as a fast digital point and shoot, maybe a bit faster. It's not hexar AF big but somewhere in between the ricohs and the hexar in size, more on the hexars side. Prefocus distances are menu based and there's no shutter lag if you've pre-focused.

Seems like a great camera to me. If you'd be willing to spend a little, you could buy the klasse w and the klasse s and have a 28mm/38mm set that are identical in controls and lens performance... May be worth the extra cost!

Edit: Note also that a new klasse camera can be bought new for around $580us on ebay - around the same price as a used old gr1v - I know which I'd rather rely on.
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noimmunity said:
It's a great camera and I love mine, but doesn't sound like it would fit the bill. The lens has to deploy first, and then if you want to set infinity mode (which would allow zero lag, provided your subject is X distance out), you have to enter the menu.

Why not an R4A with the WA of your choice? At f/5.6 or f/8, it will be totally P&S + added flexibility AND no menus. There's no shortage of small WA lenses in M and LTM...
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great idea though I have a couple of m's already. i have, on occasion thought about that r4.
 
The Ricoh R1 gets way too little mention considering how good and cheap it is. And the 24/30 lens combo is quite useful. It produces stunning images on par with Leica and Olympus Zuiko glass. Very silent motor, and you can preset to infinity to avoid focus lag. But as I recall it reverts to default after each cycle.
Here's what I mean:

wide3.jpg
 
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Yashica T3D.
Zeiss T* Tessar 35/2.8.
Autofocus, viewfinder on the top of the camera, very useful.
Oh, and cheap. I paid $15 for mine in almost new condition.

or, Minolta AF-C. Manual film advance, but auto-focus.
 
What about old school, say a Konica S3?

Perhaps a Bessa L with a CV 25/4 Snap-Shot and Finder? Old school but has a built in meter and you can find them in black. Perhaps a Zeiss SW with the CV glass if you really want AE.

Interesting mix of more heft but still P&S with a built in meter.

Thoughts?

B2 (;->
 
You know Minolta made a Kick A55 P&S, metal, high end, higher priced.

One page I could find quick was Ms. Karens

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?MinoltaTC1.html~mainFrame

Here's an old thread here

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58815

You can find the manual here (after a few clicks)

http://www.devicemanuals.com/guide/...ONICA-MINOLTA-TC-1-User-Guide-TkRJNE1UTT.html

Very interesting manual control.

Forgot about this one.

Good luck.

B2
 
My best P&S is a Nikon D300 with 51 AF points, but it's a burden. My proper film P&S is the Contax T3: tiny, well featured, expensive. Shutter lag can be reduced, but not entirely eliminated. The original T has instant shutter response, but is heavier and is not a P&S.
 
I'd second Tim Gray's vote for the Oly Stylus Epic. My partner has one and she's taken great images with it. Consider your non negotiables before you buy. For me, any cameras has to feel good in my hand so I enjoy walking around with it. It needs to be light as well.

A good viewfinder and ease of focussing helps. Good luck.
 
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