school me in the point and shoots (film)

[btgc]

Many good cameras mentioned here....though I believe it's more matter of what works for YOU. AF, scale focus or rangefinder - doesn't matter. There just are cameras which deliver more keepers for me than others - this is what I call "match". Some cameras just don't speak to me, although they are technologically more advanced.

 

[Jamie123]

Original Contax T? It's not AF but it's compact.

 

[tokengirl]

You could get a Holga with the wide lens adapter. That has no shutter lag. 😀

 

[wolfpeterson]

You can prefocus the L35AF and there is almost no shutter lag. 35/2.8. But it is a plasticky beast.

 

[David Hughes]

that is indeed true Frank. the thing is, these days I am getting a little tired of cameras in general. tired of them hanging off me, tired of meters and tired of thinking of them.

I don't want to focus, i don't want to calculate or anything else. I want to engage with people and have the camera eat up as little of that time/ effort as possible. for me the magic is in that dialogue and more and more these days it has little to do with cameras.

disclaimer - this is only to be regarded as my own lunacy/ramblings versus anything resembling a doctrine.

Hi,

Try looking at the little Olympus XA2 or XA3* both of which are zone focusing but - it's a great big "but" btw - they were designed by photographers. Open the cover and it switches on and is focused at whatever gives you 4ft to infinity but the focus lever has just two positions. Push it up for landscapes and down for portraits and that's it. In practice it works very well and just can't be faulted. And the wind on is easy and there's no noise from motors just a tiny little shutter sound.

Edit (1): Have a look at Greyscale's thread "XA3 first shots" in Scale Focus 35's which show how the XA3 performs.

Edit (2) It's very difficult to describe how the focus works but, in a nutshell, when you shut the cover it resets to an all purpose point and so is always there when opened. You can flick the lever up or down as the thing goes up to your eye and that's all there is to it. And buying one and getting a full CLA is dirt cheap for what you get.

BTW, years of experience tells me that the perfect camera for any situation is usually the one you left at home...

Regards, David

* The XA3 is the Mk II version of the XA2 with DX and a +1½ backlight/snow control added.

 

[ZeissFan]

With the Rollei AFM 35, you can preset focus. Then press the shutter release once, and the lens focuses to that distance. And it remains at that distance so when you shoot, it doesn't reset the lens, thereby minimizing shutter lag.

On the downside, when the camera goes to sleep, you will have to turn the flash off again, etc.

I was going to comment on the Contax TVS, but I have to find it again. The dog chewed on it, and I was going to replace the front and back coverings. It has the ability to set the flash off by default. It's a very fast little camera, although somewhat heavy.

Sounds like you might simply need a break from photography.

Overall, when I don't want the weight of an SLR, I carry a little Rollei 35 or a small 1970s point and shoot: Olympus 35 RC, Konica 35 Automatic, etc.

 

[hexiplex]

how is the latency/lag of the klasse cameras? can one prefocus or set up focus distances?

I REALLY appreciate the advice folks.

The Klasse W can be set to do the mechanical focusing on half press or set to do it "Contax T2"-style and perform the mechanical focusing on full press, a setting that incurs some extra shutter lag. I have my Klasse W set to focus on half-press and it works very well. You can also set the focus distance up manually quite comfortably via the menu system, an operation that sounded slightly cumbersome to me at first, but in practical use I find it just as quick and user friendly as the Contax T2's dedicated focus wheel. I also find that the viewfinder is slightly better on the Klasse, maybe a slight bit smaller than the Contax, but there is no glare from the LED's and overall it is less cluttered. The Klasse can also be set to remember flash settings, very nifty. The only real downside of the Klasse that I have identified since purchase is that you cannot turn off the AF-assist light, something that a bit of gaffers' tape easily solves.


As for the Hexar AF, I love that camera, but the form factor is why I avoided it for the purpose of a point and shoot. It is about the same size as a film M with a compact lens mounted, and for a point and shoot I want something that goes into the inside pocket of a light jacket. As mentioned, it is quite a bit lighter, but weight is for me not as much of an issue as size.


After a few weeks with the Klasse W, I am happy to say that I think I have made the right decision for a go anywhere compact. The Contax T2 which was my main point of comparison is also a great camera, but the Klasse W has so many features that the T2 lacks, most noticeably the ability to lock the aperture at f/2.8, manual ISO settings and the ability to choose between focus on half press and focus on full press. The ability to leave the film lead out is also a nice bonus, as is the mechanical remote release socket (enables easier shooting from the hip/chest). The fact that it is new from factory is also nice, and I think, together with the somewhat unique features warrants the relatively high price tag.

 

[pvdhaar]

I can comment on the Hexar-AF, Leica Minilux and Olympus stylus epic/Mjuii.

The Hexar-AF is fast. To get the best out of it, pre-focus, or focus manually and don't put it in P-Mode. In A-mode or M-mode, the aperture doesn't need to change, and the shutter delay is minimal. The 0.7x finder is gorgeous; projected framelines with parallax compensation. The lens is very, very good; had I never had a Minilux, I'd even have said it were perfect.

The Leica Minilux is at least as fast when pre-focused or set to manual focus. The real down side is the finder. With 0.35x magnification it is a laugh. But who cares about the finder when it's got 'that lens'.. the pictures are super sharp, and still have a creamyness that I haven't found in any other small format camera; it's almost 6x6 like.

The Olympus is slow, really slow. As in lethargic. Pre-focussing doesn't help. The lens only starts to move when the shutter button is fully pressed. Lag times are over 1 second. Finder is much better than the Minilux, but not even close to the Hexar-AF. Lens is good, but can't beat the Hexar/Minilux.

 

[emraphoto]

With the Rollei AFM 35, you can preset focus. Then press the shutter release once, and the lens focuses to that distance. And it remains at that distance so when you shoot, it doesn't reset the lens, thereby minimizing shutter lag.

On the downside, when the camera goes to sleep, you will have to turn the flash off again, etc.

I was going to comment on the Contax TVS, but I have to find it again. The dog chewed on it, and I was going to replace the front and back coverings. It has the ability to set the flash off by default. It's a very fast little camera, although somewhat heavy.

Sounds like you might simply need a break from photography.

Overall, when I don't want the weight of an SLR, I carry a little Rollei 35 or a small 1970s point and shoot: Olympus 35 RC, Konica 35 Automatic, etc.

now we are getting going. thanx for the rollei info, which in turn is klasse info.

on the contrary, i am focused 110% on photography. i am just weary of gear. i am more interested in the personal interaction, my reactions/interpretations and composition. that is where the magic lays. the rest of it just doesn't float this guys boat anymore. again, this is not intended to make me sound like yoda or anything. merely personal growth (or something in the other direction).

 

[emraphoto]

I can comment on the Hexar-AF, Leica Minilux and Olympus stylus epic/Mjuii.

The Hexar-AF is fast. To get the best out of it, pre-focus, or focus manually and don't put it in P-Mode. In A-mode or M-mode, the aperture doesn't need to change, and the shutter delay is minimal. The 0.7x finder is gorgeous; projected framelines with parallax compensation. The lens is very, very good; had I never had a Minilux, I'd even have said it were perfect.

The Leica Minilux is at least as fast when pre-focused or set to manual focus. The real down side is the finder. With 0.35x magnification it is a laugh. But who cares about the finder when it's got 'that lens'.. the pictures are super sharp, and still have a creamyness that I haven't found in any other small format camera; it's almost 6x6 like.

The Olympus is slow, really slow. As in lethargic. Pre-focussing doesn't help. The lens only starts to move when the shutter button is fully pressed. Lag times are over 1 second. Finder is much better than the Minilux, but not even close to the Hexar-AF. Lens is good, but can't beat the Hexar/Minilux.

i tend to agree on the epic. as mentioned, i have one and the lunch break between pressing the little button and the actual shutter firing is an achilles heel. i will have a peak at the minilux (and cm).

cheers

 

[emraphoto]

The Klasse W can be set to do the mechanical focusing on half press or set to do it "Contax T2"-style and perform the mechanical focusing on full press, a setting that incurs some extra shutter lag. I have my Klasse W set to focus on half-press and it works very well. You can also set the focus distance up manually quite comfortably via the menu system, an operation that sounded slightly cumbersome to me at first, but in practical use I find it just as quick and user friendly as the Contax T2's dedicated focus wheel. I also find that the viewfinder is slightly better on the Klasse, maybe a slight bit smaller than the Contax, but there is no glare from the LED's and overall it is less cluttered. The Klasse can also be set to remember flash settings, very nifty. The only real downside of the Klasse that I have identified since purchase is that you cannot turn off the AF-assist light, something that a bit of gaffers' tape easily solves.


As for the Hexar AF, I love that camera, but the form factor is why I avoided it for the purpose of a point and shoot. It is about the same size as a film M with a compact lens mounted, and for a point and shoot I want something that goes into the inside pocket of a light jacket. As mentioned, it is quite a bit lighter, but weight is for me not as much of an issue as size.


After a few weeks with the Klasse W, I am happy to say that I think I have made the right decision for a go anywhere compact. The Contax T2 which was my main point of comparison is also a great camera, but the Klasse W has so many features that the T2 lacks, most noticeably the ability to lock the aperture at f/2.8, manual ISO settings and the ability to choose between focus on half press and focus on full press. The ability to leave the film lead out is also a nice bonus, as is the mechanical remote release socket (enables easier shooting from the hip/chest). The fact that it is new from factory is also nice, and I think, together with the somewhat unique features warrants the relatively high price tag.

thanx for the klasse info... i am seriously considering a pair of these little cats.

 

[gavinlg]

I for one would love to see the results of such a combination in your capable hands

 

[emraphoto]

I for one would love to see the results of such a combination in your capable hands

i will consider that motivation of the highest order🙂

 

[btgc]

i tend to agree on the epic. as mentioned, i have one and the lunch break between pressing the little button and the actual shutter firing is an achilles heel. i will have a peak at the minilux (and cm).

I know two compacts focusing proper way, just like SLR's. Both are , Fuji DL Zoom Mini and DL-500 aka Mini Wide. Half-pressing shutter release actually moves lens to be in focus. Aha, moment transforms into decisive one. All you have to do is - push release down more, and there's no lag between movement of finger and shutter action. Develop, print and see keeper 🙂

 

[muf]

I've owned or own the TC-1, GR1v, Minilux, Hexar AF, Nikon 35TI, Contax T, T2, T3. Fujifilm DL supermini and supermini zoom. I had/have a bit of an obsession with luxury P&S's!!!

The GR1v is the one you should take a serious look at. Has snap mode which gives you the "no shutter lag" you want. f2.8 to f22. Auto and Manual ISO setting. Winds out the film then winds back in to the cassette after each picture. You won't lose your pictures if the back is opened. Lens is a top top performer. It's not a silent camera though but it's beautifully made.

Paul

 

[bensyverson]

Paul, how do you like the VF on the GR1v?

 

[muf]

Paul, how do you like the VF on the GR1v?

Hi. I like it. It's a decent size and perspective. Some viewfinders are like looking down the wrong end of a pair of binoculars. The Minilux was like that. The GR1v is quite big. You see the shutter speed and the focus zone (basically a man, 2 men and a mountain and a macro flower). You can just see the top of the lens at the bottom of it but it doesn't interfere with the view.

Paul

 

[filmfan]

i have one [Olympus Stylus Epic]. the lens moving in and out prior to shutter release rules it out for me.

I understand completely.

 

[nightfly]

I've had the XA, the XA2, the GR1, the Contax T, Contax T2, and the Yashica t4. I got rid of both Contax (Contaxes?) and the XA. My highly subjective opinion:

Contax T- Don't like the barn door lens cover. Awkward. Couldn't get past that.
Contax t2- Heavy and bulky and I guess I don't like the rendering of Sonnar lenses or the 38mm focal length. Didn't work for me. Prefer the Yashica T4 in use despite the lack of controls.
Yashica T4- Brilliant lens for color film. Sometimes focuses on wrong thing (rarely) but light and water resistant. The Tessar lens has a really nice rendering to my eyes. A true point and shoot. Comes with me in wet, sandy places or when I want to shoot color in addition to black and white in my M or GR1.
Olympus XA- I think having a rangefinder with a tiny dim rangefinder patch in a tiny viewfinder is sorta dumb. I use the little lever to hyperfocus and the viewfinder just for framing. Otherwise great design. Lens has ugly flare and is over rated in my book.
Olympus XA2- Basically opening the lens prefocuses it about 4 feet away which is usually about right for the type of shooting I do. Like a mechanical snap mode. Quietest camera around. Small too. Also picked it up for $20 on eBay recently.
GR1- Great lens. Tiny. Love the snap mode. Better lens than almost anything else out there. Drawbacks are that it's slightly loud. This would be the last P&S I'd get rid of. The slimness of it makes it easy to bring with you without it being obvious or ruining the lines of nice clothes.

 

[emraphoto]

I've owned or own the TC-1, GR1v, Minilux, Hexar AF, Nikon 35TI, Contax T, T2, T3. Fujifilm DL supermini and supermini zoom. I had/have a bit of an obsession with luxury P&S's!!!

The GR1v is the one you should take a serious look at. Has snap mode which gives you the "no shutter lag" you want. f2.8 to f22. Auto and Manual ISO setting. Winds out the film then winds back in to the cassette after each picture. You won't lose your pictures if the back is opened. Lens is a top top performer. It's not a silent camera though but it's beautifully made.

Paul

all the work that got me into CP was shot on a ricoh gr1 believe it or not. love those things!