GarageBoy
Well-known
What's a nice, compact AF SLR kit? I pretty much want to use it as a bigger P&S camera
Thanks
Thanks
Smallest AF SLR/lens combo?
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Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
What flavor do you wish? Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Minolta, Olympus?
If you're looking for inexpensive, go with a Canon EOS 650. They are practically free. After that in the Canon sphere the EOS 1n are amazing.
Along the same lines would be a Nikon N80 or F100. You could also get an F4 and configure it with the MB20 grip which makes it quite small. Lenses tend to be a little cheaper in the Nikon line.
The Pentax ZX5n is a great little camera.
I'm not well schooled on Minoltas or Olympus with regard to the AF bodies but surely there are folks here who could help.
Wait, are you looking for a film or digital? This question changes everything.
Phil Forrest
If you're looking for inexpensive, go with a Canon EOS 650. They are practically free. After that in the Canon sphere the EOS 1n are amazing.
Along the same lines would be a Nikon N80 or F100. You could also get an F4 and configure it with the MB20 grip which makes it quite small. Lenses tend to be a little cheaper in the Nikon line.
The Pentax ZX5n is a great little camera.
I'm not well schooled on Minoltas or Olympus with regard to the AF bodies but surely there are folks here who could help.
Wait, are you looking for a film or digital? This question changes everything.
Phil Forrest
GarageBoy
Well-known
Film
Thinking of maybe a Rebel variant and the 40 2.8 STM- but that lens is on the upper edge of my price range
Thinking of maybe a Rebel variant and the 40 2.8 STM- but that lens is on the upper edge of my price range
majid
Fazal Majid
If you want digital, a Canon Rebel SL1 with the 40mm STM is as compact as it gets. I have this as my backup SLR, it's a pretty fun package.
In film, Pentax has the widest range of pancake lenses, and the Limiteds are optically excellent.
If the 40mm STM is too expensive, you could always get the 50mm f/1.8 or the previous-gen 35 mm f/2
In film, Pentax has the widest range of pancake lenses, and the Limiteds are optically excellent.
If the 40mm STM is too expensive, you could always get the 50mm f/1.8 or the previous-gen 35 mm f/2
Swift1
Veteran
Pentax *ist + XS 40/2.8 is the smallest AF kit that I can think of. The *ist bodies are a bit hard to come by though.
I have a Pentax MZ-L (ZX-L), which is also quite small and is packed with great features.
I think the lens might be the deciding factor though. If the Canon STM 40/2.8 is too expensive, you might have trouble finding what you're after.
I have a Pentax MZ-L (ZX-L), which is also quite small and is packed with great features.
I think the lens might be the deciding factor though. If the Canon STM 40/2.8 is too expensive, you might have trouble finding what you're after.
Oren Grad
Well-known
That's it - you won't find another AF lens for a 35mm film SLR that's anywhere near that small *and* cheap. Keep an eye on the Canon USA store - they seem to often have 40 STM refurbs for as low as $150 - and on KEH.
The 40 STM is a very fine lens, all the more so at the price.
Pioneer
Veteran
The Pentax MZ-S with the FA 43mm Limited is a very compact, and and awesome combo for film.
If digital is more your cup of tea, I still believe that the Pentax K10D is one of the top APS-C digitals ever made.
If digital is more your cup of tea, I still believe that the Pentax K10D is one of the top APS-C digitals ever made.
pvdhaar
Peter
Nikon F65 plus a nifty fifty is just about as light as you can get..
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
If you ant a light Nikon lens get a newish G series, they are as light as a feather 🙄
dufffader
Leicanaut/Nikonaut...
I'd tell you what I did when I was thinking of the same thing last year...
I wanted a large clean file, big enough depth of field (I figured it would limit me to APS-C or 35mm Full Frame) and a lens that's amazing across the entire range and I was fine with 35mm only. Interchangeable lens was not a mandatory feature.
What I wanted was a replacement for D3 plus 35mm f2 Zeiss ZF - if you'd allow me the Nikon equivalent.
Ended up going with the Sony RX1. Smaller than any SLR combo I can think of and I don't think I compromise much in terms of the final image quality. Of course the price can be hard to swallow, but I guess I'm paying a premium for the way it disappears in my notebook bag and weight around my neck.
I wanted a large clean file, big enough depth of field (I figured it would limit me to APS-C or 35mm Full Frame) and a lens that's amazing across the entire range and I was fine with 35mm only. Interchangeable lens was not a mandatory feature.
What I wanted was a replacement for D3 plus 35mm f2 Zeiss ZF - if you'd allow me the Nikon equivalent.
Ended up going with the Sony RX1. Smaller than any SLR combo I can think of and I don't think I compromise much in terms of the final image quality. Of course the price can be hard to swallow, but I guess I'm paying a premium for the way it disappears in my notebook bag and weight around my neck.
Rodchenko
Olympian
The most compact I can think of is the Minolta Vectis S-1. But that's APS. So I'd go with the EOS & 40mm combination, which would be very hard to beat.
Archlich
Well-known
Every line well put, size wise the the version II (XS) Pentax 40/2.8 pancakes will have an edge over any other options. Second to that would be the Canon 40/2.8 STM.
If price is a factor you might be better off with any 50/1.8+entry level SLR combo. The body could be the last generation models so that you get some technology. None was particularly being marketed as remarkably small so they are all of similar sizes. Pentax's is the *ist, for Nikon you have N65/55/75, with Canon you go for the late Rebels, and Minolta leaves you a mixture of Maxxum 4/5/50/70.
The pro-consumer Pentax MZ-3/5, Nikon N80, Canon EOS 30/33, and the extremely capable (semi professional) Maxxum 7 are not big too, all depend on your budget.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
If the Canon 40 STM is the lens you want, then the least expensive option would be, as you mentioned, some Rebel model. But the cheapest Rebels-- the G and II cameras, probably--are much noisier and not much, if any, smaller than something like the Elan series cameras.
You could probably get the 40 and an Elan 7 for right around $200 from KEH. Who discounts "sticky body" cameras quite a bit, so you might be able to do better than that depending on what condition you can live with.
The Pentax ZX-5 or ZX-5n are both good and small-ish cameras but I don't think the Pentax 40 is going to be as inexpensive as the Canon. At least not an AF version.
I'm not sure but I don't think Minolta made an equivalent lens but the Maxxum 5 is pretty small. Smaller than the Maxxum 7 and was/is fairly well regarded. If a 35 or 50 lens will do, the 5 and one lens ought to be fairly inexpensive.
Good luck!
Rob
You could probably get the 40 and an Elan 7 for right around $200 from KEH. Who discounts "sticky body" cameras quite a bit, so you might be able to do better than that depending on what condition you can live with.
The Pentax ZX-5 or ZX-5n are both good and small-ish cameras but I don't think the Pentax 40 is going to be as inexpensive as the Canon. At least not an AF version.
I'm not sure but I don't think Minolta made an equivalent lens but the Maxxum 5 is pretty small. Smaller than the Maxxum 7 and was/is fairly well regarded. If a 35 or 50 lens will do, the 5 and one lens ought to be fairly inexpensive.
Good luck!
Rob
Joe Jesus
shaggy nurse
The Canon Rebel K2 with the 40mm f/2.8 pancake is downright tiny.
Dirk
Privatier
Minolta Maxxum 4 with AF 50mm 1.7 is the smallest and lightest I know of.
santino
FSU gear head
canon eos rt (the pellicile mirror makes it kinda rf-ish plus it has a microprism focusing screen) with the great 40/2.8 lens (manual focus override works with the rt and the 40mm btw.)
Steve M.
Veteran
As Swift1 said, it would probably have to be the Pentax *ist and the 40 lens. Nice little camera.
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
This is probably my suggestion...
f16sunshine
Moderator
Eos anything and EF 50mm f1.8 😀
Eos anything and EF 50mm f1.8 😀
I like the Canon EF 50mm f1.8. It's surprisingly good and even stopped down a bit and has a nice character wide open.
I've never had a focussing issue with it which is nice for a sub $100 AF lens (well used anyway).
Here is a favorite one... wide open shot although on 5Dii rather than film.
Eos anything and EF 50mm f1.8 😀
I like the Canon EF 50mm f1.8. It's surprisingly good and even stopped down a bit and has a nice character wide open.
I've never had a focussing issue with it which is nice for a sub $100 AF lens (well used anyway).
Here is a favorite one... wide open shot although on 5Dii rather than film.
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