Stealth camera?

[mrtoml]

I am looking for a quiet and small film camera for candid and stealth work. Preferably with a motor-wind. I seem to have only found one camera with a built in stealth mode (the Hexar AF). I was also looking at the Ricoh GR1 (but there are several who claim that this is very noisy). The Yashica T5 also intrigues me, but I don't know how noisy the motor wind is. Also there is perhaps the Olympus XA. A good wide angle lens is essential (28mm or 35mm).

The key is that it is quiet, unobtrusive and can be easily hand held and shot from the hip or chest without being noticed much. Motor wind would be an advantage in that several shots could be fired without appearing to do anything.

Any ideas gratefully received.

 

[Bill58]

Me too--I'm still waiting for a good, fast focus/ AE, small, quiet, black 25mm film equiv. digital w/ at least 5 frame burst ability. 'Hope someone makes one before I pass on.

 

[DMG]

mark the minilux is reasonably quiet but would be considered loud in a gallery environment, also they are reasonably priced (2nd hand £150) the only drawbacks are the EO99 error and the noisy rewind.

 

[FrankS]

The Hexar AF is amazing with a fantastic lens. the only knock on it is that it is not very small.

 

[nightfly]

I've used the Ricoh and the Yashica and neither is quiet. They both have a sort of annoyingly winy motor winder. Not really the loudness but the tone does draw attention.

The XA is silent but no motor winder. It's also extremely easy to shoot with stealthily if you like. The downside is that if you are used to Leica or similar the glass just isn't there but there are always tradeoffs. I would recommend picking one up and playing with it since they are so cheap. The two models I can recommend are the original XA and the XA 4 (28mm with Macro). You can find an XA well below $100. The XA 4 is a bit more rare and expensive.

Personally once I got my Leica, I ended up selling my XA. I like the additionally degree of control and lens quality and stealth didn't matter as much to me anymore.

The Hexar seems like an interesting camera but they are hard to come by and about the size of a Leica M, so if stealth includes small size, it ain't it.

If you have any inclination for digital, the Ricoh GR Digital has all the nice features of the film GR but it is truly silent.

 

[mrtoml]

I have the Ricoh GR digital. That's what got me interested in the original GR1. I have been using the GR D in stealth mode and it is fine, but the picture quality falls well short of black and white film when enlarged and you can tell it is digital, plus it is easy to blow the highlights.

I think the Hexar RF is my best bet but they are not so easy to find. I think silence is more important than size. I was also thinking that the XA might be worth a try as they are so cheap so it doesn't matter much if it turns out to be no good.

 

[c.poulton]

I agree with Mark, you could try the Olympus XA - that's my 'stealth' camera of choice at the moment. Very small, quiet and unobtrusive with a good lens. The only downside is the RF patch is difficult to see in low light, however I just usually zone-focus and generally end up with fairly good results.

 

[Bill58]

I agree with Mark, you could try the Olympus XA - that's my 'stealth' camera of choice at the moment. Very small, quiet and unobtrusive with a good lens. The only downside is the RF patch is difficult to see in low light, however I just usually zone-focus and generally end up with fairly good results.

Just out of curiousity, what distance do you zone focus at? Do you use B&W or color and what fim speed, aperture most of the time?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Michiel]

The Oly Mju II is a nice and small camera.

The motordrive wouldn't be noticed on the street, train or anywhere else with ambient noise.

I would be noticed during a concert, at a museum, or in a room with only a few people.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

How about a Fuji Natura?

 

[StuartR]

You are looking for the Hexar AF, and you know that you are looking for the Hexar AF, so why beat around the bush? They're not that hard to find, nor are they that expensive. The lens is fantastic, it is the quietest camera around and it has a motored advance.

 

[shadowfox]

This thread reminds me of the time when I was still trying out my XA. It's size is so small, you can easily practice zone focusing from anywhere.

The picture below is one of my few "lucky zone-focusing" shot with the XA held vertically on the table (next to the table where the guys are), the shutter noise is pretty much non-detectable except from the tip of my finger. It's square because I haad to crop most of the table (Note-to-self: next time put the XA closer to the edge of the table 😀 )

 

[mrtoml]

You are looking for the Hexar AF, and you know that you are looking for the Hexar AF, so why beat around the bush? They're not that hard to find, nor are they that expensive. The lens is fantastic, it is the quietest camera around and it has a motored advance.

I think you are right. I just wondered if there was a usable alternative. Are they really that easy to find? On ebay at the moment (UK) there are none at all whereas there are 8 ricoh gr1s, 11 XAs, etc.Plus none of my usual online used camera dealers have any Hexars at all RFs or AFs.

 

[mr_phillip]

I use an XA as my stealth-cam – it's quiet, tiny and even if people notice you shooting with it, it just looks like some crappy tourist p&s so they just ignore it. Seriously, it's the closest thing to an invisible camera I've found. And while the 35mm lens is certainly no 'cron, it's way better than it has any damn right to be given the dimensions (and better than pretty much every digital compact I've handled).

It's worth picking one up just to try it since they're so cheap – even here in the UK 🙂

 

[StuartR]

Perhaps not in the UK...I am not sure. But there are two on US ebay right now, I remember seeing tons on dealer shelves in Japan...if you check the classifieds here and at photo.net there might be some more around...

 

[mr_phillip]

(larger)

Seeing as we're posting example shots, this was from the first roll I put through my XA – Neopan 400 in HC-110.

 

[matthew J Shaw]

I have to go with StuartR.
I have a Hexar AF amongst my arsenal of cameras for both business and personal use, it has never let me down, the qaulity is amazing and the exposure pin sharp on the fuji E6's I normally use.
And the stealth mode is great, iv used it in all sorts of places from concert halls to graveyards (I get some weird jobs!) and not once has anyone ever noticed it going off.
The camera is a nice comfortable size to work with, but its not so big as to be immediatley noticable, The flash unit adds alot to its size, but because its such a fast lens I,ve never really used it.
Id go for it whole heartedly, they can be a bit few and far between, but its worth looking one out.

 

[StuartR]

too bad hexar af never was made in 50,75,90 or 135...

It never really bothered me. It goes to .5m IIRC, and it is pretty good up close:

 

[charjohncarter]

I use an Olympus Stylus Infinity, it fits in my shirt pocket. Just slide the lens cover open and shoot. It has auto-wind, auto-focus, and, of course, auto-exposure. The small built in flash has a great 'fill flash' setting. It is maybe 1/2 inch taller than a pack of cigarettes, and thinner and less wide than the same pack.

 

[NL2377]

I use an Olympus Stylus Infinity, it fits in my shirt pocket. Just slide the lens cover open and shoot. It has auto-wind, auto-focus, and, of course, auto-exposure. The small built in flash has a great 'fill flash' setting. It is maybe 1/2 inch taller than a pack of cigarettes, and thinner and less wide than the same pack.

You talking about the olympus stylus epic? I love that camera. unfortunately mine broke though, shortly after getting it :-(

and at this point, i cant see spending $70 for a new one :-( ive got too many other things to pay for (read dkrm supplies!!!)