What camera do you bring when you're out with friends?

[hipsterdufus]

Alrighty, so here's the situation: I'm going to hang out with some friends in Chicago for the day tomorrow (3/9). We'll be hanging out around the city followed by dinner/bar-hopping later that night. Odds are good that once we're out, we will not be returning to the apartment until the end of the night. In this situation, what camera would you bring?

I've got a few cameras (Spotmatic, Canon 5D, Voigtlander R3A), but none of them feel right for this type of situation. The one thing I seem to be missing is a small point and shoot that's good in low light. Since I don't think I'm going to be purchasing a new point and shoot before tomorrow, I'm curious to hear what you think.

So, do you lug the SLR around and hope that you don't look like a tourist? Bring the RF and hope that no one spills beer on it? Say "screw it" and just leave the camera at home?

A (virtual) penny for your thoughts.

 

[burancap]

I do not own one, yet, but the XA seems perfect: RRF THREAD

 

[ruby.monkey]

I'd take my Ricoh GRD3 out of habit; but given the cameras you mention I'd probably forget the photos and just concentrate on being sociable.

You don't have a camera on your mobile phone?

 

[Rodchenko]

I'd take the rangefinder. It's more discreet. No point in lugging around a load of kit and getting up in your mates' faces. Relax and shoot.

Actually, I'd take my G11, which is small but versatile, so fulfils the same role for digital. Or else I'd take my Minox, which can be a p&s if I want it to be.

 

[rhl-oregon]

GRD III or IV (1600 or 3200 Auto-Hi). I carry mine on a long lanyard around my neck. Or GR1 for film, though they're often ridiculously priced (not mine thank goodness).

 

[lonemantis]

The Stylus Epic (mju II) is a great option for bar hopping, I take one out a lot. Basically one of the smallest film cameras you can get with full AE, autofocus, and a great F2.8 lens. Plus it's water resistant, so if someone spills their beer on it, you can just rinse it off in the bathroom and keep shooting!

 

[robert blu]

leica x1 forme ,now. In futue it couldbe the Fuji xe-1, if I'll take the plunge...
robert
PS: small size and silent.

 

[back alley]

i'd hang the rx100 round my neck...it's on a lanyard.

 

[hipsterdufus]

I've actually been looking into getting a GRD3. Two recommendations already is a pretty strong encouragement.

I do have a cell phone camera (Mytouch 4g), but the results suck so bad that it's not even worth using, IMHO.

 

[thegman]

I take my Leica IIIf or Zeiss Super Ikonta. If I wanted to really just take snapshots without fiddling with settings, I'd probably get a compact like Fujifilm Klasse or Nikon 35Ti or similar.

 

[Mackinaw]

A Polaroid Spectra loaded with IP film. In a social situation, everybody loves a Polaroid camera. You just can't beat seeing yourself in an actual print a few minutes after you take the picture.

Jim B.

 

[1joel1]

Canon G12

Joel

 

[Moto Mark]

For digital I'll take the Olympus E-PL5 and the 17mm 1.8 with the electronic viewfinder. For film it's my trusty M2 and 35mm, although an XA would be a fun alternative.

 

[taemo]

my M6 and X100s(soon) are my go to camera
unless its with photography friends then I might bring my DSLR or MF

 

[Messsucherkamera]

I'd take my M4-P and 28/2.0 Summicron lens and some Tri-X

 

[BW400CN]

don't you think that all of you care to much about gear?
Just take one of your cams you feel comfortable with and that´s it!
The best cam you could get is the cam you love to use and take with you - nothing else 😉

 

[FrankS]

don't you think that all of you care to much about gear?
Just take one of your cams you feel comfortable with and that´s it!
The best cam you could get is the cam you love to use and take with you - nothing else 😉

No. Cameras are tools, and this is about choosing the best tool for the situation presented. (Being out with friends, as opposed to, say shooting a wedding.)

 

[maitani]

the stylus epic is perfect for such events (and splash-waterproof), but since I bring my 28Ti Nikon, (lay)men and women go crazy about the analogue madness going on on the top display of this camera 🙂

 

[hipsterdufus]

I'm with Frank. In this situation, for instance, film is at a disadvantage due to the low light situations I may encounter. It doesn't mean that I won't use it (thinking about pushing some Tri-X in HC-110). If I use pushed film, I think I might bring the R3A with a Canon 50mm f1.8. I like the aperture-priority for quick shooting.

 

[daveleo]

I never drag my (small) DSLR out with friends.

75% of the time, it's my Panasonic LX3 (a little wonder !), and 25% these days it's the Fuji X100 (only if I have really high expectations for the photo ops that day).