Zoom Point & Shoots

[wildmuskellunge]

I love handling and framing with P&S cameras with zoom lenses. However, I have been disappointed by the results of the cameras I have been using. Are there any amazing P&S with zoom lenses that I'm missing?

I have a Fuji DL Super Mini Zoom and an Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80.

 

[petronius]

I like the results from the Konica Z-Up 80 RC. Not a zoom camera, but also very good is the Nikon TW2AF (dual focus 35 and 70mm).
The Olympus Superzoom 120 is another one I like.

 

[sevo]

The Fuji ZoomDate f2.8 (a.k.a. Silvi) still is a favourite of mine - a 24-50mm zoom range is much more convenient than the very slow long lenses on most other zoom compacts. Apart from that, somehow I keep returning to the Olympus mju::V - gave it away twice, only to purchase it again.

 

[kxl]

Contax TVS I, II, III

http://brunerdog.tripod.com/contaxtvs.html

 

[konicaman]

Konica Big Mini 510-Z

 

[Fuchs]

I like very much what I get from my Rollei Prego 90. Ive tried the Prego 140, but the lens in the 90 (Schneider Variogon 28-90) is really a better performer by many kilometers (or miles)

 

[markus_h_photography]

Canon Sureshot Z135. Not the prettiest thing out there but a Razor sharp lens with a good zoom range.

Otherwise the Sureshot Classic 120 is also a very good camera very classy polished metal looks that could easily be mistaken for a modern digital.

 

[Greyscale]

Pentax Espio 24EW is nice, and wider than most. All of the IQZoom/Espio cameras are quite good.

The Konica Lexio 70 has a nice 28-70mm range, but the camera can be a little fragile.

But the best zoom lens P&S that I have ever used is the Vivitar Tec 155. Manual zoom Series 1 lens on a point and shoot. It was also sold under the Panasonic brand, but I do not remember the model number.

Also, the massive Canon Zoom XL has an SLR-quality zoom lens, but it is bigger and heavier than most SLR cameras. The SK optics on the Samsung ECX line are exceptional, as are they on the Rollei Prego cameras.

 

[wildmuskellunge]

The Fuji ZoomDate f2.8 (a.k.a. Silvi) still is a favourite of mine - a 24-50mm zoom range is much more convenient than the very slow long lenses on most other zoom compacts. Apart from that, somehow I keep returning to the Olympus mju::V - gave it away twice, only to purchase it again.

Is there another model name for the mju::V? I rather liked how the mju:ii 80 handled.

 

[David Hughes]

Is there another model name for the mju::V? I rather liked how the mju:ii 80 handled.

Hi,

The instruction manual lists three names on the cover:-

μ[mju:]-V

Stylus Select 105

μ METAL

and gives instructions for the date version so QD might just be added to the variations.

Regards, David

 

[sevo]

Is there another model name for the mju::V? I rather liked how the mju:ii 80 handled.

The US name may have been Stylus Select 105. It was introduced in 2002, among the last film mjus ever made (the final mju:III was released half a year later), so its local availability will depend on the degree to which digital had taken over. The UK in particular obviously received more than the local market could absorb - I bought two out of three as NOS from ebay UK sellers, for prices below 15€...

 

[Scope79]

I heard that MJU 100 is really nice performer. Another good camera is Leica CM zoom or Minilux Zoom , both fitted with Vario elmar 35-70mm

 

[schaki]

Contax TVS I, II, III

http://brunerdog.tripod.com/contaxtvs.html

It is good comparison you link to there. I dont have any of these three but the TVS Digital.

I read up on these three film TVS compacts some months ago and my general impression is that TVSII seems to be the best of them.
TVSII is said to have better, brighter viewfinder than TVSI and it still used the same zoomlens as the original TVS but have a built in automatic lenscap and at least I think that you can still use the usual lenscap for it as a complement if you would like to do so.

There is at least three, to me disadvantages, with the zoom in the newest of them, the TVSIII, which you should be aware when you look at these three.
TVSI and TVSII Vario Sonnar T* 28~56 F/3.5~6.5 (6 elements, 6 groups)
TVSIII Vario Sonnar T* 30~60mm F/3.7~6.7 (6 elements, 5 groups)

As you can see the TVSIII is only 6 elements in 5 groups compared to 6 elements in 6 groups for TVSI and II.
Further on the TVSIII have marginally slower widest aperture at each end of the zoom.
The TVSIII zoom is a 30mm wide at the wide end but not 28mm compared to TVSI and II. However it have just a little better reach, 60mm instead of 56mm.

One question about TVS film compacts here. Do the flash always need to charge up, even when set to Off in startup, (if that setting is available) on a first turn-on when you turn on the camera?
My TVS Digital is like that and it takes a whole 8 secs to charge the flash capacitor from zero to full so that I can take a picture even though the flash is set to Off in startup.
I see that flash recycle times for TVSI, II and III is 4 respectively 6 seconds.
Like the TVS Digital it seems like these three film compacts also are designed by Zeiss/Contax and manufactured by Kyocera.
Further on the two other Contax digital cameras I have i4R and U4R have the same "problem" as TVS Digital.

The only way around that I've found is to turn on the camera some time to let it charge up the flash, before, if you know that you may soon face an photo opportunity. Nobody wants to miss a good picture due to something like a low startup. That and the AF-screen freeze is two things which I not like very much on an otherwise very good digital compact which otherwise also have a good and intuitive user interface.

 

[skucera]

I've got an Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80 that is very handy, and the picture quality isn't bad. The metering is always perfect, and sometimes the resolution is quite good. It might do for you.

Scott

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Most of the P&S's with zooms are OK. The real problem is the usual one, meaning they are all old and second-hand.

So hunt for them, don't pay a lot* and test with a film.

I've had one or two of the posher and dearer ones and was disappointed. So I'll offer a little advice and that is don't expect much if the tele end is more than 100mm as at that point they are wide open at f/11 or thereabouts. 28 to 85 or 90 can cover a wide range of situations and there's some great cameras out there. I'd also be careful about the metering, some offer centre weighted which is usually needed enough to justify the search or else they offer +1½ or +2 EV which is as useful.

And always open the battery compartment to check for corrosion. That is the main or most common problem with the duds.

Regards, David

* An exception the Leica C3, well worth chasing and good luck needed as it's all electronic.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

I'm a fan of the Contax TVS cameras.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

There's a Nikon called something like the 90S One Touch that was introduced this century and so would probably be the youngest P&S you can buy.

And, another minor point, look at the batteries the things take. Some take those expensive 6v ones and others two 3v but best of all take one 3v (or two AA's which some would say was better still but they would be rather large and old).

Regards, David

 

[BillBingham2]

I remember a P&S that had a manual zoom that looked really interesting way back than. Can't remember if it was Nikon or Vivitar Series-1. Everyone went power-zoom so it didn't last long if I remember right. I still don't feel comfortable with a power zoom, but that's me.

B2 (;->

 

[wildmuskellunge]

I'm a fan of the Contax TVS cameras.

If I remember correctly, the TVS has auto flash, or rather you have to turn the flash off every time you want to take a picture... is that not true?

 

[Spavinaw]

I own both the Pentax Espio 24EW and the Rollei Prego 90. The Pentax zoom is 24-105mm. I bought it because it went down to 24mm.
I got the Rollei first. It zooms 28-90mm. Some have a Schneider Variogon lens. Others have a Rollei Phototechnic VarioApogon lens. I have no idea which lens might be better. Anyway, this camera has more program and auto settings than any other camera I've ever seen. Some, I'm sure, are unique to this camera. Several you might never use; however, the time lapse mode with intervals settable up to one hour is found on very few cameras and would be quite valuable if you needed it. You can check all these specs out on Google.