Discreet camera

Hi, what would you suggest as a discreet camera - can be autofocus or manual

focus - film or digital. Open to suggestions. Just needs M mode or A mode and

works with AF-D lenses.

 

I find the prism sticks out. I am wanting it for street photog, incl some

nightclub work outside - not inside so something discreet and stuff. The last

thing I want is pull out that 2.8 zoom and that lens hood ;)

Get a black FG body+50/1.4 Ai or E series 50/1.8. Smallest full-featured film body Nikon made.All but invisible. Hides in a pocket, too.

This is a perfect application for a Leica - small, quiet and discrete. The standard 50/2 Summicron is 2/3rds the size of the Nikon 50/1.8 and the half that size again. Be the first one in years to actually shoot with a Leica instead of fondling it :-)

The F3HP is small and discrete, and not much larger than the FG (and much more reliable). Neither are auto-focus, but can be used with an AF-D (not G) lens with manual focus. A 50/1.4 AIS is probably the perfect "street" lens - small, shallow DOF (for subject isolation), excellent IQ and fast. The F3 operation is so smooth, it seems like a Leica (until you push the button) - neither of these cameras can be called "quiet". The F3 may scare the horses, but by then it's too late ;-)

+1 on hte FG, or even the EM bodies. Very small, remarkably quiet, and dirt cheap.

Black FG or EM with the 50mm f/1.8 Ais. Very small package.

"The last thing I want is pull out that 2.8 zoom and that lens hood ;)"

 

Maybe a discreet *lens* is the greater concern? How about something compact, moderately wide and fast, and leave the hood at home? Make sure you have a good shoulder strap.

The 'smallest' lens Nikon makes is the 45mm f2.8 P Ais Nikkor. You might be able to find a used one....

Film....Leica IIIf w/collapsible 50mm Elmar.

 

Digital....D40/D40x/D60 with manually focused 35mm f/2D, and black gaffers tape over the word Nikon on the prism.

I'm a Nikon guy and have over 35 bodies (from F to F6) but for street I use a Leica M3 and

M7, usually with a 35mm f/2. Leicas are pricey. So if price is an issue then I would suggest a

a Leica M mount rangefinder like the CV Bessa R3A or R3M (see cameraquest.com) and pick

your CV lens of choice.

Any old camera would do. People notice the new stuff. Few pay much, if any, attention to someone taking pictures with an old rangefinder camera or slr camera. I enjoy looking at used equipment at a local camera store. The other day I handled an olympus om-1 camera, fully mechanical in operation, with 50mm lens and motor drive for $150.00. In the next case was a nikon fe-2 with 50mm lens for $125.00. These would be excellent, affordable choices. What do you think?

Black FE2 with 50mm f/1.4 lens. Smaller than the F3.

For street stuff, you need to decide on a fast prime - the 50 or 85 1.4 would be my choices.

I'd do digital though, and unfortunately, the best small one that drives a non-AFS is the D50

IMHO. I don't even know if that is still made.

AF, MF, film, digital... With those parameters, it could be anything! If it has to work with AF-D lenses, I'd say a Nikon EM. Some say the electronics aren't too reliable, but those cameras are small.

 

If digital, I'd get the Olympus E-420 + 25/2.8.

Nikon FG: "light weight (490g), compact (136mm (W) x 87.5 mm (H) x 54 mm (D) Nikon FG may be attractive to anyone who put mobility , compatibility and affordability as priorities.

 

Where it beats the EM and some of the other manual Nikons, for what you mention, is that is has a row of LEDs for exposure readings and not a match needle. In dark situations, you can easily see the red LEDs and can't see the needle. Runs on simple watch batteries. Good used ones go for $100.

I had the 45 2.8 - great lens, but hard to find now. How about a black body (FG, FM3) and

the Voigtlander 40 f2 pancake?

 

http://cameraquest.com/Voigt_SL2.htm

Bill Wheeler....The Olympus OM-1 is a great inconspicuous SLR. And the OM series got the prism right! Probably THE BEST VIEWFINDER in any camera. Too bad it doesn't take Nikkors, or I'd have one. :)

 

And yep, the FE, FM and FG all make fine invisible street cameras. Can't really go wrong with any of them.

I would agree that the Leica M series excel for this sort of thing - the M8 I have not tried,

but ought to be pretty good.

 

Having said that, I just traded my M kit (including the f/1 Noctilux) and bought a D3, 24-

70 2.8 and some cash.

 

I did this because it has lain in its' case for 3 years and not shot a single frame. I

concluded from this that - lovely though it was - it clearly had no function in my work any

more and was better "recycled" into equipment that I could actually derive benefit from.

 

For subtle stuff I am using a Coolpix 5100 which delivers pretty fair results to be honest.

Let's try a different track. I have a Bronica 645 and I found that by using the waist level finder, hardly anyone on the street seemed to figure out what I was doing. Remember, with a waist level finder you are looking down instead of at your subjects. By holding the camera against your body instead of up against your cheek it's much steadier too. There are some fast lenses such as f2.8 available, and the quality of prints from 120 rolls is very good. As a bonus, it doesn't even look like a camera for most people. Finally, here's the topper. The quality of the Bronica is first class but since it's all discontinued the prices are dirt cheap. This is the route I'd suggest because (1) it's stealthy (2) doesn't attract attention (3) great image quality (4) dirt cheap.

 

 

Kent in SD

The F3 can be made even more discrete with a little effort.

 

Use a fisheye or ultrawide. Zone focus and stop down for maximum DOF, within limits per film speed, available light, etc.

 

Lock up the mirror. This will eliminate mirror slap. The only noise will be the shutter release. Literally, point and shoot.

 

Add the DW-3 finder and keep it folded down.

 

If you want to make it even more compact, remove the prism, remove the focus screen - you won't need either. Cover the exposed opening with tape or fabricate a cover to protect the camera.

Kinda' hard to aim well with all the parts missing.

Just use whatever body you have, get a WA lens and use hyperfocal focusing -- that way you can literally shoot from the hip.

Nikon EM (aperture priority) with a Nikkor 45/2.8P or 50/1.8E. Faster than my Leica M6.

Lots of good advice here. Cheapest is probably an FG. I tend to tape over my logos, and that may or may not cut the attention factor.

 

My favorite for this sort of thing is an F2AS. The viewfinder is fabulous, and the feel is excellent. They're also very rugged, which is nice if you inadvertently whack the camera into the edge of the table or something.

 

I don't know why, but I find the mild noise of the F2 bodies just disappears with the folks that I shoot. Something about conditioning to pre-flashes, flashes, whir of AF; they just don't take these things seriously.

 

The F3 is probably every bit as good, with the possible exception of the nearly impossible to use viewfinder light. My F3s are always mated to the fabulous MD-4. That's just me. If I want an excellent MF body with no motor, I reach for the F2.

AF-S (VR) 400mm/f2.8 or AF-S 200-400/4.0 with any camera body mounted on a tripod set in a darkened room on the 2nd floor of the building facing the night club from another side of the street. No need to worry about the logo or the mirror slap. :P