Point and Shoot with manual controls.

When people say P&S and in the case of the OP he really meant compact camera and not P&S.

I was merely pointing out that any manual camera can be used as point and shoot if one knows how to use fundamental features.

If compactness is not an issue, I would suggest the Minolta HiMatic 7S. In auto mode it offers programmed auto exposure. Or the aperture and shutter may be set independently. Not compact, but easy to use. If aperture priority rather than program is more important then either the Yashica MG-1 or GSN deliver with shutter ranging from a few seconds to 1/500 second. No real manual override, however, if the batteries are removed the shutter will operate a 1/500 second and the apertures can still be set. So it could be called a sort of limited manual operation,

Maybe the Contax T, T2 or T3 come close to what you want.

Maybe the Contax T, T2 or T3 come close to what you want.

 

Contax P&S prices are a bit nutty. I sold off my T2 about 10 years ago for $200. I much prefer my Nikon SP. Not as portable, but pretty decent. And more fun to shoot.

Contax P&S prices are a bit nutty. I sold off my T2 about 10 years ago for $200. I much prefer my Nikon SP. Not as portable, but pretty decent. And more fun to shoot.

Certainly but it's not p&s not compact. I thought about buying the T2 when it came out but didn't buy because it doesn't have full manual controls. I didn't know as an investment it's quite good.

Certainly but it's not p&s not compact. I thought about buying the T2 when it came out but didn't buy because it doesn't have full manual controls. I didn't know as an investment it's quite good.

Not a good investment in a conventional sense. The T2 is currently selling used around the same as it cost new, at least where I live. Considering inflation, it is not a good investment unless you include the joy you may have had during the years as your returns.

The Yashica T4 on the other hand is selling at almost 3 times the price when new.

In that perspective the T2 is still a bargain.

These long-dead retro fashion statement "luxury" p&s cameras are never a "bargain" unless they're free--and working! Their distinction relied mainly on their prime lenses that easily bested the slow--often awful--zooms on most then-contemporary p&s cameras. Same iffy build quality with near-zero repair options now.

Certainly but it's not p&s not compact. I thought about buying the T2 when it came out but didn't buy because it doesn't have full manual controls. I didn't know as an investment it's quite good.

 

Sorry, but the Contax T2 is a P&S. Your complaint that it lacks full manual controls verifies that. And it is definitely a compact camera.

Sorry, but the Contax T2 is a P&S. Your complaint that it lacks full manual controls verifies that. And it is definitely a compact camera.

The Contax is but not the Nikon SP. While the Nikon SP is much more fun to use it's neither P&S nor compact.

The Contax is but not the Nikon SP. While the Nikon SP is much more fun to use it's neither P&S nor compact.

 

Agreed. But the Nikon SP is more fun!

Agreed. But the Nikon SP is more fun!

It is but then never is a P&S fun. You just point and shoot what's fun is that?

It is but then never is a P&S fun. You just point and shoot what's fun is that?

 

People are different, even within my family. My older son just wants the shot to remember an event. My younger son, on the other hand, is interested in how changes in settings affect the image.