Best Lens Classic Point and Shoot

[stephen_w.]

Get them all and test them yourself. Sell the two you don't like. Who, ANYWHERE outside a photo shop will have these to shoot with?

 

BTW, I went skiing with a CL.

[stephen_w.]

"Here's an image from a Canonet QL-17 shot at f2.8 and 1/125s with Fuji Neopan 1600. The lens on a QL-17 is pretty good."

 

Then:

 

"This was shot in the "Las Meninas" room only last week but I am unfortunately now back at home in the U.S. :( I've only just bought the Canonet QL-17 but I am impressed with the quality of its lens."

 

Huh? Was the shot with the Canon, or not?

[peter_n1664876959]

Yes it was shot with the Canonet QL-17. I bought the camera, took it to Spain, used it and then brought it back. And I'm not parting with it...

[frank granovski]

Re: "...Olympus 35 RC Yashica ELectro GX Canonet GIII QL17"

 

Probably the QL17 and the Electro GSN. Although sharp, my 35RC is not as sharp as my amazing Yashica ELECTRO GSN.

[jeremy_tok]

I don't know what kind of Oly Epics people have had to engender the enthusiasm they have for its lens, but mine flares like crazy. And I'm not just talking about mild veiling flare -- it's 60% of picture wash-out kind of flare. That lens seriously needs a hood.

 

It also flares in high contrast scenes *uncontrollably*. This camera is SO NOT for super bright snow scenes.

 

Also, if you're weaned on Leica optics, you'll see the strong pincushion distortion, the viginetting, the field curvature and the low contrast. All of these are more marked than any lens I've ever used. I've shot slides in it next to the Hexar Silver. When I got the slides back was when I stopped using the Olympus Stylus Epic.

 

For skiing, any *working* Minox 35 model would be better. The lens it comes with is much better than the Epic's, is flare-resistant, very rectilinear and it even comes with a rubber hood. For skiing, guess focussing is all you need. Make sure the Minox works though. Many don't.

[sung_chun_kim]

Heh, when I go snowboarding, I take my beater M3 w/ collapsible 50/2 Summicron and a CV meter. It's heavy, but at least I know it's not going to explode in my pocket (like some plastic camera) when I biff on a rail.

 

The only thing I don't like is when I land on it and then the dang metal lenscap becomes virtually fused to the lens. Then I have to take it to the board repair stand and pry it off with a massive flat screwdriver. That kind of freaks people out when they see me smacking my camera with a foot-long screwdriver.

[brien_m]

Even those would be a bit large for me. I have an original Contax T and it is perfect for situations where you don't want to take your Leica. Very compact and the lens folds flat. Excellent lens BTW.

 

You can make do with anything. I didn't realize how much I'd appreciate a compact camera like this until I had one.

[christopher_a._junker1]

A nice used, CLA'd IIIC and a CLA'd 35 3.5 Summaron is small, durable and gives fine images in point and shoot. Meter? clip on VC if you must, or something small for the pocket.

 

Nice comments about the Pentax Spotmatic. They are well made and tough. Also very cheap if you can find one in good shape.

 

Hit a sweet spot with this post as every so often I scratch the itch and get out both the IIIC and Pentax. For people with small hands they both work well. Pentax has one of the nicest advance levers ever.

[spider_.]

Weight and volume mean something to me when I am on outdoor adventures. On a 2,600

mile through hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, I carried a series of disposable cameras. They

were light and I didn't have to worry about trashing them. The result was that my photos

were not very good, as expected.

 

Last year I did some hiking on the Continental Divide Trail and carried my M6 with a

50mm Summicron.

 

I think on my next hike I will carry my Ricoh GR10 as a compromise. It's small and light

but makes decent photos.

 

Here is a shot in the Mt. Zirkel Wilderness. The Velvia 50 overdid the colors, but you can

get the idea of what it's like up there.

 

<img src="http://fototime.com/{EFAC8EE7-76D3-4B9E-8920-F91195BC3C08}/

picture.JPG">

[enrique_munoz1]

Jeremy,

 

The problem with a Minox 35 (at least the GT) is that it has only a 2x exposure compensation and can not be used on manual. That makes it pretty much useless for slides specially in the snow. Shame, the size and lens are nice.

[jeremy_tok]

Enrique, there's still the ASA dial!

[enrique_munoz1]

Jeremy, actually there is not. ASA is set automatically only on the GT, ASA dial is for info only!

[brien_m]

The Minox GTE model does not have DX contacts so you must set film speed manually. Hence it does allow for exposure compensation.

[dale_golerki]

Could someone explain just what it is that makes a Canonet or it's ilk, a Point & Shoot, where something like a Bessa or Leica is not? To me point and shoot means just that, like the Stylus Epic (although you can meter using the spot mode). Is it that you can use aperture priority if you want? Or that it has a fixed lens? To me these are fixed lens rangefinders, not Point and Shoot no brainers.

[joel_matherson]

I collect all these classic rangefinders with 40mm lenses. If I had to pick the top 3 my choices would be first the Minolta 7SII, then then Olympus 35RD then third the Canon QL17 in that order. The RC is ok but the three cameras listed will eat it up at f2.8 and you get a faster lens to boot. The Yashica GX is not an easy camera to find and also its Auto only the three I have listed all have manual. In fact you dont even get told what shutter speed its selecting. Out of those three I have listed the Canon QL17 is the most easy to find and cheapest.

[enrique_munoz1]

Thanks Joel, very useful input. Dale, you are right -I actually apologised for my misleading terminology a few posts up before anyone pointed it out!

[gabrielma]

Why didn't anybody mention the Minox? That's a heck of a lens, quite a point and shoot, and very small and quiet.

[gabrielma]

Oh, sorry, a few people did. Too much clutter.

[kaiblanke]

I usually use one of my Rollei 35's (TE or S) or my Oly 35 RD when I do not take the Leica. The Rolleis are perfect for skiing, where there is a lot of light, so that one can consistently shoot a f8 and more (to cover focussing errors), and the Oly 35 shines in low light. Both are somewhat more compact than my M2's which is the reason I prefer them. However, I now have a CL, which took the place instead of the Oly RD. Not much difference in size plus the possibility to have other lenses like the 25 Skopar makes it a better choice in my eyes.

<p>

BTW, I also had a Canonet 17 QL III, a Revue 400 SE (also great and really underpriced) and some other 70's rangefinders, but the Olympus was the one which stayed - until the CL.

[nzdavid]

The 35RC was my first serious camera and it's amazing - but I'm afraid, as sharp and

contrasty as its lens is, it's not AS sharp as Leica. This is only noticeable if you really blow

up your images, but the difference is there. Talking of skiing, this one was taken with a

tiny Leica mini 3 and print film -- though it handles slide film well, too. Very sharp 32mm

lens. The wind was blowing like hell up at the top of this ski-field, so there will be some

movement. OTOH, this is a tiny camera to tuck in your pocket. But don't trust anything

with AF if you are shooting in rain or snow ever; it doesn't work.<div></div>

[thomas_e_loughlin_jr1]

<p>While the string was started by a fellow asking about lenses only, there is a lot more.<br>

Portability., Cold operation .and lens, metering, etc.<br>

have a look at these drugstore (not pro) developed- drugstore CD- not rigorously enhanced shots made by my<br>

composition-aware but tecnhically somewhat less adept lady friend with her Minox CD 70 small zoom 35 mm .<br>

http://picasaweb.google.com/telsport/KarenMcBrideSGESkiClubBanffPhotographsMinox35mm#<br>

<img src="http://picasaweb.google.com/telsport/KarenMcBrideSGESkiClubBanffPhotographsMinox35mm" alt="" /><br>

Very portable, easy to use and cold functional. Not ultimate..but you can get these jewels (and I MEAN jewels) for low bucks on ebay...sometimes under $30,00. Metering is excellent...and I have produced magazine quality images even with 800 asa film.<br>

Tom Loughlin Jr.</p>