arif1 Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 I'm looking for a digital camera (interchangeable lens or otherwise) with these features, in order of importance: - Pocketable, at least for pants - True, mechanical manual focus - High ISO (800+) I must say, I've been rather spoilt with my compact Olympus SLR System - I'm looking for something along the same size (even better if smaller), but with a digital sensor. I don't care much for autofocus, zoom, noise or raw - this'll be primarily for monochrome snapshots on the go. I do have a fairly good grasp at of past & current models available, but I haven't found much. I was hoping some of you would know of gems that I might've missed. So far, I've considered these: - Epson R-D1 + Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4: This'll be my dream setup, but I might have to sell my car for it. I'm not too keen on doing that anytime soon. - Pentax *ist DS + 40mm f/2.8 Limited: Pretty good. - Canon 350D + Contax 45mm f/2.8: The lens adapter throws up the price a bit, but that's excusable. I have no reservations in buying used, and I actually prefer used - I believe cameras/equipment are more or less tools, rather than investments. And while it is possible to search through the extensive archives on the internet and ultimately find what I'm looking for - I'm a bit ashamed to say that I haven't the time, being bumped off of broadband onto 9600 baud dialup for the past week or so. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Arif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpeterson Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 <p>I want the same setup. I have decided to wait a while until digital matures a bit more. Right now, film has never been better, and I am finding used cameras on ebay at giveaway prices that run circles around expensive dslr's. I did make one investment that has given me the best of both worlds: A Nikon Coolscan V film and transparency scanner (about $500) I scan all the images I want to keep, getting results as good or better than even the most advancd dslr. That gives me the best of both worlds for now.</p> <p><img src="http://abqstyle.com/jemez/pics_8.jpg"><br>Here is an image shot with a Sigma SA7n film slr kit purchased on ebay for $90.00 (slightly used and including 28-70mm & 70-300 lenses) I used Kodak Ultracolor negative film and scanned the image with a Nikon Coolscan V. <a href="http://www.abqstyle.com/index.htm">Albuquerque Photo Galleries</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkfoxman Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 How about Nikon D50 and 45mm f/2.8P Nikkor AI-S pancake? Fast? No. Pocketable? For sure. And I hear D50 does pretty well at high ISO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_rais Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 <P align="justify"><BR> The truth is that up to this moment there isn't any small and interesting digital gem yet like the OM SLR system, so you really don't miss anything from this digital era. Most of the photographers coming straight from pre-digital age, just like myself, are still waiting for it. <A HREF="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022609panasonicdmcl1.asp" TARGET="_blank">The Panasonic DMC-L1</A> (well, yes, let's get used to the fact that this isn't a traditional camera brand) with its Leica lens is promising, but is said to be huge. So, not really pocketable. Maybe you should wait until this coming Photokina. Leica might announce interesting digital M stuff, but ... again it's another bank breaking brand of which you might sell your car for. If you can't wait then the Pentax *ist DS + 40mm limited would be the alternative way to go, especially they have some other nice limited gems (31mm, 77mm and the one just announced 21mm) in their lens line-up.<P> <LI><A HREF="http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=332699">Jim Rais</A></LI><P> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr._smith Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 "Canon 350D + Contax 45mm f/2.8: " An interesting combination. I'd like to see images from this combo. But that would mean a 72mm lens equivalent. Another combination might the same camera with a 24 or a 28mm Canon lens. This combination when used with a tripod should make for sharp 16"x20" prints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2yellowdogs Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Arif, I've searched for the same thing you have and have come to the conclusion that it just doesn't exist yet. I'd pay pretty good money for a samll digital with manual features and decent (doesn't even have to be great) high ISO performance. "Pretty good money", however, does not include $3k for an R-D1. While I'd love to have one, that's just too much right now. Good luck in your search and let us know what you settle on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew robertson Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 I have the R-D1 + 40 f/1.4 Nokton, and you should definitely sell your car and get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godfrey Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 The *ist DS plus pancake style DA40/2.8 is about the most reasonably priced and sensible choice. While the Epson RD1 and a 40/1.4 lens is neat, I dont see any advantage to it over the Pentax, a lot more limitations, and it's more than 3x the money. Godfrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arif1 Posted March 18, 2006 Author Share Posted March 18, 2006 I've got to agree, Donald, film is very enticing right about now, with prices so affordable - I've an Epson 4990 and though I sometimes question if I should've bought the Coolscan V instead, I do like that I can start up Vuescan and scan a little over half a roll without much intervention. The problem is that it takes nearly eight hours to scan in a roll of 35mm (with 4x multisampling + 4800dpi to 2400dpi downsampling). It's quite a bit of effort, if I just want to share a snapshot over the web. I haven't really considered the D50, but I do like the 45mm f/2.8P Nikkor lens Roman mentioned there - for me, the D50 & the *ist DS are a bit less desirable than the 350D because of the placement of the mode dial. However, to be entirely honest, I'm not really sure how often I'd even use it. Jim, a Leica digital M back/camera would be sorely out of my reach, especially more so because the Digital R module is around $6,000 and I'd expect the M to cost a bit more. The Panasonic L1 is beautiful to look at, but I'd have to agree and wish it was a bit smaller. It'd be a lot more desirable if Panasonic/Leica/Olympus comes out with a compact lens for the 4/3 system. Godfrey & Jim, the Pentax 40mm & 21mm lenses are wonderfully tiny - but the lack of an aperture ring certainly isn't a plus point. The other Limited lenses are lovely, though. Mr Smith, the Canon 350D + Contax lens looks to be my strongest choice so far, but I think I'll wait a bit - I haven't any experience with Canon primes but I will look into them. Andrew, I'm rather tempted now, over the new R-D1s - I often find myself justifying the purchase by thinking that I'd be helping the world economy with the purchase, as well saving the world by not needing anymore petrol. :) Dan, it looks like I'll have to wait a bit more as well - I do wish that the Imagek/SiliconFilm's Electronic Film System wasn't vapourware - it'd be nice to think of a system like that, inside of a compact 70's rangefinder. `Arif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew robertson Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Geoffrey, the R-D1 is smaller still, and you can use your M mount lenses on it. They are completely different. Most folks I know who have a RF also have an SLR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2yellowdogs Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Couldn't agree more, Arif. If there was a way to digitize my GIII QL17 or similar camera, I'd be in heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godfrey Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 <i>..."Godfrey & Jim, the Pentax 40mm & 21mm lenses are wonderfully tiny - but the lack of an aperture ring certainly isn't a plus point. The other Limited lenses are lovely, though."... </i> <br><br> None of the Pentax DA lenses have an aperture ring. It is unneeded as aperture is set with controls on the body, not the lens, with these cameras. The 40/2.8 Limited is a DA series lens. Other Limited lenses are FA series, best used with the aperture ring locked to the "A" position on the Pentax DSLRs, unless you intend to use them in Manual exposure mode only. <br><br> Godfrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arif1 Posted March 20, 2006 Author Share Posted March 20, 2006 I can't deny that I do prefer manual exposure, but it should interesting to see how the aperture's set using the control dials on the camera. If anything at all, it could be more convenient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisbrewster Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 With all the talk about high ISO and pocketable, no one has mentioned Fuji-- the current F11 and the upcoming F30. No other pocket cameras have these ISO's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arif1 Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 I've looked into Fuji's F10/F11 and quite liked the Z1/Z2, I might pick up the Z2 - looks like it'd be a fun camera to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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