rokkor fan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Hi all, After finally getting sick of lugging around a Canon 1D Mark II and 24-70mm for snapshots I borrowed a friend's Minolta X1 to see what a compact digital was like. Let me say that it was a nice little camera, but I felt that the image quality just wasn't sufficient for my needs. I am considering getting a very compact 35mm camera instead, as I feel that this would make a convenient compromise between my work gear (the aformentioned Canon) and the super compact digicams. Additionally it would ensure that I actually get my shots printed! Can anyone suggest a very compact 35mm camera with fast glass (preferably autofocus) that might suit my needs? Image quality is a priority closely followed by size. Cheers, Antony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_sullivan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 compact is a relative term...but, if you want a real treat...the Konica Hexar AF. Fixed 35mm f/2, AF (manual override...clumsy for actually focusing manually....but quick and easy for pre-set to a particullar distance), AE (P, A, and manual)....and a P mode that actually works (the only cam I ever...EVER...use P mode on). Image quality is legendary........heh....whatever the hell that means.......but it is way up there. No longer made (production ended mid 1990's), but they still show up on the used market. This is the film cam that Canon SHOULD be striving for in the "G" series digital cams. I'd buy it in a hearbeat. Who knows, maybe Sony will take some of that Konica stuff they just acquired thru Konica Minolta and make one........right, keep on dreaming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew robertson Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Dude, Fuji Natura Black has a 24mm f/1.9 lens, exposure compensation, flash on / off, and infinity focus lock. I love mine. It's a solid little camera. I'm going to also move into the Hexar AF (35 f/2 lens) and Konica TC-1 (28 f/3.5 lens) arenas, all three are jewels and might be the last of their kinds. Get 'em while they're hot! The Natura has completely supplanted my XA and XA2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_bach2 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 The Konica Hexar AF is a wery good camera, Take a look at my site: www.micbach.dk 90% of the photos is don with the Hexar. regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_murray Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 For film camera the Olympus Stylus Epic, for digcam the Fuji F10/F11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constance_cook Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Nikon S3 = 6mp and pics that blow to 8x10 nicely - fits in shirt pocket. A tad bigger - Nikon P1 = 8 mp - also blows to 8x10 easily and works wi-fi - pocketable but bigger than the S3. Conni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokkor fan Posted February 21, 2006 Author Share Posted February 21, 2006 OK, well I had a look at the Hexar - very nice but too big (almost the size of a compact SLR) and much too expensive - $450 - $500 is way out of my target range here. Any other suggestions? Cheers and thanks! Antony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandit Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 If you are ok with non-switchable lenses and want digital, check out the Panasonic LX-1. Has RAW mode, is set up for photographers in terms of controls and layouts, and really good image quality. Nice touches include: adjustable rear button which can be assigned to lock AF, AE or both; DoF "scales" visible in manual focusing mode; RAW; 16:9 aspect ratio, etc. Feels like a film camera in almost all ways. I had posted a review of it in the Digital Cameras section - I have been really impressed by this camera. For best results, however, use RAW - JPEGs have higher than usual noise at high ISOs, but it cleans up very nicely in RAW post-processing. Vandit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2yellowdogs Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Rokkor, are you looking for a film camera or a digital? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 If f 2.8 is fast enough, then I cast a second vote for the Stylus Epic. At about 80 USD new with warranty, there's not much point looking for used. It's weather proof (not dunkable) and the shutter can go to 1/1000 second. Has a sliding clamshell (like XA) so a case is not needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zane1664879013 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Pentax *ist film camera with the Pentax 40mm f/2.8 lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave leung Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 The Leica Minilux with its excellent Summarit 40mm f/2.4 or its successor, the Leica CM. <center> <a href="http://gallery.leica-users.org/imagine">Samples from the Minilux are viewable Here</a></center> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan_dzo Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Antony, the best glass in a small camera is the Contax T3. Not cheap but excellent. Amateur Photographer magazine in UK looked at all small compacts a couple of years back and this won by a mile over the other pricy ones. The T2 is nearly as small although the lens isn't quite as good. The Olympus XA is also tiny and portable. These would be my choices. In fact I've got my T3 in my pocket as I type (where it lives all the time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmo_genovese Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 For film: the Stylus Epic or the Contax T3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry h. Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Antony, if you are looking for a film camera and don't mind slightly bigger than tiny, look for the Canon AF35ML (not the AF35M). The ...ML has a 40mm/1.9 lens and autofocus. They made two versions, one that goes up to ASA/ISO 400 and one that goes to 1000. I recommend the ISO 1000 model since you wanted a fast lens. Sharp lens. (BTW, I have one of the 400 models I would sell if you are interested.) As far as I have found, these were the AF P&S cameras with the fastest lenses made (until the aforementioned Fuji Natura, which ties it but with a much wider lens). If you want smaller and AF, there's the Oly Stylus Epic with a 35mm/2.8 lens. There was also a Yashica with a Zeiss lens. If you want rangefinder, there's the original Oly XA or, low and behold, the camera you already know about considering your moniker, the Minolta Himatic 7sII with a Rokkor 40mm/1.7 lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_hall1 Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Forget about auto focus and get a FM3A ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_m Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Kodak VR35-K12 or K14 with 35F2.8 Ektar lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_clark Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 I'll say Olympus Stylus Epic as well, at least if you're alright with a slightly wide angle. If you can do without autofocus a late fixed-lens rangefinder like a Canonet can be pretty nice, only problem is they're jacket rather than pants pocketable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank.schifano Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Here's another vote for the Olympus Stylus Epic if you can live with a 35mm f/2.8 lens. Of course it is an auto everything camera, but it fits in your shirt pocket, has a reasonalby good metering system, and delivers excellent images. It is also very inexpensive at US$80 from B&H. I use one myself. Great little camera for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Forgot to mention: Stylus Epic has an option for spotmetering(with spot focus) If you like candids, you might also look at a used Yashica T3(has a Carl Zeiss f2.8 lens) or the T4(CZ f3.5, but more compact) Both of these have a reflex finder for sneaky candids as well as the conventional finder. I've had a T3 since 1988. The Stylus, however, does have more focus zones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rokkor fan Posted February 22, 2006 Author Share Posted February 22, 2006 OK the Yashica T4/T5 looks good, but I have so fallen in love with the look of the Leica CM. I may need to save for another few months and get one I think. Thanks for everyone's assistance! Antony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john falkenstine Posted February 26, 2006 Share Posted February 26, 2006 I have an early Canon AF35ML which I got off Evilbay complete with leather case and smelling like mothballs. It appears to have been unused. Image quality is really excellent. The other cool feature is that when you keep the shutter button depressed, it just keeps popping off the images like an SLR on speed. All of this is done with a tremendous amount of noise. Its built like an expensive brick. I also have a beater Olympus Stylus (larger body). Image quality again, is plenty good, but there IS noticable light falloff at the corners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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