"Roger" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:11:42 -0700, "JohnT"
wrote:

Tired of hauling my big SLR around at times, so I'd like to get a
nice little P&S film camera to just slide in my pocket. Something
like a 28-80 or so on the zoom. Any thoughts?

Alternatively, I would like to have a digital with similar specs, where
shots would not be enlarged beyond 5x7 or so.

Thanks!

The Olympus Stylus Epic with 35mm f2.8 non-zoom lens is an
excellent camera. The Contax T3 with similar lens is also but at a
much higher price point and much more controllability. I've used both
for primary and backup camera in lieu of a SLR when I had to pare
down.

[SNIP]

The Epic and T3 are so good that I've never considered a film P&S
with a zoom. There are not many pictures I've take that could have
been improved dramatically at the 4x6 / 5x7 level with a zoom.
These cameras do, however, fit my style of photography - friends,
family, events, travel, street. The same could not be said for making
African Safari Brochures.


If you go this route and decide you can do without a zoom - which I think is
good advice - you should also look at the Ricoh GR series. Sadly no longer
in production, but findable on that auction site. The GR1 (of which the
GR1v is the latest, most controllable model) has a truly superb 28mm f2.8,
and is a great camera: my normal 'pocket' camera when I have nothing else
with me. The GR10 is considerably cheaper with less control, but the same
excellent lens. There's also a GR21 with 21mm lens and price to match (but
it is excellent) and some cheaper options, including the R1 wiht a 30mm
lens, which I do like as a cheap but quite good back up camera.



Peter