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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
Hi Folks,
Its been a while since I last posted here, so I hope you are all keeping well. I have got to the stage in photography were I am finding I want to keep a camera on me at all times. My darkroom is nearly complete, and with the limited time I have on my hands I don't often get the opportunity to lug my tripod, FM2 and assortment of lenses out very often, so working on the same negatives all the time is beginning to be a bit of a pain. After reading something on photo.net, I thought it would be a good idea to get a cheap-ish point and shoot camera that I can keep with me all the time, this way I can shoot a film a day and maybe get one or two shots that have potential then I can work with them in my darkroom or go back and get a proper shot with my Nikon (I realise sometimes this won't be possible). Try to think of this camera more of a sketch-pad for ideas, rather than a replacement for my main set up. So, on to my question! Can anyone here recommend a Nikon point and shoot 35mm camera? When researching to get my first camera, the Nikon FM2 or the Cannon Rebel seemed to be the generic answer, is there. It would be great if the camera had things like aperture priority, or a manual mode, but with this camera size and cost is the most important factor - I want to carry it around everywhere, and I don't want to be too annoyed if I break or loose it. Any suggestions? Thanks, Andrew McCall |
#2
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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
"Andrew McCall" wrote Hi Folks, Its been a while since I last posted here, so I hope you are all keeping well. I have got to the stage in photography were I am finding I want to keep a camera on me at all times. My darkroom is nearly complete, and with the limited time I have on my hands I don't often get the opportunity to lug my tripod, FM2 and assortment of lenses out very often, so working on the same negatives all the time is beginning to be a bit of a pain. After reading something on photo.net, I thought it would be a good idea to get a cheap-ish point and shoot camera that I can keep with me all the time, this way I can shoot a film a day and maybe get one or two shots that have potential then I can work with them in my darkroom or go back and get a proper shot with my Nikon (I realise sometimes this won't be possible). Try to think of this camera more of a sketch-pad for ideas, rather than a replacement for my main set up. So, on to my question! Can anyone here recommend a Nikon point and shoot 35mm camera? When researching to get my first camera, the Nikon FM2 or the Cannon Rebel seemed to be the generic answer, is there. It would be great if the camera had things like aperture priority, or a manual mode, but with this camera size and cost is the most important factor - I want to carry it around everywhere, and I don't want to be too annoyed if I break or loose it. Any suggestions? Thanks, Andrew McCall Hi Andrew, I don't know if this is for you, but I was in a similar situation. What I did was not buying a new camera, but I put the 45mm 2.8P lens on the FM2 (FM2n in my case), which keeps it nice and small. Just my 2c. Cheers ink |
#3
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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
ink wrote:
"Andrew McCall" wrote Hi Folks, [Snip] So, on to my question! Can anyone here recommend a Nikon point and shoot 35mm camera? When researching to get my first camera, the Nikon FM2 or the Cannon Rebel seemed to be the generic answer, is there. It would be great if the camera had things like aperture priority, or a manual mode, but with this camera size and cost is the most important factor - I want to carry it around everywhere, and I don't want to be too annoyed if I break or loose it. Any suggestions? [Snip] Hi Andrew, I don't know if this is for you, but I was in a similar situation. What I did was not buying a new camera, but I put the 45mm 2.8P lens on the FM2 (FM2n in my case), which keeps it nice and small. I had thought about doing something like this, but its not really going to work. I need to keep my FM2 (FM2n in my case also!) for any "real" photography work, and college courses I go on, so its not the sort of thing I want to carry around with me in the pub, or sat on in the cinema. In any case, even with a ~50mm lense, its still too big and heavy! Thanks Andrew McCall |
#4
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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
Andrew McCall wrote:
[Snip] So, on to my question! Can anyone here recommend a Nikon point and shoot 35mm camera? When researching to get my first camera, the Nikon FM2 or the Cannon Rebel seemed to be the generic answer, is there. [Snip] I have done a bit more research on this topic, and it may not be a Nikon that I want - would a Yashica T4 or a Ricoh GR1 be suited to this (although the Ricoh seems way out of my price range!)? What do people think of these cameras? Is there an equivilent Nikon? Thanks, Andrew McCall |
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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
"Andrew McCall" wrote in message ... Try to think of this camera more of a sketch-pad for ideas, rather than a replacement for my main set up. It sounds like a wide range of P&S cameras would meet your needs. I have a Nikon Lite-Touch 140, with a zoom range of 38-140mm, which I purchased when it first appeared, at a price of US$229. I bought it because of two features: the clamshell design, which I find quite functional, and the low ED glass element in the zoom lens. I detect more sharpness and contrast in my other P&S--an Olympus Infinity Stylus (the original stylus, with the f/3.5 fixed lens). But that camera does not have a zoom lens, and thus has some limitations in terms of focal range. I found your statement about not always being able to carry your SLR gear around to be right on-target. I feel the same way. The more "stuff" we accumulate, the more complicated it becomes deciding what to take--especially when we are going out for some purpose other than taking photographs. The other limiting factor, for me, is that I don't often shoot a whole roll in a single session. So I have found myself using my digital camera more than my film P&S cameras. And I find that I can achieve better overall results than I get with film, because I can edit the shot myself rather than have Kodak do a machine print from a negative. The post-shot editing can be a pain when there are a large number of images involved, but for my typical 5 or 6 images per session, it takes about 45 minutes to edit and tweak them--less time than it would take me to fill out the processing envelope and drive to the processor. For me, digital has been an empowering factor. Small, lightweight camera, no need to take extra shots just to fill up a roll of film, no need to drop off and pick up film. Great when you just want to take a camera along without knowing in advance if you will take any photos. Biggest negative for all P&S, film and digital, is that they don't offer you the control that a nice manual SLR does, especially in terms of depth of field. As with everything photographic, it is a trade off between convenience and quality. |
#6
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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
I have got to the stage in photography were I am finding I want to keep
a camera on me at all times. I thought it would be a good idea to get a cheap-ish point and shoot camera that I can keep with me all the time, this way I can shoot a film a day and maybe get one or two shots that have potential then I can work with them in my darkroom or go back and get a proper shot with my Nikon (I realise sometimes this won't be possible). Try to think of this camera more of a sketch-pad for ideas, rather than a replacement for my main set up. It would be great if the camera had things like aperture priority, or a manual mode, but with this camera size and cost is the most important factor - I want to carry it around everywhere, and I don't want to be too annoyed if I break or loose it. Hi Andrew... This topic is close to my heart, i've been collecting quite a few lately and I can tell you about them... See some of the items in my collection (I have more) http://community.webshots.com/album/151263313rLRXcg I'll summarize your points.. 1 - cost and size are the most important factors 2 - would be great to have aperture priority or manual mode 3 - won't be too annoyed if you break or lose it As for cost or size but *no* manual override (though you can control autofocus and exposure with spot-focus and spot-metering), and you won't be too annoyed if you break or lose it.... I recommend the olympus stylus epic (mju-ii) and the fuji (silvi) datezoom f2.8... both are in current production and are reasonably priced so breaking or losing them won't be a concern, and their optics are above the rest... the fuji datezoom has the advantage of a zoom 24-50mm and 2.8 at 24mm. The olympus stylus epic has the (?dis)advantage of a fixed 35mm lens - some prefer fixed lenses, others welcome zoom. If you want aperture priority or manual mode, i can't think of any in current production that are inexpensive and that I personally won't be heartbroken if i break or lose one of them (if it's a good specimen), but if all you want to use it for is as a sketch pad then I'd recommend either one of two that you'll more commonly find... An olympus XA or a Minox 35... the olympus XA has less sharp lens but takes wonderful low light images (there's something about the exposure and the contrast of that zuiko lens), The Minox has a very sharp lens and the wonderful advantage in recent models (don't know about old ones) of having a guide scale on the aperture and focus dial that enables you to know what depth of field will be covered by a certain aperture setting. With the minox though you'd have to scale focus which won't be a problem in daylight (could even be an advantage) but could be tricky if you photograph people at short distance in low light and want to use wide aperture, whereas the olymps xa you have rangefinder focusing. The olympus XA's aperture runs from 2.8 to 22 in full steps, whereas the minox is 2.8 to 16 *continuous*. If i find a good specimen and break or lose it i'd be a little upset, but both can be find easily though on ebay so replacement shouldn't be a problem for years to come. The Minox GT-S/E will cost twice as much as the Olympus XA, older minoxes will be roughly equivalent (to the XA, though reported less durable). With the Minox GT-E or the Olympus XA you can vary the ASA to override aperture-priority exposure. With some of those cameras above (the Minox for sure) you'll take wonderful images that you may not even need to try again on your SLR. Other cameras that could be mentioned are the ricoh ff-1 (i have one, a little bigger than either, essentially a minox imitation), can be had for very cheap, not easily found though, i have one and don't plan on keeping it. One that can be had for cheap too but is wonderful, though bigger than either is an Olympus RC. It's a rangefinder though with reportedly wonderful optics. It allows full manual override as it's fully mechanical, and unless you find suitable battery replacement it will only be mechanical. It's not really as pocketable though so you may have to consider how you want to carry it. Again it'll be comparable to your Nikon if you find one (i have seen usenet test reports saying that a Minox or olympus RC performed as well as a nikon SLR especially around f8). The rollei 35 faimly and the rollei afm35, the contax t1-3, the ricoh GR family, the leica minilux are all expensive. |
#7
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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
In article , Andrew McCall
wrote: It would be great if the camera had things like aperture priority, or a manual mode, but with this camera size and cost is the most important factor - I want to carry it around everywhere, and I don't want to be too annoyed if I break or loose it. This month, Popular Photography has an article about great cameras under $100. Turns out, I own two of the three they recommend. A Nikon One Touch 90s lives in my glovebox, and an Olympus Infinity Stylus Epic stays in the little pouch under my bicycle seat. Of the two, I kind of like the Olympus better, as it's small, splashproof, and is optically excellent. it's also faster to operate. The Nikon DOES have a short zoom lens, though... |
#8
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Recommendations for Nikon Point and Shoot?
Andrew McCall wrote:
Hi Folks, Its been a while since I last posted here, so I hope you are all keeping well. I have got to the stage in photography were I am finding I want to keep a camera on me at all times. My darkroom is nearly complete, and with the limited time I have on my hands I don't often get the opportunity to lug my tripod, FM2 and assortment of lenses out very often, so working on the same negatives all the time is beginning to be a bit of a pain. After reading something on photo.net, I thought it would be a good idea to get a cheap-ish point and shoot camera that I can keep with me all the time, this way I can shoot a film a day and maybe get one or two shots that have potential then I can work with them in my darkroom or go back and get a proper shot with my Nikon (I realise sometimes this won't be possible). Try to think of this camera more of a sketch-pad for ideas, rather than a replacement for my main set up. So, on to my question! Can anyone here recommend a Nikon point and shoot 35mm camera? The Nikon 35Ti was a fairly nice point and shoot camera. Unfortunately, these are only available used, and often at somewhat high prices. You might want to search EBAY, and just check on these. When researching to get my first camera, the Nikon FM2 or the Cannon Rebel seemed to be the generic answer, is there. It would be great if the camera had things like aperture priority, or a manual mode, but with this camera size and cost is the most important factor - I want to carry it around everywhere, and I don't want to be too annoyed if I break or loose it. Any suggestions? Okay, slightly newer P&S film cameras can allow some user controls, like aperture priority. Generally, the fixed focal length lens cameras are slightly better optically. Look into the Contax T3, Rollei AFM35, and older Yashica T4 Super. Others to consider are various Olympus XA or Stylus models, or the new Yashica T4 Zoom. Of all these, the Contax T3 is the highest price, though very good quality. It is unfortunate that for only a little more money, you could get into a used Contax G1 or G2, which are nice compact autofocus cameras, with changeable lenses. Tough to find lens data on P&S cameras, though I found this for the Rollei AFM35: http://www.rolleiclub.com/rollei/CL/AFM35.htm Scroll down for MTF chart. You could also look into much older 1970s era rangefinders. Many will be nearly the size of your FM2, though the lenses are generally good under low light conditions, especially many that are f1.8 or f1.7 aperture. Most did not have a flash built in, which would be a benefit or more modern P&S cameras. Ciao! Gordon Moat A G Studio http://www.allgstudio.com http://www.agstudiopro.com Coming Soon! |
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