Question:
My old P&S Pentax AF zoom 60 has died and I want to replace it. I wasn’t very satisfied with the picture quality of the Pentax and wonder what the best camera to buy under $130 would be? You’re better off with a fixed focal length if you want reasonable quality in this price range. Suggest you look at the Pentax UC-1, Yashica T4, maybe a Nikon Lite-Touch if you can find one in stock. NYC prices for these should be around $100-140. Regards/ G. Cameron
I know this opinion may not be popular with some ppl, but I give it anyhow. I would recommend that you look at the various APS cameras available. While it is true that in many instances 35mm is preferable, I assume based upon the type of camera you inquire about (P&S <&130) that you do not take a lot of pictures and are not interested in learning the art of photography. I do not mean that as any sort of insult or put-down. I personally have several cameras (35mm SLR, 35mmZLR and APS P&S). I shoot about 12-15 rolls of 35 mm for every roll of APS. However, when I want an ultra compact, goof proof camera, nothing can be better. Although the negative size of APS is considerably smaller than the 34mm (24mm I believe), this has little or no affect at snapshot size prints (including 4”). In favor of APS, the technology used to make the film is better than 35mm in some respects and so color rendition and sharpness are remarkable, bordering on superb, especially when the Bang For The Buck Theory is applied. I have a Kodak 3600. It is about 3 years old (maybe 2.5) and I have been extremely happy with it. For a year or so, it was my only camera and I have shot in the neighborhood of 50-75 rolls with it and I do not recall ever having an out of focus photograph except when I was clearly w/in the minimum focusing distance. If you decide to go APS, my only advice would be to buy one that allows mid roll change, as mine does not. One of the principle advantages to APS is that it is very conducive to organizing and storing photos. The mid roll change feature is of obvious benefit in this area (one roll bdays, one roll son’s high school games, etc..) Also, as the manufactures have invested so much in developing this format and the cameras, you may find that you get more for your money as they are willing to sell the cameras at a lower margin to ensure both a return on development costs and increase film sales. I don’t know that this is the case, but it is something to keep in mind when comparing. Derek Ward
Response:
Look at the Olympus Stylus Epic for $99-, which has a 35mm f2.8 lens, or if you want a zoom, go for the Minolta Freedom Explorer which has a 28-70mm lens , and is about $130-. http://photo.net/photo/point-and-shoot.html http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/9273/pscam.html http://www.ee.nus.sg/~zhu/photo/compact/compact.html
Response:
Second the motion. I have a Minolta Explorer and it is excellent. Works well, good flash diffusion on close shots, etc. My wife has a Stylus, works great, easy to use, sharp. The Stylus Epic is an improvement. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Look at the Olympus Stylus Epic for $99-, which has a 35mm f2.8 lens, or if you want a zoom, go for the Minolta Freedom Explorer which has a 28-70mm lens , and is about $130-. http://photo.net/photo/point-and-shoot.html http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/9273/pscam.html http://www.ee.nus.sg/~zhu/photo/compact/compact.html
Response:
The research I have done shows that consumer groups (Consumer Reports) rate the Olympus Stylus 105 very high in picture quality and I am assuming this rating reaches across the rather large Stylus family. The Canon Sure Shot 105 is in second place followed by the Ricoh RZ105SF and the Leica Mini 3 in fourth place. An older issue of the Magazine had the Yashica T4 in there somewhere but I don’t find it in the issue I am reading now. Looking at Yashica’s website reveals a large family of P&S cameras. I know that the T4 has a Zeiss lens system but what of the other P&S they sell? I know that Yashica/Contax/Zeiss are all related somehow – so who makes the lenses for Yashica’s other P&S cameras? Does anyone have experience or comments concerning the above cameras or any of the other Yashicas P&S? I really enjoy this newsgroup and have received a lot of good advice and comments from it’s participants. Thanks, Brad Davis North Carolina – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My old P&S Pentax AF zoom 60 has died and I want to replace it. I wasn’t very satisfied with the picture quality of the Pentax and wonder what the best camera to buy under $130 would be? You’re better off with a fixed focal length if you want reasonable quality in this price range. Suggest you look at the Pentax UC-1, Yashica T4, maybe a Nikon Lite-Touch if you can find one in stock. NYC prices for these should be around $100-140. Regards/ G. Cameron I know this opinion may not be popular with some ppl, but I give it anyhow. I would recommend that you look at the various APS cameras available. While it is true that in many instances 35mm is preferable, I assume based upon the type of camera you inquire about (P&S <&130) that you do not take a lot of pictures and are not interested in learning the art of photography. I do not mean that as any sort of insult or put-down. I personally have several cameras (35mm SLR, 35mmZLR and APS P&S). I shoot about 12-15 rolls of 35 mm for every roll of APS. However, when I want an ultra compact, goof proof camera, nothing can be better. Although the negative size of APS is considerably smaller than the 34mm (24mm I believe), this has little or no affect at snapshot size prints (including 4”). In favor of APS, the technology used to make the film is better than 35mm in some respects and so color rendition and sharpness are remarkable, bordering on superb, especially when the Bang For The Buck Theory is applied. I have a Kodak 3600. It is about 3 years old (maybe 2.5) and I have been extremely happy with it. For a year or so, it was my only camera and I have shot in the neighborhood of 50-75 rolls with it and I do not recall ever having an out of focus photograph except when I was clearly w/in the minimum focusing distance. If you decide to go APS, my only advice would be to buy one that allows mid roll change, as mine does not. One of the principle advantages to APS is that it is very conducive to organizing and storing photos. The mid roll change feature is of obvious benefit in this area (one roll bdays, one roll son’s high school games, etc..) Also, as the manufactures have invested so much in developing this format and the cameras, you may find that you get more for your money as they are willing to sell the cameras at a lower margin to ensure both a return on development costs and increase film sales. I don’t know that this is the case, but it is something to keep in mind when comparing. Derek Ward
Response:
I agree with above recommendations. The cool thing about the T4 is the superscope, where you can also look in and compose from the top. This Christmas we sold a large lot of Minox CD 70’s and 112’s which were nice for around $109 and $149 respectively. Happy shopping.
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