Carry round compact, experience with question

[m1ks]

Hi all,
I have used SLR's in many formats for a long time and use digital now, however I cannot find a single digital compact with basic manual settings to use as a carry round all the time camera, and those that have the settings are either too slow or I don't like the way they process the jpegs in camera.
I've started looking for a 35mm film choice and wanted a compact, cheap, Aperture selectable camera, having been a Minox submini user for a while I figured the Minox range are as good a choice as any and have tried a couple but they seem to have an infuriating shutter issue and apparently finding a good un is as hard as something very inflexible and unmovable.
I'm now looking at the possibility of getting an Oly XA as this does what I need and reviews online seem to be impressive, I wondered if there are any users or former XA users who could throw in there experiences and possible pitfalls?
I'll be mainly using it with B&W but some colour reversal and slide also

Cheers

Mike

[mpt600]

I use an XA as an every day carry round compact, and it has good points and (not many) bad points. Good points are that they are getting really cheap now. They are tiny. The design means no case is required. Film speeds go up to ISO 800, which is good for a camera of this age. The 35mm F/2.8 lens is fast, and very sharp if stopped down to F/11. Bad points are they're getting a bit old now and repairs would probably cost more than a replacement, unless you're a diy tinkerer. The rangefinder patch is small and not as distinct as it could be. If you're after a later zone focus XA2 this is irrelevant. Worth a try.

[taxor]

I'm going to watch this thread with interest. I've been thinking of getting a wee 35mm compact for some time. Basically, it all comes down to the lens. I've read good things about the Ricoh GR models but I'd like to have some user opinions on ther makes/models.

[Benchista]

My view on digital compacts is that manual controls aren't really necessary - you can almost never use differential focusing, so the only control you can have is over shutter speed in effect.

Anyway, there was recently a similar thread to this - depends on your budget, and what you're happy using, but the XA is fairly decent and reasonably cheap.

[zx9]

Great little camera, only complaints with mine was distortion, very noticable at the edges and you can not use filters which limits it's usefulness for B&W.
I used my XA alot whilst skiing, very pocketable and the exposure compensation lever came in handy.

[NorthernMonkey]

I picked up a canon z115 on fleabay for £6. Only trouble is is that the batteries hardly last any time at all. If you look about on ebay, there are plenty of bargins, especially after christmas.

[Roger_Provins]

I recommend an Olympus RC manual controls, a very, very good lens and pocketable.

[beejaybee]

If you're not afraid of a manual camera, you could try a Rollei B35. No battery to worry about, the built in selenium meter is (if working properly) adequate for monochrome work. You do need to be able to "guess" distances reasonably well as there's no rangefinder, but it won't be too hard as you will usually want to work at f/11 to get the best out of the Triotar.

The 35T (Tessar) and 35S (Sonnar) are better still but more expensive and require a MR-9 battery adapter. Wein cells are not a realistic workaround as the battery cannot be replaced without removing the camera back.

Anyway they're small, light and reasonably robust.

[Mibron]

I use a GR1 which i find very good. The lens is a 28mm f2.8
If you wish to use it for B/W mainly then you want the GR1s. If my memory serves me right the "s" is fitted with the filter thread. In this weeks AP Camtech have a GR1v with Hood, Filters Mint as new boxed. Also Nicholas have a GR1 GR1s and GR1v. All these are expensive.They don't come up for sale very often.
Mibron.

[LargeFormat]

I agree with beejaybee. Over the last 40 odd years, up to the digital age, I've used the Contax T and the Rollei 35S. The former's winding mechanism failed and was "unrepairable". The Rollei is still going strong and is a robust, all metal camera that a blacksmith could probably repair. Having a reasonable depth of field I've never found the manual focusing to be a problem.

[Mibron]

Further to my previous posting the following will give you all the information on the GR1s.
http://www.ricoh.co.uk/35mmcameras/gr1shtm
Hope this is of some help.
(Apologies that i don't know how to insert this url so you can click on it. Perhaps someone out there will advise me)
Regards
Mibron,

[m1ks]

Thanks all for the flurry of replies, I have just secured an XA and shall be trying it as soon as it arrives, i will be using it for colour reversal and slide too just mainly B&W, not so bothered about the use of filters as I have a film SLR (or two) for that, (retro to modern) and filters to suit, the main reason is as good as the submini's are you can only go so far with the enlargements andoccasionally i get a nice shot i'd like A4+. but still want something that'll sit in my pocket and be unobtrusive and there when needed.

Re the alternatives, i'll certianly take a look and see what they have to offer, I know the Rollei is much admired and revered but 'i don't know how to explain this' i've never so much as touched one but I don't like the look of them? Odd I know but there you go, ideally i'd love a good working Minox 35 as having seen some sample images from working examples they really are stunning, some say the XA's lens is not much worse but i'll know soon enough, the seller seems like a thoroughly nice guy and is an enthusiast like myself who likes to try different beasties and has guaranteed it fully working or refundable so can't say fairer than that, better than the usual, 'well the shutter clicks when I press the button here' responses you'd normally get from auctions sites.
I do like the look of the Ricoh's so will study those some more, thanks for the link post.
My only criteria with a compact is that it's pocketable and has user defined apertures as I like to be in control of the DOF over everything else in the shot, hence the reason for looking at the 'older' models before the days when camera makers decided we were all too thick to know what to do with fstops and shutter speed and let the cameras do it all for you.
Hopefully will have some samples to post soon.
Mike

[Tacitus]

... If my memory serves me right the "s" is fitted with the filter thread.

Not quite: the GR1s (& GR1v) have a bayonet filter arrangement which then accepts 30.5mm filters or (not and) a dedicated hood. Finding a bay/fil adapter nowadays could be rather difficult.

See my comments on the GR1s HERE

.T.

[surf_digby]

If you can't get your hands on an Olympus 35RC (and I'm still after one, so you'll be bidding against me if you go the Ebay route), try a Trip 35. It's a compact pretending to be a rangefinder, but still has manual aperture control (although only zone focus)

Google "Tripman" and you'll find a guy that sells reconditioned ones with customised grip for £50.
You can also get red, yellow and orange filters through the site (they're a funny 43.5mm thread).