Which PnS with a zoom should I get

[Parchiao]

Thinking of getting one for my wife, nothing too expensive, with focal length beginning from 28mm, and must have a zoom. Have narrowed down to four cameras, but I am interested to know if there are any others that are equally good, or opnions from anyone who has tried any of these cameras.

1. Yashica T Zoom - had one, sold it off. Performance was not impressive, but I am game to try it out again, supposing that the price has dropped. Has spot metering, fixed exposure compensation, and of course carl zeiss lens (again, I did not find it impressive).

2. Fuji DL Super Mini Zoom - don't know if this is still available. Has exposure compensation, and some very good reviews.

3. Fuji Zoom Date f2.8 - focal length starts at 24mm and f2.8. Has exposure compensation and even manual focus!

4. Pentax Espio 24EW - focal length starts at 24mm. Has exposure compensation, passive and spot autofocus and even bulb mode!

5. Konica Lexio 70 - Fixed exposure compensation, and some good reviews too. Don't know if it is still available.

 

[Top Gun]

I saw some pics from Fuji Zoom Date 2.8, as a SLR user, I am satisfied with the quality.

 

[Parchiao]

Just to make this discussion a little more interesting, I am attaching a few links to some great samples of the cameras that I have listed above. I'll update this on an ongoing basis.

1. Yashica T Zoom

http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/product.asp?itemnum=800848
Specifications found here.

2. Fuji DL Super Mini Zoom

Confirmed not available anymore.

http://www.paulholman.com/gallery/gtido.htm
http://www.paulholman.com/gallery/gspider.htm
Some of the nicest panoramic and digital shots I have ever seen on the internet.

http://members.aol.com/waponi/photos/fuji.htm
This guy has a gallery of pictures taken with the Yashica T4 Super.

An intersting review in mandarin is found here.
http://www.yanggc.com/fuji/dlmini.htm

3. Fuji Zoom Date f2.8

http://www.tahoo.com/zc/v10.php3?n=2825
You'll get to see some of the best samples of the Ricoh GR21 here.

http://home.fujifilm.com/photokina2002/data/ct_pdf/ob_213e.pdf
Specification found here.

http://www.fujinon.co.jp/jp/news/n_030821_2.htm
Details of the limited edition black version that has exposure compensation.

4. Pentax Espio 23EW

http://www.pentax.com/products/cameras/camera_overview.cfm?productid=10788
Specifications found here.

 

[Ansel]

parchiao,

I think you forgot the great mju series by Olympus. Olympus has traditionally produced great compacts and p&s type cameras. Their Trip, PEN and XA series of the past have since become classics. Their current mju series is going to follow this illustrious line. I personally have a mju II (non zoom 35mm/f2.8 lens) and another model with 38-105 zoom lens. When used properly, these cameras can produce superb images.
:lovegrin:

 

[Snowcrash]

Thinking of getting one for my wife, nothing too expensive, with focal length beginning from 28mm, and must have a zoom. Have narrowed down to four cameras, but I am interested to know if there are any others that are equally good, or opnions from anyone who has tried any of these cameras.


3. Fuji Zoom Date f2.8 - focal length starts at 24mm and f2.8. Has exposure compensation and even manual focus!

If have exposure compensation and f2.8 (I think only at the 24mm right not constant...) I will consider it to replace my MjuII.

Do find out more for us...

 

[Parchiao]

Ansel - I did think about the mju series. But it seems that non of the zooms were highly recommended, except for the fixed focal length 35mm f2.8 mju, which is not what I am looking for. In any case, I need a zoom that starts at least at 28mm.

Snowcrash - Yes, the aperture is most definitely not constant. I have to inspect the camera myself, to see if exposure compensation is a fixed +-/1.5 or variable in half stops. I have read that it does poorly in backlit subjects.
Correction - The Fuji Zoom Date f2.8 does not have any exposure compensation!

 

[rubric]

Interesting quest as I'll like to know myself! Found an article on Pop Photo (Sept 2002): http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=364
Right click on hyperlink to download.

Then in Dec 2002:
http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=571&page_number=1

Haven't got the time to read yet!

 

[Parchiao]

Okay, was at AP just now.

I suppose that most film PnS are not on most people's shopping list anymore. Everybody was looking at a digital camera, and the film cameras were lust left on the shelves rotting. I could have sworn that a few of them were calling out to me "Buy Me! Buy Me! I am Cheeeeepppppp!!!!! Buy Me!"

Back to the serious stuff. Seems like the Fuji Zoom Date is going for a song, just SGD180! I asked two different people in the shop and this is the quote that I got. Now, this camera does not have exposure compensation, diopter adjustment or even spot metering. It is just a simple PnS with the normal features e.g. landscape mode, zoom, flash, red eye reduction, flash or no flash control, date/time printing and a few not so significant controls that I have no idea of unless I read the manual (e.g. quick snap mode). The left shutter release button can only be activated if you want to use it to take a picture of yourself at arms length (self snap mode). It is noisy, and pretty cheap looking, just like the Olympus mju (of course, the proof of the pudding is in the ability to take good pictures). Making the adjustment are however simple, with a large LCD viewfinder and a very intuitive control.

The Pentax Espio 24EW is something else. The looks and layout of the camera does not give you a feeling of value, and with a quoted price of SGD350, my guess is that it's appeal will be limited. However, upon closer inspection, the camera does pack a punch, and you have to be a SLR user to know what the features mean. The controls again are very intuitive. A LCD display on the top of the camera where you can easily set the metering mode e.g. spot metering, exposure compensation in half stops up to three stop over and under exposure, and the host of features that the Fuji has. The built of the viewfinder is not like the Fuji as it comes with a diopter adjustment. Also, there is a switch at the bottom of the camera that crops out the top and bottom half of the viewfinder for those panoramic (cropped) shots (did not check if the cropping was applied in the front of rear of the lens though).

 

[Parchiao]

Some interesting info. Apparantly, in Japan, there exists a Fuji Zoom Date f2.8 in black. It is called the Fuji Silvi f2.8 Black. Only 5000 of these bodies were produced in Japan. More importantly, this version of the Zoom Date has exposure compensation, in half stops up to two stops over and underexposure. Here is the link to see what it looks like.

http://www.fujinon.co.jp/jp/news/n_030821_2.htm

 

[Parchiao]

Just got back my 4R prints taken with a Fuji Silvi f2.8 Black. Used Fuji Superia Xtra 400 and I was very pleased with the results. Images were very sharp, anytime comparable or better than your consumer SLR lenses. Metering was not that good, performed better when compensated for an additional half a stop outdoors. Focus confirmation light is a little erratic, especially for those close up shots. Have to continue to work on how to focus with this camera. Flash is especially good for fill-in purposes. Results from indoor shots are not so good. Did not see any vignetting, but you get harsh shadows, which is typical of all PnS flash. User interface is very accessible and easy to use for a PnS. Viewfinder is small and dark.

Will I recommend anyone to buy this camera for their older folks? The answer is no. The viewfinder is too small. Will I recommed anyone to buy this camera, especially for those who have no interest in photography, but want an idiot proof camera? The answer is a definitely yes. Enough features to get very good images, supposing that the user is willing to learn a little about photography. Will I recommend the silver version that does not come with exposure compensation? The answer is a definite no. Backlit subjects tend to be too dark, as such the need for exposure compensation. Fill in flash can only do so much.

 

[zaren]

Hi Parchiao,

I have owned a Lexio 70 for about a year before selling it. Photos are sharp, and portraits (most at around the 50mm setting) especially have come out very well. Group shots are not as good as I have observed a fair bit of barrel distortion at 28mm. I think you should be able to find a new one for 200+ SGD.

Cheers,