$100 toy?

[pcfranchina]

Ok fine I have a bit of GAS. I am thinking of getting a P&S or a modern Polaroid. Any ideas? I am hoping for something quick and easy. I was thinking of a LOMO but figured I would have more fun with a Polaroid, which can get expensive.... Any ideas on something cheap and fun. Figured it would be fun to take some weird artistic shots of my newborn. Setting my limit to $100. Would a stylus epic be too boring?

Any assitance would be appreciated?

[rbiemer]

How about one of those Lomo "Color Splash" flash units?
http://www.opticsplanet.net/lomographic-colorsplash-410-flash.html (http://www.opticsplanet.net/lomographic-colorsplash-410-flash.html)
Rob

[pesphoto]

Olympus Xa...all the way...

[monochromejrnl]

decent pin hole camera that takes medium format or large format film... take some long exposures of your new born sleeping...

[clintock]

yashica t4 or similar

[emraphoto]

olympus stylus epic... still floating about new in a few photo stores for about $100. TOTALLY shirt pocketable and quite capable machines. i'd second the t4/t5 recommendation but they're a little more $

[celerystalksme]

How about a Holga? Or a cheap TLR (Lubitel, Seagull, etc.)? Not really P&S cameras though. Just toy cameras, sorta. If you want to go 35mm...maybe a Smena 8M. An Argus A or Argus AF or a Argus C3 would be a really neat and nostalgic toy. A Canon Demi half-frame camera might be neat. Polaroid SX-70 would be neat.

[jamesj]

i got a older polaroid camera on ebay for like 12 bucks...
worked perfectly came in original bag and everything...

[IGMeanwell]

polaroid Land cameras are fun ... but not small

http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/landdcam-pack.htm

[Bailey]

Olympus Xa...all the way...

Absolutely. The XA is what got me off digital and back to film. It's that fun. And, it actually has a real lens and takes great photos.

Of course, if you really want that lomo look, you can always just take your XA photos and crank the saturation and contrast in photoshop. :D

[reagan]

I've got a half-frame FSU Chaika.II (like Clintock's avatar?) on the way. Planning on trying some P&S Holga-type shooting with it. Of course, it's coming from Siberia, soooo -- maybe by Spring thaw....? :( I've no experience with 'em, can't vouch for their reliability, etc. and I've seen only a few pics taken by one. But they don't cost squat and at 70 shots a roll, one can do aLOT of pointin' n' shootin' !!

[Jeroen]

Why don't you get two secondhand Stylus Epics? Put some Superia 400 in one and BW 100 film in the other. Add a mini tripod and the tiny remote control and you'll have everything you need in your coat pockets.

[clarence]

The Lomo look is obtained mostly through cross-processing. That is a factor of film development and not camera choice.

[pcfranchina]

Do you have any control with a Stylus Epic?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=376&A=details&Q=&sku=239070&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Its been so many years since I had P&S film camera it seems like it may be fun.
The Polaroid may be expensive.

[ibcrewin]

I'd say go with a lubitel 2. I got a really good copy and it's so much fun. You can even synch it to a flash!

[Bob G]

Been into cameras for 6 years, bought a Chaika II three years ago to satisfy my curiosity about manual exposure, scale focusing and half-frames. $9! Like many here, after years of auto focus, auto exposure, etc, I thought if people took photos for a hundred years without these aids, so can I. I learned to estimate exposures outdoors (Sunny-16). I keep a laminated exposure guide in my wallet for indoor shooting. Although I now have learned how to use flash guide numbers (Easy!) And from this site I just found, tested and am preparing to use a interoccular rangefinder guide-scale to use my own two eyes as a rangefinder! Perhaps I can print a card with the exposure guide on one side, and the focusing guide on the other.

At first I had my loal 1-hour lab print as is (two prints per 4x6) Now I just get the film, scan, photoshop and print. Thanks in part to RFForum, I've learned to develop my own B/W Film.

The Chaika II takes pretty decent photos for what it is. The bottom line is fun! Sure a full-auto digital pocket-wonder is easier and more reliable, but my Chaika II is more fun, more rewarding and stimulates my brain!

-Bob G

[pcfranchina]

Just need something fun. I already have a bunch of manual SLRs and a decent RF rig.

[MikeyGaGa]

I recommend a Yashica Lynx 14.

Big and heavy;built like a Abrams tank. Dazzingly sharp 45mm F;1.4 lens.

I load it with 800iso film and take it to plays,concerts,jazz clubs,etc.

BIG FUN!:D

Yours colloidially,

Mikey GaGa

[Kat]

I'm in the same boat. I've also been wanting a half frame, so I thought I'd hit two birds with one stone. Leaning towards an FSU half-frame, I still haven't fully decided between a Chaika II and an Agat 18. Sample pics around the web are so varied, I couldn't form an opinion on either. With your budget, you can get both!:D

[clintock]

I have both the agat 18 and obviously the chaika II. The chaika I got was pretty beat and bent so by far it's best use so far has been a teaching aid for my son. It's his camera now. Despite being dropped often, and bumping around in the bottom of toy bins, it still works! I never tried film in it.
The Agat 18 is total fun- the exposure icons are quite useful, and the little thing really works. Hmm
The catch is that fun old cameras often need repair or battery mods etc, but newer cameras tend to be auto-everything zoom with sadly slow lenses..
The XA2 is a great alternative to the way way over rated and over valued lomo lca..
Xa2 and 3 are new enough to not leak light and use normal batteries, but old enough to be cheap. Like the lomo, the xa2 will stay open and try to get the shot even if it's too dark, making the blendy camera movement thing happen.
The minox 35 cameras will do that too- 100 dollars will get a good working minox..
On most minox and the xa3 there is a 2x exposure value button for backlit situations.
That and manual focus are about it for control, save for lying to the iso dial.

I think on the stylus epic there is very little control except for flash modes- I bought one for my mom and she promplty lost it. The finder on the epic is the weak link- the xa2 finder is huge and wonderfully bright, the minox is not too bad...

[iñaki]

Do you have a TRL? You can try a CLAd Flexaret from Slovaquia (seller Cupog in ebai).
The folders are cool too: a good working ISKRA.

[pcfranchina]

To be honest I never thought of getting a TLR. I actually know very little about something like that. I just figured I would stay 35mm.

[shadowfox]

Olympus Xa...all the way...

What pesphoto said :)

I missed the opportunity to take "artistic" photos of my baby using my XA, she's a toddler now :)

The XA, which I usually pair with an Ilford XP2 or a Kodak MAX 200 (not 400, tends to over expose) is fun to use and the result is very satisfying.

[kmack]

Not my auction but you may want to look at:
nikon 500, Evoca, Minolta 16, Olympus 35ec2, Ricoh Af70 (http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-500-EVOCA-MINOLTA-16-OLYMPUS-35EC2-RICOH-AF70_W0QQitemZ220077398467QQihZ012QQcategoryZ3332Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Lots of fun p&s (and one RF) if you want to stay with 35mm.

Personally I love my Zeiss Nettar 510 (Bob).

[pcfranchina]

Are there no high-end P&S cams in my price range? I was even looking on Evil-Bay. Not much in the classifieds on rff.

[Steve Bellayr]

Try your local thrift stores and pawn shops. You take your chances there but at least you have the merchandise in hand to look at.

[pesphoto]

XA's can be had for under $100

[shadowfox]

Are there no high-end P&S cams in my price range? I was even looking on Evil-Bay. Not much in the classifieds on rff.
I just have to ask, what do you mean by high-end?

Is it:

- extremely good lens? for $100, XA has *the* best 6-element lens, it's older brothers like the 35SPn have better lenses, but it's *not* pocketable. Another route is to get Olympus 35 EC or EC2 or ECR (the first two are zone focus, and the last one has a patch rangefinder). The lens has 5-elements, but the result is unique and they handle handheld low-light even better than the XA ;)

or

- fun to shoot? get Olympus Pen half-frames, they are fun to shoot, no thinking needed, just point and shoot, if you don't like half-frames, get a cheapo Olympus Trip 35, the results will astound you and you'll just spend 10% of your budget, use the rest of it for different types of film and processing (then you'll cover more parameters for 'artistic/creative' results :) )

or

- everyone says they're good? but overpriced (in my opinion)? for $400 and up you have some choices, the Contax T3, the Minolta TC-1, and the Leica Minilux. But why? I've seen their results, nothing spectacular that merits paying 5x the XA.

<rant>
Also, eBay is not evil, it's some of its inhabitants (both sellers *and* buyers) that gave it a bad name. Most of us won't even have things to talk about here if it were not for eBay and the new global economy that it has created.
</rant>

[pcfranchina]

I was shocked to see the prices on Ricoh GR-1 and the Nikon 35ti.

[clintock]

In the realm of new cameras(less than $100), there is only the stylus epic. Lucky you, in NYC you can just go to BHphoto and see/buy one. I wonder how the epic lens compares to the xa.

[pcfranchina]

Funny you say that about B&H, its really out of the way and quite a walk from the train. Sometimes I will order online or just go to Adorama if the price is the same.
Both cameras look like that would be great for the street. There is a more expensive Stylus in Champagne color with a remote. Its a shame I like the black one better.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=5199&A=details&Q=&sku=351231&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

[clintock]

I really thought they had quit making the things last year, and I remember being kind of upset- the end of an era- no more f2.8 olympus pocket film cameras.. There were some kind of zoom epic, but none of the good ones with the proper prime lens. But now they seem to be in abundance on the BH site..
I can't see paying more money for a data back, and on both models, the underlying plastic is black I think, so scratches on the black one are less noticible.. Maybe I'm wrong.. Remote is pretty cool, especially for shots with the baby..

[Andrew Sowerby]

The Lomo LC-A gets my vote for being fun but I don't think you'll find one for under $100. The XA3 is similar and can be found for much less ...

[fgianni]

Smena Symbol for the fun

Within your budget a Ricoh R1 is a great camera

[shutterfiend]

The Stylus Epic I got from Randy is an excellent price of machinery. Moreover, it turned out to be a "limited" with an on-the-fly panorama switch! (Haven't used the feature yet, but it's good to know I have it) Thanks Randy!

It has a spot focus which is great for tricky light conditions. The camera shoots wide-open most of the time (which I like a lot!). Focusing is fast. I find the flash a little difficult to control. It has no less than 6 flash settings but goes back to default everytime you shut the camera off. The viewfinder took a little to get used to, but after the third roll I can find the viewfinder in near darkness.

Price wise, Randy practically donated it to me. But I'm sure you can find a decent used one for about half your budget.

[Jeroen]

Yeah, get one! I bought a used one (in good shape) for around $50.

[pcfranchina]

If I go with the Epic Stylus I would just get it new from B&H or Adorama. Not sure of the color yet..... Champagne or Black?

[shadowfox]

Just some sites about the Stylus in case you haven't read them:
http://www.jimtardio.com/olympus-epic.html
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/epic.htm
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/stylus/index.html

If I ever can get a straight answer on what's the digital version (with the same lens quality) of this camera, I'd buy it in a snap :)

[pcfranchina]

A local drug store here still has a couple Polaroid 600 Ultra. Very tempted. I think I am going to head back there later and pick it up.

[emraphoto]

I was shocked to see the prices on Ricoh GR-1 and the Nikon 35ti.

that's because the gr1 rules! it really is an awesome machine almost PERFECT for street work.
definately more for your buck as well, exposure comp, preset focusing distance AWESOME glass and very sturdy.

[amateriat]

I was shocked to see the prices on Ricoh GR-1 and the Nikon 35ti.
As the owner of a Ricoh GR-1, I'm not overly surprised: it's an amazing camera on a number of fronts, and I won't let go of mine. At the same time, there are other really-great "high-end" p/s cameras to choose from as well (most of them already mentioned on this thread). What the extra cash buys you, besides better build-quality, is extra exposure control (the GR-1 has an exposure compensation dial to kill for, as well as the choice of Program or aperture-priority AE, with half-stop aperture control from f/2.8 to f/16...and that's just for starters), and better-corrected glass. But it costs more. Your call.


- Barrett

[pcfranchina]

Its actually how much thought I am putting into a cheap toy.
1 polaroid ultra 600
2 stylus epic
3 ??????????

[pcfranchina]

Shopping is over! I just picked up a new stylus epic kit. Came with a case, strap, battery and remote. I will load it up with some film and play this weekend.