Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]If you can deal with always having a wide-angle lens, then check out the Ricoh GR-1. It has lots of manual controls including aperture priority, exposure compensation between -2 and +2 in half-stops via a dial on top of the camera (not the stupid button system on the minilux), and it even tells you the shutter speed and focus distance in the viewfinder display. Very nice 28mm F2.8 lens, too. It's got a unique film loading system, too - when you load the film, it unwinds it all the way. This way, when you take a shot, it's automatically sucked back into the canister and won't get destroyed if you accidentally open the back. Also, this camera has a genuine spot-meter, as well as center-weighted metering. The physical size also has to be seen to be believed. It's extremely compact. My only gripe about this camera is the same gripe I have about every P&S camera, which is the slow top shutter speed - 1/500s. On a sunny day in Puerto Rico two weeks ago, I maxed out the shutter even with 100 speed film. This makes it tough to use slides. You can't buy them in the USA anymore, but they're easy to come by on *bay. Should cost you between $300 and $500 depending on how and where you get it. There's also the slightly more expensive GR-1s model, which has a lens hood and accepts filters. My only other suggestion is to try the Minilux non-zoom, which has aperture priority and manual focus. It's tough lugging SLR's around all the time. :) C. -----Original Message----- From: Ray Moth [mailto:ray_moth@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 5:27 AM To: LUG Subject: [Leica] [LEICA] Do you like your P&S? Hi, LUGers I've owned a reasonably well-featured P&S for the past 3 years: a Leica Mini Zoom. This camera has a particularly good 35-70mm lens, for sharpness and contrast, although it can be very prone to flare. It has auto-focus and auto-exposure program mode only, with absolutely no feedback on anything the camera has decided for itself. It's got some override features (flash off, flash on, infinity & no flash, +2ev, pre-flash to avoid red-eye, etc.) but I find the degree of control inadequate. The built-in flash has the usual problems of being fixed and underpowered. The viewfinder is good but not great. My problem is, I think I'm developing an aversion to this camera! Even though its results can be very good, I don't feel confident using it. I'd much rather lug my R7 with a few extra lenses in a bag than use the Mini Zoom. It's uncomfortable, fiddly, unfriendly and uninspiring. Do others have similar feelings about P&S cameras? Regards, ===== Ray "The trouble with resisting temptation is you never know when you'll get another chance!" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - Share your holiday photos online! http://photos.yahoo.com/ ******************************************************* The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, retain, read, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you.