A trip to the seaside, but which camera to take?

FishyFish

FishyFish

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I'm off to the seaside for the day at the weekend. It's with my family, so not ostensibly a photo outing, but that's never stopped me. :)

I have a number of film camera options I can opt for, but I'm only taking one. So, just for fun, which of the following would you take, and why?

SLR #1: Nikon F70 & Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-D.
Pros: Auto focus and auto-metering will make it very easy to get good shots. It also has a pop-up flash should I need it.
Cons: It's a little bulky (although the ergonomics are good).

SLR #2: Olympus OM-1 & F Zuiko 50mm f/1.8.
Pros: It's just a lovely camera and a joy to use. The viewfinder is as big as a cinema screen, or so it feels. Fully manual (except meter) controls makes me feel like I'm earning my shots.
Cons: It's a little slower to use than the F70 and despite how lovely it is to behold, the ergonomics are not as good.

SLR #3: Pentax P30T & Rikenon 50mm f/2.
Pros: Compact and lightweight. Can be used in Aperture Priority mode with my Rikenon lens.
Cons: Fewer options than the two cameras above due to my fully manual lens.

Olympus 35 RC
Pros: Tiny camera. Great lens. Get an extra couple of shots from a roll usually. It's lovely.
Cons: I find focussing with the rangefinder more difficult that the split prism / ground glass screens (or full autofocus!) on the SLRs. Wasted shots if I forget to take off the lens cap!

Olympus Trip 35
Pros: Tiny. Great results. Feels like a camera that should be taken to the seaside. :)
Cons: Zone focus can be slightly tricky (for me) for close-up shots.

Point & Shoot compact (I have a few various models - nothing fancy)
Pros: No worrying about the settings, just take pleasure in finding the shots. Built in zooms & flash.
Cons: Might not focus on what I want (depends on the camera though). Lack of control. Noisy motors.

I 'might' also pop my Minolta Hi-Matic GS in my pocket too, which might render the Trip 35 pointless as a choice as they're both very similarly specced zone-focus compacts. That said, I've not had a roll back from the Hi-Matic yet, so I can't say how it will compare quality-wise.

I'll wait until the morning of the trip before making a decision on film choice.

Anyway, what would you opt for?
 
Actually what you really want is an Agfa Optima as that has a built in flash and has zone focus like the Olympus Trip ;). It is also very light.

For a day at the seaside I'd take a Trip. I always have the minox clone in my pocket as well. That's another that is ideal for a day out.
 
Having the Pentax, I would go for that. Its a nice camera, though the manual focus might put me off........

Olympus Trip is easy to pocket, so might be the final choice...convenience I guess
 
Olympus OM-1 & F Zuiko 50mm f/1.8.

This :olympus:
 
Olympus Trip initial design brief...

Photographer on non - photography, family day out requires stealth camera.
 
F1.2 said:
Olympus OM-1 & F Zuiko 50mm f/1.8.

This :olympus:
Click to expand...

The OM-1 is probably at the bottom of my list at present. Not down to any failings as a camera - I love it - but mainly because I don't think I'll do it justice. The OM-1 deserves to be taken out for it's own sake when I can use it properly and I don't think the grabbed snapshots that are likely to make up most of the shots on this trip will be worthy of it. :)

That sounds a bit like I'm knocking the other cameras on my list <glances at the now angry looking other cameras on the shelf>, but I'm not. It's just that the OM-1 is special. :love: :D
 
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If you're going for a bit of street then I'd go for the 35RC, cracking little camera and if you want to go with the two camera set up take the Trip as well, one with colour one with b&w then bobsyeruncle.
 
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The only camera on your list that I know is the OM-1 - I'd have to look up the others to see what they are/do. Given that you have a choice, in your shoes if there was nothing else to choose between them, I'd consider the location and go with the camera with the best sealing against sand and salt water.

In my shoes, the OM-1 would be the only one on the list I'd own (I have one). :D
 
Personally....I'd take the Yashica Mat ;0)

If you're definitely only shooting 35mm, from that list my preference would be for the Olympus OM1 along with the 35RC. I've had several Trips and just didn't get on with them because I'm not 100% confident in my zone focusing abilities, especially if you're trying to grab family shots.

I'd leave the P&S compacts behind because I like some level of manual decision making, although the results you've already posted from them are excellent.
 
Bought a Nikon F301?

Used to sell them many years ago, never really got on with them to much of a compromise but people who bought them did get some fab pictures out of them. Enjoy it :D
 
The F301 is tough and I should know using a hacksaw on it to release the lens after the release button stopped working o_O
 
F301's a capable camera but unlike the earlier Nikon's it's not one I can build much attachment to. Gave my first one away. Took pity on another one on ebay that was going cheap with no bidders. Still have it but hardly use it Think I read it was touted as the FE2's successor. Even though they added a built in winder & the program modes it seems a step backwards to me.
 
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If the OM is out or at the bottom of the list, and going with a SLR and only one lens, then my next choice would be the RC. It is really small, easy to carry and use, you can use it even if the battery goes dead, full auto or full manual controls and a great tiny lens, but with all the cons of a rangefinder, such as forgetting the lens cap on. :D
 
excalibur2 said:
The F301 is tough and I should know using a hacksaw on it to release the lens after the release button stopped working o_O
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The lens release and everything seems fine, apart from the frame counter which is stuck on 36. When I loaded it with XP-2 the film advance indicator shows that the film is advancing properlyIMAG0233_1.jpg
 
excalibur2 said:
The F301 is tough and I should know using a hacksaw on it to release the lens after the release button stopped working o_O
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I've always removed lenses with a hacksaw. And attached any different one with black gaffa tape. You mean that's not normal? Button? What button?
 
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droj said:
I've always removed lenses with a hacksaw. And attached any different one with black gaffa tape. You mean that's not normal? Button? What button?
Click to expand...

Well after screw lens use.... one up for Canon esp the great idea of the early lenses where tightening the lens ring to lock the lens in place would take up manufacturing tolerances and wear...For the F301, in the picture, the button to the right which releases the lens as it's in the body you are knackered if it jams. Maybe there was a way of taking the front out to get at it, but the way I look at it is:- Why bother as I could never trust that camera again and only paid about £8 for it.
Failure of the lens release button on cameras doesn't seem to be common as here AFAIK only Asha (on a Bronica) and I have had this problem.....which isn't too bad seeing we are using cameras 25-40 years old.
 
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DNH said:
Think I read it was touted as the FE2's successor. Even though they added a built in winder & the program modes it seems a step backwards to me.
Click to expand...

The F-301 was the replacement for the FG, which also had Program mode. I think it mentions that on wikipedia.

I've seen it mentioned on another site that some F3 users carried them as a second body. As a smaller, lighter alternative with a very similar name.

I don't have a Nikon F3 to compare it to, but if anyone would like to donate one, just get in touch.
 
So, I'm sure everyone is(n't) waiting with baited breath to find out which camera I took?

It was <drum roll>....

The Pentax P30T

The reason being the weather primarily. Had the weather been nice, like yesterday, I might've taken something else, but given its been cool with thick cloud cover, I wanted something that I could shoot happily in low light. The Pentax fits that bill and is pretty lightweight to boot (smaller than the F70, and requiring less effort than the OM-1 - something useful when out on a family trip) That said, I put some 400 ASA black and white film in it to give me some extra leeway with the light - a roll of Bergger Pancro 400 (the first time I've shot it), so I could've used the 35 RC without losing too much aperture advantage I guess.

I did take the 35 RC too though, primarily as back-up. It had a roll of Kodak Colorplus 200 in it, but I didn't take any shots with it because the lght was low and flat and better suited IMO to black and white shots.

I've got a few shots of the Bergger left to use this weekend and then will hopefully get some results back early next week.
 
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