Same cameras every year. Would be refreshing to do a list of top 10 underrated P&S that no one is searching for, you can easily make it a series with other camera types. Would just be good to see a video like this that doesn't include a contax or a Lecia.
There will be an article coming soon that discusses the cameras in more detail and provides alternatives! Watch our socials to see. Thanks for watching! - Connor
@@NamBungTo Hey there! If I can be honest with you, not everyone needs a Leica/Contax. These are luxury items within the small luxury niche of film photography, and we think they're priced accordingly. Even when they were new, these cameras were not available to everyone. The same is true for Leica rangefinders and many medium format cameras. There are not enough of them to meet the demand, so prices go up. They are not overpriced simply because not everyone can buy them. This list is the most searched & most popular, as chosen by Google search data. Hope that helps! - Connor
After discovering a photography book titled "Drive-by Shootings" shot by a NYC cab driver using T4 camera's, I bought a T4 for myself in 2001. I had only shot a couple rolls of film with the camera before moving halfway across the country. Where I couldn't find it and then forgot about it. Until three years ago that is, when I discovered it in our basement, packed away in its box with the manual, warranty, sales receipt, etc. (and a partially exposed roll of film still inside). It was like getting a brand new camera.
I live in one of “that” part of the the world where film photography is nearly forgotten and you have no access to neither camera nor any rolls or absolutely anything related. And i wanna learn and try🥺😭
The Leica Minilux have the best Lens of all analog compact Cameras, I can very highly recommend it (I got it in July 1995), but for a fast easy to use street Camera I will recommend the Minox ML. Of the Contax cameras, I like the first version most, the Contax T. You could also have the Olympus XA and XA-2.
I have many of the cameras on this list and love the point and shoots. Since the 70s, I have had a love affair with the Rollei 35s and have several now. I have a small travel bag that holds a chrome original with the Tessar lens loaded with color print film, a black 35S with Tri-X, a small Sekonic light meter, a compact Sunpak 121 flash, filters with adapters, and miscellaneous accessories. This bag originally held my Canon QL17 and flash. My legs are my zoom. Fun episode!
It's not really, there are many great cheap alternatives available. The image quality differences will be very small. Personally I think anyway that it's nonsense to look for the best possible analog camera. Then you might as well get a digital camera. Analog is great for its unique look and little imperfections. So if I were you I'd get a cheap film camera and start shooting! Maybe one of your family members even has an old camera laying around. That's how I came into an Olympus OM-30 which works perfectly.
I've had 3 of my P&S brake on me unexpectedly. An Olympus Mju II (Lens stuck), Minilux (Error) and Contax T2 (Dead). Save yourself money and anxiety and get yourself a Canon Prima II.
I tend to agree with you, Daniel! While the high-end compacts have an allure, I'm generally a bigger fan of something I won't be afraid to use. Thanks for watching! - Connor
Thanks for your curated top ten list! I am happy to see that your Contax T2 also closes/opens the lens when switching from manual to autofocus. I was worried that it was a defect of mine 😅
My T2 doesn’t do anything when switching from AF to MF, wandering now if mine has issues but it doesn’t looks at all, actually I think it’s a problem if it does like in the video
Für die die eine Point and Shoot in der Preisklasse 100-150€ suchen, hab ich einen kleinen Geheimtipp. Die Konica Lexio 70. Mit 28-70mm ist die Brennweite extrem vielseitig und mit f3.4 auch noch ziemlich lichtstark für eine so weitwinklige Point and shoot. Dazu gibt es noch ein paar praktische Modi wie zum Beispiel +1.5 stop Belichtung bei Gegenlichtaufnahmen. Außerdem sieht sie sogar relativ schick aus und ist schön kompakt. Und da die Front Linse unter einer aufschiebbaren Klappe versteckt ist, steht auch nichts störendes raus falls die Kamera mal in eine Hosentasche soll und die Linse ist vor Staub gut geschützt.
Hey Nick! A point & shoot like the Leica Mini Zoom can be a great first camera for snapshots, party shots, and other candid moments, but the Leica is priced a bit higher than cameras with similar features because it comes from a well-regarded company. I'd suggest checking out compacts from companies like Minolta, Pentax, or Ricoh. The A-1 is a great choice, although it's gotten a lot more expensive in the past few years because of exposure through influencers. If you check out our blog post for the Top 10 35mm SLRs of 2022 ( kamerastore.com/blogs/posts/top-10-35mm-slrs-for-2022 ) you can find some other popular models as well as alternatives! Hope that helps! - Connor
Hey guys! I have been wondering something, maybe you guys could explain it on some video if you haven't mentioned it yet... Here it goes: Why are companies not producing new film cameras? With today's tech I guess we could get some really high end camera qualities, yet the entire concept of film cameras and Google searches and top film cameras articles are always putting cameras from 3-4-5 decades ago on the spot. Is it because companies don't see a market demand higher enough to drive resources to it? Also, have you seen Chroma Cameras? Are they up to the standard of their older counterparts? Haven't really seen them being mentioned when comparing film cameras from similar formats
Hey Ignacio! The simple answer is that, although the film community is very passionate, there is nowhere near enough of a market to dedicate factory space and R&D to producing film cameras outside of extremely niche, high-end products (think Leica) or extremely low-end products (think Ilford reusable 35mm camera). If you look at what film SLRs sold for new, adjusted for inflation they're around the same price as the newest digital gear. Simply put, very few would pay those prices these days with so much used gear out there. For example, a Nikon F3HP cost $449.50 US in 1985 (according to a catalog we have here). Adjusted for inflation, that's just over 1,160$ for the body alone. A Canon AE-1 Program with 50mm f1.8 lens cost the equivalent of $605.75. The reality of the situation is that film shooters have gotten used to prices being EXTREMELY (and unsustainably) low, which would make them hesitant to dedicate time and money to a new SLR that would be decidedly less capable than the ones that exist today. ----- Homemade/3D printed cameras like the Chroma come with many pros and cons. They're often designed to fill very specific niches (like panoramic/lightweight models) because they cannot compete directly with, say, a normal 35mm SLR. Their 35mm offering is a pinhole camera, and their 120 is a flexible multi-format system that functions more like a large format camera than something like a Hasselblad or Pentax 67. These cameras are alternatives for some, and can be had quite cheaply, but they're not replacements. Hope that answers your questions a bit! - Connor
Last month I got a MJU zoom, a MJU II 35mm, and a silver MJU II zoom 80 for a total of 40 euro, sold as untested, they turned out to be working, except for the flash on the MJU zoom. I'm not complaining :))
Awesome! Hopefully they continue to work and expose properly. Turning on and firing =/= working properly in our experience. Good luck with them! - Connor
The Prego line is full of cool cameras! Great choice. As we say in the video, there are tons of cameras out there that can do 90%+ of what the popular models can. This is just a ranking based on Google Search results! Thanks for watching! - Connor
Had a black Contax T3 some years ago. Bought it for € 270 and sold it two weeks later for € 450. A little bit earlier, I bought an unused Olympus XA for € 175 on eBay. It's said it was then the most expensive XA, and I sold it too the same buyer who bought the T3 for € 250. I'll guess it was in 2008. Nowadays, those black T3,s are sold for about € 2500.
The compact market, more than any other camera segment, has exploded in popularity in the last few years! I think it has a bit to do with younger people being used to compact devices but loving the image quality compared to small digital offerings. Luckily, wonderful cameras like the XA haven't risen as much in price as the Mju-II or T3! Thanks for watching! - Connor
Hey Frank! Perhaps unfortunately, many people agree with you that the Mju and T2 are excellent. That’s precisely why they’re as expensive as they are! I’d recommend checking out the article version of this video (link in bio) where I make some suggestions for alternatives to these super popular models! Thanks for watching! - Connor
I picked up a Pentax IQZoom for around $20 bucks, it has the dial to change the flash settings which makes it one of the best budget point n shoots plus the lens is really sharp. I don’t get why people pay for the high end point n shoots.
I agree to some extent, Aaron! I'm constantly recommending Minolta Rivas, Canon Primas, and Pentax Espios (what IQZooms are called outside of the US) to people, especially the zoom models. They can do 90% of what the sought-after models can do, but for a fraction of the price! Thanks for watching! - Connor
same happened to my leica minilux, bought it like 600 euro. After one month, got error 01! luckily it came with 1 year warranty. Sent it back and got a refund. They fixed the problem and now selling it for 900 euro. :)
Thanks for this list, very useful. I do have the No.1 Olympus camera, and I can't stand it. Nice to know of the other options. I love my Minolta AF2 best of all in P&S.
I had that Olympus Stylus Epic in the late 90s and was very happy to replace it with my first SLR. It's funny that it's a sought-after classic now. Maybe I just hadn't learned to hold the camera steady yet.
@@Kamerastore well I was a teenager and probably knew less about what I was doing than the average person who is spending thousands of dollars on a T2 :)
Thanks for the video. Here are the Point & Shoot film cameras I have owned and used: Diana Holga Kodak Bullet Kodak Instamatic Kodak Brownie Box Nikon L35 AF 35mm Canon Sure Shot 35mm compact Canon Prima 35mm with 38 to 65 zoom lens Vivitar 35mm P&S camera with 27mm lens I no longer own the Diana, Kodak Instamatic, Kodak Brownie, and Canon Primira. With the exception of the Holga, I do not frequently use the ones I still own. The Nikon L35 is the only one on my list that is also on your list.
They can still be found for that price today in second-hand stores! I bought one here in Finland for 7 Euro! It's an absurd deal considering how much they sold for new, and how great they are! Thanks for watching! - Connor
Hey please help me out. I'm thinking about getting my first analog camera and i'm in a doubt between the Olympus MJU ii or the Yashica T3/T4. I can pick up both the olympus and the t3 for around 200$ second handed, whereas the T4 is 300$. Is the T4 worth the 100$ more or should i just stick with the T3? and should i pick the T3 over the MJU ii or not? i'd appreciate a reaction from someone! :)
Nikon L35AF is the best P&S for the money IMO. They can be found under $200 currently in the U.S. and the image quality is the same as the Nikon 35Ti IMO. ISO 1000 version is great for Delta 3200 or pushing HP5. (high speed Kodak too). Great video guys! 👍🏻
"error E02" - If you get one fixed or it's currently functioning, I allow all these 'pop-out lens' cameras to Go-to-Sleep to limit the lens movement issues (the lens is stored & waiting in the 'ready-to-fire' position). Plus for many of these, when they go into 'Sleep mode', they save your settings !
Video @ 6:02 "they break, the electronics" - Actually, the electronics are almost military spec in the Contax T2 : I service these wonderful P&S's, and the MAIN service issues are related to aging plastic that breaks. Besides folks storing these cameras away with batteries that have leaked their chemistry (migrating corrosion etc.), the breakage of rather STRONG advance related springs that 'tug' on plastic anchor posts along with tiny plastic gears that split etc. When this 'old' plastic gives-way, many than call them 'bricked' or paperweights. But for example, if one has a working Nikon L35 AF unit, proactively get it to a qualified technician who understands these weaknesses and allow them to reinforce (dabs of Epoxy) these weak points. At the same time there are switches that can use a bit of cleaning after-which an application of DeOxit electrolube which will keep annoying electronic glitches from showing up (Basically a C L A). I own the (*problematic motorized lens movement) Leica Minilux, Nikon 35Ti, Contax T2 & T3 (love them all), BUT my favorite of these P&S models is the rugged & weatherized Nikon L35 AW/AF... * I allow all these cameras to Go-to-Sleep to limit the lens movement issues (the lens is stored & waiting in the 'ready-to-fire' position.
Point & shoots really aren't made for macro work. You can't see directly through the viewfinder, and most don't have focus aids at all to let you know if you're in focus. Probably your best bet is to find a camera with pure manual focus like the Nikon 35Ti, Contax T2, or Leica Minilux so you can at least be sure how far the camera is focused. An additional barrier to good macro work with compacts is wide focal lengths. Most macro lenses are between 60 and 100mm, IE slightly longer than normal. Most compacts are between 28 and 40mm. This difference in focal length and optical design makes macro work difficult. Hope that helps! - Connor
Since this list was driven by search results, I'd err more towards the first one. The TC-1 was a high-end machine when new and didn't sell particularly well compared to cameras like the Contax T2 and Leica Minilux we see here. Very cool camera though! Thanks for watching! - Connor
Sample photos shown for a few seconds do very little to showcase a camera's innate abilities. The truth is that most point & shoots, in the right hands, can capture great images! It's about finding what fits best in your hand and makes you want to shoot, and that's why we're showcasing the cameras this way! If you're interested in some sample photos, we have an article on the Leica compact cameras on our site. The TLDR is that it's pretty hard to tell the results apart even when the cameras have different lenses! Thanks for watching! - Connor
Would you classify the Voigtlander Vito, Zeiss Ikon Contina and Kodak Retinette as point-and-shoot cameras? How would you categorize these 50s and 60s era West German compacts?
I personally call them compact viewfinder cameras to differentiate them from more automatic point & shoots and higher-end cameras of the time that had focusing aids, like SLRs or rangefinders. Even some later cameras, like the Rollei 35 or Agfa Optima Sensor, fit this description. They can be really difficult to classify, and how we categorize them on our website has been an ongoing debate! There's no real right answer! Good question. - Connor
The Mju-II cameras are weather-sealed, so they're designed to withstand a splash or other moisture but earlier ones are not. Look for a sticker or an "all-weather" designation on the camera to know more. Otherwise they're made of the same plastic, glass, and metal as the rest of the cameras of the era so they can probably take a small drop but likely not much more. Mju-II cameras also commonly have degraded light seals inside the lens that leave ring-shaped light leaks on photos. This repair process is difficult and slow, so very few people will do it. Overall, they're basically the same as most other mid-level point & shoots but with the plus of being weather-sealed. Obviously after 20+ years though the condition of individual cameras varies WILDLY and it's not reasonable to expect all Mju cameras to perform and behave the same way. - Connor
The point & shoot market is a bit too volatile to pin down prices for specific models for more than a few months. Some go up, some go down, some stay the same. You can always check our site ( kamerastore.com ) for more info! Thanks for watching. - Connor
I'm always a bit surprised that no one ever mentions, or often even knows about, the Canon Esprit aka Sure Shot M, Prima Mini, Autoboy F (name depended on the market). I had one when they came out, and it was a great little camera. I didn't really know the difference between prime and zoom lenses at the time, so when it bit the bullet I got a Canon with a zoom, and it seemed the image quality hit was noticeable. I guess the Canon Esprit was in that same bracket as the Olympus Mju, but it's kind of forgotten now.
Bought an Autoboy F recently, I didn't expect much but the photos came out so well and sharp for such an underrated camera. Not to mention the camera is even smaller than a iPhone 8, very convenient and easy to carry around.
Good to know U2 made cameras. Now seriously, the MJU II is not on the top just because of the low price; but because they make great photos consistently. There's many cheaper cameras out there, Kodak crap by instance.
The Olympus P+S cameras take great photos, but the two Stylus model I’ve owned eventually locked up on me after a few years of use. So I’m kinda surprised at what people are paying for these models today.
Many higher-end point & shoots, like the Contax T2 and Leica Minilux, will have metal frames. Most compacts will have plastic frames though, even some that cost hundreds of Euro (Olympus Mju II, Yashica T4, etc.). Thanks for watching! - Connor
I have a Leica Minilux owned for about twenty five years. It doesn't work any more. It developed a problem, shows EO2 in the display and jams completely. It's nothing more than an ornament now. Evidently this is common with this model....better off with an older 3G. It ain't point and shot but its far superior in every way....
Youre right Brian, that's a pretty common issue with the Minilux. It's unfortunate since they're otherwise an absolute joy to shoot, but I bet it made some excellent images in 25 years! Thanks for watching! - Connor
@@Kamerastore Yes, the photographs were excellent, I was very disappointed with the problem this camera developed especially from a company like Leica. I owned an old pre WW2 range finder camera that worked perfectly. The photo's were a little soft but otherwise a great little camera, to be fair I always found my M6 a wonderful point and shoot even though not auto focus....look at Henri Cartier Bresson's work... he used Leica 35mm range finder cameras all the time....
"It's nothing more than an ornament now" - Why ? - It's TOTALLY repairable with the problematic flex lens cable now available for replacement (not an easy DIY repair though). Okay, now that you got it fixed : I allow all my 'pop-out lens' cameras to Go-to-Sleep to limit their lens movement issues (the lens is stored & waiting in the 'ready-to-fire' position). Plus for the Minilux when it goes into 'Sleep mode', it saves all your settings !
I believe it was #11 or #12 on our list! Remember, this list was driven by user data and search results, not our opinion. If your favorite camera isn't on the list, get people to search for it! Although prices may rise if you do 😉 thanks for watching! - Connor
Just like the Minlux a SUPERB Summarit lens ! (the 'cheaper' version is the less desirable Zoom model) - But, the CM is far more expensive than the only slightly larger Minilux. - BTW, I own both Summarit units, but because of skyrocketing CM prices (more than double the Minilux), I'm fearful to use it in real-world situations...
The Ti wasn't far down the list, but didn't quite crack the Top 10! I think there aren't many out there, and perhaps people would be surprised to see Nikon make a "luxury point & shoot". They're excellent cameras though! Thanks for watching! - Connor
These are horribly overrated IMHO... prices have gone ridiculous. "Brick" is a highly appropriate adjective for most of these. Get a GRIII instead (in many cases cheaper to boot).
We avoid saying what cameras are "best" because we can't pretend to know what's best for you. We're not you, and different cameras work best for different people. Many of these cameras are popular BECAUSE they bring unique features or high levels of quality to the compact market. What we have is data from search results and ads, and that's how we make these videos. Plenty of people like to see how trends change over the years with videos like this. It may not be interesting to you, but your opinion is not applicable to everyone. Thanks for watching! - Connor
"what's the best for what we pay?" - Well I own the (*problematic motorized lens movement) Leica Minilux, Nikon 35Ti, Contax T2 & T3 (love them all), BUT my favorite of these P&S models, is the rugged & weatherized Nikon L35 AW/AF (great optic & even low-mileage samples are still bulletproof bargains).
