Thinking About A New Digital Camera, Advise Please:

[Vinylly]

I'm from the old school of film cameras, having a Hasselblad 500 C/M, Leica R 6.2 SLR and a Contax T2 for travel.

I would like a digital camera that doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but mostly manual photography. I don't do movies or panaramas or much of sports. I do like a very fast lens so I don't need a flash. I would like all the necessary controls easy to grasp without wading through a menu. The camera should be small like the Contax T2. In other words I like a digital camera with all the controls in place like a film camera and has no complex menu's. Any suggestions?

 

[EthanP99]

A7M2

all the controls without menu diving, mount any manual lens you want, FF sensor.

oh and IN BODY IMAGE STABILIZATION

 

[Vinylly]

What's an A7M2?

I like the in body IS but don't think I can afford full frame, maybe 4/3 or E mount or minimum 1" sensor. This camera won't be for professional work.

 

[Montana Floozie]

I'm an old-fart film guy too, and I'm certainly not up on the latest and greatest -- I'm still using a 10-year-old Panasonic FZ-20, which I still like for its zoom range and will continue to use.

But for close range shooting Santa delivered -- early -- a LX100, which I am very happy with and has the controls I'm accustomed to using. Plus, it's nice to upgrade your technology every decade or so...

These two cameras weigh a fraction of what I used to haul around and allow me to capture all the images i want. Back when, I used to avoid zoom lenses, but now I think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[jrkliny]

It might want to consider one of the Leica rangefinder digital cameras. Not my choice but they are old school.

 

[Leonard Migliore]

It might want to consider one of the Leica rangefinder digital cameras. Not my choice but they are old school.

Only after it rubs the lotion on its skin.

--
Leonard Migliore

 

[Mark S Abeln]

What's an A7M2?

It’s from Sony but it isn’t cheap.

http://store.sony.com/full-frame-mi...CE7M2/B/cat-27-catid-all-alpha-pro-capability

There is a recent trend in photography for retro-body cameras, ones that have a few, dedicated manual controls, vintage styling, and without many of the features found on most current DSLRs.

These are popular with young photographers who seek purity at any cost, and who find their grandfather’s cameras more appealing than their fathers might have: be aware that many current DSLR designs take styling cues that date back to the 1980s, while the newer ones more emulate what was available in the 1960s and 70s.

Examples of these retro cameras include the Nikon Df, Fuji X100 (and newer variants), Leica M9, and Pentax MX-1.

--

http://therefractedlight.blogspot.com

 

[digitallollygag]

The Fuji XE-2 comes to mind: crop-sensor camera with lots of manual control.

 

[tkbslc]

I think the Fujifilm X-T1 was made for you:

Lots of classic external controls, good sized viewfinder, great image quality, high quality prime lenses available. More compact than an SLR. Good manual and auto focus. It does have some modern features, but you don't have to use them.

Link to a review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilm-x-t1

 

[D Cox]

To have traditional control, it is best to use traditional lenses that have aperture rings and manual focus. Keep the modern all-electronic lenses for situations when you need automation.

I have seen excellent results posted by people using the Leica R lenses on a Sony A7r. The new A7ii might be a better choice.

You will be surprised how good your lenses are.

 

[D Cox]

What's an A7M2?

Sony A7ii. Full frame.

I like the in body IS but don't think I can afford full frame, maybe 4/3 or E mount or minimum 1" sensor. This camera won't be for professional work.

In that case, Sony A6000 (E mount). This has an APS-C sensor and is reasonably priced.

The point is to get the best from the lenses you have.

 

[KCook]

These are popular with young photographers who seek purity at any cost, and who find their grandfather’s cameras more appealing than their fathers might have: be aware that many current DSLR designs take styling cues that date back to the 1980s, while the newer ones more emulate what was available in the 1960s and 70s.

Examples of these retro cameras include the Nikon Df, Fuji X100 (and newer variants), Leica M9, and Pentax MX-1.

+1 I would add the Canon G15/16 to that list.

Kelly Cook

 

[Koban]

for my self no more Sony. There service is really bad. Had to many problems with them.

 

[AlbertTheLazy]

I think the Fujifilm X-T1 was made for you:

Lots of classic external controls, good sized viewfinder, great image quality, high quality prime lenses available. More compact than an SLR. Good manual and auto focus. It does have some modern features, but you don't have to use them.

Link to a review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilm-x-t1

Or any of the Fuji interchangeable lens cameras, depending on what you want. I was looking for a camera similar to your requirements for 5 years and bought the X-E1 as soon as I discovered it. I now also have an X-T1 but the X-E1 is still a good camera. I've used it for everything from macro of live ants to 300mm tele shooting from a moving boat.

You can use practically any film lens ever built on them but with a tighter FOV. The Fujis are almost exactly the same size as my Nikon FM2 and the handling is very similar.

--
Albert
Every photograph is an abstraction from reality.
Most people are more interested in the picture than the image.

 

[57LowRider]

Like Albert says, X-Pro1, X-E1/2, X-T1 are all right up your street, OP. I have a 500 C/M and Fujica GW690 for film fun at the moment and for a while a FM2 last year, which really brought home how easy it is to switch between film SLR and Fuji X.

You may want to put the Nikon Df on your list too, although like all DSLRs, it's a bit of a lump compared to its film equivalent.

 

[wrgb]

The Fuji XT-1 is probably the best choice, but if price is a problem try the Panasonic DMC-GX7. It's got retro styling and control dials. Does have menus but the major settings can be mjade on the dials. It has a Micro Four Thirds sensor and lensl Micro Four Thirds is bigger than 1" but not as large as APS-Cl.

 

[Just Shoot Me]

Any of the Fuji X series cameras. But then you could also go with Sony A6000 for more mega pixels.

There are adapters for both Fuji and Sony mounts that allow you to use your older lenses.

Fuji has a very full line of FAST prime lenses and they are adding to that. Sony not so much.

 

[Jim Cassatt]

Diitto for Fuji cameras. Great lenses. See Kevin's Review on Luminous Landscape, http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/cameras/living_with_the_fuji_x_t1.shtml

 

[ThePhilips]

I'm from the old school of film cameras, having a Hasselblad 500 C/M, Leica R 6.2 SLR and a Contax T2 for travel.

I would like a digital camera that doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but mostly manual photography. I don't do movies or panaramas or much of sports. I do like a very fast lens so I don't need a flash. I would like all the necessary controls easy to grasp without wading through a menu. The camera should be small like the Contax T2. In other words I like a digital camera with all the controls in place like a film camera and has no complex menu's. Any suggestions?

The question is what you mean precisely by: "The camera should be small like the Contax T2." Do you mean only camera body? Or you means "with the lens"?

If "small with the lens" then the smallest system is m43 (Panasonic GX7, GM5 or Oly E-M5/E-M10, or (w/o VF) E-PL7). Samsung NX (APS-C) has also pancake lenses, but they are still fleshing out the camera body line-up. Older Samsung bodies like NX300 (w/o VF) can be picked up very cheaply.

If "small body only" then Fuji X (APS-C sensor, e.g. X-M1 (w/o VF)) and Sony EF (FF sensor, e.g. Sony A7 or APS-C sensor Sony A6000).

Both have good support for manual everything. Some tad better some tad worse.

Best retro styled bodies at the moment are: Panasonic LX100 (fixed zoom lens camera) and Fuji X system. There is also fixed lens Fuji X100/X100S/X100T cameras with 35mm FOV eq lens.

If you still have some FF glass, and want to maintain its FOV, then FF camera is highly recommended. On APS-C or m43, the FOV would decrease (lenses would become longer) by 1.5 and 2 times.

 

[MarshallG]

They ALL have menus. And you're wrong about not wanting complex menus. You use the menu to setup your camera to your preferences. You don't need to use it more than that. Some people never use it. But if your camera doesn't have the options you want, you're SoL.

My recommendation is the Canon SL1, which is the smallest DSLR in the world. They have a very excellent and compact 40mm f/2.8, or you can fit an 18-55mm which is still very lightweight. And you still have a lot of f/1.4 and f/1.8 options.

You used to shoot Contax and Hasselblad, which means you were either very serious or you had a lot of money to burn. If you were serious, those tiny little sensors won't make you too happy.