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Give me a digital Spotmatic or OM-1 or AE-1 and I'd be a happy man!

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kikoba

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To all:

I am making the switch to digital. I have sifted through many articles and reviews and opinions, and have enough information to make ones head spin. But more information is always welcome. Perhaps, you people will have some good advice to help simplify things.

Is there a camera in the new digital age that is the equivalent of the cameras mentioned in the title of this thread? By equivalent, I am referring to a digital camera where you set the aperature on the lense and the shutter on a dedicated dial. No menus to sift through. It is small and quiet and unobtrusive. It is sturdy and precise and a joy to use.

It doesn't need to capture huge, sweeping vistas or be a super macro contendor. It doesn't have to have burst of 8fps. It is built to capture those wonderful, intimate moments as only that certain special photographic tool is able. Now...if it can capture the vistas and the details on a flower petal, great. And if I can capture each beat of a hummingbird's wing, great. But, those are secondary concerns.

I know. I know. Leica Digilux 2. But, I am not quite ready to shell out $1800 or $1500 for the LC1, unless I am getting a versatile, do everything camera with a couple of lenses. Speaking of lenses, my arsenal includes a wide range of M42 screwmount SMC Takumars, some Zuiko lenses that go with my OM-1, and some Canon glass to go with my AE-1. The Takumars make up the bulk of my collection, but I am not married to the Pentax system. If I can use any or all of these lenses on my digital purchase, great. If not, well, I'll see what ebay has to offer me for them...or I'll just keep the Takumars for nostalgia. That said, I know that a digicam with a fixed lens might be the solution to my dilemna. I am open to that, as well.

I hope I have stated my case, clearly. I just know there are others like me out there who desire the simple, basic, wonderful digital tool of which I deam. If the Leica or Panasonic LC1 were half the price, I would probably be holding it in my hands right now. But that is not the case. Any advice you all have to offer would be much appreciated.

Thank you, in advance, for all of you help.

Regards,

Trip
 
kikoba said:
If the Leica or Panasonic LC1 were half the> price, I would probably be holding it in my hands right now.
Click to expand...
These pathetic consumer trinkets are hardly the solution into your problem. If you are used to using a film SLR, I think it is fair to say that a digital SLR is your only hope. If you choose not to do this, you need to be very aware of what the compromises are and also be very aware of the culture shock, which only gets worse the further away from an SLR you go. You are also not likely to get it right first time.

You should also be aware that there are greater differences between DSLRs than there ever were between film SLRs.

After all that, Pentax makes DSLR that will take your Spotmatic lenses and may be well worth your attention. I understand the viewfinder is pretty good too.
 
Well, the KM 7D was as close as you can get controls wise, but the 7D is no more (unless you want to get one on clearance at a shop, or find one used).

The 7D was knob based. You needed the LCD for basically nothing.

But its an SLR, and it sounds like you arn't looking for one.

You could hold your breath and open your pocket book and hope for the best with the Leica Digital M that is coming someday.
 
You're not completely alone out there. There has been some interest in a "manual digital" camera on these forums, but I don't if any of the manufacturers will see it as commercially viable. Leica cater for a niche market, and you pay for it.

There were rumours about an FM3D - digital version of Nikon's FM3A - which would be just the ticket, but I can't see it happening right now. The FM3A has been/is being discontinued, but I suppose they could always tool up for it again if there was enough demand.
 
Admittedly, it is not the kind of easily carried camera that an OM-1 or Spotmatic or Nikon FM3a is, but, it fully supports all my great manual focus Nikon F-mount glass, and is built to sustain pro-type abuse.
 
I am with you on the nostalgia bit. I look at my collection of OM1s from time to time with a heavy heart, but last September made the decision to move forward and embrace the world of digital photography.

And what I have so far discovered is that my new digital SLR gives me a far greater range of control over the final (desired) image than film ever gave me, even in my colour darkroom.

Therefore, the additional learning curve was not seen as an impediment, but a way to achieve greater heights.

There are some fabulous cameras out there. Do your homework and make a sound decision. I wish you well.

Kindest regards, JR
 
Get an Olympus E-1. They are around $500 now, body only. This for an all metal body, that is tough as they get, I expect mine to last for at LEAST 10 years!
You can get an MF-1 adaptor for your old Zuikos.
I have 2 OM-1s, as well as the E-1, and Zuiko primes from 24 to 200mm.

The E is an ergonomic delight to use, it has 2 'wheels' to adjust aperture and shutter speed, and has a similar display to an OM-4 for manual exposure adjustment. It also has a 2% spotmeter, for fine tuning.

Try it, you may just like it!
--
http://catmangler.smugmug.com/
 
You're not likely to find a full manual digital camera. What with one thing and another, it would be pointless. Several years ago, I selected the Pentax *istD because it set up manually very easily, and also had a PC connector. That it takes just about every non-screw mount Pentax lens is a real bonus.

The viewfinder is clear and easy to use. The camera itself is a little smaller than I like (I've got small hands for my size, but I also have some arthritis which makes tiny jog wheels a pain to use, literally). But it is fast handling, has a pretty good set of features, and is going to be supplanted late this year, so those available may cost less than I paid.

There are also a couple lower cost Pentax DSLRs, about which I know very little, but that might be good interim cameras until the upgrade for big brother comes out.
--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com
 
you may like to read this review kikoba

http://www.photo.net/equipment/pentax/istds/
kikoba said:
To all:

Is there a camera in the new digital age that is the equivalent of
the cameras mentioned in the title of this thread? By equivalent, I
am referring to a digital camera where you set the aperature on the
lense and the shutter on a dedicated dial. No menus to sift
through. It is small and quiet and unobtrusive. It is sturdy and
precise and a joy to use.

Thank you, in advance, for all of you help.

Regards,

Trip
Click to expand...
--
http://www.mrsleep.blogspot.com
 
Hi, Trip,

I know exactly where you're coming from and still use an old OM2 film based system in whch aperture and shutter speed can be altered without taking ones' hand off the lens barrel, and of course an excellent viewfinder made even more excellent by a fast 1.8 lens and a full 35mm frame rather than half-frame APS mirror.

Now.... I also use a Konica Minolta 5D - an entry level DSLR which has just been discontinued due to KM selling their camera technology to Sony. This is is a half-way house between the dails and buttons system and the menus. I don't think you need to be overly concerend about anything other than the viewfinder because on these digital cameras you'll find a control wheel(s) that can be toggled with a button between aperture and and shutter speed, meaning that you still don't have to look away and fiddle with menus.

Best viewfinder at the entry level comes with the Pentax *istDS, then at the next level the Canon 20D and the K-M 7D. You may find the latter to be rather too like a film camera and larger than is necessary nowadays. You can however still look at a K-M because the warranty is supposed to become Sony's responsibility and they have bought the Minolta A mount for future use. What you might not like about the K-M 5D is that the LCD is coarser grained than on the 7D - this would mean initially that you'll be pressing the magnify button to check the focus.

If you don't want SLR - and there is a LOT of enjoyment to be gained from using something capapble like the little Canon A620... as well as things a DSLR cannot do so easily like real time imagery and tight framing of low subjects in the swivel out LCD - then just bear in mind that the manufacturers have designed their cameras to be used in the modern world and the menus are intuitive - IOW completely and utterly different to the impenetrable geek syetems made in the 1980s.
--
John.
Imagination knows no boundaries...



http://www.pbase.com/johnfr
 
The DS / DS2 is not bad either. The viewfinder is bright and clear and old lenses work great. In fact, MF lenses work and meter better on the DS than on my old K1000. :-)
 
you can get an adapter for olympus to allow you to mount ur old zuiko
onto the newer olympus digi slr's
kikoba said:
To all:

I am making the switch to digital. I have sifted through many
articles and reviews and opinions, and have enough information to
make ones head spin. But more information is always welcome.
Perhaps, you people will have some good advice to help simplify
things.

Is there a camera in the new digital age that is the equivalent of
the cameras mentioned in the title of this thread? By equivalent, I
am referring to a digital camera where you set the aperature on the
lense and the shutter on a dedicated dial. No menus to sift
through. It is small and quiet and unobtrusive. It is sturdy and
precise and a joy to use.

It doesn't need to capture huge, sweeping vistas or be a super
macro contendor. It doesn't have to have burst of 8fps. It is built
to capture those wonderful, intimate moments as only that certain
special photographic tool is able. Now...if it can capture the
vistas and the details on a flower petal, great. And if I can
capture each beat of a hummingbird's wing, great. But, those are
secondary concerns.

I know. I know. Leica Digilux 2. But, I am not quite ready to shell
out $1800 or $1500 for the LC1, unless I am getting a versatile, do
everything camera with a couple of lenses. Speaking of lenses, my
arsenal includes a wide range of M42 screwmount SMC Takumars, some
Zuiko lenses that go with my OM-1, and some Canon glass to go with
my AE-1. The Takumars make up the bulk of my collection, but I am
not married to the Pentax system. If I can use any or all of these
lenses on my digital purchase, great. If not, well, I'll see what
ebay has to offer me for them...or I'll just keep the Takumars for
nostalgia. That said, I know that a digicam with a fixed lens might
be the solution to my dilemna. I am open to that, as well.

I hope I have stated my case, clearly. I just know there are others
like me out there who desire the simple, basic, wonderful digital
tool of which I deam. If the Leica or Panasonic LC1 were half the
price, I would probably be holding it in my hands right now. But
that is not the case. Any advice you all have to offer would be
much appreciated.

Thank you, in advance, for all of you help.

Regards,

Trip
Click to expand...
--
beam me up scotty

im giving it all shes got captain
 
u would need a m42 to pk adapter to use the m42 thread lenses on ur dslr pentax
CharlieDIY said:
You're not likely to find a full manual digital camera. What with
one thing and another, it would be pointless. Several years ago, I
selected the Pentax *istD because it set up manually very easily,
and also had a PC connector. That it takes just about every
non-screw mount Pentax lens is a real bonus.

The viewfinder is clear and easy to use. The camera itself is a
little smaller than I like (I've got small hands for my size, but I
also have some arthritis which makes tiny jog wheels a pain to use,
literally). But it is fast handling, has a pretty good set of
features, and is going to be supplanted late this year, so those
available may cost less than I paid.

There are also a couple lower cost Pentax DSLRs, about which I know
very little, but that might be good interim cameras until the
upgrade for big brother comes out.
--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com
Click to expand...
--
beam me up scotty

im giving it all shes got captain
 
It sounds like you enjoy the slow rhythm of manual cameras. Setting up the tripod, adjusting your aperture and shutter. Carefully getting exact focus. Click. Then advancing the film and starting again.

The culture of digital is very different. Eash shot is disposable and can be discarded seconds of taking the shot. On priority settings, click, click, click. With a good exposure everytime. In fact full auto settings are pretty good too. Digital is about getting that exact shot when you want it. Digital takes as many shots as you want, never running out of film, shoots as fast as you want and gives you as much automation as you want.

I find the differences between digital and film are more about how you shoot and if you're not interested in hurrying it up.. ..why bother.
 
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