Re: [Leica] P&S Recommendation

[Steve Hickel <smhickel@x2.alliance.net>]

The Contax T VS focus can be set to lock at 1/2-press-of-the-shutter time. 

Steve

At 02:44 PM 12/16/97 -0500, you wrote:
>> I'm trying to
>> decide between the Minilux and the Contax T2.
>
>I continue to think that the T2 remains the most physically appealing
package 
>among the point-and-shoots, even after Nikon, Leica and Minolta have taken 
>their best shots at the market Kyocera created with the T2... BUT, in
addition
>to a few minor nits, the T2 has one possibly-fatal flaw which constitutes
the 
>reason I hardly use mine anymore:  the T2, in common with all the "cheap" 
>point-and-shoots of which I'm aware, locks focus electronically with a
>half-press of the shutter button but doesn't physically drive the lens into 
>position until you commit to taking the picture.  This introduces a small
but 
>completely infuriating delay which allows the world to change out from under 
>you while the camera's trying to get around to taking the picture.
>
>If you live and die by, say, landscapes, this is of no moment to you, and I 
>can recommend the T2 with little reservation.  If you photograph seething 
>crowds of people, be sure you think hard about your options.
>
>Another drawback of the T2 is its relatively long closest-focus: 0.7m, I 
>think.  Some other cameras focus to 0.5 or 0.35m.
>
>I've never had a serious optical complaint with the T2, though.
>
>I believe the Minilux (either by default, or selectably) physically drives
the 
>lens into focus at focus-lock time (but confirm this for yourself), and in
the 
>realm of anecdotal evidence, I've seen some snapshots from the Minilux which 
>looked really snappy.
>
>Other cameras which move the lens at focus-lock time include the Minolta
TC-1 
>(many very pleasing features, including the ability to display and change the
>DX-read ISO, but actually a little too compact for easy handling;  lens
quite 
>good but exhibits definite corner fall-off), the Ricoh GR-1 (still taking
the 
>measure of this one), and the Nikon 35Ti and 28Ti (discontinued?  still seem 
>to be available).
>
>Really-cheap options with decent optics but handling compromises include the 
>Yashica T4 Super and (by reputation, I've never used one) the Olympus Stylus 
>Epic.
>
> -Jeff
>
>
>
>