p.2 #1 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
What lens are you using to scan? I use the 60G and stop down to f10, Z7 w ES-2 film holder.
I use the Zeiss 100mm f2 zf for my film scanning. I have the lens "glue" to the Valoi Easy 35 film holder. I don't even need to adjust focus between scanning. I thought about the 60G, but reluctant to spend any more money on my scanning setup (or I am not convince the 60G will be a noticeable improvement over the Zeiss). If I can find a 60G on a reasonable price, I may give it a try.
p.2 #2 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
mikegao wrote:
I use the Zeiss 100mm f2 zf for my film scanning. I have the lens "glue" to the Valoi Easy 35 film holder. I don't even need to adjust focus between scanning. I thought about the 60G, but reluctant to spend any more money on my scanning setup (or I am not convince the 60G will be a noticeable improvement over the Zeiss). If I can find a 60G on a reasonable price, I may give it a try.
It could be a focus issue even though you think you have it perfectly focused. When I started out doing this I first manually focused and wasn’t happy w the results. When I switched to an AF macro lens, the results were transformed. The camera w af lens is able to focus on the grain instantly and consistently.
But… if you are seeing perfect focus and sharpness in the center of your scans, then it is more like to be an issue w the lens that created the film image. Not all lenses are sharp to the corners.
Maybe try scanning at f10? I use that so that any lack of film flatness is compensated for with DOF.
p.2 #3 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
It could be a focus issue even though you think you have it perfectly focused. When I started out doing this I first manually focused and wasn’t happy w the results. When I switched to an AF macro lens, the results were transformed. The camera w af lens is able to focus on the grain instantly and consistently.
But… if you are seeing perfect focus and sharpness in the center of your scans, then it is more like to be an issue w the lens that created the film image. Not all lenses are sharp to the corners.
Maybe try scanning at f10? I use that so that any lack of film flatness is compensated for with DOF....Show more →
This is the result I got from my Nikon S2 with a 50mm f1.4 (I don't think this is from the Millenium edition). You can see there is a circular center that is sharp but the edge is not. I think you maybe right about the scan lens' aperture setting. I will try to use f10 next time. So far I use f8.
p.2 #4 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
bwcolor wrote:
... So, I’m convinced that it has everything to do with film flatness ...
I bought the Hassy 2000FC when it was first released. The focal-plane shutter was deafening although it made 1/2000sec possible on 6x6. What was intolerable, however, was the problem of film flatness that ruined many frames and made high-quality lenses a pointless expense. I gave up on that camera in favor of the FM2n. Even 135 film has film flatness issues, as you know, which is why the RTS III was so interesting.
As for OP, my suggestion is completely out of budget: the Contax T3 with Sonnar 35/2.8 which is a tiny motorized P&S for 135 film. Has an inbuilt flash, several manual overrides, and fits in a dress shirt pocket. The lens is absolutely killer and was never released for any other camera or mount.
p.2 #5 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
I go with the F100 and AF 35/2D, which is a sweet combo for either color or mono. It should be well under budget (you might even be able to pick up a 24/2.8 or 50/1.4 with what's left) and a pleasure to use. Baby the film door, and it shouldn't give you any problems.
Jun 16, 2025 at 06:02 PM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.2 #6 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
mikegao wrote:
I recently fell in love with a Konica Hexar af. I told my friend, if she want a compact film camera to bring along for a bike ride, the Konica or the Ricoh gr is about as good as it gets. Then, I thought, for the $600 budget that I paid for the Hexar, what other camera combos I can recommend to my friend, as the best picture quality with a 35mm-ish focal length? One of my go-to set up is a Zeiss 35mm f2 zf that I believe can still be found below $400, this will leave enough room for either a FE or FM body (or even a FM2 body). This maybe even better quality than the Konica with much higher shutter speed, but just cannot operate one-hand (but it is not a requirement). Another option will be a Canon P with a 35mm f2 ltm.
I don't know the other brand well enough, and I think this is a fun thought exercise. Looking forward to hear your reponse....Show more →
For cycling and good light levels I'd probably be looking more at a p&s. Assuming robust enough. I have nice older Pentax (IQ Zoom?) , @Desmolicious@ the one used for the film one project very nice, granted it's mf (what ever happened to that stuff?)
I much preferred slr's for the interchangeable lenses and the ability to use long ss golden hour in low light. If you're not using a tripod p&s can have good sharpness. The zooms aren't necessarily great, one f/12 or something at long end, but nice to have
p.2 #7 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
AmbientMike wrote:
For cycling and good light levels I'd probably be looking more at a p&s. Assuming robust enough. I have nice older Pentax (IQ Zoom?) , @Desmolicious@@ the one used for the film one project very nice, granted it's mf (what ever happened to that stuff?)
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I published all the pics and made the flickr album open to downloads!
p.2 #8 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
Desmolicious wrote:
As mentioned by my esteemed colleague, Fuji Work Record is a fantastic choice and has the same top shutter speed as a Hexar AF..
Samsung AF Slim is another great option. Super 35mm lens, super compact, but also super noisy!
If you look at these make sure it is the original AF Slim, not the Slim R version which is super crappy in comparison (different lens, worse everything).
If you want to spend $600, you can get six of them….
Interesting, hadn't heard of this one. So many of these point and shoots have gotten hyped beyond belief and the prices are nuts - cool to see one still in the 'pretty affordable' range
p.2 #9 · What is the best picture quality combo for 35mm focal length and 35mm format given a $600 budget?
J2323 wrote:
Interesting, hadn't heard of this one. So many of these point and shoots have gotten hyped beyond belief and the prices are nuts - cool to see one still in the 'pretty affordable' range
I know. I've had a bunch of the hyped ones and frankly none of them live up to the hype at the price tags they command.
Plus all these P&S cameras - including the super expensive ones - are not built to last. They all are made with cheap internal bits as they are all aimed at the occasional use amateur market.
My local repair tech has a shelf full of the expensive but broken high end ones. He told me not to waste money on these things.
With the lower end but still hyped up models - still don't fall for the hype. For example I've owned an XA2 and my much cheaper Ricoh FF1 created better pics - it has a sharper lens, more exposure flexibility, has a film advance lever vs thumb wheel, can be used with any flash and is more reliable. It is just as small as the XA2.
Anyway, if we believed the hype the way some obviously do, the best SLR ever made is the Pentax K1000. Even though that was Pentax's cheapest/'worst' SLR at the time, with the KX and K2 being significantly better. But hype!..
