Need help choosing a smaller camera than my DSLR

[grahamfitter]

Not only do I think it's a valid consideration, check out what Annie Leibovitz says!
http://9to5mac.com/2011/11/16/annie-leibovitz-recommends-iphone-as-a-point-and-shoot/

Its certainly looking like everything is converging on that. I wonder if somebody will invent something so I can see the screen in daylight? Doesn't anybody else have a problem with this? I suppose one small mercy is when somebody thrusts a smartphone in front of my face and says "hey look what I posted on facebook."

The X10 is actually not that small compared with a Micro 4/3 camera.

Look here:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#155,129


And here:

http://larsonweb.com/size2.jpg

That's very useful, thanks! (Also fun comparing D3X with Pentax Q)

A builtin viewfinder which I can't lose seems like the way to go. NEX7 pushes all the right buttons for a price. G3 better value and still way smaller than D70. X10 wonderfully simple.

 

[Lost Canadian]

The X10 is actually not that small compared with a Micro 4/3 camera.

Look here:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#155,129


And here:

http://larsonweb.com/size2.jpg

If you were to add an equivilant 24-112mm f2-2.8 lens to a micro 4/3rds camera, not to mention an optional viewfinder it becomes a significant difference. They are fundamentally different beasts though.

I'll see if I can take a picture of all the different camera options today. I currently have access to a whole slew of different cameras.

 

[tdesanto]

...I currently have access to a whole slew of different cameras.

Nice...do tell.

 

[ssssnake529]

If you were to add an equivilant 24-112mm f2-2.8 lens to a micro 4/3rds camera, not to mention an optional viewfinder it becomes a significant difference. They are fundamentally different beasts though.

I'll see if I can take a picture of all the different camera options today. I currently have access to a whole slew of different cameras.

I agree that they are different. However, I was a little surprised (and somewhat put off) by the size of the X10 and the X100. I currently use a LX5, which seems pretty close in function to the X10. I really like a lot of things about the X10. However the size difference between them is pretty significant. There's enough difference to make the X10 just a little too big for my needs. I typically carry my LX5 in my pocket. I don't think that the X10 would fit. For me, the LX5 is about as big as I can comfortably carry in a chest pocket.

Likewise with the X100. I love the concept of a large sensor in a small camera (I used to own a DP1) However, again the X100 is a bit porky to fit my definition of a "small" camera. (Yes, it's small compared with a full size DSLR, but it isn't pocketable.)

For my purposes, my LX5, along with my E-P2 system cover all the bases I need, and are as small and compact as I can find. (Well, S95 is smaller, but I'm willing to give up a little on that front for the wonderful LX5 lens.)

 

[Lost Canadian]

Bhaa, it's not that much bigger, really. It's certainly not as small as my S90, but mine fits in a coat pocket quite easily, but a front pocket on a shirt,....yeah that might be a bit of a squeeze.

...but I mean really, under real world conditions where we are only talking a few milimeters in size difference between cameras, for a lot of people it gets to the point where we are just spliting hairs.

From the link you provided.

 

[grahamfitter]

So... after much mind bending... I bought... a Sony NEX 5N with the kit lens. So far so good.

In the end the Sony won on sensor and low light but most of the nicer M4/3 competition has their strengths and would have done the job too. Definitely a high class problem!

 

[off-roader]

I too was going to recommend the 5N. I've had one since Dec and recently brought it on a week long trip to Australia. For the trip I rented the 18-200mm lens from BorrowLenses.com and was quite pleased with the combination although as others alluded to, that lens among others is a big one. Still the entire combination was far smaller than my D70 w/ an 18-200 lens.

Pro's...
Picture & video quality
Low Light Shooting
Speed
It's small and light enough that I can easily put it in my messenger bag & carry it with me everyday.
BorrowLenses carries lenses for it that you can rent.

Con's...
Ergonomics: I'm used to having manual controls via knobs & buttons w/out using the menu
Size: Although not a big complaint, I wish it could have been just a bit smaller than it is. Like the size of a micro 4/3 camera but this is impossible w/ this size sensor which I wanted more than micro 4/3.

HTH

 

[bajasurf]

When size didn´t matter

115 pounds of excitement. WindanSea Beach, La Jolla, Calif. ( mid 1940´s)

 

[grahamfitter]

115 pounds of excitement. WindanSea Beach, La Jolla, Calif. ( mid 1940´s)

Great pic!

(That would certainly get my attention if I was paddling out and saw one coming my way unattended. Similarly modern standup paddle boards: the new SUV of water sports.)

 

[bajasurf]

Great pic!

(That would certainly get my attention if I was paddling out and saw one coming my way unattended. Similarly modern standup paddle boards: the new SUV of water sports.)

Graham. That is the shore break. Most of the boards were solid redwood. This one might have balsa stringers but I doubt it. Probably pine. Took 3 of us gremmies to carry it to the water.

 

[grahamfitter]

Graham. That is the shore break. Most of the boards were solid redwood. This one might have balsa stringers but I doubt it. Probably pine. Took 3 of us gremmies to carry it to the water.

Caption reads:
"Photographer wishes for a longer lens to capture scene from a distance" ?
"Surfer ponders Newton's laws of motion as his buddies run for cover" ?

Curiously I'd never heard of gremmies before so I looked it up. Word of the day for sure.

 

[ywen]

Took an Olympus EPL-1 on my recent trip out West.. the body, extra battery, 15-150 zoom, and a 20mm prime lens fit into a tiny package about the same volume as my full frame body + 50mm prime, but less weight. The EPL-1 is an old m4/3 model that goes for $149 now... I also used my Android cell phone for a lot of the pics. Taking my Canon 5D + lenses would have totally sucked on this trip..

Android phone

 

[off-roader]

I also used my Android cell phone for a lot of the pics. Taking my Canon 5D + lenses would have totally sucked on this trip..

Yup a full sized dslr can be problematic when size/weight is an issue. I assume this shot was with your cell phone since everything is in focus? It's an advantage (or disadvantage) of the smaller sensors/optics.

If you're still considering options, this is one difference between a large sensor camera (DX/FX sensor in most dslr's) and smaller sensors (u4/3's, point and shoots, camera phones, etc.) and either can be a benefit depending on your shooting objectives.

 

[ywen]

yes very true... however I've realized shooting from traveling, landscapes, I hardly ever need shallow DOF.. and that whole shallow DOF thing has gotten overplayed with the democratization of dslrs... everyone and their moms are shooting flowers of their plate of food close up at f/1.4.. it gets old fast.

the m4/3 actually does allow very nice shallow DOF via the 20mm f/1.7 lens... which I brought with me. I doesn't give me the same DOF as full frame @ f/1.2 but I rarely need that... In fact, I mostly shot with the 14-150 zoom lens on the trip

@f1.7

 

[off-roader]

Actually what I'm getting at is as I recall w/ my own experiences a shot at f/2.8 w/ a point and shoot sensor and f/2.8 w/ a FX or DX sensor seem to me to have different depth of field results along with other difference such as low light performance and image clarity... although I suspect the low light performance is likely due to actual optics and in-camera image processing/handling.

Regardless, as I noted, it can be a benefit or detriment depending on your shoot objectives. Or whether or not you care LOL.