Thread: Welcome!

hi,
thanks to this forum, i guess i now can put my "up-grade"
(from G11 to ...) on hold.

Hi Jimmy, it seems to me that as many new cameras there are there will always be our favorites, even if they are relative old timers. Sometimes age does go hand in hand with beauty.

hi BB, there are now many other cameras that are being discussed here in this forum...
(besides the m4/3).

Yes, there certainly are Jimmy and some pretty exciting ones, that's why I need to keep myself under control.

Hi came across this site whilst looking on FlickR - I've been into photography for many years. I have a couple of DSLRs - Nikon - plus many lenses, however I wanted something 'smaller' but still with the capability to control aperture, shutter etc. hence the 'smaller' compact seems the best way to go. I was lucky enough to go on holiday to Canada/Alaska last year - and as luggage weight restrictions etc decided to take something smaller that my DSLR. I went for a Cannon G10 - which proved to be a good choice. Now I'm looking for a 'serious compact' with interchangeable lenses. I've looked at the Sony NEX5, Panasonic Lumix GF1 and the Olympus Pen E-P2 - just trying to make the 'right' decision!! So, this seems like a very good place to start as there's nothing like comments from those who already own these and other compacts......

Mal

Welcome Mal Jones and thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself here! Although I've never used a G10, I've read many good things about it. As for the E-P2 and GF1 and other micro four thirds cameras, I'd like to tell you about another forum that Amin Sabet started called mu-43.com which is as it sounds - devoted to micro four thirds cameras. If you're interested in learning about those cameras that site is filled with great information.

Now don't misunderstand, Serious Compacts has its own merits and we hope it will continue to grow with its members' involvement. So why not join both? I did.

I look forward to your involvement here across the discussions and hope you'll post some of your G10 photographs, too.

Glad to find such good company.

I don't consider myself a serious photographer, but as an engineer, I am serious about photography. I started in 1976 with a 110, and soon moved to a full frame 35mm Minox 35EL, thinking I would get an SLR eventually. I did - an excellent Minolta XE-7, which I gave to my girlfriend when I realized I enjoyed the Minox more. I stuck with the Minox 35 series - all just incremental improvements on the basic design - after trying other small film cameras. The Minox was a very serious compact.

A few years ago, I was given a 2 MP Olympus C-2100UZ, a 10x zoom (with an enormous barrel), and was delighted with the immediacy of digital. I use it often around the house to record things, but it's the size of an SLR, and just way too big for travel. The Panasonic TZ-4 (a "pocket" travel zoom) looked so good a few years back that I bought one, but it's just too big for my pockets, and has to be held at arm's length (no viewfinder) - and now it lives in my wife's purse.

Here's what I long for in a digital camera:

1. Does not need a lens cap.
2. Does not need a lens cap.
3. Image quality as good as a mid-range DSLR.
4. Under 200g.
5. Fits in my shirt pocket (as opposed to pants pocket or coat pocket)
6. Eye level viewfinder displaying at least shutter speed in the viewfinder.
7. Some level of exposure control via buttons and switches (as opposed to menus) - aperture priority + exposure compensation at minimum.

Sure sounds like a Minox 35... If you are not familiar with the Minox 35, be assured that its longevity in the marketplace was due to superb image quality and great ergonomics, with images as good as any SLR.

The Minox 35 had to make compromises, and the ones it made are contrary to today's expectations of what cameras do. The compromises relevant to today's digital cameras were:
- fixed focal length (F2.8, 35mm focal length)
- manual focus, with no focus aids (typically set at hyperfocal distance)
- generic hot shoe for manually set, add-on flash

These compromises aren't going to fly in today's world, except, perhaps, a fixed focal length.

But I surely look forward to some manufacturer realizing that there is a market for the do-able features, and delivering more of them in one package than is the case today. For my part, I'd pay a DSLR price for the right compact package.

And perhaps this site will help in that effort.

Abe


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Abe, thank you for your introduction. I appreciate your wishes for that longed for digital camera and hope that we can find that camera sooner, rather than later. Meanwhile, I look forward to your involvement here and hope to see some of your photographs, when you have time. Welcome to SeriousCompacts!

Abe, thank you for introducing yourself. You've certainly found the right forum! We are just getting started here, but our early members are terrific, and we're glad to have you aboard.

Sadly, I think many of us will be waiting a long time for our "ideal" camera. I can think of several film cameras which would make me very, very happy if they could simply switch out the film for a digital sensor.

Hi

After 'lurking' for some time around this 'site' I have decided to join; am retired have some health issues live just on the outskirts of Liverpool UK.
My main camera at present is a Olympus Pen E P1 also a good point and shoot compact and Panasonic bridge camera which I've had for a number of years.
I started with a range finder more years ago than I care to remember so have some understanding of 'f' values and depth of field so my pics should be a lot better than they are!
As the saying goes 'your never too old to learn' certainly true of many of the gorgeous photos I 've seen on this site.

Cheers for now.