cthart
Rookie
- Location
- Frösön, Sweden
- Name
- Colin 't Hart
Hi,
Just stumbled upon this site and it's just what I need!
I'm the fairly satisfied owner of a Nikon D5000 along with several lenses (I got the 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR with the body in a dual lens kit but also went for the 35/1.8 at the same time). And while I used the 35/1.8 a lot -- often in conjunction with a SB400 used as a "bounce flash" off the ceiling -- when our son was a baby, I don't use it very much at all right now.
Last summer we travelled internationally, and to be honest, the camera + associated gear was heavy. Even leaving home most of the gear and taking just the camera and kit lens it's still quite bulky and heavy -- I guess this is the same story as many of you here.
Next March we hope to travel internationally again and I can't see myself taking the DSLR along with all the other luggage and child...
So what should I get instead?
Criteria:
1. It needs to feel like an upgrade. That basically means pictures as good as or better than from the DSLR. But the upgrade can be in other areas too -- size and weight are included here. But I'm not prepared to sacrifice image quality now that I'm used to what the Nikon can do.
2. It needs to be fast in auto-focussing and in taking photographs, at least 3-4 FPS like the DSLR can.
3. It needs to be smaller and lighter.
4. A Canon camera that can run CHDK would be nice -- I still have a PowerShot A720 IS that I use very occasionally for some fun things like time-lapse videos.
5. I prefer using a viewfinder when composing photos, so this is almost essential for me, unless you can convince me otherwise.
6. A hot-shoe for an external flash would also be nice; I'm almost never happy with images made under direct flash.
Other things to consider:
I like taking pictures of architecture. I take no videos with my Nikon DSLR, I use my iPhone occasionally for this.
I have desired an UWA lens for my DSLR but not bought one (yet). It seems no compacts go much wider than 24mm (35mm equivalent).
A fast lens would be nice now that I know what the 35/1.8 can do.
I've not been impressed by electronic viewfinders but would be willing to consider a camera with one.
I have an iPhone which gets used a bit for quick snaps for Facebook etc. Would I use a WiFi camera and the iPhone just so I can post better photos on Facebook? I'm not sure.
Cameras I've eyed are Canon G-series and S-series of the last few years, various Panasonic M4/3 models, Sony RX100 (original and newest model), Olympus OM-D (the original model, but I hear there's a new one now too).
My father got a very good deal on a Panasonic G3 (as an upgrade from a Nikon D50 -- which is even bigger and heavier than the D5000) and he's very happy with it.
Recently an ex-colleague recommended the Sony RX100 II over the Canon G and S because it has a bigger sensor.
There's so much to chose from and probably I would be satisfied with most of the cameras listed above.
I guess also I don't need to *replace* the Nikon DSLR but I could get a very compact camera to supplement it, but SWMBO prefers that I "sell stuff that I don't use (so much)".
Who can help me navigate this quagmire?
Thanks,
Colin
Just stumbled upon this site and it's just what I need!
I'm the fairly satisfied owner of a Nikon D5000 along with several lenses (I got the 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR with the body in a dual lens kit but also went for the 35/1.8 at the same time). And while I used the 35/1.8 a lot -- often in conjunction with a SB400 used as a "bounce flash" off the ceiling -- when our son was a baby, I don't use it very much at all right now.
Last summer we travelled internationally, and to be honest, the camera + associated gear was heavy. Even leaving home most of the gear and taking just the camera and kit lens it's still quite bulky and heavy -- I guess this is the same story as many of you here.
Next March we hope to travel internationally again and I can't see myself taking the DSLR along with all the other luggage and child...
So what should I get instead?
Criteria:
1. It needs to feel like an upgrade. That basically means pictures as good as or better than from the DSLR. But the upgrade can be in other areas too -- size and weight are included here. But I'm not prepared to sacrifice image quality now that I'm used to what the Nikon can do.
2. It needs to be fast in auto-focussing and in taking photographs, at least 3-4 FPS like the DSLR can.
3. It needs to be smaller and lighter.
4. A Canon camera that can run CHDK would be nice -- I still have a PowerShot A720 IS that I use very occasionally for some fun things like time-lapse videos.
5. I prefer using a viewfinder when composing photos, so this is almost essential for me, unless you can convince me otherwise.
6. A hot-shoe for an external flash would also be nice; I'm almost never happy with images made under direct flash.
Other things to consider:
I like taking pictures of architecture. I take no videos with my Nikon DSLR, I use my iPhone occasionally for this.
I have desired an UWA lens for my DSLR but not bought one (yet). It seems no compacts go much wider than 24mm (35mm equivalent).
A fast lens would be nice now that I know what the 35/1.8 can do.
I've not been impressed by electronic viewfinders but would be willing to consider a camera with one.
I have an iPhone which gets used a bit for quick snaps for Facebook etc. Would I use a WiFi camera and the iPhone just so I can post better photos on Facebook? I'm not sure.
Cameras I've eyed are Canon G-series and S-series of the last few years, various Panasonic M4/3 models, Sony RX100 (original and newest model), Olympus OM-D (the original model, but I hear there's a new one now too).
My father got a very good deal on a Panasonic G3 (as an upgrade from a Nikon D50 -- which is even bigger and heavier than the D5000) and he's very happy with it.
Recently an ex-colleague recommended the Sony RX100 II over the Canon G and S because it has a bigger sensor.
There's so much to chose from and probably I would be satisfied with most of the cameras listed above.
I guess also I don't need to *replace* the Nikon DSLR but I could get a very compact camera to supplement it, but SWMBO prefers that I "sell stuff that I don't use (so much)".
Who can help me navigate this quagmire?
Thanks,
Colin