Camera Sugestions

[Daniel_]

I think it's time to move from 35mm to digital.

I love SLR, and have used it for a long time, starting as a kid with a battered old Praktika and running through several to my present Pentax MZ-7 with a Pentax 28-80 lens.

Although these aren't mine, this is what i have :

Anyway...

It's getting worn and battered, and either needs a professional clean and service or replacement.

I'm not sure what sort of camera to get next, but like the look of the Olympus PEN digital cameras - with a larger sensor it should give better pictures than a compact digital (we have a Kodak 10MP pocket cam for "snaps"), but not be as bulky as a DSLR.

Any thoughts, advice, experiences?

[dippin]

The key to deciding what camera to buy are:
- Budget
- type of photography
- ergonomics


Without really knowing your budget and what you want to use it for, it's hard to know what to suggest.

Also, be aware that enthusiasts and review sites will generally suggest cameras that are completely overkill for what people want to use, and that ergonomics matter more than most technical aspects of cameras. The best sensor in the world is worthless if it's in a camera that gets left behind because its too bulky, or if you can't properly operate it because it feels awkward in your hand. Handling the actual cameras in a store will be more helpful in your decision making process than anything we say here.

[Daniel_]

That's part of why I'm resistant to DSLR to be honest - I have found that I only take my SLR to something like a day out, not to a party (for example). I want something that will take good pictures, and let me play with exposures, and apertures and so on, but not be bulky.

[dlish]

have a look at the G9 or G11 in the Canon.

ive heard good reviews in the Olympus PEN-1, but it doesnt have an inbuilt flash, or try the panasonic GF1.

personally speaking for what you want it for, the G9 is probably the best bang for your buck. it what i got, until i lost it 2 weeks ago....

[dippin]

Olympus has a new PEN camera out, the EP-2. On top of that, the e-620 is very small for a dslr.

Finally, one of the reasons i personally chose olympus is the fact that they have the best all around zoom lenses for under $500 and $1000 respectively, which are the 14-54 2.8-3.5 and the 12-60 2.8-4. You'd have to spend at least twice that amount to get lenses as sharp and as fast as these two in other systems. A small camera with a one lens solution is pretty easy to carry around.

[MexicanOnABike]

fuji f70. check the specs!

[Daniel_]

Thanks everyone - I'll look into these suggestions, and see if there's anything in the sales.

[ASU2003]

The only thing I would be concerned with about the EP-1 or EP-2 is that there isn't a good zoom lens that is small.

[fnaqzna]

Originally Posted by dlish

have a look at the G9 or G11 in the Canon.

ive heard good reviews in the Olympus PEN-1, but it doesnt have an inbuilt flash, or try the panasonic GF1.

personally speaking for what you want it for, the G9 is probably the best bang for your buck. it what i got, until i lost it 2 weeks ago....

QFT. I got the G11 last month. I love it. Almost all of the control I'm used to with the DSLR. f-stop from 2.8 to 8.0, and it's a helluva lot noisier than my D300, but damn, it's convenient to have around.

I shot this with the G11:



and this pano stitched from ten images:

[DeeBee]

I got my wife the Pentax K200D (which I think has now been replaced) so she could use her lenses from her non-digital Pentax. We've been really impressed. It's only 10mp but the quality seems really good (considering it is quite a low price DSLR). Only weekness has been very low light situations and no live preview (though looking through the viewfinder is what you should do with a propper camera!)

DB

[Ice|Burn]

Originally Posted by dlish

or try the panasonic GF1.

I've heard and read a LOT of good things about the GF1 and the GH1 too. I like the idea of a compact camera that has inter-changeable lens'.

I currently carry a Nikon s550 with me everywhere I go. Mainly because I see too many things I want a picture of and I don't want to lug my D80 everywhere. I also use the 550 to do test shoots so that I can use those to go back and get the 'real' shots with my dslr

[ASU2003]

Originally Posted by DeeBee

Only weekness has been very low light situations and no live preview (though looking through the viewfinder is what you should do with a proper camera!)

My co-worker and I proved that that is not always the case. With ultra-high resolution cameras, the vibration from the mirror going up and down is enough to cause some blurring at the pixel level. (Note this only applies if you use a good tripod and a wireless trigger)

[Ice|Burn]

Originally Posted by ASU2003

My co-worker and I proved that that is not always the case. With ultra-high resolution cameras, the vibration from the mirror going up and down is enough to cause some blurring at the pixel level. (Note this only applies if you use a good tripod and a wireless trigger)

Wouldn't that only be visible if you were blowing the image up (and I'm taking several times the original image size) or if you had a lot of super fine detail in the frame?

[Daniel_]

After many months of severely restricted funds (thanks international banking melt-down) I have a new job, and again am looking at this area. We have a family holiday soon, and if I'm getting a new camera, I'd like to do it in time for that.

Looking at the PEN series cameras again, I find that one of the UK retailers is offering thePEN E-PL1 with a 14-42mm lens for half the original price. It's got a built in flash (unlike the original PENs) and gets good reviews.

Does anyone have any experience of it?

Thought please, ladies and gentlemen.

[Strange Famous]

I dont know if this helps much, but I always found this site very definitive and informative:

Digital Cameras: Digital Photography Review, News, Reviews, Forums, FAQ

[ASU2003]

I have been stopped by security twice from bringing my "professional" DSLR into events where other people were using 'amateur' cameras like this to take great pictures. The four thirds idea is great, but I'm not sure if there is 'the perfect' camera yet because of the lack of collapsible lenses that make pocket camera able to fit in your pocket. Plus, there is the problem with having to carry multiple lenses if you want to get different shots. I went to Europe and Australia with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7. It did a great job, except for inside a stained glass cathedral. If I had a tripod, I might be able to get it to adjust the shutter speed to take three shots at different exposures in order to make an HDR image later. Does the E-PL1 or 2 have manual shutter speed controls (1/200 sec, 1/2 sec, 2 sec)?

If I were going on my European trip again, I would have to think hard about what camera to take... The DSLR is big and gets in the way. Maybe I would have to get just one lens actually, it does take really great photos. I took it down inside the Grand Canyon, but it wasn't easy to carry... On vacation, I might get really annoyed at having to swap lenses, carry 20 lbs of camera gear, security concerns, and miss shots due to having the wrong lens on. It has all the features that you would want to take great photos in any lighting situation, and the larger sensor of the EP-1 helps in that regard over the smaller point-n-shoot (the f stops of the lenses and ISO speed plays a bigger part however). But if you compare the pros and cons of the Canon G11 or G12... I maybe should have bought the G9 compared to my previous Panasonic, but that's a different topic.

Basically, are you trying to get a small DSLR for the bigger sensor and controls, why not get a used Pentax K-X, K-R, K-7 then you can still use your lens (or doesn't it have auto-focus)? Are you trying to get a small camera that can actually fit in your pocket? Look into the high end point-n-shoots that take great photos and are more convenient and sealed.

[Daniel_]

@Strange - I have read with interest the stuff on that site - thanks for reminding me of it.

@ASU - I must admit that I had not considered the option of a Pentax DSLR body. I may look into that one.

The PEN E-PL1 does have a full manual option, as well as the usual aperture or shutter bias that I'm used to from SLR days.

The size is attractive, I'm used to lugging a couple or three lenses around (I have a couple of AF lenses - one long, one wide, and a very old 300mm manual focus Canon lens that I use with an adapter), but the smaller form factor is nice.

To answer your pocket sized question, there is a 16mm pancake lens, but I'd not start with it.

[ASU2003]

I have a 16mm-35mm on my Canon DSLR, and I would worry that you are only going to get one type of picture at 16mm. 16mm-35mm is pretty much the same unless you work on getting closer. That isn't always possible though.

I would still look into the picture quality of the Canon G12/G11 since it can fit into a pocket, won't get dust on the sensor, won't need different lenses, and has the ability to zoom. Then bring a DSLR so you can take high quality photos when it is possible without interfering with the experience, or the lighting conditions demand it.

I think I might have to take that advice.

[Daniel_]

The G12 is £100 ($150 US) more expensive than the current deal on the E-PL1, so I think I'm edging towards the Olympus.