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Hi
I am going to Europe ( aug 14 to aug 31). Since I am taking only carry on luggage, can only bring compact camera. Last year used Nikon L19 P&S and it was awful in low light and evening pictures. Thinking of Panasonic DMC-FS6 as this has only 8 megapixals. Sensor size so small in compacts, so less megapixals should have less noise.
Thought about Canon G11 or S90 but they are price of Nikon D3000 body.
Any suggestions?
Dan
miatadan said:
Thought about Canon G11 or S90 but they are price of Nikon D3000 body.
Any suggestions?
Your constrain is money or weight? Perhaps a G11 is the price of a D3000 but you cannot ignore the lenses your D3000 will need, in term of size, weight and price. Have you considered the COOLPIX P100? You get 10.3MP with a 26x zoom, NIKKOR ED glass lens with 26mm wide-angle to 678mm supertelephoto, full 1080p HD movies at 30 frames per second with stereo sound and it even does macro.
How many lenses you would need to do the same with a D3000, what price and what weight?
I have been shooting almost 6 years with a Coolpix 8800 and was very happy with it. For ISO reasons, I convinced myself I needed a D700 and its lenses. For about 10 time the original price and weight of my Coolpix, I am not sure I get twice the picture quality and I am stuck at 400mm. Surely the P100 would outperform the 8 years old 8800.
I love my D700, but lugging 20 pound of camera stuff is serious work for serious (and a bit insane) amateur.
Don't get fooled by the MP. Good 6 MP is better then crappy 14 MP.
I am using a Nikon Coolpix S610 when traveling light. Superb! It shames all Canon P&S others around me use.
That's a great question. I would say Panasonic Lumix LX3, but that's not cheap either. Plus it's on the old side now.
the LX3 has been an awesome equivalent, but correct, it's almost 3 years old now, no?
Do you know for sure you can't fit an SLR? I just went to Europe for 2 weeks, carry on only and I brought along my entire camera kit, which included a Bigma. Sometimes you just have to pack creatively :P.
Pierre said:
Your constrain is money or weight . . . have you considered the COOLPIX P100?
I have to second the recommendation on the Nikon P100 point-and-shoot. Not only for its 26mm-equivalent, wide-end, and super-zoom range, but mainly for its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture. The darn thing's pricey though at an MSRP of $399. I would much prefer a compact D-SLR such as a Nikon D50 and a VR kit lens for travelling light. I bought a refurbished Nikon L100 point-and-shoot for $99 for vacation photos also, but its slow maximum aperture of only f/3.5 is crippling in low-light situations. I continue to find shooting with point-and-shoots limiting, and would rather deal with the bulk of a compact D-SLR instead, even for vacation photos.
But, one thing I really like about the now discontinued (but still available, refurbished) Nikon L100, is that it takes plain ole' 'AA' batteries. This is actually the first Nikon-branded, point-and-shoot I've ever purchased, since most of Nikon's Coolpix cameras use proprietary Li-ion batteries instead. My number-one criteria for all of my "vacation camera" point-and-shoots, has always been, that it must take 'AA' batteries, so that I'm always just a convenience store away from "full-charge."
the LX3's max ap is 2.0. . .so would single handley be better than anything other than a D5000+35 1.8 combo, but the LX3 is a true 24mm, versus a 53mm equivalent for previously stated kit. . .
lightest fastest widest combo would have to be a D5k+24 1.4 but that's just retarded $$$
The p6000 is a decent camera too although I would go for the LX3 too... I personally prefer the Slr's and would use a D3000 (which feels tiny in comparison to my D90 and a friends D700)
The LX5 will be replacing the LX3 this month so that means you can soon get an LX3 for cheap or just wait for the LX5 which should have big improvements in noise control and resolution.
Otherwise I'd recommend the Sony H series of point&shoots like the HX5V or the H55. I've got an HX1 with a CMOS sensor and a lens that's equivalent to 28-600mm! I always take that camera with me on flights and leave my DSLRs at home unless I HAVE to bring the DSLR.
As far as Nikon their S8000 model ranked number 1 in a recent "Consumer Reports" magazine comparison.
I, too, like to have a compact for when travelling light. Until recently I've been using a Canon Digital IXUS (marketed as Digital ELPH in the US); image quality in daylight is surprisingly good considering the size of the sensor.
However, my daughter's P&S camera "jammed up" around Christmas - so she simply replaced it with MY Canon.
I'm now looking for a replacement, and I'm torn between another IXUS (supremely small and light) and the LX3 (which looks to me like the best compact for a dSLR user). So in your situation I'd suggest the LX3.
Incidentally, has anyone else noticed how many gimmicks are being built into compacts these days? More and more pixels, smile recognition, some even let you trigger a self portrait by winking at the camera.
Enjoy your trip, miatadan!
[ Niko - thanks for the tip about the LX5. I might postpone my decision for a few weeks. ]
I'll chime in since no one has mentioned it, but if size is the limiting factor and not price, what about the Sony NEX-3? I mean, usable ISO 3200 in a compact is almost irresistible. I'm seriously considering buying one as an easily-packable backup camera and one that's 'cute' enough that my wife would use it. I'm probably two weeks away from convincing myself that even if Nikon releases an APS-C compact in the next few months (photokina?), I could sell it for almost what I paid for it. (I'll let you know how close my estimate was in about two weeks.) ;-)
get the sony NEX, I love it compactness and image quality - it's as good as from any current DX nikon (d90, d300s, d5000) up to iso 1600
JA - I got mine app 2weeks ago, and I simply love it compactness and the sweep panorama function
Gotta admit, the Sony NEX products do look damned interesting!
If the rumors of the LX5 are true then it'll be an interesting camera as well. I mean the LX5 was "accidentally" up on the Pany website for a moment so it's a done deal that it is real but the specs are still unknown. Supposedly it'll have an m4/3rd sized sensor and a fixed zoom f2 Leica lens.
The reason I decided to travel light is that I have to transfer to 3 different planes before I get to Kiev... Only taking carry on luggage ( 1 piece )
I thought about Panasonic LX3 as always been a fan of Leica lenses. Last year when using Nikon L19 , I was disappointed in the pictures. The Nikon P100 has not had good reviews and do not want 26x zoom. Prefer 3x zoom at most as this allows faster lense such as F2. If the Panasonic LX5 became available before trip, I would choose it.
What do you think of Olympus PEN E-PL1? This could be good choice and if I put it in carry on luggage/ it should not take much room. How does Sony NEX 5 or 3 compare to Olympus Pen series or Panasonic DMC-GF1?
Dan
I thought about the LX3 when I got my light travel P&S camera. I didn't get it because the zoom only goes to 60mm and I felt I would need more than that for my all in one. I decided on the Panasonic DMC-ZS3 instead. It has a huge zoom range and takes a really good pic, once you figure out what mode to use for each type of shot you are taking.
I got the Panasonic ZS5, it's a great P&S! The battery life is really good and image quality is fantastic. It was an upgrade to the Canon SD1000.
adamz said:
get the sony NEX, I love it compactness and image quality - it's as good as from any current DX nikon (d90, d300s, d5000) up to iso 1600
Adamz, I can't believe you didn't tell before (or I didn't see where you told). How is the interface on it? Specifically, how difficult is it to use it in A or M?
So which model did you get and which lens? Do you have any sample pictures posted anywhere? I'm tempted to get the NEX-5 over the NEX-3 just for the AVCHD codec on the video, since I use Sony Vegas for video editing and it plays really nice with AVCHD. The extra build quality on the NEX-5 is another reason I want it.
My two weeks seem to be shortening in my mind for some reason. ;-)
I was curious and found a fun comparison on dxomark sensor. The craziest thing to me is that the sony costs $700 and the leica $7000. I know there are other considerations (optics!) and I've read that the M9 handles like a dream, but what could I do with the other $6300? (not spend it, thereby saving my marriage is the right answer.) One of the most interesting things to me was that the NEX-5 has better dynamic range performance at all ISO values (though still not as good as the D90). Why would you even need a 14-bit raw file in the leica if you've only ever got 11 bits of dynamic range?
Not to mention the NEX-5 does HD video (important to me, not to some others, I'm sure).
shivaswrath said:
the LX3 has been an awesome equivalent, but correct, it's almost 3 years old now, no?
I don't remember, but it's definitely not very new.
NikoDoby said:
The LX5 will be replacing the LX3 this month so that means you can soon get an LX3 for cheap or just wait for the LX5 which should have big improvements in noise control and resolution.Otherwise I'd recommend the Sony H series of point&shoots like the HX5V or the H55. I've got an HX1 with a CMOS sensor and a lens that's equivalent to 28-600mm! I always take that camera with me on flights and leave my DSLRs at home unless I HAVE to bring the DSLR.
As far as Nikon their S8000 model ranked number 1 in a recent "Consumer Reports" magazine comparison.
That'd be cool. Panasonic has me interested.
miatadan said:
The reason I decided to travel light is that I have to transfer to 3 different planes before I get to Kiev... Only taking carry on luggage ( 1 piece )I thought about Panasonic LX3 as always been a fan of Leica lenses. Last year when using Nikon L19 , I was disappointed in the pictures. The Nikon P100 has not had good reviews and do not want 26x zoom. Prefer 3x zoom at most as this allows faster lense such as F2. If the Panasonic LX5 became available before trip, I would choose it.
What do you think of Olympus PEN E-PL1? This could be good choice and if I put it in carry on luggage/ it should not take much room. How does Sony NEX 5 or 3 compare to Olympus Pen series or Panasonic DMC-GF1?
Dan
Is that the one with the built in flash? If you're okay with a new system of lenses, then go for it. But if I travel light, I really travel light. I don't usually need crazy reach anyway.
Totally off topic, but Dan do you own a Miata?
Adamz- you should do a review on it for us.
By the way- here's a superzoom test.
http://dpreview.com/news/1007/10070605superzoomgrouptest.asp
I got the NEX-5 yesterday and it's really a beautiful machine. Here are a few pros/cons I can think of from my extensive use (~3 hours). ;-)
Pros
-Image quality like my D90
-Video is much better than the D90 (optional AF during video, 1080i60 AVCHD, 1440x1080 at 30p or 25p mp4)
-Saves in RAW format (I know most of the cameras mentioned in this thread do)
-Light and tiny (!!!) The body with 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 lens weighs about what just my Tamron 17-50 2.8 does
-Faster AF than I expected for contrast-detected AF. I was afraid it would be something like my old Canon p&s, and I've been pleasantly surprised.
-Articulating screen is nice for video and new angles (near ground, above head)
-920000 dot screen like the D90's (only widescreen)
-My wife thinks it's cute
-Auto mode my 5-year-old can use and my wife might be able to use (just kidding!)
-SD card slot and not just sony's memory stick
-Pano mode is pretty cool if you have a fast enough shutter speed. 3D panos could be cool, too.
Cons
-RAW files not supported by LR3 yet (until then, it's RAW+jpeg for me)
-When AF misses, on the next shot it takes some convincing of the camera that it was wrong (wants to focus in the same wrong place)
-No mode dial
-Difficult to change the ISO in M, A, S, P modes (The aperture and shutter speed are easy, though)
-Bizarrely, display of 16:9 video doesn't fill the 16:9 screen by default (changing one menu setting once fixes that forever)
-Limited flash options (How hard would a 3.5 or 2.5mm sync plug have been to put on? or even PC, for that matter) hopefully they offer a simple hotshoe extension someday
-No fast glass currently. I'll buy the rayqual f mount to e mount adapter when I can, which looks like it's got an aperture ring to control G lenses. If it will also AF with AF-S I'll be in heaven.
I love it. I wouldn't use it exclusively to shoot weddings or anything, but I'm using it as a backup and I think it's perfect for that. I knew I'd buy it after 30 seconds in the store (just had to check how difficult it was to change settings in M mode).
Dan the build quality of the Olympus is kind of plastic-y especially the kit lens but I like how the lens collapses when not in use to take up less room. The GF1 is basically an LX3 with a detachable lens. I liked the Olympus but the GF1 feels more like a "traditional" compact.
The Sony NEX have the best build/feel especially the NEX5 (all metal). I'd say the Olympus has the best bang for the buck. Right now the EP-L1 is under $500 dollars at adorama ($499). Image quality for all is much better then any point & shoot but depending on the lens they can get more bulky then a point & shoot. Super zoom P&S still give you waaay better coverage in a smaller package.
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