Downsizing from DSLR ?

The Big Kahuna · 21-Oct-2012, 09:16

Getting the camera & gear to Hawaii and back was a fucking PITA this year, not to mention carrying it around everywhere. I'm just wondering if there's a viable alternative in a small package that will give me the functionality and speed of operation (power on and focus) of my existing kit, which currently is:

20D
Battery grip (irrelevant, I know)
17-85 IS
70-300 IS
50mm 1.8
10-20

Oh yeah, it needs to have a viewfinder, not live view screen thing only.

DizMatt · 22-Oct-2012, 04:10

sure mate
have you looked at the Gx lumix series?
small, video, pancake lenses, some 300 mm zooms
it might not go as wide but you can get adaptors

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/4
viewfinder but it's probs an EVF and not a real one obviously.
but if you get a gf2 also you can have the option of swapping lenses if you want something mid sized or tiny but great quality

DizMatt · 22-Oct-2012, 04:11

or the sony had this option
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PROD...VIEWFINDER.HTM

BBW · 22-Oct-2012, 07:56

The Olympus Pen was designed for the exact purpose you suggest.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-E-PL...0888961&sr=8-1

BBW · 22-Oct-2012, 07:57

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-Pen-...889048&sr=1-16

[RaG]Ethel · 22-Oct-2012, 09:43

I've got a Lumix GF1 and the D300 doesn't get a look in whenever I need to grab a camera now. It's so much easier to take the gf1. No viewfinder of course, but the G3 isn't that much bigger.

someone selling a GX1 + optical viewfinder and the 20mm f1.7 for £500 on TP now.

Wideangle is the only downside ... you WILL miss your 10-20 (unless you keep the old kit just for that)

[RaG]Ethel · 22-Oct-2012, 09:51

if you want to spend a bit more on new kit, look at the Olympus E-PL5 .. it inherits the sensor from the OM-D E5 (more or less) in a smaller body, although again you'd need to get the viewfinder.

The sony nex bodies have amazing sensors in them but no viewfinder unless you go for the nex-7 .. the lenses are big too, same DSLR size, so you end up lugging bigger lenses around

[RaG]Ethel · 22-Oct-2012, 09:55

Or a G2 + 14-42 lens on TP for £190 or offers ... buy that, then get the 20mm pancake (mine was £170)

HooT · 22-Oct-2012, 12:44

I just picked up the G3 - I already love it more than my wife.

22-Oct-2012, 04:10	#2
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	sure mate have you looked at the Gx lumix series? small, video, pancake lenses, some 300 mm zooms it might not go as wide but you can get adaptors http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/4 viewfinder but it's probs an EVF and not a real one obviously. but if you get a gf2 also you can have the option of swapping lenses if you want something mid sized or tiny but great quality __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................

22-Oct-2012, 04:11	#3
DizMatt PostPrandial Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: just ootside Gatesheeed Posts: 8,650	or the sony had this option http://www.imaging-resource.com/PROD...VIEWFINDER.HTM __________________ Photo Portfolio Bits 'n Pieces : General Random Gallery : All new photoblog : My Flickr ........................I read it on Wikipedia...so it must be true!........................

22-Oct-2012, 07:56	#4
BBW Contains flashing images. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In the woods... Tournaments Won: 1 Posts: 12,401	The Olympus Pen was designed for the exact purpose you suggest. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-E-PL...0888961&sr=8-1 __________________ "There you go... giving a fuck when it ain't your turn to give a fuck." Xbox Live Profile :: Photoblog :: Flickr ::

22-Oct-2012, 07:57	#5
BBW Contains flashing images. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In the woods... Tournaments Won: 1 Posts: 12,401	http://www.amazon.co.uk/Olympus-Pen-...889048&sr=1-16 __________________ "There you go... giving a fuck when it ain't your turn to give a fuck." Xbox Live Profile :: Photoblog :: Flickr ::

22-Oct-2012, 09:43	#6
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,950	I've got a Lumix GF1 and the D300 doesn't get a look in whenever I need to grab a camera now. It's so much easier to take the gf1. No viewfinder of course, but the G3 isn't that much bigger. someone selling a GX1 + optical viewfinder and the 20mm f1.7 for £500 on TP now. Wideangle is the only downside ... you WILL miss your 10-20 (unless you keep the old kit just for that) __________________ photoblog

22-Oct-2012, 09:51	#7
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,950	if you want to spend a bit more on new kit, look at the Olympus E-PL5 .. it inherits the sensor from the OM-D E5 (more or less) in a smaller body, although again you'd need to get the viewfinder. The sony nex bodies have amazing sensors in them but no viewfinder unless you go for the nex-7 .. the lenses are big too, same DSLR size, so you end up lugging bigger lenses around __________________ photoblog

22-Oct-2012, 09:55	#8
[RaG]Ethel Alfa Male Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northumberland Posts: 12,950	Or a G2 + 14-42 lens on TP for £190 or offers ... buy that, then get the 20mm pancake (mine was £170) __________________ photoblog

22-Oct-2012, 12:44	#9
HooT spam tbh Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Poland Posts: 849	I just picked up the G3 - I already love it more than my wife. __________________ http://sig.planetside-universe.com/Hoo7.png Planetside 2: Woodman Server : Hoo7 (NC)