Reading mode: Light Dark

What street camera?

Go to last post
Sten E

Sten E

Veteran Member
Messages
1,499
Reaction score
3
Location
Stockholm, SE
I wonder if there is a better street camera than the ones I already have, a Pentax K-5 DSLR and a Canon G1X compact.

I use the G1X for street photography. It is small enough and it works well, and I appreciate its vari-angle LCD monitor, but I would like faster focus and shutter times. I have tried the K-5 with the 18-135 lens, but it feels too heavy, bulky, and conspicuous for street photo. I am thinking of perhaps getting the 40 mm "limited" pancake lens (effectively 60 mm) for K-5, which would make it smaller, but then 40 (60) mm is perhaps not the ideal for street photo, and the camera would still be quite big. Besides I have really never used non-zoom lenses, and I am not sure I could manage with such lenses.

To sum it up, I would like a small camera with very good IQ, RAW function, fast focus and shutter times, rather large sensor (for IQ) and if possible (but it may not be so) zoom. Does anyone know of such a camera (and lens)?

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
I have an Olympus XZ-1; love it. Fits in my shirt pocket. Am also waiting to see a DpReview of the Sony RX100, which is even smaller, with a bigger sensor... but a 'darker' lens at full tele zoom.

re above post -- my stepson has a Panasonic FZ150. I used it; thought it was a very nice camera, but too large for me.
--
Jonathon Donahue -- http://jon404.com
 
I use a G1X also. It will never be a DSLR, but by using continuous mode, no review, etc, it can be plenty fast enough for me. You don't need more zoom with the G1X sensor because you can crop. Plus it is light and inconspicuous.
 
No, but what I'd recommend is pretty much the opposite: a good, small-sensor camera to maximize DOF for a given focal length, and using zone focus to disregard AF lag in the first place. For that I'd probably go with an LX5/7 since it has an EVF, or if not a Samsung EX1 since it's cheaper than the rest of its segment.

If you really must go for a large-sensor camera, however, I'd pick any which supports a manual lens of the appropiate focal length, set it to f/8-11 and zone focus using the DOF markings on the lens barrel; AF systems are nothing but a pain on the street. IMHO and all that, of course, but still.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Draek
 
James Cafferty said:
You might want to consider the Panasonic FZ150. It has all the features on your wish list, but you have to determine if it is small enough for you. Also, if you care to eliminate RAW, then also look at the Canon SX40. Meanwhile, Good Luck! in your search.

http://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/compacts/panasonic_dmcfz150

http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_sx40hs

--
All the best,
Jim
Click to expand...
Thank you, James!
I will look at these.

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
jon404 said:
I have an Olympus XZ-1; love it. Fits in my shirt pocket. Am also waiting to see a DpReview of the Sony RX100, which is even smaller, with a bigger sensor... but a 'darker' lens at full tele zoom.

re above post -- my stepson has a Panasonic FZ150. I used it; thought it was a very nice camera, but too large for me.
--
Jonathon Donahue -- http://jon404.com
Click to expand...
Thank you, jon404,
for your good tips!

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
wilerty said:
I use a G1X also. It will never be a DSLR, but by using continuous mode, no review, etc, it can be plenty fast enough for me. You don't need more zoom with the G1X sensor because you can crop. Plus it is light and inconspicuous.
Click to expand...
wilerty,

Thank you very much! I use no review, but I have not actually tried continuous mode with my G1X, but now I certainly will!

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
Draek said:
No, but what I'd recommend is pretty much the opposite: a good, small-sensor camera to maximize DOF for a given focal length, and using zone focus to disregard AF lag in the first place. For that I'd probably go with an LX5/7 since it has an EVF, or if not a Samsung EX1 since it's cheaper than the rest of its segment.

If you really must go for a large-sensor camera, however, I'd pick any which supports a manual lens of the appropiate focal length, set it to f/8-11 and zone focus using the DOF markings on the lens barrel; AF systems are nothing but a pain on the street. IMHO and all that, of course, but still.
Click to expand...
Draek, thank you so much!
I will certainly look at your suggestions.

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
A little more about the XZ-1, relative to street photography. It goes in a shirt pocket, always there, ready to use. Other shirt pocket -- I carry a small Pen VF-1 optical viewfinder (goes on the hotshoe) for bright sunny days, and for fast-moving action. Also a circular polarizer, and a spare battery. That's it -- no camera bag.

The XZ-1 has an adjustable flash, down to 1/64 power. Also a built in 3-stop ND filter, for bright days. If you use the ND filter while holding the polarizer over the lens, you'll cut down the light by 5 stops -- which allows for slow-speed blurs in bright daylight. Fun!

The Zuiko lens is very sharp and very bright -- f/1.8 at wide angle, f/2.5 at full tele. This lets you run around at twilight and at nightime, no problems. You can go to ISO 400 just fine, ISO 800 in a pinch, no higher. But with such a bright lens, you don't need to go higher than ISO 400. For general use, you can leave it on program mode, Auto-ISO... and it will try really, really, really hard to never go over ISO 200.

The XZ-1 JPGs are very good. If you take a nicely-exposed picture, the JPGs work fine. But, let's say your picture is underexposed. Yes, you can brighten up the JPG later, by 1 or 2 stops. But since the JPG only had 256 levels of brightness to start with, when you add light, you'll notice that the picture quality goes down. So in tricky lighting, use XZ-1 in RAW mode. This time, your original is recorded in thousands of brightness levels, not just 256. So if you lighten it later, you won't get the blotches and banding that you would with the JPG original. The Olympus Viewer software is easy to use for working with RAW originals... you don't need to spend a lot of money for Adobe Lightroom.

One last interesting thing. Because the XZ-1 can also be used underwater (with an optional case), it has an Underwater white balance mode -- that -- for me -- works perfectly with its Vivid picture-color setting -- in both daylight and indoor lighting!

Can't-live-without option -- a Richard Franiec custom grip. Check it out.

Now. If you are willing to carry a little camera bag, you can add a beanbag in lieu of a tripod. And a Lensmate lens adapter that lets you use 52mm filters. A neck strap for the camera when it has the Lensmate on it (won't fit in your pocket anymore).

An Olympus remote release... but usually, the self-timer is all you need... unless the subject is moving. An Olympus plug-in-the-wall battery charger. And, a cheap YongNuo YN-460 infrared slave flash, plus a Rosco colored gel pack. The XZ-1's flash will set off the YongNuo flash -- which is also intensity-adjustable. The infrared won't work in daylight -- this is for twilight, night, or indoors. Last in your bag -- a small bright LED flashlight, and a few spare AA batteries.

That's about it. The XZ-1 is a photographer's dream... and it's selling now for under US $400... a Leica for the rest of us!

Jonathon Donahue -- http://jon404.com
 
jon404 said:
A little more about the XZ-1, relative to street photography. It goes in a shirt pocket, always there, ready to use. Other shirt pocket -- I carry a small Pen VF-1 optical viewfinder (goes on the hotshoe) for bright sunny days, and for fast-moving action. Also a circular polarizer, and a spare battery. That's it -- no camera bag.

The XZ-1 has an adjustable flash, down to 1/64 power. Also a built in 3-stop ND filter, for bright days. If you use the ND filter while holding the polarizer over the lens, you'll cut down the light by 5 stops -- which allows for slow-speed blurs in bright daylight. Fun!

The Zuiko lens is very sharp and very bright -- f/1.8 at wide angle, f/2.5 at full tele. This lets you run around at twilight and at nightime, no problems. You can go to ISO 400 just fine, ISO 800 in a pinch, no higher. But with such a bright lens, you don't need to go higher than ISO 400. For general use, you can leave it on program mode, Auto-ISO... and it will try really, really, really hard to never go over ISO 200.

The XZ-1 JPGs are very good. If you take a nicely-exposed picture, the JPGs work fine. But, let's say your picture is underexposed. Yes, you can brighten up the JPG later, by 1 or 2 stops. But since the JPG only had 256 levels of brightness to start with, when you add light, you'll notice that the picture quality goes down. So in tricky lighting, use XZ-1 in RAW mode. This time, your original is recorded in thousands of brightness levels, not just 256. So if you lighten it later, you won't get the blotches and banding that you would with the JPG original. The Olympus Viewer software is easy to use for working with RAW originals... you don't need to spend a lot of money for Adobe Lightroom.

One last interesting thing. Because the XZ-1 can also be used underwater (with an optional case), it has an Underwater white balance mode -- that -- for me -- works perfectly with its Vivid picture-color setting -- in both daylight and indoor lighting!

Can't-live-without option -- a Richard Franiec custom grip. Check it out.

Now. If you are willing to carry a little camera bag, you can add a beanbag in lieu of a tripod. And a Lensmate lens adapter that lets you use 52mm filters. A neck strap for the camera when it has the Lensmate on it (won't fit in your pocket anymore).

An Olympus remote release... but usually, the self-timer is all you need... unless the subject is moving. An Olympus plug-in-the-wall battery charger. And, a cheap YongNuo YN-460 infrared slave flash, plus a Rosco colored gel pack. The XZ-1's flash will set off the YongNuo flash -- which is also intensity-adjustable. The infrared won't work in daylight -- this is for twilight, night, or indoors. Last in your bag -- a small bright LED flashlight, and a few spare AA batteries.

That's about it. The XZ-1 is a photographer's dream... and it's selling now for under US $400... a Leica for the rest of us!
Click to expand...
Thank you, jon404,

for a lot of very interesting information! The XZ-1 looks very nice, and so do the extras you described. A good alternative!

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
I cannot imagine a nicer camera for a street shooter than a Panasonic GX1. It does about everything you are looking for, and has a nice selection of both prime and zoom lenses available for it.

Plus, if you like the Olympus XZ-1, then you will probably love the Olympus E-PM1 which is barely larger, but offers much better image quality.





Incidentally, all three of those cameras... the GX1, EPM1, and XZ1 are considerably smaller than your G1X. And the first two offer the same sized sensor, but also have the option of using other lenses.
--
Marty
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
my blog: http://marty4650.blogspot.com/
Olympus E-30
Olympus E-P1
Sony SLT-A55

 
Sten E said:
very good IQ,
Click to expand...
If your frame-of-reference for image quality is the G1X, then you will probably be disappointed by what comes out any of the Olympus PEN cameras (such as the E-PM1), which have 3.5 year old sensors. My tiny Sony RX100 has better IQ than any of the PENs. You will also be disappointed by what comes out of the XZ-1.

G1X > GX1 > E-PM1 > XZ-1

I would suggest waiting for the Olympus announcements in September.
Sten E said:
RAW function
Click to expand...
All of the cameras above shoots RAW.
Sten E said:
fast focus and shutter times
Click to expand...
If your frame of reference is the G1X, then almost any of the cameras above will probably be more responsive (with the possible exception of the XZ-1).
Sten E said:
and if possible (but it may not be so) zoom.
Click to expand...
It would be difficult to have the G1X zoom range (28-112mm) in any of the m4/3 interchangeable lens cameras without increasing the size. All of the kit zooms end around 85mm. Here is the closest I can find (24-100mm equivalent):

http://camerasize.com/compact/#257,183.332,ha,t

I don't think the camera you want exists yet.
 
Just go down to a camera store if you can, put on the 20mm Panasonic f1.7 lens and I think you will find a very nice possibility. The IQ is excellent. The camera is pocketable with the 20 and it is fun to use.
Dan
--

Will I learn from life's lessons or will I lose my faith in the goodness life's promise had to offer?
 
When you are evaluating street cams, one of the most important issues is NOT ultimate output quality, but your individual style. Do you mainly shoot from the hip, using the lcd at eye level, using the lcd at overhead level, using the evf at eye level, etc. Do you prefer candid shots with the subject entirely unaware of your presence, or are you happy to interact with, and or pose your subjects. Do you prefer to zone focus or do you prefer AF? Do you really need a zoom?

Others may disagree, but I find the EPL3 with pancake is a very versatile tool, particularly because I make use of the tilting LCD at waist level or overhead. Not perfect, due to the lack of zone focus, but this might be solved with the upcoming 15mm pancake.
 
Marty4650 said:
I cannot imagine a nicer camera for a street shooter than a Panasonic GX1. It does about everything you are looking for, and has a nice selection of both prime and zoom lenses available for it.

Plus, if you like the Olympus XZ-1, then you will probably love the Olympus E-PM1 which is barely larger, but offers much better image quality.





Incidentally, all three of those cameras... the GX1, EPM1, and XZ1 are considerably smaller than your G1X. And the first two offer the same sized sensor, but also have the option of using other lenses.
--
Click to expand...
Thank you, Marty,

for really good suggestions! I will look at these cameras and also at lenses for them which are reasonably small.

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
The Skipper said:
Sten E said:
very good IQ,
Click to expand...
If your frame-of-reference for image quality is the G1X, then you will probably be disappointed by what comes out any of the Olympus PEN cameras (such as the E-PM1), which have 3.5 year old sensors. My tiny Sony RX100 has better IQ than any of the PENs. You will also be disappointed by what comes out of the XZ-1.

G1X > GX1 > E-PM1 > XZ-1

I would suggest waiting for the Olympus announcements in September.
The Skipper said:
RAW function
Click to expand...
All of the cameras above shoots RAW.
The Skipper said:
fast focus and shutter times
Click to expand...
If your frame of reference is the G1X, then almost any of the cameras above will probably be more responsive (with the possible exception of the XZ-1).
The Skipper said:
and if possible (but it may not be so) zoom.
Click to expand...
It would be difficult to have the G1X zoom range (28-112mm) in any of the m4/3 interchangeable lens cameras without increasing the size. All of the kit zooms end around 85mm. Here is the closest I can find (24-100mm equivalent):

http://camerasize.com/compact/#257,183.332,ha,t

I don't think the camera you want exists yet.
Click to expand...
Thank you, The Skipper!

Your comments are good. Maybe I will follow your advice and wait for the announcements of Olympus and others at Photokina in September.

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
pinnacle said:
Just go down to a camera store if you can, put on the 20mm Panasonic f1.7 lens and I think you will find a very nice possibility. The IQ is excellent. The camera is pocketable with the 20 and it is fun to use.
Dan
--
Click to expand...
Thank you, pinnacle!
I will look especially at the 20 mm lens and the GX1.

--
Best regards,

Sten
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top