Do you always take your DSLR all the time?

I'm very happy with my D5100. There are times, though, that I just don't grab it and carry it with me when I go out. I know it's common for DSLR users to have compact cameras. I would like to hear from other forum members whether this is an issue for them or not.

I'm tempted to buy a compact like the Canon G15. (Had a G11; it was fun to carry/shoot with very good IQ.) It's $419.00 on Amazon right now. Then I start thinking it's more "logical" to put that money into Nikon DX lenses or accessories. Not an easy decision with limited funds.

No compact will do what my D5100 can, but the best camera is one you have with you!

Thanks for taking your time to respond with your opinions on having/using a compact camera in addition to your DX. If you use a compact, what is your favorite?

As you said, the camera that takes the best pictures is the one you have with you.

For me, a second camera would only be worthwhile if I could fit it in my pocket. So I bought a Canon s100. It's small enough. A phone would also do. Anything too big for a pocket seemed to not be useful, because then I might as well just carry my dslr.

Another idea is to buy a waterproof camera, so that again you can take pictures at a beach or on a boat when you don't want to carry your dslr.

display  , i try to take my dslr  if not , 12 meg  point and shoot  and always  my i phone 5  ok  hope i helped you gjr

Flipped my kayak twice with panasonic waterproof P & S. Family kayak trip, looking for memories not quality.

I really don't like the image quality of pocket cameras (too mushy), and their slow CDAF focusing makes me nuts when I need to shoot action, so my companion camera to my D7000 is a Nikon V1. Although not pocketable, the V1 is small enough to take just about anywhere in a tiny bag and has the PDAF focus speed and accuracy better than most DSLRs in decent light. Unlike a tiny sensor P&S, the 1" sensor still allows some subject isolation and thanks to the accurate exposure and excellent natural looking colors, the JPEG output is very good. I like how I can change lenses too. The V1's silent shutter and video with fast continuous PDAF while recording video gives it an advantage over my D7000. Although the image quality can not match the D7000's, it is much more than acceptable, even at higher ISOs.

And what makes the V1 even more compelling right now is it's low price at B&H Photo of only $299!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/823590-REG/Nikon_27504_Nikon_1_V1_Mirrorless.html

A couple of shots of two of my cats, [sorry  ], taken with my V1. These are camera JPEGS with only the camera's noise reduction being used. I always shot RAW with my D7000, but have not done so yet with the V1 because the JPEG output is so good it isn't worth the bother.



Nikon V1, 10mm f2.8 lens used.

Nikon V1, 1100 ISO, 30-110mm lens used.

- Jon

I don't "always" carry a camera wherever I go.  I would never leave an expensive camera in my car (locked in the trunk or otherwise).  I am, however, trying to get more in the habit of picking up one of my 2 cameras when I leave the house, but it really depends on what I am planning to do.  If I'm just going to the store for groceries, I don't see a reason to take a camera.

I have a D5100 and a Panasonic FZ200 -- both excellent cameras in their own right -- so I sometimes find it difficult to decide which one to take with me.  I value good imagery and an assortment of functionality, so don't think I would be happy with just a point-and-shoot camera as an alternate to my Nikon.  Although the FZ200 is described as a "compact" camera, in no way will it fit in my pocket!  It's more like a small DSLR, and except for the sensor size, it has many of the same features as a DSLR.  The biggest plus, however is that it is much lighter to carry and pack around (especially considering the 2-3 lenses I normally would carry for the D5100).  My camera decision is usually based on what I am planning to do while out and about.  Being retired, I have my days free to wander pretty much anywhere I wish that may have "photogenic" potential.  If I think I will be doing a bit of hiking off a beaten path and anticipate needing wide-angle to telephoto capabilities, or if I plan to be doing much video shooting -- I will take the Panasonic (being lighter to carry with a fabulous Lieca superzoom lens, and having the better video capability).  If I will be shooting landscapes or low-light scenes within easy walking distance that require high resolution detail, then I grab my Nikon.  I suppose if I were a real paid "professional" photographer I would carry some kind of camera all the time, but I'm not, so I don't.

I am finding I bring the D5000 , my only DSLR so far, when I can on weekends etc (even some work mornings) with just one lens.

I plan to upgrade at some point but have promised this to my wife.

However, I am also interested in some IR shooting, but dont want/ need a specialist converted IR camera, so plan on getting a D70 or D200 used at some point.

This camera could double as a walk around with one lens. With their age I should get one for a couple hundred at the most, in reasonable condition.

The D70 and D200 should work the best thus far, due to their filter array not having a strong IR filter.

Those two are the usual IR cameras, unconverted or converted. that seem popular and work (with a front lens filter like the HOya IR).

In my opinion two hundred dollars for such a camera, doubling as an IR camera and a walk around, is money well spent.

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.....Just from an amateur......''Sometimes it's to your advantage for people to think you're crazy.”

Thanks for that recommendation. I clicked on the V1 ad on DP Review, got a large image of Ashton Kutcher and a small image of the camera.

Despite that, I kept researching it. It looks really good at the current price. For just a little more than the price of the G15, I can get the V1 with kit lens plus the 10mm lens at B&H.

Randy

Pocketable cams are plenty to choose from. it depends of your priorities to pick the right one.

"i dont take my DSLR all the time anymore"

i bought a NEX 5N for my Wife and i am having fun with the little Camera.

NEX 5N coupled with Siggy 19mm its a very small combo or 30mm Siggy for the matter(both F2.8). And it fits perfect in the Jackets Pocket.

What i like from it:

-IQ up to my D7000.

-Display can be turned up or down.

-Touch screen to pick AF dot (great)

-easy to change settings (better than my Ixuss)

-Video good IQ thanx to that DX sensor.

Cons:

-Battery give less shots per charge than the D7000 (although is not too bad).

All in all a great option if you dont mind the single focal length with those little primes.

J.

Well, I have a D70, D300 and Lumix LX3. The last-mentioned was bought for those occasions when it just isn't practical to carry a DSLR. At the time it was touted as "the photographer's P&S" because you can set almost everything.

It is genuinely shirt-pocketable which is a plus. On the other hand, almost always I get home, review the images and say to myself "I wish I'd taken a proper camera". One nice thing though, an external flashgun mounted in the hot shoe will sync at 1/2000s (which is not the case with the D300).

David

I very often take one of my bodies (D5100 or D50) and the lens(es) I think I would need for the occasion.

In the occasions a DSLR is not appropriate I take a Fuji Finepix F70EXR. Unfortunately the IQ is way behind I want in particular in low light.

Lately I bought a Nikon P7100 for my wife, used for € 275 and I'm very happy with the IQ and features. So I'm looking around for another copy to replace the Fuji.

If budget is no limit then new P7100 (with OVF) is still available or a Nikon P7700 (no OVF).

H.

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Happy photographing!

Yes.  D5100 with 18-105 VR.  I don't take "snapshots" anymore.  If something is worth taking a pic of I want my DSLR with me.

I carry an Olympus Pen with Panasonic 20mm f1.7 with me all the time - happy memories of my Oly Trip 35, nice image quality, a light simple set up which leaves precious little to think about beyond composition... The really significant difference from 'DSLR time' is that I use OOC jpgs from the Olympus, with precious little post processing, and RAW only from the DSLR - a more involved workflow.

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http://www.davetonkin.co.uk

M43 Pens are tempting. They would have to be really good to justify the prices.

Thanks to everyone for responding.

Randy

Your welcome Randy. The 10mm f2.8 is a very good choice.  I found  it has excellent micro-contrast, and the sharpness at f2.8 is excellent in the center and still very good out to the corners. Well worth getting in my opinion.

- Jon

I've come this close to buying a PEN for all the above reasons but I require a viewfinder.  A built-in viewfinder, not some attachment.

I don't take my dslr all the time.

I almost always have my iPhone, and it does a lot better than I would have expected.

Sometimes on trips I only take my s95. If I'm flying and just taking a carry on, sometimes I can't afford the space the slr would take up. In good light it takes just as good photos as my d3100 for most purposes. In bad light it's not as good, but the difference is not as much as I would have thought. Both comparisons with the 18-55 lens only.

I have a Canon S95 for times that I don't want to carry a DSLR.  Great little camera!

HOWEVER...

After about a year of carrying it in my pockets (pants, jacket, whatever), it ended up with dust inside the lens, which somewhat ruins pics, and I've not been able to get it out yet.

Just because a camera fits in your pocket, don't expect you don't need a case or something.  I should have thought about it up front, but I figured it was semi-sealed.  It wasn't.

Sympathise with that view completely - the lack of a built in viewfinder can be a real problem, but fortunately I live the the UK where the weather is generally so poor that light reflecting off the screen is a luxury rather than an annoyance!

I'd have to say that I am very tempted by the OMD, with it's built in viewfinder...

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http://www.davetonkin.co.uk

I was showing an acquaintance some pics I'd taken of a local lake and herds of ducks on the water.  I took my time, worked with the pics in CS5 and put up a computer screen desktop slideshow.  Full 24" images, crisp and sharp and colorful if I do say so myself.

He looks at them, grunts, pulls out his phone and shows me some pics he took with his phone of the same general area.  "OK, yeah, OK, those are pics all right" I said to him.  He's all excited about how they look and I just nod and say, yeah, those are nice.  Like he's a photographer and what he had and what I was showing him were comparable in any way shape or form except they were both "pics".

I've never taken a pic with my phone.  It's not an iPhone but still...hope I haven't offended anyone here who shoots with their phones.