An "ideal" compact digicam

Let me first address why I've placed this topic in this forum: I am curious to know if other 5D owners would have the same interests as I in a compact digicam to supplement their DSLR. I'm assuming that DSLR owners, specifically 5D owners, may well have a different taste for compact digicams than those who use compacts as their primary camera.

That said, here's what I'm thinking I would really like to see in one:

1) 24-85 / 1.8-2.8 IS lens that fully retracts and covers itself in the body
2) 6 MP with a decent ISO 3200.
3) RAW (duh!)
4) User-definable AF points with (gasp!) a wheel to flip between them.
5) Super fast AF with little to no shutter lag
6) Large, clear, and bright flip-out LCD
7) 1024x768x30 fps video with optical zoom
8) Same size and weight (plus or minus) as G7
9) Ultra fast start up
10) Hot pink color, but I'm not firm on this. : )

Another thing that I thing would be wicked cool is if you could have interchangable lenses with a compact! Allow me to list some examples for options:

24-85 / 1.8-2.8 IS
16-50 / 1.8-2.8 IS
24-200 / 2.8-4.5 IS

Anyway, I would definitely buy such a compact to complement my 5D. Anyone else like the idea, or is it just me?

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--joe

http://www.josephjamesphotography.com
http://www.pbase.com/joemama/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit my photos. If you wish to use any of my photos for any purpose other than editing in these forums, please ask.

You're dreaming.

Guess I'll stick with what I have for right now. The 5D has about all I really need and for a compact point & shoot type camera I still have a slow G2 and a Panasonic TZ1. Both have their drawbacks but work okay.

... would you intend to pay for that camera.

Anyway, lets wait and see what Sigma makes out of that compact they have announced.

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br
ZapE

I'd like to see one (sorta like Canon S3IS or Panasonic FZ30 size) with a 350D or 30D type sensor. And if they can make it interchangeable lens, even better.

I don't really need a mirror in my camera. Damn VF on my 350D (or 30D even) is too small and dim to properly focus anyway. Give me a EVF and shrink the weight and size.

has decent higher ISOs than most. I just hate using the LCD instead of a viewfinder. No RAW, but the new S or G series don't have RAW either. My S70 has RAW but it doesn't do high ISOs well. It's ok outdoors.
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Juli
http://www.pbase.com/julivalley/galleries
Canon FiveDee, Canon 2oD, Canon Gee3, and Canon S7o, Fuji Eff30.

Ed B said:

You're dreaming.
Guess I'll stick with what I have for right now. The 5D has about
all I really need and for a compact point & shoot type camera I
still have a slow G2 and a Panasonic TZ1. Both have their drawbacks
but work okay.

Click to expand...

Dreaming--I think so too LOL. I haven't had a small compact camera since my very old G1. I've been futzing around about buying one for awhile now. My husband has the F30 and its just TOO small for me. I had my criteria too--but soon realized that its just not out there---and that noone seems to care what a small minority like us 5D/1Ds, etc. folks might like as a pocketable cam.

I was considering a G7 with its non RAW and non swivel LCD (boo) and then the review for the 640 came out so I'm considering it---with reservations. We ordered a 630 for my mother which should be here today so I'll try it first. Sure wish I could try a G7 beside a 640 but even Best Buy here doesn't carry either. Someone on another forum suggested the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 but all the reviews brought up the noise issue even at ISO100 so, though it appealed to me because of the 28MM at wide, its still down to 2 choices as far as I can see--the G7 or 640/630. Bah!!!! There should be something out there for us---but don't hold your breath LOL. I was even considering buying a G6--but haven't found one new nor used (none on Ebay--amazing).

Diane
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Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries

I´ve been thinking a lot about this lately

a 5D plus all the gear gives us lots of options & flexibility .... and muscle training... and visibility (white lenses, oh my!)

a decent snapshooter tool is a very good idea, if not necesary

I want video, long zoom ranges, flip screens, etc... but I can perfectly live without them, they don´t make better image files

panasonic LX2 seemed like a possible answer but reportedly failed on the sensitivity issue (too much noise) an thats a showstopper

how about a Leica M8?

expensive, no retractable lens (but interchageable!), no video, no flip screen...
but image quality on par with the 5D and the lenses.... oh the lenses...

(pay atention: no retractable lens, fixed focal length... less moving parts, more image quality, get it?)

mind you, "less is more"

better a Leica "M9" when they correct the IR filter issue (and cut the price drastically )

or a Zeiss Ikon digital if they ever dare to produce one (at a reasonable price, of course)

I just want to do some decent snapshots with a camera that produces files as good as the 5D without the bulk and visibility; an everyday camera that does not make me regret not having my 5D at hand

is that perhaps what you are looking for?

can´t remember how many "decisive moments" I´ve lost just because my 5D doesn´t fit my pockets

sspraetz said:

or a Zeiss Ikon digital if they ever dare to produce one (at a
reasonable price, of course)

Click to expand...

I'm waiting around to see if Epson replies with an RD2 with a lesser crop factor, that foldaway screen was something Leica slipped up on IMHO too. The M8 and its lenses are still way beyond many budgets and in any case it's not the type of world you can walk safely around in with 9000 Dollars around your neck any more.

sspraetz said:

can´t remember how many "decisive moments" I´ve lost just because
my 5D doesn´t fit my pockets

Click to expand...

I have recently bought a second hand G6 after deciding the G7 isn't really worth the upgrade and the money.

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m.
http://www.pbase.com/m3photo

I just spent some time shooting with my mother's new 630--and found I don't like shooting with it at all. So--back to the 5D and 10D and just lug those lenses for hiking LOL. If I don't enjoy shooting with it, not much point in owning one--it will never get used.

Maybe down the road a 400D with a prime will be the thing but I'm not going to invest that much in a body only to be used for hiking right now, so I'll put my money toward the 24TSE that I really want LOL.

Diane
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Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries

m3 said:

sspraetz said:

or a Zeiss Ikon digital if they ever dare to produce one (at a
reasonable price, of course)

Click to expand...

I'm waiting around to see if Epson replies with an RD2 with a
lesser crop factor, that foldaway screen was something Leica
slipped up on IMHO too

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that was a result of the type of sensor they used. Full frame chips need to be mechanically shuttered and therefore cannot provide live preview or video. CCDs of this type are generally the sensor of choice where image quality and sensitivity are prioritised above other design considerations.

Ed B said:

You're dreaming.

Click to expand...

The lens, or that Canon would make a camera with these specifications? I remember Olympus made a few compacts with a lens that was as bright as the one I suggested:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc5050z/

Only thing is that it was 35-100mm (equivalent) instead of the 24-85mm (equivalent) I was suggesting.

--
--joe

http://www.josephjamesphotography.com
http://www.pbase.com/joemama/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit my photos. If you wish to use any of my photos for any purpose other than editing in these forums, please ask.

No, what I meant was that its rear LCD was flippable so you didn't damage it when not needed, something a Digital Leica M would certainly benefit from and not hinder its design characteristics at all.
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m.
http://www.pbase.com/m3photo

zape said:

... would you intend to pay for that camera.

Click to expand...

Well, the lens shouldn't be that much -- here's Olympus's version long ago:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc5050z/

But no IS on it. Still, I think such a lens is totally feasible for basically the same cost as the current G7 lens.

In any event, a 6 MP sensor should not cost any more than a 10 MP sensor -- it should, in fact, be a lot less. I don't see why RAW would add to the cost, either, and the flip-out LCD is old-tech as well. The only "innovation" is the ability to optically zoom when shooting video. Truth be told, I don't see why this camera should cost more than the current G7.

zape said:

Anyway, lets wait and see what Sigma makes out of that compact they
have announced.

Click to expand...

The Sigma compact, while terribly interesting, has no zoom and is awfully slow at f / 4. I realize that you can up the ISO more as it's an APS-C sensor, but it is a foveon, and they're not well regarded for noise handling abilities.

--
--joe

http://www.josephjamesphotography.com
http://www.pbase.com/joemama/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit my photos. If you wish to use any of my photos for any purpose other than editing in these forums, please ask.

joe mama said:

1) 24-85 / 1.8-2.8 IS lens that fully retracts and covers itself
in the body

Click to expand...

I think you are dreaming here, particularly if you want decent ISO3200 - look at the lense speeds on compact digicams - they start relatively fast, but drop to f4-5 at full zoom.
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Misha

Member said:

Member said:

1) 24-85 / 1.8-2.8 IS lens that fully retracts and covers itself
in the body

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Member said:

I think you are dreaming here, particularly if you want decent
ISO3200 - look at the lense speeds on compact digicams - they start

Click to expand...

Take a gander here:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc5050z/

A lens like the one I proposed has been done, and done on more than one camera model, I might add, and it was a long while ago, too. As for the ISO 3200, that's a function of the sensor, not the lens, and I think it could be done by reducing the megapixels from 10 to 6. At least, that would go a long way towards that end.

--
--joe

http://www.josephjamesphotography.com
http://www.pbase.com/joemama/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit my photos. If you wish to use any of my photos for any purpose other than editing in these forums, please ask.

Mike Johnson in an article in LL defined for me the prefect small digital camera. It's the “decisive moment digital,” and he lays out his requirement in this article here.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/DMD.shtml

I would buy one today.

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****************************************

'Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child.'
Norman Mailer (b. 1923), U.S. author. Newsweek (New York, 22 Oct. 1984)

Stovall said:

Mike Johnson in an article in LL defined for me the prefect small
digital camera. It's the “decisive moment digital,” and he lays out
his requirement in this article here.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/DMD.shtml

I would buy one today.

Click to expand...

The idea of a compact digicam for me is that it is, well, "compact". I'd just as soon lug my 5D around rather than Mike Johnson's ideal, but it just goes to show you that different people have different priorities.

--
--joe

http://www.josephjamesphotography.com
http://www.pbase.com/joemama/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit my photos. If you wish to use any of my photos for any purpose other than editing in these forums, please ask.

"specifically, about 4 inches long by 3 inches high by 1 1/4 inches deep; and light, but not too light: say 14 ounces, including lens and battery. A rugged, solid body, built to take knocks."

Is too big?

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****************************************

'Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child.'
Norman Mailer (b. 1923), U.S. author. Newsweek (New York, 22 Oct. 1984)

joe mama said:

joe mama said:

joe mama said:

1) 24-85 / 1.8-2.8 IS lens that fully retracts and covers itself
in the body

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

joe mama said:

I think you are dreaming here, particularly if you want decent
ISO3200 - look at the lense speeds on compact digicams - they start

Click to expand...

Take a gander here:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc5050z/

Click to expand...

Yes, they don't make 'em like that any mo' It was not very compact though - at least that lens is quite prominent. As for ISO3200, I don't think limiting resolution to 6mp will make a world of difference - the best to date is Fuji F30, which is 6mp, and it achieves clean ISO1600 in large part through fairly heavy noise reduction.

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Misha

Except that I would like a f/2 zoom. A large sensor (Canon 6-8MP CMOS (like on the 20D/30D) is a must. Since the lens is fixed, it could be made smaller, and maybe a 18-60 f/2. It may be expensive, but I'd pay about $1500 if it has at least the features of the 30D (plus real 1/3 ISO analog amplification). Oh, dreaming on...

Stovall said:

Mike Johnson in an article in LL defined for me the prefect small
digital camera. It's the “decisive moment digital,” and he lays out
his requirement in this article here.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/DMD.shtml

I would buy one today.

--
---
****************************************
'Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in
the hands of a child.'
Norman Mailer (b. 1923), U.S. author. Newsweek (New York, 22 Oct.
1984)

Click to expand...