From G-Series to NEX-C3?

From the NEX-C3 review here:

"As far as image quality is concerned, the NEX-C3 can slug it out with the best of its APS-C DSLR competition,..."

It sounds like it would be a nice upgrade, from the Canon G-Series.

It's a shame that Canon doesn't have something like that. :-(

I looked at that, and thought a similar thing.

Then I thought "Hang on, interchangeable lenses? Why don't I just get a dSLR instead for similar cash?"

It's only compact when it's body only or with the pancake lens, otherwise it is only slightly more convenient than standard entry level dSLR. I know what route I'll be taking when I decide to go back into dSLRs from my G12!

Mark.

justmeMN said:

It sounds like it would be a nice upgrade, from the Canon G-Series.

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a nice upgrade mostly regarding sensor performance (dynamic range, high ISO performance), but a downgrade in lens quality or ergonomics for more experienced users. More like a nice upgrade from an entry-level Canon compact...

The G12 is large enough that almost any of the current micro4/3 or APS mirrorless cameras are roughly the same size as long as you do not want to use a zoom lens.

I had the G7, G9 and G10 and I almost never used the zoom. Therefore, I would be OK with only a prime pancake lens.

Canon has the potential to design great cameras and awesome menu systems and controls. However, they have resisted the larger sensored mirrorless trend.

In my professional opinion, the Sony Nex-5 or upcoming Nex-7 are good alternatives. In addition, the Panasonic GF1, GF2, the Olympus Pen3, Samsung NX100 might be roughly the same size (as long as you do not attach a zoom lens).

At this point in time, I think there are many solid alternatives to a Canon G_.





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Still waiting for an all black Canon APS/FF compact camera with a 35mm equivalent lens and built in flash... but will give my money to some other brand if they make it first.

You've made many goot points there and one in particular stood out to me; I love my G12's controls using the dials and other manual buttons. When I was comparing the Canon to the Nex5 I was disappointed (at that time) the menu system was so heavily oriented towards ease of use that the guy at Jessop's told me it can be frustrating.

Although the sensor and picture quality is better, can we genuinely compare it in physical size? It's fine saying 'without the zoom' but who will use it with just the pancake? I'm sure most people would use it with the 18-55 zoom.

Anyhow, I am too looking forward to the enthusiast oriented Nex to see what that is like, from there I may consider an upgrade.

Is there a reason why the Nex lenses are more expensive than their Alpha SLR counterparts?

Mark.

justmeMN said:

From the NEX-C3 review here:

"As far as image quality is concerned, the NEX-C3 can slug it out with the best of its APS-C DSLR competition,..."

Click to expand...

Well, the sensor is the same size, so the IQ is about the same.

justmeMN said:

It sounds like it would be a nice upgrade, from the Canon G-Series.
It's a shame that Canon doesn't have something like that. :-(

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Put a 28-140mm equiv lens in front of a NEX camera and you will have a combo about the same size of a 600D with a 18-135mm lens.

So i do not agree with you, a NEX camera is as good as a 600D for a G-12 up grade.
Regards
Renato

The NEX with pancake is good enough for people who don't do zooming. Just like cellphone cam users don't complain about the need for more zooming. It basically captures what the eye can see. Need more zooming? Zoom with your feet.

Bokeh_freak said:

The NEX with pancake is good enough for people who don't do zooming. Just like cellphone cam users don't complain about the need for more zooming. It basically captures what the eye can see. Need more zooming? Zoom with your feet.

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Zooming with your feet is fine if you don't care about changing the field of view, but many people who are serious about their photography do want to change the FOV.

For that matter, zooming with your feet isn't always an option, either.

larsbc

Mark Evans Kent said:

I'm sure most people would use it with the 18-55 zoom.

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Agreed. In that configuration, it's still smaller than an entry-level DSLR.

(But bigger than a Canon G.)

justmeMN said:

From the NEX-C3 review here:

"As far as image quality is concerned, the NEX-C3 can slug it out with the best of its APS-C DSLR competition,..."

It sounds like it would be a nice upgrade, from the Canon G-Series.

Click to expand...

You'll notice sony most times shows their nex with the 16mm lens because its the smallest lens and it makes the camera look small, but put the 18-55 (only 3x zoom) and it looks big and ridiculously mis-balanced with the tiny camera. You get a 5x zoom (28mm-140 equiv.) with the G12 but there is not 5x wide angle zoom for the nex. You have a huge 18-200 and possibly an upcoming 55-210 zoom but no 18-85 that would give you the zoom range of the G12.

justmeMN said:

It's a shame that Canon doesn't have something like that. :-(

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It sounds like they are working on something and though they may be last to the table with EVIL (or small) they'll have learned from the mistakes of all that tried first.

I fell for the NEX hype late last year and got a NEX 3 with 18-55 lens. While the body was pretty small, combined with the zoom it was big enough that I said, heck, why don't I just take out my D40? At least it's got a viewfinder. Some things about ithe NEX were cool but the lenses sucked. I tried a 16mm lens and it was worse than the 18-55. I'm not saying there aren't "good copies" out there, I'm just saying I was never able to get a nice sharp pic with either lens.

The NEX forum kept telling me to send it all to Sony they'll "repair" it. So I did and Sony sent it all back to me without any comment, without anything, nothing.

If I'd gotten at least as sharp pics from my NEX as from my Nikon DSLRs with their kit lenses that would have been a start. What I can say is that an upgrade from the G12 is not the NEX, it's to a DSLR.

Make sure you all check out the size of the NEX whatever looking down at the top with the 18-55, compared to the G12 looking down at the top. There's where the real size different is seen. I'd never get a camera to use solely with some small prime so I didn't care how small it was with the 16mm on it. Nor a camera without a viewfinder. I might make an exception to the S95 or an LX5 but not a DSLR.

3 of those cameras you included are essentially duplicates because they are either an extremely similar camera to another from the same brand, or has replaced a previous model of which you include both.

Then it looks like the only logical upgrade to a G12 is a G13 or equivalent class.

The happiest campers over on the NEX forum were the people using adapters with their manual focus vintage lenses. Most of the sharp pics I saw were from vintage lenses, not the available NEX lenses.

OK, so I got an adapter for my Super Takumar lenses (50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2 etc) and played around with it. Manual focusing while hiking was a PITA. What's the point, just so I can get sharp pics like I do automatically with my Nikon DSLRs?

Sorry if I sound bitter about my NEX experience but it was about the most frustrating time I've had with any camera. I had high hopes but the stuff that turned out bad was stuff I would have never imagined before I bought it. End of my story.

justmeMN said:

From the NEX-C3 review here:

"As far as image quality is concerned, the NEX-C3 can slug it out with the best of its APS-C DSLR competition,..."

It sounds like it would be a nice upgrade, from the Canon G-Series.

It's a shame that Canon doesn't have something like that. :-(

Click to expand...

you need to remeber that while the body is a whole lot smaller the lenses are just slightly smaller....so unless u take the pancake lens 16mm 2.8 it will bulge out...this is due to the large sensor...

it wont be like someone said bulky as the 600D by far...but will be no pocket camera .

justmeMN said:

From the NEX-C3 review here:

"As far as image quality is concerned, the NEX-C3 can slug it out with the best of its APS-C DSLR competition,..."

It sounds like it would be a nice upgrade, from the Canon G-Series.

It's a shame that Canon doesn't have something like that. :-(

Click to expand...

It would be a very big upgrade in IQ compared to the g you have. Also you will be able to shoot at much much higher iso's than your used to! ISO 800 on the G will look like ISO12800 on the C3. That 16mp sensor is something dreams are made out of. I have seen ISO52000 pics from that sensor and they didnt look that bad. the sensor has the highest DR in any class.

I would do it if you wanted to do it! it wouldnt be a down grade.

You may want to wait and check out the nex-5N thats about to be announced(in 12 hours). It MAY have faster focusing, better screen, better NR alg. and just may be a better over all package. Plus the 5n will have a the option the have a EVF if you wanted it!
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Ryan,

Yes, it's a shame that Canon doesn't have something like that.

I have been shooting Canon since I bought the FTB when it came on the market in 1972. Have a large closet full of bodies and glass as I never cared about selling, since most of it looks like the "worn-out" tools they are. Glass from the Sigma 300-800 and down, bodies ending at the 5dI / 1D mII.

I have been waiting for years hoping that Canon could make a serious APS-C or larger sensor compact body, somewhat similar to the NEX, (which I bought immediately when it came out last year for testing.)

Even if it is very frustrating to use it has become my most used camera (together with my Iphone) , mostly with the compact 16mm, which is very good for the size / price.

Will get the NEX-7 and also the new NEX-5 for my wife as soon as they are available.
Still waiting for what Canon can bring to the table though.

I brought the NEX along for testing on this trip: http://www.northkape.com last summer and ended up shooting 75% of the pics with it between me and my wife.

Jan

It depends on the reasons you have in mind when you jump into the NEX camp. I bought a NEX5 some months ago to be a "travel" camera. For that it works out fine. If you think you want to move from a G or S95 or whatever to the APC sized sensor you have to consider that the NEX series is not really a DSLR replacement. I like to take bird images and birds in flight.. I am using a 40D and 300mm lenses for that. NEX wont cut it. Kids on the run... same thing. Sports.. depends on the sport.. but generally... no. So if you think NEX is a small DSLR substitute.. it is not. I have had fun with some of my old legacy lenses left over from the film days. The results can be quite spectacular. However, as others have pointed out, the lenses in the NEX mount have been a real shortcoming. Slow in coming and few and far between. No independents have announced lenses yet. The 18-55, contrary to a lot of hype, is not a bad lens.. and no worse and sometimes better than the other kit lenses out there. It can deliver some very nice results. Personally, i am not interested in other lenses ... except perhaps the more refined standard zoom that is to come out in 2012. I am quite heavily invested in Canon stuff and have had good results with Canon equipment. As I said, the NEX for me is a travel camera. It is light, easy to pack and carry and frankly I just got tired of carrying all the DSLR and lenses around. Perhaps my all time favorite travel camera is the S95.. put it on "mute" and it is absolutely silent. You can put it in your pocket and walk around all day... but that is another story. Regards.
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ralph m
http://remcmillan.smugmug.com/

nevermind (I thought you were saying you could put the NEX in your pocket but you were talking about an S95)