D300 owner wants a high quality more portable travel camera, any suggestions?

Clayton1985 · Jan 28, 2012

Answell said:
Do'nt know much about the Nikon V1 or J1, but I am not impressed with very small cameras. Lighter, yes , and this is why I choosed the Pana . I like the Sony line as well , but their lenses are very expensive , and I do not want to use my Nikon lenses on any of these cameras. do'nt not need the bulk anymore. When I put the Pana 45-200mm on the the camera, it is still a very light camera to use, and I do not need a tripod. My AF-S 300mm lens alone weighs almost (not quite sure) about 3 times as much. Now if I could have the Sony OLED on the Pana, I would not need another camera, but again that would entail a mirrow. They are going to get better, and better , and I am sure that both Nikon, and Canon are going to look seriously into this

The V1 camera body isn't smaller than most of the m 4/3 or NEX cameras but the system is. The V1 with the 30-110 gives you 300mm reach and there is no m 4/3 or NEX lens as compact (at least not that I'm aware of). The 30-110 also produces outstanding image quality. No one will make you attach your 300mm AF-S lens to the V1 but you can if you want to and it will autofocus.

nkarasev · Jan 28, 2012

ARB1 said:
Thanks nkarasev, I should have mentioned that the LX3 will be passed on to my wife when I get my new camera, her Canon P&S will then move to our 10 year old son who is dying to start taking photos of his own when we travel.

I'm liking the Panasonic GX1 a lot and also the Fuji Pro-1.

Well in that case you probably should have some.

Given current wide variety of excellent choices it wouldn't be easy or possible at all to identify the absolute winner.

One reason why I would go with Nikon 1 (provided you have enough juice since it is expensive route) is that with pancake lens it turns to the pocket camera with near DX (or even better) image quality. If necessary a longer zoom will fit making it much smaller package than D300 yet still just about as capable.
One other reason - it is the newest system/technology currently in the market.

Nik

DBCapybara · Jan 29, 2012

I am going to be the derailer here. I am in your same boat. Unlike all of the costly suggestions here for M4/3 cameras, I am going to recommend one of the best DSLRs ever made. You can buy a next to new Nikon D40 from KEH for less than $250.00. Frankly, IMHO, it is not as modern and high tech but operationally, it is far superior to the newer mirrorless cameras.

A used D40 and my 35mm 1.8 is a superb travel camera with very high quality images. More MPs are overrated.

Dan
--
I am all about the images not the gear.

ARB1 · Jan 29, 2012

Now I'm beginning to look more closely at the Sony NEX-5n or 7 because I like the idea of the tilt up mirror for street photography and with the NEX-7 I also like the viewfinder (i'm still old school even if I don't really like an EVF). I don't like the price of the NEX-7 but the camera itself is pretty tempting, especially since I'm looking for a solid all around walk-around replacement for my D300.

The Fujifilm Pro 1 looks nice but it's going to be pretty expensive just to get started, and I don't know if it will even be much better than the NEX-7.

nkarasev said:
nkarasev said:

Thanks nkarasev, I should have mentioned that the LX3 will be passed on to my wife when I get my new camera, her Canon P&S will then move to our 10 year old son who is dying to start taking photos of his own when we travel.

I'm liking the Panasonic GX1 a lot and also the Fuji Pro-1.

Click to expand...

Well in that case you probably should have some.

Given current wide variety of excellent choices it wouldn't be easy or possible at all to identify the absolute winner.

One reason why I would go with Nikon 1 (provided you have enough juice since it is expensive route) is that with pancake lens it turns to the pocket camera with near DX (or even better) image quality. If necessary a longer zoom will fit making it much smaller package than D300 yet still just about as capable.
One other reason - it is the newest system/technology currently in the market.

Nik

--
Allen
http://www.pbase.com/capturestudio

squeamish · Jan 29, 2012

DezM said:
Some want lightweight with SLR quality. That is why I went with the APS-C sized sensor in the NEX.

I understand that, I just can't appreciate it. To me there's no real difference in convenience between a 1 lb. camera around my neck and a 2 lb. camera around my neck. Pocketable vs. pocketable is, to me, a fundamental difference, but once it's going around my neck I can't appreciate the benefit of a little less weight. And I'm buy no means young and in shape.

bgD300 · Jan 29, 2012

I might go for the Nikon One in the next iteration if it gives me a body that I like.

I considered the MFT systems and realized that I would end up buying a new system over time that really didn't offer me much over what I had in terms of portability.

I ended up with the P7100 as an interim luggable while I watch the N1 system evolve. My initial impressions are very favorable and recorded at http://birdsnbugs.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/a-few-first-impressions-of-the-nikon-coolpix-p7100/

I am working on a hibiscus documentation project for a local garden. Documentation, not fine art florals. They are deep flowers and the extra DOF from the small sensor turned out to be a bonus for that job.

--
My photo blog: http://birdsnbugs.wordpress.com
My camera club porfolio: http://www.pacameraclub.com/bgrant.htm
RF Stock Portfolio - http://www.dreamstime.com/resp129611
EXIF is embedded in photos WSSA #51 as bg5700

Big Ga · Jan 29, 2012

Answell said:
Apart form the tunnel vision that you get from the EVF ,

What 'tunnel vision' ?
Are you talking about the G10, or GH1, or both, or what??

Big Ga · Jan 29, 2012

ARB1 said:
I have a D300 (my first love) and a LX3 (my little baby) but it's time for a new camera that will fit in between the two in size. I'll be heading to Peru soon and don't want to lug my D300 around the way I did while in Greece and Turkey a few years ago, so I want a nice high quality smaller camera that is well suited for travel without compromising too much in quality and flexibility when compared to my D300.

Its difficult to answer this as you need to provide more information such as what types of lenses you want to use ... is AF performance essential, do you have to have clean high ISOs or will you be shooting in good light most of the time ??

Also - is it the D300 itself that's too heavy, or is it the D300 AND the lenses? and if so, what lenses... most of the weight I carry is lenses rather than bodies..

etc etc..

Answell · Jan 29, 2012

The G10 had only a 210 pixel EVF, like the older Pana Z series, it did not give a very clear readout , and this is one of the reason why I sold it. On the other hand, the GH1 has (I think) 1.4 million pixels. same as the GH2. I have tried the Gh2 at Henr'y camera shop, and it is way way better, and quite useable.

Now, why others will argue about which camera to get, and why Nikon's own V1 might be an alternative, go try the Pana GH2. ( I am not brand loyal) It is by far the best CSC cameras on the market today as far as mirrorless cameras goes. The picture quality is right up there with the best DX model camera IMO, and whats more, it is unbeatable for HD video, better tha Canon 5D or 7D. It might not be for everyone, as people have their own choices with any camera on the market today, but for me, its the best buy right now. Its still very light, even though it looks almost the same as a D300, great picture quality, good dynamic range, very good ISO up to 1600, and it shoots HD video In Af mode. What more can you ask of a camera for the general public?

Big Ga · Jan 29, 2012

Answell said:
The G10 had only a 210 pixel EVF, like the older Pana Z series, it did not give a very clear readout

Correct. I just wanted to make sure you weren't lumping the pretty crappy G10 viewfinder in with the ones that panny build in to all the other models which, while still EVFs (which I still hate compared to a big OVF), have to be said are lovely and large, and are pretty much D3 kind of size.

Answell said:
On the other hand, the GH1 has (I think) 1.4 million pixels. same as the GH2.

Not quite the same, but very close.

The G3 and GH2 have double the frame readout, and so are smoother for action. And I think the GH2 viewfinder did get a few more pixels here and there (width?), but they are of the same ballpark genre and certainly a different league to the G10 (and the crappy add on EVF for the GF1/2!)

stanginit · Jan 29, 2012

I picked up a P7100. Great little camera along with the SB400 flash.

Answell · Jan 29, 2012

Well, I was'nt quite sure about the exact figures, but it will do for the times when I need it. I do not plan on giving up my D300 anytime soon however, But it is a relief to have something like the Pana as a walk around camera that does everything well. The kit lens, and the 45-200mm which I got for it will do quite nicely for most of the pictures that I take, but when, not if, the time comes when they are equal, or surpass the SLRs, I will be on the bandwaggon.

jhorse · Jan 29, 2012

Hi,

I am in the same boat: have a D300s and an LX5. I sometimes want a lighter, more convenient system than the D300s and sometimes a more responsive camera than the LX5. So what is the halfway house? I do have a D40 (+18-55/55-200VR), which remains a terrific camera that delivers superb results in daylight. I want the same image quality in the same convenient package as the D40 during daylight, but better at higher ISO settings. While I agree with the poster above who recommended it I am looking for a replacement. Whatever I get must have an integrated view finder, preferably optical, but I can live with electrical. Also, I have decided that once a camera cannot be placed in a coat pocket then any marginal increase in size becomes less relevant. I have looked at Panasonic, G3, which is very tempting given the size and reasonable IQ, but is the marginal reduction is size/weight (still not pocketable) worth the outlay? Not for me. I keep coming back to the D5100: better high ISO than a D40, about the same weight/size, and a convenient package.

Decisions, decisions!

--
J.

http://jules7.smugmug.com/

Answell · Jan 29, 2012

I did not suggest that anyone would want to give up their SLR cameras for anything that is currently on the market, and I know that I wont give up my D300, and all the lenses that I have for just any camera. At this moment you just can not beat a Dslr for responsiveness, and quality. I know that I would not want to shoot say "birds in flight" with some other camera except my Nikon. However, I need a camera for every day use, with equally good image quality, one that I do not have to use a tripod because of camera shake due to weight ( I hate tripods, actually) and the Pana does just that for me. If there was any other camera that I would have picked over the Pana, would be the Sony 5N, but I do not want to use LCD all the time for framing, and taking pictures, and this is where the Pana is much better, as it has a very good EVF, and feels and still looks more like an SLR, without the bulk.

DezM · Jan 29, 2012

squeamish said:
DezM said:

Some want lightweight with SLR quality. That is why I went with the APS-C sized sensor in the NEX.

Click to expand...

I understand that, I just can't appreciate it. To me there's no real difference in convenience between a 1 lb. camera around my neck and a 2 lb. camera around my neck. Pocketable vs. pocketable is, to me, a fundamental difference, but once it's going around my neck I can't appreciate the benefit of a little less weight. And I'm buy no means young and in shape.

I hear you. I have a LX5 as well, when I want to go really light.

The NEX is never on my neck. I don't like neck straps. Only wrist straps or sling straps.

And the weight differences make a big difference when carrying gear all day long.
--
Dez

http://dezsantana.com

rizakayan · Jan 30, 2012

it's interesting noone has mentioned olympus XZ1. it matches the qulity of D3100. also it has a very fast lens. also nikon P300 is a nice camera, but it lacks when u zoom. XZ1 still is very good when u zoom. for me, XZ1 is the best compact.

jm07 · Jan 30, 2012

I shoot primarily with a D300 and a D7000.

For a small portable, reasonable discreet, camera I went with the Nikon V1.

Image quality is very close to the D300 and D7000. The viewfinder is a real asset. For outdoor shooting especially I wouldn' go with anything that didn't have a decent built in 100% viewfinder. Anything that you can see on the LCD (menu, playback, regular viewing for shooting) is on the viewfinder. The visible and moveable AF point, like the DSLR's is great. The two Nikon V1 zoom lenses are rather small and give you the same range that you would get from 27-300mm lens on full frame, or 18-200mm lenses on DX. For travel this is a good range. A slightly wider lens would really be nice, but not a deal breaker for most travel. The factory defalut settings are for a point and shooter, but you can easily customize the settings for a more serious shooter.

Jerry

djwuk · Jan 30, 2012

my d300 is my travel camera, not too big, perfect size. i'd rather carry a dslr than use a csc - as far as i'm concerned a csc is no substitute for a dslr.

Big Ga · Jan 30, 2012

djwuk said:
my d300 is my travel camera, not too big, perfect size. i'd rather carry a dslr than use a csc - as far as i'm concerned a csc is no substitute for a dslr.

You can't just make a blanket statement like that if you want anyone to take you seriously.

You need to give reasons.

Answell · Jan 30, 2012

Big Ga said:
djwuk said:

my d300 is my travel camera, not too big, perfect size. i'd rather carry a dslr than use a csc - as far as i'm concerned a csc is no substitute for a dslr.

Click to expand...

You can't just make a blanket statement like that if you want anyone to take you seriously.

You need to give reasons.

When digital cameras first came out, almost everyone would state that it can not replace film, and even today, some still think this way. My film camera was a Minolta X-7 which I had for 17 years . No bigger than the Fuji X100.

Why is it that people can not accept changes? Its a digital world , and changes will take place . Since Sony came out with the NEX-7 the only difference is really only the optical viewfinder VS the OLED IMO, but nobody ( or at least mysel) is not advising anyone to give up their SLR. I know that I am not doing so, but I welcome the ease of use, and portability that I get form the CSC, and when they get better, I will go that route.

D300 owner wants a high quality more portable travel camera, any suggestions?

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