I am quite content with my D90. I don't yet lust for the D7000 or D7100 (but I'm beginning to hear great things about the upcoming D7200 
. I don't mind carrying it and a couple of lenses when I know there will be photo opportunities. However there have been a couple of trips where there simply was no room to bring the D90+lenses. Also, I'm often not motivated to carry it on a daily basis. I'm looking for ideas for a smaller, secondary camera for those occasions when the D90 is too big. Alas, I don't live near a major camera store where I can do side by side comparisons. My three main criteria are
I'm intrigued by the Sony NEX-6 or 7. I'll check in on that forum, but does anyone here use it in a supporting role to a D90 or D7x00? I've compared sizes on camerasize-dot-com, but without physically comparing them, I'm not sure the size is enough smaller to make a real difference. The DX/APS sensor sounds good, but bigger sensors generally need bigger lenses. Some of the NEX lenses are about the same size as my DX lenses - again not a big size advantage here.The Sony fans make a big deal about adapters to use all different kinds of lenses, but that seems to quickly kill any size advantage. The biggest on-line complaint seems to be relatively few lenses available at the moment.
Although smaller than the D90, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 doesn't seem sufficiently smaller for my purposes. More lenses; smaller lenses (for the smaller sensor), but looks larger than the Sony NEX-6. Other micro 4/3 cameras like the Olympus PEN EP3 again look interestingly, but not especially small. Also, the clip-on electric viewfinder makes it bigger, looks clunky and seems like a real pain, especially when you need to swap with a flash. But there are alot of MFT cameras. Am I missing the right one?
Nikon V2? Different dimensions than NEX-6, perhaps a tad smaller. With a DX lens can you even get it in a coat pocket? Smallest sensor of the bunch. Maybe I just can't get passed Ashton Kucher.
The Fuji X-E1 temporarily caught my eye, but it is even larger than the NEX-6. The X-100/s is somewhat smaller than the X-E1 (but bigger than the NEX), has a viewfinder, but is a fixed lens. Not a deal breaker, but not preferred.
The Canon G15 and G1X sport viewfinders, but have small zooms. A little tough to compare in size - bigger in some dimensions than the NEX, but smaller in others. Controls seem nicely laid out.
If I drop my requirement for a viewfinder, the Canon S110 or better yet, the Sony RX100 come to mind. They are undoubtedly pocket size and easy to carry, but do you sacrafice too much with respect to image quality? And did I mention, I really prefer a viewfinder?
So, what are you using as an easy carry alternative to your Nikon DX and why?
. I don't mind carrying it and a couple of lenses when I know there will be photo opportunities. However there have been a couple of trips where there simply was no room to bring the D90+lenses. Also, I'm often not motivated to carry it on a daily basis. I'm looking for ideas for a smaller, secondary camera for those occasions when the D90 is too big. Alas, I don't live near a major camera store where I can do side by side comparisons. My three main criteria are- Noticeably smaller body+lens size
- Viewfinder
- Very good image quality.
I'm intrigued by the Sony NEX-6 or 7. I'll check in on that forum, but does anyone here use it in a supporting role to a D90 or D7x00? I've compared sizes on camerasize-dot-com, but without physically comparing them, I'm not sure the size is enough smaller to make a real difference. The DX/APS sensor sounds good, but bigger sensors generally need bigger lenses. Some of the NEX lenses are about the same size as my DX lenses - again not a big size advantage here.The Sony fans make a big deal about adapters to use all different kinds of lenses, but that seems to quickly kill any size advantage. The biggest on-line complaint seems to be relatively few lenses available at the moment.
Although smaller than the D90, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 doesn't seem sufficiently smaller for my purposes. More lenses; smaller lenses (for the smaller sensor), but looks larger than the Sony NEX-6. Other micro 4/3 cameras like the Olympus PEN EP3 again look interestingly, but not especially small. Also, the clip-on electric viewfinder makes it bigger, looks clunky and seems like a real pain, especially when you need to swap with a flash. But there are alot of MFT cameras. Am I missing the right one?
Nikon V2? Different dimensions than NEX-6, perhaps a tad smaller. With a DX lens can you even get it in a coat pocket? Smallest sensor of the bunch. Maybe I just can't get passed Ashton Kucher.
The Fuji X-E1 temporarily caught my eye, but it is even larger than the NEX-6. The X-100/s is somewhat smaller than the X-E1 (but bigger than the NEX), has a viewfinder, but is a fixed lens. Not a deal breaker, but not preferred.
The Canon G15 and G1X sport viewfinders, but have small zooms. A little tough to compare in size - bigger in some dimensions than the NEX, but smaller in others. Controls seem nicely laid out.
If I drop my requirement for a viewfinder, the Canon S110 or better yet, the Sony RX100 come to mind. They are undoubtedly pocket size and easy to carry, but do you sacrafice too much with respect to image quality? And did I mention, I really prefer a viewfinder?
So, what are you using as an easy carry alternative to your Nikon DX and why?
