All-round camera for travelling light

Hi everyone,

I will be doing a solo travelling to Japan for the first time. I currently own Canon 550D with kit lens and wide-angle, but it's too heavy for moving around, mostly will luggage. I'm considering to get a compact with moderate pricing which is light and have option to shoot zoom (e.g. 70mm on the long edge) and wide enough. Articulated LCD on 180 degree is much preferable for selfie. Otherwise maybe I can utilize selfie stick if the camera is not heavy.

I was looking at Samsung NX-1 mini, it looks nice but the camera selection is limited. Friends are suggesting Sony a5100 but the kit lens on the longer range is expensive. RX100 iii have good review but it's range also limited.

Since using DSLR I notice I shot lesser than when I used compact. With compact, I shoot everything I saw anytime anywhere, but with DSLR I tend to choose the object and only shoot at good object. I also used my Samsung S4 for quicker snap and I snap more on the phone than on DSLR. So I'm thinking to get one "less professional" but still giving good quality picture, especially on the noise level.

Greatly appreciate your opinion and suggestion.

One of the problems that you are going to run into with the Canon point and shoot cameras is that they overlap a bit with the EOS line so you could wind up spending more on a point and shoot then you would on a EOS. Here is what I recommend:

First, I would upgrade that T2i to the new T6 there has been a lot of improvement in camera technology since you brought home your current camera and I think that its worth the upgrade. A good thing to do is to pay a visit to the rebel forums on these baords and to look for the thread that talks about the new T6 and its refinements. Or you could simply post and the forum members will tell you.

Second, the cameras that have been recommended at this point are about the same price as the Canon SX50HS. Thats a very good point and shoot camera that looks and feels almost exactly like an EOS camera. The Power Shot SX series are generally smaller and lighter then their EOS counterparts, however they are a bit lighter on the features. You can expect a camera that looks and feels exactly like an EOS and acts a bit like one as well.

May I suggest a look at the Olympus OM-D10 .... with kit lens plus a very inexpensive, yet good 40-150 lens, you can cover quite a bit with a small, lightweight camera..... there are several other nice lens options as well.... I just replaced my Oly E-300/ E-510 cameras with this due to the weight/size factor and expect to use them for an upcoming trip to Portugal & Spain in May..... had a Oly SZ-30 that reached out to 600 MM for trip last year... just not quite satisfactory to me.... but nice pocket sized backup camera to own.

I think within the Micro 4/3 you can find all varieties of possible kits depending how light and how expensive it can be.

Lightest kit with some range would be the Panasonic GM1 double zoom kit. It comes with two small zooms, that cover 24-200 mm focal range (in 35mm terms). In the US the GM1 is still more expensive than over here, so the deal isn't that good. A cheaper alternative would be the Panasonic GF7 or Olympus PL7. They are a little bigger than the GM1 but offer more features (articulated display etc.).

Olympus and Panasonic are both good, differ in the features they offer.

My solution for many years has been one of the Panasonic "Travel Zooms", carried in my trouser pocket totally out of sight and not dangling from a strap. 24 - 280mm equivalent lens.

I had a ZS19 in Japan in june of 2012, and it did just fine. All handheld - Japan has many places where tripods are forbidden. The Panoramics are stitched - not those silly in-camera "sweep" panoramas.

All photos reduced in file size "for web" in PSE8, and can be seen at higher resolution on my flickr site www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/


Through a gate - not a collage.


Deer, Nara.


Torii tunnels, Fushimi Inari Park.


My wife modeling Kimono - dim interior light, no flash.


Scale model of ancient palace - interior, very dim light.


Street corner, Fushimi. The gentleman in the tan suit courteously stopped to pose.

I use a loose-fitting plastic bag in my pocket to keep pocket-lint away from the camera, and I always have a folding Clearviewer mounted on the camera:











--
"Measure wealth not by things you have but by things for which you would not take money"
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]

I now use Olympus MFT Cameras exclusively and the results are great - it's small, light and you can even carry some extra lenses if you like since they fit in your pocket. I wrote about my experiences in the following article:

Photography gear

and some pictures I took in Japan with that equipment:

Kyoto

Koyasan

it will be fine in good light.

Great for selfies.

Tedolph

Sherly said:

With compact, I shoot everything I saw anytime anywhere, but with DSLR I tend to choose the object and only shoot at good object.

Click to expand...

I think this is a good thing. I shoot with a DSLR and end up with way too many pictures every time. Choosing subjects and scenes carefully is a good skill to have/develop.

Sherly said:

Hi everyone,

I will be doing a solo travelling to Japan for the first time. I currently own Canon 550D with kit lens and wide-angle, but it's too heavy for moving around, mostly will luggage. I'm considering to get a compact with moderate pricing which is light and have option to shoot zoom (e.g. 70mm on the long edge) and wide enough. Articulated LCD on 180 degree is much preferable for selfie. Otherwise maybe I can utilize selfie stick if the camera is not heavy.

I was looking at Samsung NX-1 mini, it looks nice but the camera selection is limited. Friends are suggesting Sony a5100 but the kit lens on the longer range is expensive. RX100 iii have good review but it's range also limited.

Since using DSLR I notice I shot lesser than when I used compact. With compact, I shoot everything I saw anytime anywhere, but with DSLR I tend to choose the object and only shoot at good object. I also used my Samsung S4 for quicker snap and I snap more on the phone than on DSLR. So I'm thinking to get one "less professional" but still giving good quality picture, especially on the noise level.

Greatly appreciate your opinion and suggestion.

Click to expand...

Take a look at the Olympus E-PL7 with the new 14-150 lens. This will give you a tiny kit with tremendous versatility. You may not be interested, but combination this appeals to me....I have an E-PL5 that is fun to travel with and takes very good pictures.




St. Giles Cathedral. Edinburgh






The Quiraing, Skye, Scotland



--

Thanks for the info about the tripod use. The photos on your Flickr looks great and I've checked some sample images of ZS19. It does look great! I'll be considering this on. Thank you for introducing it.

tarakanchik said:

tarakanchik said:

With compact, I shoot everything I saw anytime anywhere, but with DSLR I tend to choose the object and only shoot at good object.

Click to expand...

I think this is a good thing. I shoot with a DSLR and end up with way too many pictures every time. Choosing subjects and scenes carefully is a good skill to have/develop.

Click to expand...

Actually I feel that I missed a lot of moments as I was too busy rearranging the composition, find angles, and retaking the shoots. When comparing mine to my travel companions', I can recall more memories, places, and references using their shoots, or my mobile phone. I think there's some mental block that using professional camera I have to take pro quality picture.

But I agree with you, it becomes a skill and a habit, naturally I took good pictures even with candid shots.

Sherly said:

tarakanchik said:

Sherly said:

With compact, I shoot everything I saw anytime anywhere, but with DSLR I tend to choose the object and only shoot at good object.

Click to expand...

I think this is a good thing. I shoot with a DSLR and end up with way too many pictures every time. Choosing subjects and scenes carefully is a good skill to have/develop.

Click to expand...

Actually I feel that I missed a lot of moments as I was too busy rearranging the composition, find angles, and retaking the shoots. When comparing mine to my travel companions', I can recall more memories, places, and references using their shoots, or my mobile phone. I think there's some mental block that using professional camera I have to take pro quality picture.

But I agree with you, it becomes a skill and a habit, naturally I took good pictures even with candid shots.

Click to expand...

Some of us simply want to record photos of our travels, while others travel in order to make photographs. The two mindsets are very different. I've moved to an advanced P&S. After decades of lugging and obsessing on bagfuls of equipment, it's very liberating.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!

I have some considerations on hand and seriously thinking to get an interchangeable camera. However I tend to be greedy to find the "best" camera while it may not serve the original purpose: to get a lighter, travel-able gear.

There's some I'm comparing now: between Olympus OMD series and Pen series. Dimension-wise, EPL series is much preferrable butlooks good but it seems I won't regret spending more in OMD, albeit heavier. I read that E-PL7 quality is comparative to E-M10, but E-M10 and E-P5 kit is on the same price. I'm torn.

What will I miss from E-P5/E-PL7 that E-M10 or E-M5 has? Is there any comparison between both series head-to-head using same lens?

Also, is the 14-42mm kit lens worth getting? I was eyeing at 12-40mm and 40-150mm.

Sherly said:

Hi everyone,

I will be doing a solo travelling to Japan for the first time. I currently own Canon 550D with kit lens and wide-angle, but it's too heavy for moving around, mostly will luggage. I'm considering to get a compact with moderate pricing which is light and have option to shoot zoom (e.g. 70mm on the long edge) and wide enough. Articulated LCD on 180 degree is much preferable for selfie. Otherwise maybe I can utilize selfie stick if the camera is not heavy.

I was looking at Samsung NX-1 mini, it looks nice but the camera selection is limited. Friends are suggesting Sony a5100 but the kit lens on the longer range is expensive. RX100 iii have good review but it's range also limited.

Since using DSLR I notice I shot lesser than when I used compact. With compact, I shoot everything I saw anytime anywhere, but with DSLR I tend to choose the object and only shoot at good object. I also used my Samsung S4 for quicker snap and I snap more on the phone than on DSLR. So I'm thinking to get one "less professional" but still giving good quality picture, especially on the noise level.

Greatly appreciate your opinion and suggestion.

Click to expand...

The new class of enthusiast compacts could fit your bill, although they do cost more bills than what you might consider "moderate". Every camera manufacturer is trying to push the average cost of a camera upwards to maintain cash flow these days, so be prepared.

I would suggest that for a compact travel camera the feature that makes it nearly as effective and versatile as a DSLR for most situations is an electronic viewfinder. This allows you to frame and shoot in lighting conditions that wash out a viewfinderless camera...and if you give it a moment's thought, you will realize that the lighting conditions that yield the best images (light coming from behind the camera) are exactly the ones that wash out the LCD.

AF speed is another desirable, but the better compacts are pretty fast now - they just can't track focus, which is often not an issue. startup time is usually more important.

Wifi or the ability to upload images from your camera to your smartphone or the internet is a very useful feature if you will be Facebooking or otherwise blogging during your trip - and in Japan, wifi is ubiquitous. A few cameras offer a decent implementation of this, but most DSLRs don't.

The RX100III ticks most of these buttons. Fast lens, large sensor, decent zoom range, integrated viewfinder.

The Panasonic LX100 also, with the added feature of DFD, which improves the AF speed, and a nice wifi implementation.

All of these cameras have at least a 1" sensor, which is really quite fine for most travel purposes. The LX100 is almost u4/3 size.

I personally think that a 70mm long end is a bit too short for a travel camera...105-120mm is better, but these are getting harder to find as it's harder to keep things small and lens speeds fast. However, most such cameras these days go to 24mm on the wide end, which is a very useful wide angle FOV.

If you're willing to go really small-sensor, then the soon-to-be released Panasonic DMC-SZ50 looks to be a great option: huge zoom, upgraded electronic viewfinder, a sensible (12MP) resolution sensor with improved noise characteristics, wifi connectivity, small size, excellent ergonomics, RAW output for playing in the digital darkroom when you return home.

If you're willing to schlep around a small ILC, then there's always the Panasonic GM1/5, Oly EM-10, or the Nikon Series 1 if you want really fast AF. They're not pocketable, but they're much smaller than your DSLR.

Read up on the DPR buying guides for enthusiast compacts, high end pocketables, travel compacts, and entry level mirrorless cameras that you can link to from the top of this page.

Sherly said:

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!

I have some considerations on hand and seriously thinking to get an interchangeable camera. However I tend to be greedy to find the "best" camera while it may not serve the original purpose: to get a lighter, travel-able gear.

There's some I'm comparing now: between Olympus OMD series and Pen series. Dimension-wise, EPL series is much preferrable butlooks good but it seems I won't regret spending more in OMD, albeit heavier. I read that E-PL7 quality is comparative to E-M10, but E-M10 and E-P5 kit is on the same price. I'm torn.

What will I miss from E-P5/E-PL7 that E-M10 or E-M5 has? Is there any comparison between both series head-to-head using same lens?

Click to expand...

For feature comparison you can use the DPR comparison tool:


I hope that link works.

IQ wise, all MFT cameras of the current generation are very close if not equal. All Olys except Em1 use the same sensor, EM1 has PDAF. So you can decide by feature set, especially whether you need an EVF or not. I don't, but I never had one before anyway.

Sherly said:

Also, is the 14-42mm kit lens worth getting? I was eyeing at 12-40mm and 40-150mm.

Click to expand...

Well, it's exactly that, a kit zoom. Not bad but nothing special, I presume. The pro lenses are of course better, but much more expensive and much bigger. You must choose your priorities. Of the kit zooms I like the Panasonic 12-32 best. It's very small, starts at 24mm equivalent FL and is nice to use. It's what ultimately pushed me away from Olympus, because their pancake zoom is operated by zoom lever on the lens (power zoom), which I didn't like.

I switched from an enthusiast compact (XZ-1) to a M43 ILC and I enjoy the better autofocus, quality and versatility each and every time I shoot. The bag for my ILC (GM-1) isn't even bigger than the one I had before, when I use the 12-32 or the 15mm prime.

Sherly,

I just went through this exercise trying to find a camera for my teenage daughter as she will be travelling to Japan this summer. She has used my DSLR but she does not want to lug that around Japan. I use a RX100 I as my travel camera but did not want to send that off to Japan with her. After much research, looking for good IQ and a quality camera that will fit in a purse, I came up with the older Canon S110. Even though it was released late 2012 it is still selling new at B & H for $185. I just purchased an open-box for $135. I will receive it in a few days and hoping that it works out.

Sherly said:

Hi everyone,

I will be doing a solo travelling to Japan for the first time. I currently own Canon 550D with kit lens and wide-angle, but it's too heavy for moving around, mostly will luggage. I'm considering to get a compact with moderate pricing which is light and have option to shoot zoom (e.g. 70mm on the long edge) and wide enough. Articulated LCD on 180 degree is much preferable for selfie. Otherwise maybe I can utilize selfie stick if the camera is not heavy.

I was looking at Samsung NX-1 mini, it looks nice but the camera selection is limited. Friends are suggesting Sony a5100 but the kit lens on the longer range is expensive. RX100 iii have good review but it's range also limited.

Since using DSLR I notice I shot lesser than when I used compact. With compact, I shoot everything I saw anytime anywhere, but with DSLR I tend to choose the object and only shoot at good object. I also used my Samsung S4 for quicker snap and I snap more on the phone than on DSLR. So I'm thinking to get one "less professional" but still giving good quality picture, especially on the noise level.

Greatly appreciate your opinion and suggestion.

Click to expand...

I would either choose one of the Panasonic Travel Zooms - one of the latest they have actually reduced the Megapixel count which is promising (my ZS7 has served me well) or if I wanted something better I would choose the Panasonic GX-7 with a 14-140 lens. The GX7 is a photographers camera with good ergonomics and great functionality, the 14-140 is not too large and it means you never need to change lenses. If you want a fast prime, the Panny 15mmF1.7 (30mm equiv) or Oly 25mmf1.8 are very good glass and reasonable size.

Its a great site but let me warn you about the license agreement, you give up all rights to your photos that you post there. A lot of photographers that I know prefer not to post there because of the licensing agreement.

I need to point out that Nikon lenses will not fit on Canon cameras, every camera maker uses a different method to mount the lenses on the camera. So if you buy something other than Canon you will need all new lenses. I am not saying stay with Canon just to keep your lenses, what I am saying is you need to factor that fact into your buying decision.

To the OP: I agree with the posters who recommend that you develop a compact m43 system. Oly EPL-5 or 7 body OR Panny GX7, GM1, or GM5 body + any selection of compact lenses/zooms. Starting from scratch, I'd buy the 12-32 Panny GM1 kit zoom, 9-18 Oly zoom if you want to go wider, and compact 40-150 Oly zoom which can be had for as little as $150 new. Going for primes: By far the best is 20mm f1.7 Panny. Others not too large or expensive: 14 f2.5 Panny, 45 f1.8 portrait Oly, 60mm f2.8 very cheap Sigma for a little more reach. There are better regarded primes and zooms but they are way bigger and way more expensive. IMO even an Oly EM body is larger than desirable for nimble travel, getting close in size to the smallest Canon DSLR body. My extended travel kit (ships, long air trips) is an EPL-1 body, 5 lenses, small flash, all of which fit into a 10-inch tall Olympus "mini-backpack," $32 new, which can be shoulder or hand carried very easily. I save the Nikons for travel in automobiles and the Leica X1 for when I delude myself into thinking I can produce art!