24mm STM Instead of a Compact?

For those with the 24mm STM lens do you find it a good alternative to a compact camera?  Looking at various M's, G's, Fuji's and Olympi and figured the easiest move might just be a 24mm lens.  Wouldn't be perfect all the time, but a good compromise for when keeping it lighter?

THANKS.

With an SL1 and the 24mm STM you're looking at only 532 g (19 oz.).  It's probably the smallest, lightest SLR around.  It's also fairly fully featured and a darned nice camera.  You can't go wrong.

its all about size, features, cost and image quality.

A sony a6000 with a sigma 30 2.8 for example is a fair bit smaller and lighter still.  So is an canon M or m3 with a 22mm f2.

I never warmed up to SL-1.  A dated sensor and crappy viewfinder, in still too big of a package.

The 24mm STM (and the 40mm STM for that matter) are so so tiny. They really make a dSLR that much portable, and at least with my 600D, having the 24mm attached means I can leave my camera hanging round my neck for hours without being bothered by the weight.

I tried going with a compact camera once in order to have a more portable camera with me for when I didn't have my dSLR but I instantly regretted it. To be fair it was not a high end compact though. To get quality images with a completely new and different camera (since once you've got a dSLR it's hard to settle for any less in terms of image quality), you would probably have to spend as much as another beginner to mid-range dSLR would cost you. I think you'd be much better off just buying the 24mm, which isn't expensive at all, and while your 7D and 24mm combination may not be as small as some other compact cameras available, it's certainly the better compromise. Of course it also depends if you'd like using a prime at that focal length - I personally grew to love it.

Even if at the end of the day you were not entirely happy with it, you'd have hardly made a loss.

MMACory wrote:

For those with the 24mm STM lens do you find it a good alternative to a compact camera? Looking at various M's, G's, Fuji's and Olympi and figured the easiest move might just be a 24mm lens. Wouldn't be perfect all the time, but a good compromise for when keeping it lighter?

THANKS.

Count me in the group that has no interest in buying a separate camera. I have a 6d and used to have a 40mm pancake which was a wonderful light setup, and then when I wanted even lighter than that, I just use my phone.

If you get a chance, does this look ideal? -

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119690-REG/lowepro_lp36864_adventura_sh_120_ii.html

Over the last two years I have been using a Canon SL1 and Canon Powershot S100. I use the SL1 with several prime lenses (35mm F2 IS USM; 50mm 1.8) for photographing my kids, mainly indoors. A few months ago, I accidentally dropped my S100 at the park and broke the lens.

When I looked at the exif data of my S100 photos in Lightroom, most of photos were shot at the wide angle (to take advantage of the wider aperture).  Instead of purchasing a new point-and-shoot, I purchased the 24mm stm, and I am now using it with my SL1 as a quasi-compact camera.

I love using the 24mm STM with my SL1 for hikes, trips to the park, and visits to friends' houses for cookouts, etc.   Granted, the SL1 doesn't fit into my pocket.  But, the SL1 w/ 24mm stm is very small, light, and to be honest, it looks like a small bridge camera.  The photo quality is amazing - and with an APS-C sensor and a f/2.8, it is really good combo in low light compared to a standard compact or cell phone camera.

I know I loose the flexibility of the zoom with the 24mm stm - but I like using my feet to zoom - and I can always crop-in using Lightroom. The 24mm stm is a great little lens - and you can often pick up a refurbished one for about $100 from the Canon Direct Refurbished Store.

Good luck with your decision.

Years ago, Olympus caused a stir with the OM-1, which weighed only 24 oz. with 50mm lens.  The SL-1 weighs 20 oz. with kit lens and 19 oz. with 24 mm lens.  You can get very used to that weight.  The 70D body, for example, weighs twice as much as the SL1 body.

Any reason why step up rings won't work (52mm to 67mm in this case)?  Does the lens extend out when focusing?

Thanks and I think I'm there.

MMACory wrote:

Any reason why step up rings won't work (52mm to 67mm in this case)? Does the lens extend out when focusing?

Thanks and I think I'm there.

I don't know about the case, but do you mean the 60mm macro?  The lens does not extend when focusing.

ThrillaMozilla wrote:

MMACory wrote:

Any reason why step up rings won't work (52mm to 67mm in this case)? Does the lens extend out when focusing?

Thanks and I think I'm there.

I don't know about the case, but do you mean the 60mm macro? The lens does not extend when focusing.

Then should be good-to-go.  Thanks.

I am pretty much in the same situation as you a few months ago. But ever since I updated my Iphone 4 to Iphone 6 I pretty much use the phone as a compact camera for quick snapshots instead of the DSLR or any camera even compact p&s.

I'm sure other current models of smart phones have really decent stills and video capability nowadays.

I have yet to try an EF-S 24mm, but achieved a similar result with the then-new 40mm STM on a 5D camera. This combination stopped my momentum toward adding a smaller system, such as Fuji X. This 5D/40mm STM combination carries well in a Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 20, worn as a belt pouch or on its strap.

A bit heavier, but with similar overall size, is the Nikon D700, with the Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 P lens. (I skipped the 5D Marks II and III, adding D700 and D3s cameras before resuming with the 5D-series with the 5Ds R, but this was not a switch; I like shooting with both Canon and Nikon equipment, so never left Canon.)

Another pouch/bag that works well, on the belt, for a DSLR with a "pancake" lens mounted, is the Think Tank Skin Body Bag, which is not limited to being worn on Think Tank belts, but works fine with any belt. This one is deep enough to allow something to be carried above or below the camera, such as a flash unit or small-diameter lens, if separately padded.

I do not like any camera or lens in my pants'/trousers' pockets, anyway, much preferring to carry things on my belt, so a "pocket" camera is largely irrelevant to me. I did add an EOS M3, but have yet to decide whether I like it. The AF, in particular, seems too hit-or-miss, though I really should consult the instruction manual, as there may something I do not know that I do not know. (My M3 was imported into the USA by its previous owner; the manual is in Asian characters, so I have to look on-line for instructions.) My M3 usually stays home, for now, while I take one or two SLR cameras with me.

A reply post mentioned the SL1, which seems a like-able camera, but the EOS M3 is less uncomfortable in my somewhat-large hands than the SL1. I prefer the larger-volume gripping area of 7D-/5D-series camera bodies.

Yes; I like the concept of a compact camera but when I tried an Oly it wasn't very comfortable. My 30D and 70D with the 24mm pancake look funny but is comfortable and small.

I've wanted to go mirrorless for a while.  Canon hasn't taken mirrorless seriously, though, or they'd make a mirrorless camera WITH A VIEWFINDER!  Our house has the equivalent of the GNP of a small nation tied up in camera gear, from the latest 50MP Canon supercamera to 10lb+ white lenses, mostly for my wife.

I bought the SL1 a couple years ago as a stop gap, but boy was I surprised.  It is a great little camera.  With the Tamron 16-300 it weighs only 5oz more than the 7D body alone.  With the 24mm F2.8 it has become the standard event camera--dinners, birthdays, etc.  The Sigma 8-16mm ultrawide plus the Tamron 16-300 give me an extraordinary capability with only two lenses, although I usually have the 24/2.8 along since it takes little more space than a spare filter!  With Manfrotto's smallest carbon fiber tripod, I can do a lot with very little weight to lug around.  A small Bolt flash unit from B&H fills out when I need it.

I still want a Canon mirrorless, but I have no use for a camera that allows only viewing via a back panel LCD.  Terrible in sunlight, not to mention you look like a cell phone dork using it.  I've gotten my money's worth from the SL1, so whenever Canon decides to catch up to the 21st century, I'm ready to go too.  For now, though, I am VERY happy with the ultra compact SL1.