Looking for a second camera

[KenC]

I know that you said no P&S but personally, I've been thinking more and more about getting a Canon G12. It's P&S but with the SLR user in mind and gives you all the same features as a DSLR (including the ability to shoot in RAW, a hot shoe flash mount, etc). The lens is decent with a range of 20-140mm. Next time I have $470 disposable dollars, it will probably be spent there. I'm looking into this for all the same reasons as you. There are so many shots that I miss out on b/c I didn't want to bring out my DSLR and didn't want to bring 3 or 4 different lenses. I think this is the obvious choice for me. You might look into it as well?

As an aside, it will also shoot 720p video. I have a relatively inexpensive canon elura 100 video cam that does a decent job, but I don't like getting it out either, as I really don't care to shoot video. I may do more video snippets though if I had it built into a decent P&S camera.

Agree with this ^^^ completely. I have a G11 which I use for exactly the purpose the OP describes. I have trouble telling the pictures I get from it from those taken with SLR's. It's hard to call any camera that shoots raw and allows total manual control a PnS.

 

[nickzou]

Wow, I just looked up the Fujifilm X10 and I think I'm in love. Still I'll probably wait for it to come out and for some reviews to come in before I decide to buy it. But what a gorgeous camera. I was watching a review for the NEX and I really liked their focus indicator since manual focusing is hard enough, doing it on an LCD would be truly difficult so that's one thing that appeal to me.

 

[usayit]

Yes... Sony's implementation of "peaking" focus is pretty slick and one of the features that I wouldn't mind having in micro 43. The rest of the camera system just didn't feel right to me and the original version didn't have an option for a EVF which to me was a deal breaker.

75-90% of my use of micro 43 (Panny G1 and E-PL1) is with adapted manual lenses.... EVF is an absolute must and so far the EVF on my olympus has been more than adequate. Most customers that went mirrorless that I have met are using it as they would a high end P&S and rarely use manual focus. For that, LCD is adequate.


It helps to first decide on your priorities on this purchase; ie Compact (P&S), DSLR alternative (mirrorless), legacy lens use etc... It makes it much easier to figure things out.

 

[nickzou]

First I think is still IQ. Second I would want... portability. And third would be build quality.

 

[usayit]

If #1 priority is IQ, I would seriously consider a lower end entry level DSLR of the same system with maybe a single compact super zoom.

 

[nickzou]

X10

God that camera looks sexy.

 

[gsgary]

Why not get a D3s and use it as backup for your D7000 :er:

 

[nickzou]

Why not get a D3s and use it as backup for your D7000 :er:

I will take that under advisement.

 

[usayit]

X10

God that camera looks sexy.

Read closely.... 2/3 sensor... Smaller than micro 43 sensor format thus tiny compared to the APSC sensor in the x100 and NEX. IQ still your num 1 priority? We will have to wait and see if Fuji worked miracles. To me this is a high end PS which didnt appeal to you in the first place. At te rumored price point, its higher priced thanthe Canon G12 and darn close to a second entry level SLR.

 

[kundalini]

X10

God that camera looks sexy.

You want sexy? I'll give you sexy.

For comparison purposes, here's the OLY EP3 vs the gripped Nikon D700

Oly on top (obviously) with the 40-150mm extended out to 150mm (300mm equivalent) and the D700 with 70-200mm

Front view

Oly with 14-42mm in transport position and the Nikkor 24-70mm similarly.

The size and weight difference is quite extraordinary. IQ from the D700 is obviously better, but the Oly ain't just whistling Dixie either.

 

[nickzou]

Read closely.... 2/3 sensor... Smaller than micro 43 sensor format thus tiny compared to the APSC sensor in the x100 and NEX. IQ still your num 1 priority? We will have to wait and see if Fuji worked miracles. To me this is a high end PS which didnt appeal to you in the first place. At te rumored price point, its higher priced thanthe Canon G12 and darn close to a second entry level SLR.

I'm kidding. But it does look nice. I'm still leaning towards the NEX. I went to the store and played around with the G12 actually. I dunno if I love it.