Anyone try some of the new "mini" DSLRs?

[JLa01844]

I'm really interested in hearing reviewing about the mini DSLRs coming onto the market. I believe the Canon SLR1 is the smallest at the moment and basically fits in the palm of your hand.

I have a Nikon D80 and I love the pictures i take with I personally prefer Nikon over Canon but I'm at the point where I hate lugging the stuff around and end up not bringing my camera places I should with a final result of no pictures! Yikes!

Has anyone made the switch over to a mini? An tips on toting normal sized cameras? I have a women's rapid fire strap and usually have an external flash mounted onto my D80.

 

[photo_chick]

The SL1 uses a similar sensor to many other Canon crop bodies (T2i, T3i.... 60D, 7D) so the image quality should be comparable to those. I've not done more than hold one of these at the store though. They're a really tempting choice for when you want something you can stash in your purse and don't want to give up an optical TTL viewfinder.

 

[mickey1968]

I bought one of these about a month ago but have been too busy to really play with it. I also use a T3i and the settings are all familiar. It felt a lot smaller and lighter with the kit 18-55mm lens on it until I put my Tamron 18-270mm lens on it. I think it will still feel a lot lighter than the same lens on the T3i but I haven't compared them one to one yet.

 

[JLa01844]

I bought one of these about a month ago but have been too busy to really play with it. I also use a T3i and the settings are all familiar. It felt a lot smaller and lighter with the kit 18-55mm lens on it until I put my Tamron 18-270mm lens on it. I think it will still feel a lot lighter than the same lens on the T3i but I haven't compared them one to one yet.

I was worried about that. They display it with a small lens. Once I actually put the lens I use on it... I feel like it would be lens heavy!

 

[havoc315]

Yup, it's a tiny body... But still uses full size lenses.
For Canon shooter, and those who really want a true OVF, it's a compact option. But if the goal is to downsize, while keeping dSLR quality, and you don't need OVF, then there are good mirrorless options.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Im strongly considering the Pentax Q7... saw a bunch of Demos at Pentax Canadas office and was shocked at how small it is!

 

[bob100]

I was worried about that. They display it with a small lens. Once I actually put the lens I use on it... I feel like it would be lens heavy!

most of the lens are going to make it a lot heavier although the "pancake" style lens (like in the photo) are significantly smaller.
But smaller and lighter is the trend so it's not surprising mirror-less cameras are popular

 

[photo_chick]

I was worried about that. They display it with a small lens. Once I actually put the lens I use on it... I feel like it would be lens heavy!

I put my 24-105 f/4, which isn't even that large of a lens compared to some, on my old Rebel XT (it's really just a tad larger than the SL1) and it does really feel like you're just holding a lens with a just little bit of camera hanging on to it. And while it negates the idea of a compact camera when you put a large lens on there instead of a small prime or even an 18-55, I think the fact that you CAN use your larger lenses on there if you wish just gives that much more flexibility with the camera.

 

[cisobe]

I think the SL1 is targeted at primarily people looking for their first DSLR who don't want to lug around a "huge" camera and lens. The 40 2.8 is supposedly a great little lens that pairs well with this little camera, but as others have stated, you lose any size benefit when you attach a higher performing lens onto it?

I'm not sure how the ergonomics and balance of this camera is with larger lenses on it. It feels fine with the 40mm on it but I'm sure it might feel a bit off with something larger on it. My old xt was a bit uncomfortable to hold with my 17-55 or 24-105 let alone my 70-200.

I think if you stick with primes you're fine with the SL 1. Anything more then you might as well just bring your regular camera.