Quick Poll: What is your go to Vacation Camera?

[nvtsallo]

I currently have the Canon 60d with 17-55mm and large flash and it feels like too much to carry or bright out at every character greeting and etc. What does everyone else bring? I was thinking of going with the Canon G1x but I was told it would be to slow and nowhere near the quality so I figured I would ask real people.

 

[JoeDif]

As of a few months ago I am now traveling with an Olympus PEN E-PM1 and a 14 - 42mm kit lens and the 45mm f/1.8. At some point I may pick up a telephoto but more likely a 12mm f/2 prime. It so much easier on my back

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm a little confused. Your other thread says you're considering selling your gear and buying the 5D mkiii and a 70-200 f/4is. My first response was "wow, I'd love one of those but that's more gear than even I want to carry". Have you ditched that entire plan to go smaller yet?

 

[photo_chick]

Right now? 50D with a 28-105 and the 50mm f/1.8 stuffed in a pocket or bag. I keep my camera on me, not in a bag. My camera is like an accessory... some women wear diamonds, I wear Canons. Of course it is covered in a camo print Lenscoat body bag with a camo print Crumpler strap that matches, so I am coordinated. LOL

 

[nvtsallo]

I was considering the upgrade but was curious if anyone was getting by with some of the ILC and the canon g1x type cameras because that would fill my immediate need.

 

[HPS3]

I ditched my D5100 for a Sony Nex 7 and Sigma 17-50 f2.8. If I want to go pocketable I'll put a 35 or 45 manual prime on and stuff it in my pocket. I don't miss carrying a DSLR and Tele lens(sigma 70-200). I do miss the OVF. The EVF is OK but it's so hard to focus in dim light because you can't see what you're focusing on.

 

[nvtsallo]

I was considering the nex7 but for that cost i feel i coukd add a 35mm l prime to my 60d and walk around with that. I am not sure i am prepared to lose my optical vf. Thats how i frame my shots. The nex 7 gets good reviews but its expensive so is the new fuji counterpart but i feel further investment in lenses is warranted before a $1k plus investment now the g1x is $800 thats it not lenses or even the nex 5n is $700 with a kit lens. Just wondering if it will reLly give dslr performance or should i wait anotger generation of revisions to see how they improve?

 

[HPS3]

Yes the Nex cameras will give you DSLR quality, it uses the APSC sensors. The 5n has the same sensor as the Pentax k5 and the Nikon D7000. It great at high ISO's. The 7 pulls so much detail that it could possibly come close to rival the 5D MII. The Tri Navi controls on the 7 are awesome. Plus I wanted control over off camera flash which the 7 has a hot shoe.

 

[HPS3]

The Nex 7 is like a transformer. I have the LA-EA2 adapter to use with my Sigma 17-50/2.8 and Tokina 11-16/2.8. This way I can take advantage of PDAF instead of CDAF. I also have adapters to use with my non Sony lenses. You can pretty much adapt any lens to the Nex and with peaking, focusing is easy and fun. I think it's a serious contender.

 

[Renysmom]

When I go out shooting I take the dSLR and all the gear but for everyday use I keep a Canon G9 in my purse at all times and also have a Nikon P8100 S/S that fits into a pocket. I use both regularly and have great results. DH and I generally fight over the Canon G9

Last October my DH and I did a 4 night Dream cruise and I left the dSLR at home. I love the photos I got from both the Canon and the Nikon on that trip. Some are touristy and some are more "photographs". Last week I had the dSLR in the parks Tuesday and Wed as those were shooting days but on Mon and Thursday I only carried the Nikon as I wanted the day to be about the parks, not the shots. I can remember being in Epcot Thursday and thinking how I wish I had my dSLR and mentally beat myself up for a minute or two. I can't tell you what I wanted to shoot now that I look back but I can remember the fun DH and I had. It's all about balancing the vacation time.

 

[boBQuincy]

I was considering the upgrade but was curious if anyone was getting by with some of the ILC and the canon g1x type cameras because that would fill my immediate need.

Since getting a Panasonic G3 my Canon dSLRs have hardly been used at all. The small size and light weight far outweighs the slight advantages of an optical viewfinder.

 

[zackiedawg]

For general use, even the smaller sensor M4:3 type cameras will rival a DSLR for overall image quality. As you get to specialized use such as extreme low light, the APS-C sensored mirrorless like the NEX are the same as APS-C DSLRs for image quality since they share the very same sensor. The only areas where the mirrorless cameras aren't quite a full match for DSLRs is in the native lens collections of which none come close to DSLRs in size and scope, in focus speed and tracking speed when dealing with fast-moving subjects or low light, and in some of the overall function speed such as continuous frame shooting at full res RAW (buffers tend to be smaller than on DSLRs) and battery life (batteries are definitely smaller than DSLRs).

I personally use a NEX-5N alongside my DSLR. I don't consider it a 'replacement', but a compliment - it acts as a great lightweight second body, and it can take the place of the DSLR when I want to or need to travel lighter or be less conspicuous. Image quality of the NEX-5N matches that of my DSLR assuming lenses and lighting are identical, which it well should since both my DSLR and NEX-5N have the identical 16MP sensor!

 

[k5jm]

Canon 7D with my 50mm and my Canon 28-135mm. I also keep my 8mm Fisheye close at hand.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Sony Nex5n has become my go to camera even over my full frame. Love it! Light weight and pictures are the same as any top apsc dslr.

 

[nvtsallo]

Yeah it sounds like that Sony is nice either the nex 5n or 7 but I looked at the raw 's and jpegs and they seemed worse on dpreview than my 60d. I was considering the G1x since it's basically my sensor with a kit lens shrunken down. I was hoping someone had used it since it is smaller and more pocketable than the sony nex line plus my flash would work on both. I do like the picture one day dslr at home the next but this trip we will only be doing disneyland two full days. Anyone have pics to post from these magical aps-c camera's?

 

[HPS3]

I have had a T2i, which shared the same sensor as the 60D and 7D. The sensors on the Nex cameras are newer and are shared with the Pentax K5, Nikon D7000. The Nex pulls out more Dynamic Range and is better at ISO 800+ than the T2i that I had. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the new APSC or M4/3 mirrorless cameras.

 

[DizzyV6P]

It's funny that this thread was created. I'm currently selling my entire Canon line-up to jump to the Nex 7. After lugging my 40D, 17-50 f/2.8, and 85 f/1.8 around Disney World for the past 10 days in a Crumpler 7MDH, its time for a change.

I plan to get the Nex 7 plus the 18-55 and the 55-210 once I sell all my stuff. I considered the 18-200 Tamron, but its too rich for me right now and I want to wait for the "pro" level zooms coming this winter from Sony.

Unless you are pixel peeping all your pictures, you will be hard pressed to find any huge difference between your current 60D and a Nex 7 or 5N. Heck, I've blown up my Canon 300D 6MP pictures of my Paris trip to 8x10's and above w/o any noise issues so you should take those "test shots" on dpreview with a grain of salt. Check out the Nex Talk forums for examples of pictures. I think Fred Miranda forums also has an area where Nex owners post their pictures. Frankly, they look as good as my 40D pictures w/ the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and in quite a few shots....better pictures...even with the Sony kit lens. BTW, the Nex 7 sensor will be used in another upcoming Nikon due to the Sony/Nikon sensor sharing agreement so there shouldn't be any issues w/ "quality" of a Nex 7.

I wonder of someone could created a Sony NEX photo sharing thread for this board? I'd do it, but I don't have a Nex...yet. *Hint Hint HPS3* I think it would help a lot of other folks who are interested in this system.

 

[HPS3]

DizzyV6P, you won't regret it. I was nervous about selling my D5100 and buying my Nex 5n. After shooting with it I was in love. Now that I have the 7, I love it that much more. The Tri-Navi controls are awesome(if they would only move the record button). I love using Legacy lenses. I have the La-ea2 with the Sony 35/1.8 and Sigma 17-50/2.8, but I find I shoot alot with my Rokkor 45/2. I don't have the kit lens so I can't give opinions on it but the Sigma is super sharp on the 7. The Nex has so many features like Pano mode and Hand Held Twilight. If you do alot of HDR shooting you will be disappointed. The Nex only brackets +-7EV.

 

[zackiedawg]

I've only had my NEX-5N for a few months, so I don't have the full diversity of shots with it yet, but here's my gallery of all shots I've uploaded from it so far, mostly taken with the 55-210mm eMount lens:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/sony_nex5n&page=all

I have experimented with it a lot for birding and wildlife, macro, etc as it often rides along as a second body to my DSLR with its big birding lenses. Though it will soon see Disney and travel duties too. I previously had a NEX3, and for that one I've got travel and Disney shots too.

 

[HPS3]

Hey Justin, I was wondering when you would chime in. For anyone who doubts the capabilities of the Nex lineup, they should look at your photos. They speak for themselves. Your nature shots are outstanding. I could be mistaking, but don't you shoot jpeg? Your shots are so sharp and detailed.