Canon 60D or rangefinder? Alternatives?

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whichiam

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Hi all, this is my first post. I have had my 60D for a while but thinking of selling on. I have the 50mm 1.8 lens and the 18-135 kit lens. Not bad combination, esp the 50mm.

However I've really gotten into street photography or situations where the 60d just stands out. I've been looking at the likes of the Fuji X100, looks good but worried about its focusing issues.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any recommendations on good alternatives to the 60D, smaller I guess but excellent image quality - especially for street, candid photography. Open to all suggestions. I can't afford to have two cameras or a Leica :-(

Cheers!
Simon
 
Ah, what you need is a micro four thirds camera :D
 
The choice is so overwhelming. I'm worried about the loss of image quality compared to 60D but I suppose I need to accept that as compromise... What about Panasonic gf3... Others?
 
Get a film rangefinder and keep the 60d. It will be cheap (more so if you take the fun part of developing you own black and white film), fun to use and give you good image quality.
 
Naaaaw. Don't bother with a film rangefinder for the following reasons...

1. You're limited to whatever ISO your film is.
2. You're limited to however many shots your film allows unless you want to change films as you go.
3. Never mind, digital has too many advantages to list :D I gave up on rangfinders when the GF1 came out.

I'm not too sure about any loss in IQ if you go for a micro four thirds camera. I have a 5D, 20D and a couple of MFT and really there's next to no difference at all at low to medium ISO's. At the highest ISO's my APS-C and full frame cameras do produce better images but IMVHO it's not a night and day difference and a little post capture processing can help. If you want to obsess and pixel peep you will see differences but in a whole or reasonably cropped screen or printed image the differences can very often be, well none really, or marginal, unless you take things to extremes.

Panasonic have the GFx range which don't have viewfinders, although you can fit an external EVF, and they also have the slightly bigger Gx range which has an EVF. Olympus produce the Pen range which like the GF has an add on EVF, they're also about to launch a new camera with a built in EVF.

The sensors in these cameras are smaller than full frame or APS-C and have a x2 "crop factor." There is however a good range of lenses available and you can fit many legacy lenses via an adapter. If you want a similar camera with an APS-C chip Sony make the Nex range including the Nex 7 which has a built in EVF and gets very good reviews. Other similar cameras are available from other makers and if you want something to add to your wish list take a loo at the Fuji X Pro 1 although as you have concerns about focus performance it'll probably be best to wait for rewiews or until you can try one for yourself.

I have a Panasonic GF1 and a G1 and my most used lens by far is a manual Voigtlander 25mm f0.95 although I also have a 20mm f1.7 and a 14-42mm "kit" zoom. I'd use either camera at ISO 1600 and even 3200 at a pinch.
 
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Wow thanks for that. I've just been looking at the G3 actually, seem to offer quite a bit in a much smaller package. And much cheaper than the 60D too - so could sell latter on eBay and maybe buy and additional lens for the g3. Or the GF3 - just don't know.

So frustrating about the X100 and focus issues - would be perfect otherwise.
 
whichiam said:
So frustrating about the X100 and focus issues - would be perfect otherwise.
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I'm not sure that focus is such a problem in the real world as it is in net chatter; certainly mine isn't causing me any difficulties. Sure, it's not as fast as a DSLR but then I knew this before I purchased it. As for mis-focussing, I've not seen any signs of this so far.
 
Quoth said:
I'm not sure that focus is such a problem in the real world as it is in net chatter; certainly mine isn't causing me any difficulties. Sure, it's not as fast as a DSLR but then I knew this before I purchased it. As for mis-focussing, I've not seen any signs of this so far.
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I got an X10 - and think I made a mistake. Sure it's portable but the image quality is just not up to scratch. I'm thinking the X100 is too expensive for a fixed lens camera. I'm looking at the NEX-5N with a few 3rd party lenses. The endless search continues!!
 
whichiam said:
I'm thinking the X100 is too expensive for a fixed lens camera.
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It all depends on what you want; I'm happy with the limitation that a fixed lens imposes on me - I learn to zoom with my feet again.
I'm looking at the NEX-5N with a few 3rd party lenses.
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I looked at those but decided to stick with my DSLR as the difference in size isn't sufficient for me.
The endless search continues!!
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Doesn't it just!
 
Quoth said:
It all depends on what you want; I'm happy with the limitation that a fixed lens imposes on me - I learn to zoom with my feet again.
I looked at those but decided to stick with my DSLR as the difference in size isn't sufficient for me. Doesn't it just!
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The search is driving me insane! I can't commit. I think I need therapy ;)

X100 is very tempting I have to say but I don't have a DSLR so it would be my only camera. So it's about DSLR vs portability etc esp. for street photography.
 
whichiam said:
X100 is very tempting I have to say but I don't have a DSLR so it would be my only camera. So it's about DSLR vs portability etc esp. for street photography.
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It's not really suitable as an only camera for most of us so I'd be sorry if I didn't have my D90.

A pretty good alternative is something like a D90 and a fixed 24mm / 35mm prime and build from there.

Take a look at CameraSize.com for an idea of relative sizes.
 
Quoth said:
It's not really suitable as an only camera for most of us so I'd be sorry if I didn't have my D90.

A pretty good alternative is something like a D90 and a fixed 24mm / 35mm prime and build from there.

Take a look at CameraSize.com for an idea of relative sizes.
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Cool - I didn't know about that site, very useful. You'd recommend the D90 then?
 
whichiam said:
Cool - I didn't know about that site, very useful. You'd recommend the D90 then?
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That's a very different question!

I have one and was very happy with it but the technology if a few years old. They sell for around £350 used and at that price are a bargain. But other cameras have better video capability so if that's important to you, you need to look elsewhere. The D90 has been succeeded by the D7000 and some would say the D5100.

What to get goes back to the question of what do you want to do with it and how much can you afford to spend on it along with a few lenses.
 
The problem with the D5100 is it doesn't have an internal focus motor so a pain with older lenses. I did have a Canon 60D but started on the search for something more portable without reducing IQ too much! Impossible task maybe, though IQ of 5N has really impressed me in tests and user photos.
 
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