Choosing a camera help needed

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timetraveller

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Hi I use to own a Canon 700d dslr but sold it due to never using it much as it was too big to just carry everywhere with me so I found myself using a bloody iPhone to take snaps all the time which just isn't up to the job especially low light shots I seem to find myself trying to take.
I did however like that I could use the Canon for video with the magic lantern hack.
Are there any smaller cameras with changeable lenses that do not cost a fortune or should I just train myself to carry a dslr size camera?
Any ideas would be most welcome please.
 
Depends if you want lenses or something smaller that does it all, some good 1 inch sensors that are a good alternative to worrying about "What lenses do I need"
 
You could take a look at the Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras.

If you're looking for the biggest saving in bulk and weight I think that MFT offers you the best chance. There are some very nice and compact lenses that are sharp from wide open and a Rangefinder Style body with compact lenses is genuinely coat pocketable... if only winter coat pocketable :D

I've been using Panasonic MFT since they first came out. More recently they've brought out some very compact variable aperture zooms such as the 14-42mm Mega OIS. That kit lens and a nice compact wide aperture prime cover most of my needs.

Have a look at the sizes of the various body and lens combinations here...

http://camerasize.com/compact/#673.374,333,ha,t
 
How about the Canon EOS-M, basically a 650D in a much smaller package and it will take Magic Lantern.
There is a dedicated video channel on Vimeo if you want to see what it is capable of
https://vimeo.com/channels/eosm
 
timetraveller said:
I really like the new m3 but I'm concerned about the battery life but something along those lines would be nice.
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Unfortunately, I dont think the M3 can use Magic Lantern. If that doesn't bother you, they are coming down in price now that the M5 has been released and are becoming very good value for money. I'm tempted myself must admit.
 
Steve B said:
Unfortunately, I dont think the M3 can use Magic Lantern. If that doesn't bother you, they are coming down in price now that the M5 has been released and are becoming very good value for money. I'm tempted myself must admit.
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Yeah I read that, any idea what price they are coming down to?
I've seen them at £425 but I must confess the Fuji Xt 10 looks good but I have a feeling lenses will cost a lot more.
 
timetraveller said:
Yeah I read that, any idea what price they are coming down to?
I've seen them at £425 but I must confess the Fuji Xt 10 looks good but I have a feeling lenses will cost a lot more.
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Yes I think the Argos deal is the cheapest at the moment, it's only recently come down, so others might follow. They did last time when Argos brought the EOS-M kit down to £199. Worth keeping an eye on Curry's aswell.

You are right about the lenses, Canon are quite a bit cheaper than Fuji and a bigger selection. Fuji do seem very good quality across the range by all accounts though.
 
Reading through the forums one of the main bugbears with mirrorless is the battery, so you may need extras whatever you go for. That said I have an original eos m and the third party batteries weren't expensive and give piece of mind. If I remember correctly they actually longer than the genuine one.

I always found it to be okay, video would be the killer but managed fine on holiday with it. I can't help but feel we're all spoilt a little by dslr batteries that last thousands of shots :LOL: thinking back to my first camera that took AA batteries I would have given my right arm for 3-400 shots on one battery :D
 
timetraveller said:
Hi I use to own a Canon 700d dslr but sold it due to never using it much as it was too big to just carry everywhere with me so I found myself using a bloody iPhone to take snaps all the time which just isn't up to the job especially low light shots I seem to find myself trying to take.
I did however like that I could use the Canon for video with the magic lantern hack.
Are there any smaller cameras with changeable lenses that do not cost a fortune or should I just train myself to carry a dslr size camera?
Any ideas would be most welcome please.
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Yes, loads. Look up compact system cameras (mirrorless). Of these arguably the most compact are the Olympus and Panasonic micro 4/3 (if you pick the right camera and lenses) and I very much doubt you'll see any discernible differences from your Canon. Depending on which m4/3 camera you look at they will also be a match to your Canon in noise handling despite the smaller sensor.
 
timetraveller said:
I would prefer a decent sensor to be honest and to have the option of being able to try different lenses.
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They are very good sensors, I doubt you'd notice any real world differences, much depends on what you shoot and what you do with your photos.
 
Fuji x-t10 or x-t1 I'm looking at them myself for the same reasons with my canons
 
I sold my D90 and all my big lenses and went over to an Olympus OMD EM10. Great camera, good low light and quality images. I have upgraded to the pro lenses now and also to the EM5mkii (selling my 10 in the classidieds)
Never looked back and so easy to carry around and on hols
 
D40 Guy said:
I sold my D90 and all my big lenses and went over to an Olympus OMD EM10. Great camera, good low light and quality images. I have upgraded to the pro lenses now and also to the EM5mkii (selling my 10 in the classidieds)
Never looked back and so easy to carry around and on hols
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Have your sold any prints from the Em10 or digital copies to magazines ect?
Just wondering if it's any good for producing a4 size prints really?
 
timetraveller said:
Have your sold any prints from the Em10 or digital copies to magazines ect?
Just wondering if it's any good for producing a4 size prints really?
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I have A3 prints on the wall from my EM10, they look no different in quality to the ones from my D750.
 
For general work sensor size is almost unimportant these days, and has little impact on any photograph seen on a computer or the web.
Even the sensor on a Fuji X30 will give a stonking A3 print, and very few of us make anything bigger.
It is only when heavily cropping or pixel peeping at 100% or more, that any difference become apparent.
If you make stitched panoramas, larger sensors give an embarrassment of data, that is mostly discarded as redundant. even for large prints.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
For general work sensor size is almost unimportant these days, and has little impact on any photograph seen on a computer or the web.
Even the sensor on a Fuji X30 will give a stonking A3 print, and very few of us make anything bigger.
It is only when heavily cropping or pixel peeping at 100% or more, that any difference become apparent.
If you make stitched panoramas, larger sensors give an embarrassment of data, that is mostly discarded as redundant. even for large prints.
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Thank you, you have now made my decision even harder lol.
 
timetraveller said:
Thank you, you have now made my decision even harder lol.
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Just get what will do what you want .....and feel comfortable with, and forget sensor size. if vast size and extreme detail is important to you, then the bigger the better.
Large sensors do increase the available dynamic range But few people ever notice.
Fuji make mostly APS sensors that easily match the best available for picture quality, and that includes and a majority of FF sensors.

However even they are bringing out a medium format sensor for those specialists that Absolutely NEED one.
 
timetraveller said:
What lens for low light would you recommend please?
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All depends. If you're using a tripod it doesn't really matter as you're going to be at low ISO anyway. But if you are referring to shooting hand held and so want a fast aperture then it all depends on what focal length and whether you want prime or zoom?
 
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