DSLR or CSC for travel?

Big Nick

Big Nick

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I'm planning quite a few foreign trips over the next year and wondered about the merits of lugging all my DSLR kit vs buying a compact system camera?

Whilst the main reason for the trips will be tourism/sightseeing they'll be lots of great shots to be had no doubt

What do you do for travel/holiday photography?

Also any recommendations for a CSC ?
 
Much to the annoyance of wifey, I take all my camera stuff except a tripod on holiday.

I figure I've spent lots accumulating stuff so I should use it.
 
I much prefer the lightweight if my csc (sony nex5n) over my heavy dslr. That said my lens selection is much greater on my dslr. Unless its a specific photography I trip I tend to take my csc, usually get better results too with my prime lenses.
 
Depends on what u like to carry. A dslr, wide lens such as 16-35, and maybe a couple of primes will not be too much (for me anyway). However I have just bought a xpro1 and this would be ideal. Light and based on a outlook days at home is iq wise identical to a dslr. Great deals at moment as due to be replaced - body and 2 lenses for £906 at currys. Xpro2 will no doubt be a bit better in jan, but based on previous prices probably 1300 for he body alone.
 
I was thinking about a GX1 as I can't afford to spend too much and I only have a D7000 as my main camera so couldn't justify spending more on a backup
 
Just make sure you are happy with LCD shooting rather than a viewfinder - as you are used to a viewfinder you may find it a problem. I found it far too much of a step backwards (I owned a GX1) especially in bright lights. I'd go for the G5 personally. Word of warning: you might like it so much you end up parting with the DSLR - it's what happened to me....
 
I normally just take my Fuji X10 and IPhone on family holidays and when travelling abroad on business. Even when I have taken my dslr and lenses I've rarely taken any pictures that I couldn't have got with the X10, and it's a damn sight more portable to. That said, I've been tempted by an X-pro 1 for some time now and this current offer might be too hard to resist.....
 
D4 - 28-300 - 15mm fisheye - 50mm f1.4 - Fuji X100 & and Benro Travel Angel Carbon Tripod
 
RX100 is my weapon of choice....in 95% of situations it will take as good shots as any of my old DSLRs (inc FF), and slips in a pocket.
 
Last couple of trips, I have just taken a couple of compacts and a bridge and used the compacts for most of the shots, only using the bridge for telephoto shots (and not many were taken!). Next time, I'll probably take a CSC or 2 - I've just bough a V1 Nikon and plan on getting the AW (waterproof) version as well. Should cover all bases, especially with the VT-1 and an 18-270 Tamron alongside the kit lenses.
 
The main thing I'd consider is what you want in terms of lenses as that's going to effect the cost, the potential size saving and indeed which systems even offer them.

Besides the G1X the best deal at the moment seems to be the EOS M, some of the cheap US stock seems to be filtering though to ebay now, I'v seen the camera with either the 22mm pancake or the 18-55mm for around £250 a few times.
 
viewfromthenorth said:
I normally just take my Fuji X10 and IPhone on family holidays and when travelling abroad on business. Even when I have taken my dslr and lenses I've rarely taken any pictures that I couldn't have got with the X10, and it's a damn sight more portable to. That said, I've been tempted by an X-pro 1 for some time now and this current offer might be too hard to resist.....
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I keep hearing about this current deal, but can't find it - can you post a link?
 
All depends on how you are shooting and what you are shooting for. I carry two crop sensor DSLRs, 4 primes, an UWA zoom, flash gun/softbox, filters, tripod and loads of other little bits but then I make my money shooting this stuff. If it's just for fun I would get a small CSC and a lens or two and take no more. Something like a Fuji X-Pro, Sony Nex, GX7 etc
 
Been there, done that, got-the-T-shirt.

Spent many holidays with FF Nikon + 4 primes in a bag, the bag going from this shoulder to that shoulder, waiting untill I got home to see where I'd been.

Those days are gone, now I enjoy the holidays when I'm there, with just a slip-it-in-me-pocket compact.

Loads and absolutely loads of brownie points from SWIMBO......(y)
 
I bought the x100s for travel. Perfect street shooter, but quite pricey of course :puke:
 
If photography is high up on your list of priorities when travelling (which it is with me) then definitely a DSLR.

I've got so many shots this year on my travels which would have been 10x harder or impossible to get with a CSC.
 
To an extent though it does depend what DSLR gear you are planning on taking. Can't see your Camera Bag profile section so can't tell what you use.

A CSC will a closer replacement to a xxxD Canon and 18-55 / 70-300 than it would to a high end body and lens combo.
 
Have been all round the world over the last few years and wouldn't want to have done it without a dslr.
 
My first time keeper rate is much higher with my CSC. WYSIWYG and the in view histogram are a joy to use and make it much easier to get a first time good balance between highlights and shadows in difficult lighting situations and removes the need to guess and chimp like you do with a DSLR plus critical focus is possible to a level impossible with a conventional DSLR, there's no front / back focus silliness and of course the kit is smaller and lighter than DSLR kit.

I took my 5D and LX5 last time I went abroad but next time I'll without a doubt be taking a CSC.

My only real gripe with my current CSC is eye strain in low light but I gather that newer ones are better in this respect.

Get a CSC, you wont look back :D
 
My Fuji X kit was a revelation this summer touring the US, I genuinely don't think anything would have been better considering size, weight and image quality.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/harry_s/sets/72157635353125506/

A few weeks back I took a D600 to New York, despite only having two primes it was far more challenging than the Fuji X kit in terms of usability. If I was planning on a lot more trips (I'm not now) I would have stuck with the Fuji without a doubt.

I disagree (quite strongly) that a CSC can't compete with a decent DSLR as has been mentioned in this thread, compare my Fuji X-E1 Honeymoon shots with my D600 New York shots, really not much in it.
 
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Csc's will cover all of my travel shots, yes dslrs will have faster focusing but I don't go on holiday to shoot sports or wildlife, others will though and that's fair enough:)
 
Brazo said:
Csc's will cover all of my travel shots, yes dslrs will have faster focusing but I don't go on holiday to shoot sports or wildlife, others will though and that's fair enough:)
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I think this is only true for focus tracking. I think that for some time now specific CSC+lens combinations have held the record for the fastest focusing on static subjects and of course they're more accurate than DSLR's with no front or back focus issues. Tracking will get there at some point, I'm sure, but at the moment CSC tracking seems good enough for many as proved by the many action shots posted on this site.
 
ukaskew said:
I disagree (quite strongly) that a CSC can't compete with a decent DSLR as has been mentioned in this thread, compare my Fuji X-E1 Honeymoon shots with my D600 New York shots, really not much in it.
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I guess it all depends on the subject. General travel photographs and landscapes to an extent could be on par yes, but anything like wildlife, sports, night shots etc will leave the DSLRs floundering.

Saw your honeymoon stuff when you originally posted it on Flickr and was also impressed by the IQ especially on the low light LV shots, however there was nothing that was hugely challenging on the camera.

A shot of mine also from Las Vegas http://www.flickr.com/photos/messymacro/8516450091/ as an example of something I don't think a CSC could do. Not saying the shot is anything special, but I don't think you could recreate it without a DSLR.

When I go travelling yes the majority of the shots I take could be taken with a CSC, but I think my favourites are always those that I know couldn't be...
 
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Night shots at base ISo aren't even a problem
ACW said:
A shot of mine also from Las Vegas http://www.flickr.com/photos/messymacro/8516450091/ as an example of something I don't think a CSC could do. Not saying the shot is anything special, but I don't think you could recreate it without a DSLR.
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Why not?

CSC are coming on inleaps and bounds and any actual image quality that a Canon APS-C DSLR can achieve can be matched and indeed bettered by a CSC. I suppose the better Nikon APS-C DSLR's may be more of a challenge but remembering that CSC come with MFT, APS-C and FF chips these days from what seem to be the leading chip makers, Sony and Fuji, I have no doubt that they'll be up there with all but the very best FF models.

Even my G1 produces images that at low to middle ISO's stand up well against my 5D.

Anyway, before this descends into another DSLR v CSC thread we have to remember what the brief is... holiday camera? CSC IMVHO :D
 
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Just to add to my earlier comment we take two cameras on holiday a canon s100 fits in a trouser pocket goes anywhere, 5d mkii carry it round 90% of the time and the majority of the best pictures from the trip are taken with it.

For me if it won't fit in your pocket it might as well be an slr as it's going to be dangling round your neck anyway so why compromise?
 
woof woof said:
Night shots at base ISo aren't even a problem
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I agree, looking at Harrys shots in full file sizes, the noise levels are extremely impressive, far better than my 7D, but probably not up to the 5DII.

woof woof said:
Why not?
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At 320mm equiv focal length and f/2.8 on a good IQ lens can the CSCs and their lens combos seriously compare? The lens becomes more important, and yes you could mount the CSC to the back of the standard L 70-200 2.8 used in the shot but then the whole point of the CSC being a compact body is suddenly irrelevant.

Then we come out with the bigger guns (500mm f4 w/ 1.4x tc on a crop 7D, so over 1000mm equiv) and shots like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/messymacro/10410903615/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/messymacro/10408938094/

I'm pretty confident no (compact) CSC body / lens system can achieve this at these focal lengths.

I guess my argument is more about the camera system, lenses included, as opposed to the physical body.

There cannot (yet) be a compact system that matches up to a half decent DSLR teamed with decent telephotos.

If the OP isn't using high end glass, then yes go CSC. If he does have high end glass, why not take it travelling and give it some decent use?
 
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a1ex2001 said:
Just to add to my earlier comment we take two cameras on holiday a canon s100 fits in a trouser pocket goes anywhere, 5d mkii carry it round 90% of the time and the majority of the best pictures from the trip are taken with it.

For me if it won't fit in your pocket it might as well be an slr as it's going to be dangling round your neck anyway so why compromise?
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I'd agree.

I have an s100 that also comes with me and it compliments the DSLR gear nicely for general snaps.
 
I bought a SX280HS specifically to go on holiday with. It goes in my pocket and means that I can get photos anywhere & I don't feel too worried about wandering through busy streets with a DSLR. I was really quite amazed about the quality that I got out of it.

Saying that I wouldn't class myself as an expert with a 'proper' camera so I would spend way too long trying to get the right shot and very little time actually appreciating what I had come on holiday to see...
 
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a1ex2001 said:
For me if it won't fit in your pocket it might as well be an slr as it's going to be dangling round your neck anyway so why compromise?
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Depends on where you are travelling to and the reason. Some people may be quite happy to compromise with a csc for numerous reasons eg: because it's much smaller and lighter to carry around all day and takes up much less of your baggage weight allowance, because it doesn't scream 'tourist with expensive camera' in the same way a big dslr does and attracts less attention, because people may behave differently in front of something that looks more like an old film camera or a compact, etc etc.

If the prime purpose of your travel is photography or if you are going on a safari or other wildlife holiday or other reasons fine - but even though I use a dslr most of the time when at home, there is a lot of appeal in a good csc for travel. Same reason I use a csc when hillwalking - lighter and smaller.
 
How did a 500mm f4 end up in a discussion about a travel set up?! I wouldn't take a 70-200 2.8 away with me, let alone anything bigger!

The Fuji 55-200 is a fantastic tele that achieves the strange feat of seeming to be faster than it is, great for travel as it's pretty compact. I've shot plenty of moving subjects with it no problem.

It's easy to lose sight of why you're travelling/sight seeing in my opinion, in reality 90% will be away with partner/family so it's a balancing act between recording what you see and gear getting in the way. This isn't a discussion about specialised wildlife/motorsport trips abroad, after all. As an aside for my last two trips I took no support whatsoever, everything at night is taken using walls, fence posts etc, it's quite liberating.
 
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ukaskew said:
How did a 500mm f4 end up in a discussion about a travel set up?!
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Because it's the only area a CSC can't really compete at the moment, therefore you can mention it as superior without fear of contradiction. Personally, I've never even seen a 500mm F4, let alone used one....
 
One other thing that's not been mentioned is the cost, as you already own a dslr the cost of investing in a decent CSC and lenses is not insignificant and could for me be better spent on your travels. If you didn't own a dslr I'd be much more inclined to agree with the CSC arguments but I see little point in investing in another inferior system just to save a little weight!
 
Thanks for all the comments

The trips I'll be on aren't photographic trips i.e. mainly sightseeing etc with my missus whom is fairly understanding of my hobby but I'm conscious that being stood around for ages while I set up my camera gear is very boring for her.

I don't have high end DSLR kit (D7000) but have a good selection of DX lenses and have been considering a Lumix G5 with very lightweight travel tripod for landscape and low light work.

Would this be a fair compromise?
 
I have had experience of this and it really doesn't matter that much whether you go CSC or DLSR. You still need a shoulder bag or Backpack to carry your gear and no matter what the weight they all become an annoyance after a while. When I sold my DLSR I bought a NEX6 (very happy with) yet my back pack is the same and is still full, probably because I have to carry more primes as there are not many good zooms for CSC's.
I use my FZ200 as a do all, although I find myself at the moment using my rx100 more and more
 
Big Nick said:
Thanks for all the comments

The trips I'll be on aren't photographic trips i.e. mainly sightseeing etc with my missus whom is fairly understanding of my hobby but I'm conscious that being stood around for ages while I set up my camera gear is very boring for her.

I don't have high end DSLR kit (D7000) but have a good selection of DX lenses and have been considering a Lumix G5 with very lightweight travel tripod for landscape and low light work.

Would this be a fair compromise?
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You don't have to stand around for ages setting up a shot just because your using a dslr you can use it for quick snapshots in exactly the same way you'll use a CSC. None of our trips are photographic and I use my 5d mkii for everything from snap shots of lunch to properly composed and thought about landscapes.

Think about what you could spend the money on while your away!
 
cmc1 said:
When I sold my DLSR I bought a NEX6 (very happy with) yet my back pack is the same and is still full, probably because I have to carry more primes as there are not many good zooms for CSC's.
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There are some great zooms for CSCs... For micro 4/3 you have Panasonic 7-14 f4, 12-35 f2.8, 35-100 f2.8 which covers 14-200 equivalent, and the Olympus 12-40 f2.8. There aren't any great zooms for the NEX series though - which is possibly a case of you choosing the wrong CSC mount if what you wanted was decent zooms.

I've thinned down my 7+kg 5D2 setup down to around 2kg including bag with a gripped GH3 the 7-14, 12-35 and 35-100. I can go below 2kg if I want the same lenses and use the G5 and travel even lighter.

Big Nick said:
I don't have high end DSLR kit (D7000) but have a good selection of DX lenses and have been considering a Lumix G5 with very lightweight travel tripod for landscape and low light work.

Would this be a fair compromise?
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Yes. The G5 is an excellent camera for the price. Invest in the right glass (theres a great selection of primes too if you prefer primes) and it's a great system - you may even find yourself ditching the D7000 :)
 
Is your DSLR full frame? if not, might as well buy the Fuji X100s or X-pro and only take that. Image quality is actually better on the Fuji APS-C sensor.

I'm taking 5D mk2, 17-40 f4, 85 f1.8 and my trusty x100, plus a small tripod that folds down to 30cm. The full frame only comes out to play if I am going out for photo. Otherwise X100 can always get the job done really well, almost 5D2 standard at ISO 6400, but with sharper yet smaller lens.
 
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