dSLR to 'point and pray'

SnappyHappy

SnappyHappy

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Name
Craig
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Hi Guys,

Anyone ever moved to a smaller/compact system from dSLR and been content?

Most (95%) of my photos are my girls, and I do love my setup.
I love the slr and my simple lens setup:
- The 35 for indoor and night shots of the girls (sleeping quite often for example)
- The 18-70 for general out-and-about, not a fancy/fast lens but again, I dont need anything more really (be nice of course:cool:):cool:
-(without access to exif) I'd estimate 30% of my pics are taken at ISO1600 for natural stuff which I like indoors a lot - fire the 35 on and off we go for some great 'memory makers':).

Things that worry me with a Nikon 1 setup:
-Flash (pop up might be hard to go back to), I could get a V1 and spend more cash for a flash, this then starts to really mount up with costs thinking about it?
-ISO - what's this like on these cameras nowadays? My last non slr was a Canon G7 a few years ago, great camera, but I would worry about ISO at this level going back now?
-Dynamic range - will the photos just generally look OK? Just like the 'pop' factor you get with the slr, and especially with the flash at times, almost 3d if you know what I mean.
-Viewfinder. This might be the hardest thing to get used to again. OK, the V1 I hear might help, but still makes me nervous.
-Concerned about DoF and what is possible using non slr system. It's only a D90 I have, but really dont want all my portraits looking like they were taken at f22:lol: I enjoy subject isolation, maybe more than I realise going back to non slr?
-Access to ISO/other functions on the body of the camera.

I know they sell the 60fps stuff now, but I dont care about this, the d90 at ~4fps is more than enough for me if I'm honest.

Got a D90 with grip (2 batteries), 18-70, 35 1.8, small gorrilapod, sb600. These were all in my camera bag. Value wise i'm thinking this kit might be similar to Nikon 1 type system (?)

The weekend was hot, a lot of kit with my young daughters (kit as in young kids stuff on top of my 'kit kit':)), and i'm thinking 'is it worth it'? Suspecting the answer might be a 'yes' and just live with it.

Just been looking at some Sony (nex?), Nikon 1 stuff, and my shoulder is saying 'yes':lol: I'm using Nikon1 here a lot, but this could be Sony or whatever, let me hear alternatives if you know of any?

Oh, and I dont print more than a4 size normally (shoot jpeg as well), again the ~12Mp of the d90 is more than enough for me, I crop now and again, but not cropping half the pic off etc, just to crop slightly in a more pleasing way.

Shame this whole thing is a game of compromises:|
 
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i quite like to use Fuji x10 (my dads) or Fuji x100 (my friend's) when i out and about without my DSLR and i sometimes prefer that because the camera take fantastic photo.
 
The problem with smaller cameras is their focusing on moving objects. If your girls are moving a lot, you may find the focus system lets you down.
 
I have tried various cameras but was not content. The reasons why I was not content;

- No viewfinder (or even if there is one a poor one with no info on it)
- Lack of buttons, with menus for things instead of buttons.
- Handling. Without a DSLR shape the camera is less easy to hold onto, shutter button in not such a good place
- Speed, especially auto-focus
- Lack of DoF ability
 
I've tried a few too and none do the trick. The om-d and nex-7 being the closest but then your spending £1k!
 
badboy1984 said:
plenty of control on a Fuji x100 and Fuji x10
Click to expand...

Yep, I love my X100 and nearly all the controls are at your finger tips (other than an auto iso selctor, Fuji take note!) but it's pretty poor for moving subjects, just about any DSLR will be miles better in that regard. For static stuff it's lovely.

Heard good things about the AF on the V1/J1 but never used one.
 
Their is a reason why use DSLR for high speed or fast moving subjects ........

If their is a camera out their have the size of like fuji x100 but can shoot as fast FPS and accurate like a D4 then i certainly doesn't mind buying one lol.

Also note the Fuji x100 have a lens with f2 aperture, uses APS-C sensor, the ISO performance is very good (probably better then my D7000), the build in flash is also very good.
 
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Thanks for the replies, kind of what I expected a lot to say (unfortunately).
Things is Badboy, I dont 'need' D4 accuracy (why I have a D90 :) ) just hoping this had improved a bit for DoF control and things that I would miss. Viewfinder or lack of would be hard.

Have you got a Fuji X then? I hear the startup time and response time on the shutter button has moved on a lot in last few years which is the first thing I noticed moving to an slr and how good it was.

I've not at the stage of shying away from using the slr due to size etc like some seem to do after a while, so still taking the same amount of shots, just a hot weekend with a lot of little girls toys/clothes/gear and a lump of Nikon plastic with me :)
The size of the Nikon 1's (or the likes) looked really attractive.

I hear some have an aps-c size (or similar) - anyone got comments on this comparing with a D90? Low light/higher ISO must be reasonable these days (not talking a huge amount for my use, just 1600, maybe a stop more if I need it)?

I'm enjoying my photography more than ever, and learned a lot over the last year, suppose better not throw it all away.
 
rjbell said:
I've tried a few too and none do the trick. The om-d and nex-7 being the closest but then your spending £1k!
Click to expand...
True. Not spending a grand for a non slr. That's what worries me about Nikon V1, time I get a flash, the prime lens, can see that costing more than selling all my D90 stuff...and all for what?
 
Just say your reply, Graham.
You find yourself frustrated by it then? Suppose you can almost leave the house with a mindest of having the x100 or not, so you know what you can/cant do. Got to be frustrating/missed chances at times tough?

Can't justify having the D90 and another option that would have been nice. Just feel I have invested a lot of time in my slr (and cost!).
 
SnappyHappy said:
I hear some have an aps-c size (or similar) - anyone got comments on this comparing with a D90? Low light/higher ISO must be reasonable these days (not talking a huge amount for my use, just 1600, maybe a stop more if I need it)?
Click to expand...

The X100 has an APSC sensor similar to the D90's. ISO 3200 is very clean on it with the usual caveats about not underexposing. IQ really is every bit as good as a decent DSLR with a nice prime lens on. The viewfinder is brilliant and in my opinion one of the best things about the camera other than it's rather fetching design.

General operating speed is fine, shutter is instant, though write speed in raw is slow no matter what card you use. I don't think general speed of operation would be a disappointment but as I said earlier moving targets are almost out of the question unless you have sufficient depth of field that it doesn't matter, or you use some sort of trap focussing technique.
 
SnappyHappy said:
Just say your reply, Graham.
You find yourself frustrated by it then? Suppose you can almost leave the house with a mindest of having the x100 or not, so you know what you can/cant do. Got to be frustrating/missed chances at times tough?

Can't justify having the D90 and another option that would have been nice. Just feel I have invested a lot of time in my slr (and cost!).
Click to expand...

Saw this after I replied. I love it to be honest. I never try to capture anything that moves with it or certainly not track focus but if you accept that and avoid those shots or develop alternative techniques, it's a joy to use.

Not sure I'd want to ditch my SLR though as I do like the flexibility that brings.
 
Cheers Graham.
Might just have to do it the hard way and save up for a second camera :(
:)
Kind of what i suspected.
 
you can always sell your D90 kit out if you find the second camera get use more then the D90 etc.
 
just hope you don't end up using both in equal amounts as you will have an even tougher decision :)
 
Cheers guys - i like your typical photography gear responses where the default starting position is always 'buy it and if you dont need it then sell...'
:) :)
Dont tell me - there is one probably one on classifieds :)

Probably do some low light stuff with the 35 later tonight and forget all about it :)
 
The 1 series is not very good at low light at all. Even at 200 you can see noise. When i sold my nex i was considering the v1 because of the evf but decided against it. Sony are releasing a nex-6 a cheaper evf model which will be priced around the £700 mark. It will have more MP and better iso performer than your d90 so this should be close to what your looking for. Expect an announcement in the next 2 weeks at the potokina.
 
Ah, thanks. Well, that puts the 1 series out then.
Will keep an eye open for that then
Many thanks
 
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