Small, interchangeable lens, digital camera

samBAKER

samBAKER

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Sam
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Hi all!

I've previously asked questions here when I've been looking for something and have always been provided with a great response of thoughts and ideas so I thought I'd come and ask just another question! :)

I'm going on holiday to Rio de janeiro and I'm looking to buy a camera to bring with me. Usually I like to use film cameras but as I want to take lots of photos I thought I'd invest in a digital camera to bring with me.

I need a small camera (I think they're called compact cameras), as opposed to large body, this is because there's a lot of theft and such in Rio so I want something that I can slip into my pocket and large bodies tend to always look expensive (which wouldn't be doing me any favours).

I need it to also allow other lenses, I don't mind having to pay for a lens mount, as long as it's not too much (but they never usually are). Reason I want an interchangeable lens body is so I can fit on a Lensbaby Muse (in order to experiment with some tilt-shift), and maybe fisheye (if I buy one).

My budget is anywhere up to £150 but I really want something around £100, I would only really want to spend £150 if it's something of really good value.

I have been looking at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2, which I can buy for £150, I have been looking at the Sony Alpha NEX-3 which I can buy for £140, and I have been looking at the Olympus PEN E-PL2, which I can get for £156

If any can shed some light on what those 3 cameras are like and if anyone can recommend any other cameras in my price range that suit my needs that'd be incredibly helpful! I'm still continuing to look of course, just any additional help would be excellent

Thanks very much,
Sam
 
I think you might have overlooked something. You want a camera that you can slip in your pocket, which makes sense, but where are you going to put your lenses? It's not going to slip into your pocket with a lens attached and you're not going to be able to put additional lenses in a pocket so you're going to end up with a bag of camera gear.
 
Ah I thought about this already, the body will fit in my side pocket and the lens will fit in the larger buttons pockets, it's kind of hard to explain, they're like 3/4 trouser shorts, it's kinda like this

http://www.w1style.co.uk/products/ss06-mwp023-san_a.jpg

the normal pockets for the body, and the buttons side pockets (as seen on the left leg of that photo) for the lens, I've tried it with a friends gear before, and it seemed to be fine :)
 
So everytime you want to take a photo you have to get the camera out of one pocket, the lens out of another, connect them and take the shot?

Sounds like a good way of missing (or not bothering to take) lots of pics!
 
Pentax Q will cost way more than £100!

Depending how the OP shoots, best bet is a rangefinder M4/3 with a pancake lens, or a pocket superzoom (like the S90/S95).
The latter will be over budget though.
 
Sorry, reread the first post and realised interchangeable lenses were a requirement. You could get a fisheye adaptor for a fixed lens camera, but tilt-shift would be out ( you'd have to mimic it in PP)
 
DazJW said:
I think you might have overlooked something. You want a camera that you can slip in your pocket, which makes sense, but where are you going to put your lenses? It's not going to slip into your pocket with a lens attached and you're not going to be able to put additional lenses in a pocket so you're going to end up with a bag of camera gear.
Click to expand...

A GF2 with the 14mm pancake will slip into cargo short pockets quite easily imo, not sure why you would have the lens removed. Your prices seem to be extremely cheap though, where are you getting them from? Are those prices without a lens?
 
I just want to take some shots of where I am and the locations I go to, I'm not too fussed on capturing a moment because I will only be taking my camera out at certain places, unfortunately I can't whip it out in the middle of the street :)

the prices I have for the cameras I listed are all from the following website, here's a link to the lumix one :)

http://www.producesell.com/index.ph...cd-and-14-42mm-lens-red.html?___store=default
 
samBAKER said:
I just want to take some shots of where I am and the locations I go to, I'm not too fussed on capturing a moment because I will only be taking my camera out at certain places, unfortunately I can't whip it out in the middle of the street :)

the prices I have for the cameras I listed are all from the following website, here's a link to the lumix one :)

http://www.producesell.com/index.ph...cd-and-14-42mm-lens-red.html?___store=default
Click to expand...

Looks like a scam site to me, I would be very careful. Prices are too good to be true, and when it looks too good to be true it normally is. Plus they don't seem to list their address/phone number, and the site just generally looks a bit dodgy.

edit: see here - http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110910083250AAqDrdD

I would definitely AVOID!
 
Last edited:
Ah damn, I assumed it was a safe one as I found it on the Google Shopping bit, any recommendations for a different model?
 
You won't find an ILC for your budget unless you're very lucky.
A short while ago a GF1 + 14-42 went on here for £210. Not seen any cheaper.

You may have to scrap buying the lensbaby/fisheye and put the cash towards the camera.
 
You can get a silver GF2 for £169 (just over your budget) from SRS. But that's body only so you'll be stuck with the fisheye/lensbaby for everything.
 
Llamaman said:
You can get a silver GF2 for £169 (just over your budget) from SRS. But that's body only so you'll be stuck with the fisheye/lensbaby for everything.
Click to expand...

Saw this just now, are SRS a good company? I don't mind (in fact, I prefer) it being just the body as I'd be putting my own lenses on it anyway, the lensbaby tilt-shift lens and my Carl Zeiss lens that I use on my AE1
 
samBAKER said:
Saw this just now, are SRS a good company? I don't mind (in fact, I prefer) it being just the body as I'd be putting my own lenses on it anyway, the lensbaby tilt-shift lens and my Carl Zeiss lens that I use on my AE1
Click to expand...

Pretty sure SRS are reputable. You would presumably need adapters to use your current lenses on the GF2 though - you'll need to add these to your budget, and allow time to get them if buying from Hong Kong on ebay (where I get mine).
 
Yeah, I was thinking about getting this one

http://www.parkcameras.com/11815/Le...ogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid11815

which is a Canon EF mount, so I'm guessing this adapter would be fine? :

http://www.digitalmediastore.co.uk/...ro_Four_Thirds_System_Body__KIW-LMAEOSOEM43-D

Do you reckon the GF2 with this muse lens would look relatively inexpensive and keep me vaguely safe? I read on a post on this forum that this guy took his large bodied SLR there and was held at knifepoint on the first day!

Thanks for everyones help by the way!
 
Hi

I've got the G3 ( I know different price bracket) but the comparison for EF/FD lenses will be the same.
I bought the adaptor for FD, then bought some lenses. Its fine for wide angle stuff, but telephoto is very difficult to focus on anything thats moving, mainly due to whole screen, as oppossed to a small focus area.
I mean without small focus prism in middle, its tricky.

John
 
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