Ultra portable but with shallow DOF

onform

onform

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matt
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Hello

I have been toying with the thought of a small camera to take with me everywhere as my togging has been suffering because I don't want to lug around the 5D! BUT I am all about the shallow DOF, that's what I like and the tiny sensors silmply don't give you that. What do you think would be the best option/s for me? And no I cannot stretch to a leica..:bang:
 
Panasonic GF1 with a 20mm 1.7 will do just fine for you. You could also then use a wee adaptor and fit any number of manual focus wide aperture lenses like the lovely Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5.
 
The GF1 with 20mm F1.7 is a superb combination.

Fairly small (but not pocket size). Decent controls - I find using it in AV/TV/M all really easy with the main settings you need easily accessible. Image quality knocks any standard compact out of the water - I had a panasonic LX3 for a while and the GF1 is miles better.
 
onform said:
Hello

I have been toying with the thought of a small camera to take with me everywhere as my togging has been suffering because I don't want to lug around the 5D! BUT I am all about the shallow DOF, that's what I like and the tiny sensors silmply don't give you that. What do you think would be the best option/s for me? And no I cannot stretch to a leica..:bang:
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Hello there,

I had the same problems you described with my 1d mark II

I'm now very happy with my GF1 + 20mm F1.7 lens combo, The AF and picture quality will not dissappoint you

cheers
sid
 
I'm going to suggest something slightly unconventional given most advice.

The Panny G1 etc are approx 2/3rds the size of a 500D, yes the 500D is small and is light (520-30grms with battery) *Edit all up with battery/card and 50mm 660 grams!*
With a 50mm F1.8 on it, its in the featherweight category and even I with my limited abilities can hand hold it all day.

The reason I suggest it is that its IQ is much better than the panny's, its great in low light, which is the one area where the panny's really suffer and all your current lenses will fit it so you get a lightweight cheaper walk around and have a back up should your 5D ever let you down.
 
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But the GF1 will fit in a coat pocket or a small case attached to your belt, at least with the 20mm F1.7 it will, and be taken anywhere and that's something that the Canon SLR's can't match.

As for IQ, take a peek into the GF1 thread.
 
But do these cameras allow you to select the aperture and have some focus lock or manual focus. Im in a similar position but the focus feature would be a must for me if shooting wide open.
 
treeman said:
But do these cameras allow you to select the aperture and have some focus lock or manual focus. Im in a similar position but the focus feature would be a must for me if shooting wide open.
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Yes they do - well certainly the GF1 does in my experience
 
Ian has a valid point about the smaller canon dslrs and a nifty fifty stuck on the front - you'll not get a smaller dslr & lens combo.

But, having owned a nifty fifty on my canon dslr and compared it to the panasonic 20mm f1.7, I reckon the panny lens wins hands down, iq is sharper even wide open - the canon needs to be stopped down to raise the sharpness, the bokeh on the canon prime is awful, whereas the panny produces some nice soft bokeh, plus as grum said, the gf1+20mm combo is hard to beat for pocketability
 
Im liking the sound of this GF1, GF would literally kill me if I bought another camera.
 
twist said:
Im liking the sound of this GF1, GF would literally kill me if I bought another camera.
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Answer! Replace GF with GF1 :thumbs:
 
as a slightly different suggestion how about a Sigma DP2 big sensor small size and a fast(ish) lens.
 
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