Compact DSLR: Olympus 420

[nwoods]

I guess the goal is for the system to be REALLY small and REALLY light, which will benefit Stephanie and also benefit me for the ADV expeditions.

G10 is pretty hard to beat in the small and light and awesome category. Here are some shots I took the other day with my wife's G10. It's not all that fast in burst mode, but it does have one, and takes pretty good video. Also shoots RAW natively, which is nice!

• http://nwoods.smugmug.com/gallery/6967114_g8Qpi#445942053_hJMd8-X3-LB
• http://nwoods.smugmug.com/gallery/6967114_g8Qpi#445941934_8FBE9-X3-LB
• http://nwoods.smugmug.com/gallery/6967114_g8Qpi#445942292_MryNh-X3-LB
• http://nwoods.smugmug.com/gallery/6967114_g8Qpi#445942817_zEKMr-X3-LB
• http://nwoods.smugmug.com/gallery/6967114_g8Qpi#445943048_chz7s-X3-LB

 

[Lost Canadian]

I am also in the market for a compact DSLR and the Panisonic G1 is currently at the top of my list.

My wife was looking at a red G1 today, I think the only reason she liked it was because it was red, but I digress. I see dpreview recently posted a review of the G1. The test results are most impressive, even more so when you compare and see the results of the converted RAW files. It simply blew away the other DSLR's it was tested against.

 

[nwoods]

I wonder when the G1 compatible 14-140mm lens will be coming out. That's a super nice range to have in a lens

 

[MattScott]

I have heard nothing but good things about the G10

 

[chet]

I was looking at both the G1 and the 420 the other day and the G1 wins in my eyes. its smaller and I have been really impressed with my other panasonic camera. I had an Olympus long zoom camera for a while but it was not up to par with the panny fz28 we have. Having used removable lens cameras and prosumer cameras on trips I will take a prosumer one anyday (like the G1) Although I am not taking pics for a top-notch magazine!

 

[Scott Brady]

I am starting to like the E-3 now too. It is extremely well build, and weatherproof.

It might be worth trying for the Central America trip, along with an E-520 for Stephanie. We can share lenses.

The image quality of the E-3 is not quite up to some of the comparisons, especially over 400 ISO, but I love the idea of a fast, light, durable camera for these trips, especially one that can take rain, humidity, etc.