Contemplating ditching the DSLR

[C-Fish]

I have been contemplating ditching my DSLR setup in favor of a P&S camera.

I find that as I get older, I don't have the desire to drag all of my DSLR kit with me (wherever I go). I have a P&S (Canon Powershot) camera in my vehicle at all times to be able to capture life's moments (assuming that the batteries are not dead).

20 years ago I couldn't wait to get out and shoot (rolls and rolls of film). I spent a lot of time (and money) with my hobby. These days, I still shoot, just not as much with the camera. I like to offroad, and spend time outdoors.

I might just be in a funk right now, but I really don't see myself needing all of this gear in the future. Heck at the last three family gatherings, I didn't even bring the DSLR with me...The last trail run I only took a few photos.

I am a Nikon guy: (this is not a for sale ad)
Nikon D90
Nikon MB-D80 Battery Grip
Nikkor 80-200 ED 2.8
Nikkor 50mm 1.4
Tokina 11-16 2.8 DX
Nikon SB900
Nikon Remote
Bogen monopod and tripod
Numerous extra bits and things...that makes the camera bag awful heavy.


I'm sure that I could find a P&S that would suffice for me for 99% of what I will shoot in the future. More photo documentation than art at this stage of my life. Not much desire in the post process arena as well...

Canon G12-11-10?
Canon S95?
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
???

What say you?

 

[off-roader]

The aps-c sensor interchangeable lens cameras may be a viable /capable alternative to a large dslr.

For a p&s I like the ease of use of my nikon s8000. Also love it's focal range (don't recall the exact mm #'s but it's a +10x lens). Only downside are it's low light capabilities. Their new replacement for it (s8100) is supposed to cure that but I can't vouch for it.

The canon s90 is also highly touted because of it's fast lens (f/2 IIRC) and its ability to shoot RAW.

Those would be the top 2 I'd suggest.

HTH.

 

[ETAV8R]

As a Canon guy I say get the G12. Very capable camera. I have a G9 and I love it. I wouldn't ditch the SLR just yet though. There are times when each is better than the other for various reasons.

 

[MatthewThompson]

Sigma DP2S. Read up on it.

Personally, I'd vote for a compact MF film rig. You'll be more deliberate and have a book of prints to show for your work. I've only taken my DSLR out of the bag this year for a couple personal things, it's all been work related other than that. For me too, the magic of dragging a bag full of gear and an 20Lb tripod is a distant memory. I only get out the DSLR kit when I set up monoheads.

 

[ThomD]

Santa brought me a Panasonic G2 and the 14-140 lens (28-280 equiv). I'm very happy.

Pany's FZ-50 had been my carry around camera. I have an LX-2 and looked hard at the LX-5. ISO 200 has always been my limit on my P&S cameras, so I wanted a bigger sensor than the LX5/s95 setups. The move to m4/3 gives me solid IQ in a very portable format. There are almost no fast native lenses, so m4/3 isn't good for portraits.

The GF1/2 are good cameras, but once you stick a lens on them, they are not significantly smaller than the G/GH series and I like an eye piece to look through. I do not shoot video, so the GH series offers me nothing. The touch screen on the G2 is useful at times.

I'll keep my Canon 40D for sports shots, because SLRs still win the shutter delay and focus speed comparisons.

If you want a compact camera, check out www.seriouscompacts.com for an excellent set of comparisons. If you are interested in the micro 4/3 format, check out www.mu-43.com

 

[nwoods]

Sief1, I totally understand you're outlook. For the past 5 or 6 years, I was always the guy with the camera and it became an expectation that I would produce the photo gallery of the trip. It meant some cool pictures, but a LOT of work after every trip. Over 2009, my camera became less reliable, resulting in even MORE work to extract a competent batch of images. I just stopped bringing it along, and wow did it make things easier on me. My wife has a Canon G10 and it's an excellent image capture device. However, for the offroad environment it's not ideal. Turning it on/off dozens of times per day takes a major toll on the battery, and the lenscap/blade thing is not sealed, and a lot of dust will eventually migrate into your lens assembly, and it's HUNDREDS of dollars to get cleaned.

If you go PNS, look for something that does not require the lens cap to cycle and the lens assembly to telescope in/out every time you turn it on.

Now as for me, I now have a new Canon 7D so it's time to get off my lazy butt and start taking images again. I am looking forward to it, I really am!

 

[hungrydave]

I had a nikon d200 with good glass and strobes. However, it increasingly turned into an expensive paper weight as the size of it put me off using it during the hobbies I enjoy (travelling, hiking, cycling etc). I went for months not using it and instead taking my canon g11 with me for convenience.

The g11 is a capable camera, particularly in good lighting conditions. However, with out wishing to knock others comments, it always bugged me that there was a clear and visible gap in image quality and usability between the two cameras.

A few months back I took the plunge and sold my nikon gear, using the proceeds to buy a panny gf1 with the 20mm 1.7 lens. I love it.

It goes with me everywhere, takes brilliant images (raw capture is much stronger than jpeg processing, where the camera does trip up sometimes) and has found the enjoyment in photography again for me. I don't miss the zoom as it just makes you more creative - the camera makes me think of it as a modern rangefinder.

It's not perfect - the thumb wheel bugs me - but it strikes the perfect balance for me. Given your opening post, I'd strongly recommend it. Coming from an slr, you may miss the image quality if you down grade to a small sensor PNS.

 

[C-Fish]

Thanks for the replies guys...

nwoods, my situation is the same.


I have always been the photog (camera man).
Spent 20+ years behind the lens at every function/gathering. Have done weddings/birthdays/Graduations/Etc...

I'm not as into it these days. I still like to capture life's moments, just don't want to think of it as work...

 

[Michael Slade]

My secret to NOT being the 'event' photographer? I only shoot film, large-format, and tell people that they won't see these images for at least six months.

I tell them that if they want to make sure a certain photograph is taken then they ought to take it themselves.

That usually convinces them. I also have a Canon G11 and love it for it's compactness and the relatively good image quality.

 

[BillTex]

I started seperate thread...thanx.

 

[Scott Brady]

New Thread

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54284