Reply to topic  [ 28 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Mirrorless picks 
Author Message
Spends far too much time on here
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:59 pm
Posts: 4932
Location: Sestriere, Piemonte, Italia
Reply with quote
Need some opinions. Got a friend here who loves playing with my camera and wants something decent of her own. But I know if she gets an SLR, she'll never take it anywhere. So looking at something with a tiny body, APS-C sensor and the option to put big lenses on if she ever gets into it enough.

Thinking the new Samsung NX1100 looks quite impressive in this bundle:
http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-samsung-smart-nx1100-digital-camera-with-20-50mm-lens-black-plus-tablet/p1539825

I'd probably prefer something a little more high end, but ultimately you're paying for the size. A Nikon D3100 or Canon 600D would be twice as much camera for around the same price. Anybody got any experience of these things? I know it'll be slow to focus, but that's the only thing I can really moan about and I can't change that unless she decides she wants to carry a DSLR around (which she won't)...

Thoughts?


Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:24 am
Profile
Legend
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
Reply with quote
It might be an off the wall suggestion but have you considered a smart phone? They can have additional lenses, and are exceptionally portable.

_________________
Do concentrate, 007...

"You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds."

https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTk

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21


Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:01 am
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
Reply with quote
I like the look of this. Then she'll be able to bug you for lenses when she's ready. ;)

_________________
www.alexsmall.co.uk

Charlie Brooker wrote:
Windows works for me. But I'd never recommend it to anybody else, ever.


Tue Aug 06, 2013 11:13 am
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:46 pm
Posts: 10022
Reply with quote
Depends on why she loves your camera. I bought a Canon G12 because I thought I'd never take an SLR anywhere and a G12 was compact enough yet provided enough options to shoot some good pics. It's something that fits in my jacket pocket too.

If I went down this route, I'd look at: Panasonic GF3, Canon EOS M, and the Olympus PEN series (comes in pink too!). Or what about the 100D?

EDIT: Or the Sony NEX series?

_________________
Image
He fights for the users.


Tue Aug 06, 2013 4:39 pm
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:17 am
Posts: 5550
Location: Nottingham
Reply with quote
If you want small then the Lumix DMC-GF range or the Olympus E-PM1.

A bit bigger/more expensive and you can grab a Lumix DMC-GX series, Sony Nex 6/7 or Olympus E-P3/5.

I'm also a fan of the Fujifilm X-M1.

Or if you want REALLY small (although compromising on sensor) the Pentax Q cameras are tiny.

_________________
Twitter
Blog
flickr


Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:43 am
Profile WWW
Spends far too much time on here
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:59 pm
Posts: 4932
Location: Sestriere, Piemonte, Italia
Reply with quote
cloaked_wolf wrote:
Depends on why she loves your camera.


Turns out this is key. I pushed her on this yesterday and it turns out the major attraction is the speed and reach of what she calls my "perv lens". It's an L series 70-200 f4 IS. She likes to take candid people shots and likes keeping her distance (Freud would love her). In this case, irrespective of size issues it's back to the same old thing - nothing but an SLR will do.

But with a budget of around £500 the closest I can seem to get to some reach and decentish glass is a 600D with 18-135 kit for £589. Hmmm....


Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:42 am
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:40 pm
Posts: 5288
Location: ln -s /London ~
Reply with quote
okenobi wrote:
cloaked_wolf wrote:
Depends on why she loves your camera.


Turns out this is key. I pushed her on this yesterday and it turns out the major attraction is the speed and reach of what she calls my "perv lens". It's an L series 70-200 f4 IS. She likes to take candid people shots and likes keeping her distance (Freud would love her). In this case, irrespective of size issues it's back to the same old thing - nothing but an SLR will do.

Even assuming you don't shoot full frame, a micro-4/3s lens only needs a ~160mm focal length to get similar sort of reach. It's no longer a pocketable camera, but a damn sight smaller than the equivalent SLR+lens.

_________________
timark_uk wrote:
Gay sex is better than no sex

timark_uk wrote:
Edward Armitage is Awesome. Yes, that's right. Awesome with a A.


Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:07 pm
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:17 am
Posts: 5550
Location: Nottingham
Reply with quote
Remember with a smaller sensor the equivalent 35mm focal length of a lens is greater than on your APS-C for extra perviness! e.g. 70-200mm on....

FF = 70-200
APS-C = 105-300 (1.5x crop)
M4/3 = 140-400 (2x crop)

With regards to focus I thought (although haven't tested) the latest contrast detect AF on Olympus mirrorless is particularly fast.

_________________
Twitter
Blog
flickr


Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:15 pm
Profile WWW
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:17 am
Posts: 5550
Location: Nottingham
Reply with quote
Had a little look and the E-PM2 can be had for £539 with 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses (equiv 28-84 and 80-300). According to the marketing it has (had?) the world fastest autofocus and in testing Imaging Resource found full-autofocus shutter lag (single centre point AF) to be better than most consumer DSLRs. Could be an option? Available in black, silver, white or red.

You can also get a Sony NEX-3N with 16-50mm and 55-210mm lenses (equiv 24-75 and 82.5-315) for £500.

_________________
Twitter
Blog
flickr


Thu Aug 08, 2013 2:30 pm
Profile WWW
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm
Posts: 12030
Reply with quote
I'm a bit of a fan of the m4/3 format. Well worth looking into.

_________________
www.alexsmall.co.uk

Charlie Brooker wrote:
Windows works for me. But I'd never recommend it to anybody else, ever.


Thu Aug 08, 2013 3:07 pm
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:17 am
Posts: 5550
Location: Nottingham
Reply with quote
You know that E-PM2 for £539 with two lenses? Well you can also claim a free 17mm f/2.8 lens from Olympus. :grin:

_________________
Twitter
Blog
flickr


Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:59 pm
Profile WWW
Spends far too much time on here
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:59 pm
Posts: 4932
Location: Sestriere, Piemonte, Italia
Reply with quote
Hmmmm..... Why is m4/3 so much better than APS-C in a CSC then? I don't think she'll find the Olympus sexy enough. Especially when compared with the NX1100, but I can ask.


Fri Aug 09, 2013 7:35 am
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:17 am
Posts: 5550
Location: Nottingham
Reply with quote
okenobi wrote:
Hmmmm..... Why is m4/3 so much better than APS-C in a CSC then? I don't think she'll find the Olympus sexy enough. Especially when compared with the NX1100, but I can ask.


I think (I'm not 4/3 expert so please don't just take my word) that modern M4/3 sensors don't lose anything to APS-C mirrorless cameras in terms of IQ anymore. If that's not a factor then the fact she likes long reach means the 2x crop should suit her better and as mentioned previously the E-PM2 is at least as fast at focusing as a consumer DSLR.

The image circle is smaller with M4/3 too (4:3 versus 3:2 on APS-C) so lenses will be potentially smaller.

I guess APS-C will give a shallower DOF due to the larger sensor. Someone suggested 0.75 stop so f/1.4 on APS-C would require f/1 on M4/3.

Oh and maybe because I'm a guy but I think the E-PM2 looks far better than the NX1100 ;)

http://snapsort.com/compare/Olympus-PEN-E-PM2-vs-Samsung-NX1100

_________________
Twitter
Blog
flickr


Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:11 am
Profile WWW
Spends far too much time on here
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:59 pm
Posts: 4932
Location: Sestriere, Piemonte, Italia
Reply with quote
Thanks for that Veato. Ok, so sat in one of our hotels and show said pics of said cameras to said girl.

"Awwwww, but I want a BIG camera!"

There you go guys, size matters.


Fri Aug 09, 2013 3:40 pm
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:46 pm
Posts: 10022
Reply with quote
Second hand dSLR then IMO. Kit lens.

_________________
Image
He fights for the users.


Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:54 am
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 28 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Designed by ST Software.