Camera Advice
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- _niko0
my next big camera purchase should have the functionality of an iphone.
Shoot>manipulate>upload all in-camera.
- Hombre_Lobo0
@Intelliboy
in reply to our conversation -
[someone posted an image of an x100]
Hombre:"iirc an olympus pen+20mm produces better images, even in low light."
intelliboy:"hombre you are so wrong on that one..."I just thought i'd check it out and the olympus pen epl2 @iso 3200, is similar to the x100 @iso 3200, with (to my eyes) the x100 being only slightly better.
However the base iso images are much sharper with more contrast, on the e-pl2.
see for yourself -
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/…
(choose the desired camera model from the drop down)The x100 is marginally better at high iso, but not by much particularly given the sensor differences.
And When you consider that the x100 has a f2 lens, and the panasonic 20mm pancake is f1.7, the e-pl2 + 20mm will be extremely comparable, perhaps even better than the x100 in low light.
Just thought its worth letting you know in case your looking at the x100, it might save you some money.
- robotron3k0
I have the GH2 Lumix, IMO it's an excellent camera and close to your price range. It's super light weight and so damn fast at focusing and turning on, full sensor DSLR owners are jealous. with the fast 20mm f1.7 works out to a fast 40mm, same with the 14-140mm, it works out to a 28-240mm. so you have to think of that kind of adjustment when looking at M4/3 cameras. The 20mm makes the camera tiny but powerful.
- You lucky bunny! That GH2 is a beauty, and that step-less aperture lens! v jealous.Hombre_Lobo
- microkorg0
Rediculous spec for such a teeny camera, eh?
- microkorg0
Hombre, from that comparison link you just posted with regards to the high iso's it looks like the Olympus EPL1&2 both beat the Panasonic GF2 quite substantially at the high iso's
- They do indeed. The raw files have equal noise but olympus have more aggressive noise reduction. Pana retains more detail.Hombre_Lobo
- Detail, but naturally more noise too.Hombre_Lobo
- antagonista0
Wash the sand out of your vagina and carry your slr like a man.
- NonEntity0
^
In terms of design I thought the X100 looked like bullshit retro from the off, the back is a real design mess.I've been using my refurb Sony NEX (£190 from eBay) for street but found that the Zuiko lens I got, being an old SLR thing, is just waaay big. Too conspicuous and heavy and such.
So just bit the bullet and bought myself a Voigtlander Color-Skopar (35mm) from CameraQuest plus an adapter from eBay and away I go! The lens is tiny and dark (the 'C' model: not the other variants, which have shiny bits), hopefully as discrete as it gets.
No auto-focus, but the swivel screen is useful for street/candid.
- _niko0
- indeedt. i love my camera phone, but that's for convenience, not quality.Hombre_Lobo
- Hombre_Lobo0
Well if its interchangeable lenses you want in a compact system, then the following systems are viable -
The Sony Nex (nex 3, nex 5)
The Samsung NX (nx5, nx10, nx11)
Panasonic Micro Four thirds (GF1, Gf2, G1, G2, G10, GH1, GH2)
Olympus Micro Four thirds (EP1, EP2, Epl1, Epl2)
Ricoh is an option also.The sony nex system carries an excellent a-psc size sensor achieving high iso equal to that of a 550d / d5000. But the nex series interface is somewhat dumbed down and v v clunky. the lenses are also not great. And no electronic view finder. Also due to the larger sensor size the lens mount diameter is larger which in turn makes for larger and heavier lenses.
The Samsung series are pretty crap, it has a bigger sensor than micro four thirds cameras but manages ot produce much worse images, and the quality control on their lenses are so up and down. The ergonomics are great though.
If its a compact DSLR experience you want (view finder in body and grip) then the panasonic G1, G2, G10, Gh1 and GH2 are the ideal choices. The olympus pens have an additional attachable EVF (electronic view finder) which is excellent quality, and it makes the camera set up a modular system, but its expensive (£180).
Ive covered the differences between Lumix G serives vs the olmpus pen series in the other topic. Its roughly:
Pen has IBIS, slightly better out of cam jpegs, more aggressive noise reduction on jpegs.
Pana has sharper lenses (but these can go on the pens), faster autofocus (80% due to lenses), generally better build quality and they respond quicker.If video is important to you, you will want a GH1 or GH2. The GH2 is better in a lot of ways than the GH1, here are some of its features -
40 shots a second @ 2MP
high iso is excellent for the sensor size (not quite 550d but close)
the incredible Extra tele conversion mode (2.6x zooming with no quality loss in video)
faster auto focus
better finish on the cam too (not really important but hey)
higher iso video is much clearer
video is slightly sharper tooMicro Four thirds is an excellent system, but if you are crazy about depth of field, its not gonna get the DOF your dslr got. Smaller sensor means wider DOF.
A f1.4 lens on an aps-c sensor is shallower than a f1.4 on m43. No where really mentions this and naturally its hard to find side by side comparisons.I have a Lumix GF1 + 20mm f1.7 lens and i love it, its built like a tank. the lens is excellent, its known for its incredible sharpness.
Remember the panasonic 14-45mm is sharper than the newer panasonic 14-42mm.
There are also loads of old 1980's lens for cheap on ebay that can attach via an adapter. i got an old macro for £50, an f1.8 50mm for £20, all manual control of course.
Oh and the GF2 produces images almost identical to the GF1, there are really no differences in image output, i find its smaller body more awkward to use tbh.
Good luck with your search :)
- Hombre_Lobo0
Nearly forgot this -
http://www.dpreview.com/previews…The new Lumix G3 looks great. new sensor and its high iso jpegs seem even better than the GH2. The GH2 has the best micro four third camera sensor currently, so im hoping the G3 will be a big step up.
Smaller body than current G1 / G2 / G10 models too!
- hektor9110
- I have this camera and I LOVE it.monkeyshine
- Its a great camera, but save yourself lots of money and get a lumix LX5, they are identical.Hombre_Lobo
- (you do get some free software with the d lux 5 though)Hombre_Lobo
- robotron3k0
if you are really on a budget you could pick up a used GH1 from ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-Lu…
get a multitude of options for a variety of lens and lens prices and you got a great camera that you could use everyday. You could also hack it to upgrade it later on.
- Atkinson0
s95 beats the xz1 imo
- Why? The s95 is stunning, but the xz1 has it beat in all areas. The xz1 is larger though.Hombre_Lobo
- Atkinson0
So im back here again! GF3 is out the question for various reasons. Ep3 and epl3 and epm1 aren't what I'd hoped I don't think. I almost convinced myself into getting the x100 but low light next to epl2 are similar enough not to. So epl2 was the winner except for the crazy light patterns it makes, which IMO makes it kind of useless. So, G3 is looking best. Not tried it yet. Is it as ugly to use as it is to look at? Looks a little like a kids dslr?
- non0
Absolutely love my Nikon P300.
- Hombre_Lobo0
Panasonic Lumix G3
http://www.dpreview.com/previews…
exciting times.jpeg high iso-
http://www.dpreview.com/previews…
about as good as a 600d / t3i.While the front view looks a bit strange, it does look awesome. very small for such high quality pics. 20fps a second too, at 4MP.
- 20 fps? wow... @ 4 MB/image? Doesn't that exceed SD Class 10 specs? Must be buffering...adumbratesly
- the GH2 (been out for ages), does 40 @ 4MP per sec! yeh must be buffer, or VOODOO!Hombre_Lobo
- i'm voting voodoo... =)adumbratesly
- Atkinson0
The Leica's nice but I liked the GRD3 for that type of camera.
Cameras are a nightmare really. I like compact, then I decide I'll fork out and get something a bit better spec wise, more manual etc. Then m4/3 and talk myself up - GH2 for eg, then I think well I could get a 600d for that. Damn it. I think dslr is too much for what I want though. M4/3 / fixed is best.
Low light / fast AF / discreet.
- Atkinson0
I had the xz1 for a while. the lens cap is v annoying. Its not pocket sized - too big. The lens is huge for a compact, the jpegs are terrible in comparison with the canon and the raws are similar. Low light was no better than the canon and the stabilizer worse imo.
- high iso is similar, but the extra aperture is a massive factor. bad stabaliser you say? what a shame.Hombre_Lobo
- jpegs seem very very similar to me -
http://www.imaging-r…
http://www.imaging-r…Hombre_Lobo - (im not saying your wrong in any way, just giving my opinion, however ive never used it :) )Hombre_Lobo