What compact will give me the closest results to a DSLR?

cambsno

cambsno

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I love my D300, and will only look to replace it as my main camera, for a D700, or maybe D400/D800. However, great as it is, it can be a bit large and heavy for taking everywhere. I do take it out quite a lot with my son, but sometimes find it is a burden and a waste of time if I dont use it. Have thought about a compact as it would be nice to have a camera in my pocket to catch those moments that toddlers can give you, or down the pub with my mates!

The only thing holding me back is that I am so used to shooting with a DSLR i fear I may be disappointed with the results from a compact. I know it will not be up to D300 standards, but unsure if I will find the images good enough.

Budget wise, would rather go for the right camera than keep to a figure. £300 is the figure I would like to spend, but if the right one is £400 thats fine. Something that fits into the pocket is preferred and probably essential, so guess that means something like the G11 is out. Do like the look of the Canon S95 as I would like a couple of dials to spin for quick control. IQ is also top priority.

Suggestions please!
 
The only one that I've found to get close, was the G11, though you cant stick it in your shirt breast pocket it will fit in cargo pants/shorts or a jacket pocket.
 
I had the exact same dilema as you Simon, so we bought an LX5 (originally it was for the wife...:D) and I have found it fantastic as a lighter option with excellent IQ.

Here's some images I posted on a thread.

I have never used a Canon G series, but I find the IQ and handling far better than the S90 we used to have. I have also read some great stuff regarding the Sony NEX too, plus the Canon G12 is about to be released.

Let us know what you decide!
 
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In one of the photography mags I get - Digital SLR or something - They reviewed the LX5 against the Samsung EX1 - The LX5 only just came out on top and the Samsung was about £100 cheaper (RRP). It seemed like a good little camera that will give you good results.

Hubby has a G11 and the results from that are pretty good. I'm currently waiting for an LX5 to pop through the mail - I'm looking forward to good stuff from this little baby!! The G11 isn't that small, but certainly fits in my handbag to take out with me. I did consider the S95, but as size wasn't a huge issue for me (the S95 is small) I went for what I thought would give me better quality.
 
I can feel your pain Sara, but it will be worth the wait I promise :thumbs:

I only received our replacement LX5 on Friday after being without one for 2 weeks (original had a minor fault, DABS exchanged it for one that had been used so I sent that back and bought one from Amazon) so now all is well with the world :D

Fab camera, can't seem to put it down. I forgot Kerso - out of interest, how much from him?
 
nex3 + 16mm around your money you want to spend. a normal apsc sensor. probably very similar to the one you have in d300 . very fast ! about 7shots per second if needed. truly amazing camera.
 
G11 vs nex3 - same price . the nex will give amazing IQ , g11 - more universal use, zoom etc.
 
I think we've all been in this situation..... solved my dilemma through a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ6. Mainly because I had used their Bridge FZ-18 amd was pleased with that.

We went to Prague in January this year and didn't want the kerfuffle of taking D300 and it's entourage (bear this is x2 because we'r eboth photographers). I got the TZ6 for Marianne but she wanted something even smaller.... we picked up another (can't remember the model - TZ10?) at the airport. So, I'd never used the TZ6 before and she had a completely new camera (stupid or what?). Totally satisfied with the results.

Prague link for my shots - see if I can find Marianne's.... somewhere on flickr!
 
+1 for the G11. I have one of these and the IQ is superb, the controls are well designed and easy to access and although it's not as small as some compacts, it's still small enough for me to carry in my jacket pocket :)
 
The thing that would put me off an NEX is lack of external controls.

Cracking sensor and IQ, but do you want to have to use a menu every time you want to change the ISO?
 
auto everything as it's not a pro camera anyway. just for general shots. the display is amazing, big etc. the IQ is fantastic. the same sensor as in d3100 I think. I was blown away.
 
I've been toying with this myself, and I think it'll come down to size/weight. The Canon G series are excellent but they're far too big and heavy for me, as a go anywhere camera. I'm thinking more along the lines of the LX5 or S95 - something practically unnoticeable in a pocket. My wife doesn't carry any sort of bag if she can help it - which means nearly all the time - so that doesn't offer a solution either!
 
I haven't got my LX5 yet, but looking at the specs, it doesn't look much smaller than the G11. I guess if you want true compact size, the S95 is the way to
go.
 
So it seems to be between the G11 and LX5 by the sounds of it. Will have to find the time to play with both, although so used to the front and back Nikon wheels, would like something similar.
 
cambsno said:
So it seems to be between the G11 and LX5 by the sounds of it. Will have to find the time to play with both, although so used to the front and back Nikon wheels, would like something similar.
Click to expand...

LX5 has a back wheel.

In AV it functions to set aperture, then click it in ad it becomes Exp comp

click it again and it becomes aperture again.

I hope i explained that well...

In manual u click between shutter and aperture...

Really nice camera to use, Love mine and the IQ...
 
Having looked at this again, the G12 is out, just too big as I want something to fit in jeans pocket. Really like the look of LX5 but will have to see if that fits. If not, I guess S95 is best bet.
 
Got my LX5 yesterday - First impressions are very favourable. Really made me look around and take pics, unlike lugging around a DSLR. Regarding the comment on size, I have to say, that if that is the major consideration for you, then get the S95. The LX5 isn't massively smaller than the G11. Although, I found it so much easier to use than the G11. A really capable and exciting camera so far.
 
No one has mentioned the GF1 / Pen yet? Depending on how compact the camera needs to be, and the budget, could a MFT be an option?

If trying to get as close as posible to DSLR quality maybe the larger sensor cameras should be the obvious choice unless their size or cost rules them out.
 
cambsno said:
Having looked at this again, the G12 is out, just too big as I want something to fit in jeans pocket. Really like the look of LX5 but will have to see if that fits. If not, I guess S95 is best bet.
Click to expand...

Looks like the OP wants something smaller than the GF1 / Pen
 
woof woof said:
No one has mentioned the GF1 / Pen yet? Depending on how compact the camera needs to be, and the budget, could a MFT be an option?

If trying to get as close as posible to DSLR quality maybe the larger sensor cameras should be the obvious choice unless their size or cost rules them out.
Click to expand...

They are nice until you put any kind of zoom on them....
 
I was in a similar situation last year as I was getting fed up lugging my D700 round on days out, and my old Fuji F31 compact didn't have a wide angle or really good image quality (although the high ISO capabilities were amazing).

I chose the LX-3, and have been impressed with it. It is large for a compact, although it is smaller than a Canon G series. Image quality is very good, and I believe the LX-5 is better, and their is a full range of controls on external buttons. Only disappointment is the levels of noise in low light, my old Fuji was way better. Even ISO400 in low light requires liberal doses of noise ninja to give an acceptable image. Apparently the LX-5 is better, but be aware that if you're used to the low levels of noise from an SLR, you might be in for a shock, regardless of which compact you go for!
 
My first choice would be (in fact I own one) a micro 4/3 camera, but if you're looking for something smaller and lighter, I think a LX5 or a used LX3 are excellent choices. Canon G10/11/12 are also great, but not as compact as the Panasonic.
 
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chuckles said:
I think we've all been in this situation..... solved my dilemma through a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ6. Mainly because I had used their Bridge FZ-18 amd was pleased with that.

We went to Prague in January this year and didn't want the kerfuffle of taking D300 and it's entourage (bear this is x2 because we'r eboth photographers). I got the TZ6 for Marianne but she wanted something even smaller.... we picked up another (can't remember the model - TZ10?) at the airport. So, I'd never used the TZ6 before and she had a completely new camera (stupid or what?). Totally satisfied with the results.
Click to expand...

I've got a TZ6 as well. It's not bad at all...
 
You can probably divide your options into a few positives/negatives:
- G11/12/P7000: manual control, great IQ and image quality, versatility, no lens switch fuss, etc...
- Nex-system or micro4/3s or pen: bigger cameras, better image quality, lenses thus extra cost, not as portable.
- LX5/S95/etc.: smaller than either of the above, specifically the S95 seems to be a copy of the G11, minus the controls and a few extra's, gets rave reviews ...
 
Just a quick word on the subject of size...

I have a Medion and a Canon Ixus and both are really small, the footprint of a credit card although obviously thicker. Both of these will fit in a trouser pocket but to be honest if you're going to look closely the IQ is pretty poor, they're just point and shoots, although having said that the IQ is perfectly good enough for a small print if you've not a perfectionist pixel peeper.

I have an LX2 and I expect that it's more or less the size of the LX5. The LX2 is bigger than the Medion and Ixus but the IQ and usability take a major jump and although it's bigger it fits in a small case that I used to keep my 35mm compact camera in.

I think we've got a little spoilt and used to the tiny digital point and shoots to the point that we've forgotten how much bigger our 35mm compacts were. I think that carrying a digital camera that's only about the size of a 35mm compact shouldn't be that much of an issue and that the extra bulk of a LX5 or GF2 is a small price to pay for the increase in IQ and usability.
 
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