Holiday camera help

Spie · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:02

I'm looking for a reasonable camera to take on holiday.

I have an EOS5D but it's just too bulky to carry everywhere all day long. It's certainly possible but I'd rather have something smaller.

I also have an IXUS 700 which is perfect for carrying but doesn't offer the last word in creativity.

I was going to buy a Leica M8 but there are problems with image banding and IR sensitivity.

Any suggestions?

Scuzi · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:11

How about the Panasonic Lumix DMC LZ50? I was looking into buying one instead of my DSLR and from what I've read it rates very highly. The Leica lens and Image Stabiliser make it quite an attractive camera for the money.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/

DP Review said:
And so, to sum up; for the serious user the FZ50 is without doubt the best equipped, best specified and best handling 'bridge camera' on the market today, and under the right conditions it produces superb output. It is a rewarding and enjoyable photographic tool that - once you've learned its quirks - offers a compact 'all-in-one' solution to anyone wanting a huge zoom range without all that lens changing and all that bulk. Inevitably this involves a certain amount of compromise; the smearing of fine, low contrast detail that is the hallmark of the Venus III engine limits the FZ50 to low ISO settings for any serious photography unless you're happy to accept that you'll never be able to produce big enlargements. For me this is an acceptable compromise, and - though I wish Panasonic would drop the megapixel race and concentrate on picture quality - it does produce excellent printed results. If this had been a mould-breaking 5 or 6 megapixel with excellent low noise performance throughout the ISO range (and particularly up to ISO 800) it would no doubt have performed considerably better and would have been an easy choice for a Highly Recommended. As it is it just squeezes in thanks to its many other outstanding qualities - and only for those users who can live without anything over ISO 200.

Spie · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:21

Not sure how big it is but it looks long in the lens. Will have a good look at specs a little later.

What about one of these?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-050-CA

_PD_ · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:23

They're quite big - chubby for a "compact". Also they weigh at least twice as much as any other compact. Good camera, though.

EDIT: Sorry! I mis-understood. Thought you were after a compact.

robmiller · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:28

Spie said:
What about one of these?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-050-CA

I should imagine it'll be a bit too big for what you're looking for—it's quite a lot bigger than an IXUS 700, anyway.

By all accounts a fantastic camera otherwise, though

dod · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:55

What sort of things do you want it to do? If it's just general holiday snapshots the IXUS is fine. If your wife is anything like mine taking time to be creative on holiday doesn't really work too well anyway.

olv · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:55

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17673418

G7 Discussion thread

Joe T · 5 Jan 2007 at 18:59

Some comments on the G7 here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8501882 - esp see mine at the bottom.

If you want creativity you need to be looking at a bridge camera imo. Something like the Panasonic FZ50 as already posted or the Fuji 5600 (I think thats the right model name).

Theres always a 'baby' DSLR such as a Canon 350d or Nikon D40.

Creative compacts of very small size are few and far between. The G7 as already said ia "big" compact. The Canon A-series (e.g. A640) offer lots of manual features, so these might be up your street?

Hope this helps.

SDK^ · 5 Jan 2007 at 20:07

I recently went to Morocco and carried around a 20D with a 17-40L; it wasn't heavy and didn't get in the way.
Put it over your shoulder and you'll be fine

Spie · 5 Jan 2007 at 20:08

SDK^ said:
I recently went to Morocco and carried around a 20D with a 17-40L; it wasn't heavy and didn't get in the way.
Put it over your shoulder and you'll be fine

You're keener than me though

^^Gord^^ · 5 Jan 2007 at 20:33

I'd say it would have to be between:

Canon A710 IS
Canon G7
Panasonic FZ7

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/com...non_a710is,canon_g7,panasonic_dmcfz7&show=all

busterboy · 6 Jan 2007 at 10:13

You have the lenses for the EF Canon range, The Canon 400D would be very suitable for your needs with a small zoom attached.

Spie · 6 Jan 2007 at 11:40

busterboy said:
You have the lenses for the EF Canon range, The Canon 400D would be very suitable for your needs with a small zoom attached.

Yep, thought about that one. It's about 2/3 the weight of the 5D and smaller too.

Richard T · 6 Jan 2007 at 11:47

Spie said:
Yep, thought about that one. It's about 2/3 the weight of the 5D and smaller too.

just sling it over your shoulder (the 400). I did that with my 350d on honeymoon

Wile E. Coyote · 6 Jan 2007 at 12:07

Richard T said:
just sling it over your shoulder (the 400). I did that with my 350d on honeymoon

Took my D50 to Paris and carried it about with a 24-200 tokina lens, wasnt too heavy

chaparral · 6 Jan 2007 at 13:35

SDK^ said:
I recently went to Morocco and carried around a 20D with a 17-40L; it wasn't heavy and didn't get in the way.
Put it over your shoulder and you'll be fine

What wrong with a compact camera that you just throw in your pocket.... :confused:

Joe T · 6 Jan 2007 at 13:39

chaparral said:
What wrong with a compact camera that you just throw in your pocket....

Cos DSLRs rock! Or do you want a more detailed answer?

chaparral · 6 Jan 2007 at 14:23

Joe T said:
Cos DSLRs rock! Or do you want a more detailed answer?

Just a case of i think i enjoy my hoidays a lot more without having the feeling that am carrying a bag over my shoulder everywhere...

The best way i guess,,would be to take a compact and SLR camera with you...That way you take the SLR went you know your going photo shooting and the compact everywhere else for them rare shots..

Spie · 6 Jan 2007 at 14:25

chaparral said:
Just a case of i think i enjoy my hoidays a lot more without having the feeling that am carrying a bag over my shoulder everywhere...

The best way i guess,,would be to take a compact and SLR camera with you...That way you take the SLR went you know your going photo shooting and the compact everywhere else for them rare shots..

Agreed and I think that's what I'll do. Just got out my 5D and with 24-105 F4L it's not that heavy. Might look at some lighter lens and flash options though.

Maybe I'll upgrade the IXUS 700 for a 900 too.

MrSix · 6 Jan 2007 at 14:53

As your self appointed financial advisor Spie (remember?

), I reccomend you take me with you as your personal photographer, coupled with your 5D and lenses I will be more useful than a compact and you won't have to be troubled with the weight of the thing. It makes more financial sense and as you're obviously rather strapped for cash at the moment, it makes sense.

or just buy the FZ7

Holiday camera help

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