Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: WarrenRoos on May 12, 2011, 11:57:35 am
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I’m about to take a trip with one of my sons. If possible I only want to take a one camera/one lens with me. My carry round right now is the Canon 5d w/ the 16-35 on it.
I just got a Sony A900 with the Ziess 16-35 on it to try and like it a whole lot but it’s too heavy and tends to have poor balance with the lens. So that will stay home. It’s temping (the lens bests the Canon) but it could be too much to wear on long days. Not sure one battery could last all day. Want to avoid a big bag.
I’m open and hoping for suggestions as what to take. Want to travel light but don’t want to sacrifice image quality. Flash is not important, decent hight ISO is.
TIA
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not sure what you mean by "sacrifice image quality"......
The Panasonic GH2 might be a fit -
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/panasonic_gh2_revisited.shtml
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I’m about to take a trip with one of my sons. If possible I only want to take a one camera/one lens with me. My carry round right now is the Canon 5d w/ the 16-35 on it.
I just got a Sony A900 with the Ziess 16-35 on it to try and like it a whole lot but it’s too heavy and tends to have poor balance with the lens. So that will stay home. It’s temping (the lens bests the Canon) but it could be too much to wear on long days. Not sure one battery could last all day. Want to avoid a big bag.
I’m open and hoping for suggestions as what to take. Want to travel light but don’t want to sacrifice image quality. Flash is not important, decent hight ISO is.
TIA
I'd like to say Leica M9 and 35mm summicron, but I suspect that the fuji x100 would do most of what you want with better high iso?
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The recently announced Panasonic G3 (http://dpreview.com/previews/panasonicdmcg3/) Micro Four Thirds should fit. There's only JPEG samples out there now, but the high-ISO results are nothing short of amazing (http://dpreview.com/reviews/studiocomparefullscreen.asp#mode=freeCompare&masterCamera=panasonic_dmcg3&masterSample=p1000070&camera0=panasonic_dmcg3&mode0=JPEG&sample0=p1000070&camera1=canon_eos600d&mode1=JPEG&sample1=img_6866&camera2=oly_epl2&mode2=JPEG&sample2=olyepl2_nrstd_iso+200&camera3=samsung_nx100&mode3=JPEG&sample3=sam_0166&x=-0.85652383245065&y=-0.9085714285714286).
Knowing Panasonic, we'll be able to get our hands on it in the fall, if we're lucky.
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Depending on your favorite focal lengths, you might buy a Canon 35/2 and carry it on your 5D. That might be the least expensive choice, too.
I happen to like that general focal length, so my trip camera is a GF1 with the 20/1.7 -- great images and less than half the size. But I also like wide angles, so I have the 14, and the 7-14 zoom is on the wish list.
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Depending on your favorite focal lengths, you might buy a Canon 35/2 and carry it on your 5D. That might be the least expensive choice, too.
I happen to like that general focal length, so my trip camera is a GF1 with the 20/1.7 -- great images and less than half the size. But I also like wide angles, so I have the 14, and the 7-14 zoom is on the wish list.
I have the 7-14mm Panny, and it is an exceptional lens in all aspects - but it's not at all small (by MFT standards).
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Sony A55 (Better high ISO characteristics and Much lighter than A900) with Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 - a fabulous lens.
Good luck,
Brian
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I’m about to take a trip with one of my sons. If possible I only want to take a one camera/one lens with me. My carry round right now is the Canon 5d w/ the 16-35 on it.
I
I am assuming you are ruling out the option you already have, which is the 5D plus 16-35? I think that if you already have two systems, you should not consider a third one... the 5D is actually not that big, it is actually not that heavy. Maybe the 16-35 is "too much" for this trip of yours, especially if it is the MkII (82mm filter diameter, it's a big beast).
It sounds like a good trip, and spending time with your son and getting good memories of it are your key objectives. In this regard, I would either take the zoom, or get a couple of light primes, like a pair 24mm/50mm, or 35mm/85mm, or whatever fits your preference.
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All great comments. Esp. the one about time with number one son. Thanks. I'll shoot RAW (no jpegs) and no flash so that's why good high ISO performance is a must. I know I can take the Canon w/ lens but I want something smaller/lighter if possible but with similar image quality. I'm very very tempted by the Leica but it's a lot of scratch for no AF that I may struggle with in low light with my fifty plus year old eyes. That would also require multi lenses. (cha Ching!).
What I'm really trying to avoid is carting around a lot of gear in a bag all day long.
I know if my body goes down I'm kaput. For what I shoot (I often tend to go wide) it's about the evocative content and not sharpness. Except I hate soft edges..If the edge is soft it's because I made it that way.. not the lens..
Sony Image..
http://www.roosphoto.com/roosblogWP/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DSC00225-.jpg
Canon Image...
http://www.roosphoto.com/roosblogWP/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/afteryou.jpg
Iphone image...
http://www.roosphoto.com/roosblogWP/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Screen-shot-2011-03-01-at-8.48.54-PM.png
So what right? Nothing..but what's the right compromise????
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I am assuming you are ruling out the option you already have, which is the 5D plus 16-35? I think that if you already have two systems, you should not consider a third one... the 5D is actually not that big, it is actually not that heavy. Maybe the 16-35 is "too much" for this trip of yours, especially if it is the MkII (82mm filter diameter, it's a big beast).
It sounds like a good trip, and spending time with your son and getting good memories of it are your key objectives. In this regard, I would either take the zoom, or get a couple of light primes, like a pair 24mm/50mm, or 35mm/85mm, or whatever fits your preference.
I agree with your note about buying a third system possibly being overkill and primes being better for travel. But 5D really is "that" big and heavy, and the difference between a 5D+lens, MFT/NEX/A55+lens is considerable.
When I went backpacking in Central America for three weeks I didn't even consider bringing my Canon APS-C kit, same for motorcycle trips. My E-PL1 rivals the IQ of Canon 550D up to at least 13"x19" for my shooting (base ISO). I can fit my entire MFT kit (body and 4 lenses) in a bag the size of a smallish lunch box, and it weighs probably the same as 5D and a single L zoom. Even with a tripod and ball head the kit fits in standard carry-on luggage, including clothes, gym gear and toiletries for 5 days. Good luck trying that with any DSLR kit.
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So what right? Nothing..but what's the right compromise????
Maybe a lighter body like the Rebel T3i ?
i think unless you print very large, many of the smaller sensor cameras will likely do a good enough job and will be much less to deal with on the road. Buy the best performing lens available.
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My 2 Cdn cents worth:
Why bother with another camera since you already have the 5D and a preferred zoom lens?
To help you carry it all day you might consider an UpStrap ( http://www.upstrap-pro.com ). With my film Leicas I was most happy with the thin leather straps wrapped around my wrist, the Canon strap was basically just a piece of advertising always slipping off my shoulder. The UpStrap sure changed all of that -- the camera hangs securely of my shoulder and is but invisible until I bring it up.
I have a 5D2 (got tired of cleaning the sensor, plus the 'upgrade' deal was too good to miss). I travel with it and a 24-105 as well as with tiny 20 and 50 Voigtlander lenses. Both the VC lenses fit in vest or jacket pockets -- neither are auto focus so that may be an issue).
Check your metadata and see what focal length you use most often and pick a fixed focal length lens accordingly.
For backup I just have a Canon G10. Lots of other choices there.
A Leica M9 would be ideal for me since I have lenses but $7k is a lot. But for you, unless you like and know how to work with a rangefinder, testing that on an important trip may not be the best thing to do.
Plus, you have a son: load him up with the gear -- what are kids for anyway!
Enjoy your trip,
Jean-Michel
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My kid will be taking his own gear. Here that kid.
A lot of the smaller cameras don't shoot RAW. So they are out. Also for the price I know the optics will not be much. My problem is that as a pro I know at some point there is no substitution for Horse power. I know what I want what does not exist.....a mini 5D or A900 or such. In the studio I use a name brand MF system. I would never travel with that.
I used a Leica for years. That's temping. Bit of a steal me worry. Also no quick pointing and shooting there.
I have checked. Looks like I'm a 16-28 ish kind of guy. I never pine for a long lens.
And yes a better no slip strap would help.
I'm no 97 lb weakling but the A900 and lens is a brick. My hips could be bruised.
The Sony NEX looks Interesting.
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I have checked. Looks like I'm a 16-28 ish kind of guy. I never pine for a long lens.
And yes a better no slip strap would help.
I'm no 97 lb weakling but the A900 and lens is a brick. My hips could be bruised.
The Sony NEX looks Interesting.
Don't know what NEX lenses are available, but the 7-14mm Panasonic MFT lens is a gem, and fits your focal range perfectly. Plenty of cameras to choose from in the format, and many are smaller than NEXs with equivalent focal length lenses.
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A "mini 5D" does exist, the Panny GH2 with the 7-14 would give you a much smaller version of your current setup and still provide excellent raw files.
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It really depends on what your objective is -- if all you want are memories of your trip, even a Canon 95 would give you fine RAW files as long as the light was not too bad. A step up would be some flavor of m4/3 which will complete very well with any cropped sensor camera, as other posters have mentioned.
One question is, do you reall want to be doing "serious" photography on a trip to spend time your son? When I vacation with my wife, I leave the serious gear at home and take the Canon 90, which will capture all the memories I need, and print them large enough for that purpose. If I am in "photographing" mode, all my attention focused on my surroundings and how they would translate into images and I ignore her -- and the whole point of our trip is for us to spend time together. I may miss that random "once in a lifetime" shot -- but I've already missed so many of those it doesn't bother me any more.
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I try to do serious photos all the time. But that can be done with the iPhone.
to.com/roosblogWP/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_0702.jpg
B & H has the 7-14mm lens but no bodies in stock. What to do?
The Leica will cost more than the trip.
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call arlington camera in Dallas
http://arlingtoncamera.reachlocal.net/shop/index.php?p=catalog&mode=manufacturer&parent=0&mid=331&search_in=all&search_str=&pg=2
they have 3 bodies in stock open til 6 pm CST
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I'm super happy and very impressed with my Pentax K5 superb IQ and build quality
Marc
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Seems like the Pentax has better weather sealing over the panasonic? Both systems wide zooms are f4. Hard to pick one over the other with out having both in hand....no way to test.
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Seems like the Pentax has better weather sealing over the panasonic? Both systems wide zooms are f4. Hard to pick one over the other with having both in hand....no way to test.
Weather sealing is missing on all MFT cameras, and the first "pro" camera (from Oly) is only expected this summer, at the earliest. It's questionable if that will have weather sealing, though. Even if it does, there's not much point since none of the current MFT lenses have weather sealing.
K5 also has better IQ than any MFT camera, and almost all other APS-C cameras. But it's also considerably larger and heavier than MFT, NEX or whatever Samsung's mirrorless is called.
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There is soooo much information... too much perhaps...
The Canon EOS 7D w/ 10-22mm lens also looks great. Any of you cybernauts use this?
It's (the 7D) 2.65 lbs verses the sony/Zeiss (A900 w/ 16-36) @ 3.9 lbs.
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I have had this conversation several times with pro friends. Finding a small camera that will produce good quality images and occasionally a great portfolio shot is not easy. Weight and convenience is a big issue in these situations.
IMO a full size DSLR won't cut it. To big, too bulky and difficult to loo after in restaurants and so on. I have bought and tried a variety of small cameras over the years and have finally ended up with an M9 and a 35mm lens. Outstanding image quality, compact and light and not at all difficult to use quickly once you get used to it. This is however a very expensive camera and if the budget is an issue I would suggest an M8 with a 35mm Zeiss Biogon - these can be had for roughly half the cost of an M9 body alone. Finally if this is still too much I have used and like very much the Panasonic GH2 with the 14-140 lens.
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a GH2 with lens is just at 1 lb. :) That 7d combo is just over 3 lbs by the specs. :( the 5d +16-35 is about 3 3/4 lb. :o
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a GH2 with lens is just at 1 lb. :) That 7d combo is just over 3 lbs by the specs. :( the 5d +16-35 is about 3 3/4 lb. :o
The GH2 with the 14-140 lens (28-280) weighs in at 36.6 oz. The GF1 with the same lens and extra viewfinder weighs in at 31.9 oz.
GH2 with the 7-14 lens weighs in at 28.8 oz.
Dave
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the 7D weighs the same and is the same size as the 5D2 -- one of the rebels with the same sensor as the 7D weighs a lot less (and is a lot less rugged but pretty cheap). i replaced my my 10-22 with the Tokina 11-17 which is a stop faster and has a bit better edge resolution but is heavier (full disclosure - i only use this lens underwater, use the 5D2 and 17-40 topside). a rebel and the Tokina are about as good as it gets for crop-frame wide angle IQ (the 10-22 not far behind, but like all wide angle zooms look out for asymetrical performance).
a couple other compact and relatively lightweight lenses are the Voigtlander 20 and 40 pancake manual focus lenses (i have the 20 and it's resolution in comparable to the 17-40) and the Canon 50 1.4. i've considered using a rebel with the 20 and the 50 1.4 for lighter weight travel, but i'm still carrying a full 5D2 kit because i love the results.
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well between my eyes and the typos, via cut and paste -
Camera: 13.82 oz (392 g) （Body only）
Lens: 16.23 oz (460 g)
battery 50g
902 g ~ 2 lb
for the GH2 w/14-140.
with the Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH Lens (55g)
447 g + battery 50g, so 497 g or ~ 1,1 lb
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I made a spreadsheet (also posted here http://www.roosphoto.com/RobG/trip_cameras.xls.zip) of some choices. Aside from cost and weight no hidden answer jumps out.
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ok. pretty even at first glance.
How long does this camera have to last ? What kind of travel - car / city / off road / hiking /all weather/ camping ?
what is the maximum realistic print size ? 8x10 or smaller ? or >> ? or screen only ?
what is most important ? weight / size / controls familiarity / cost / technical control / ruggedness / ???
When i struggled with this to pick a camera to take on business trips, i ended up with a P&S that allowed full manual control and ability to save raw captures, AA batteries (no charger to carry ), with decent optical zoom, and small enough to stuff in a fanny pack while exploring the area on foot. Cost was low enough that if it was lost, no big deal. Images were good enough to print 8x10, or on screen (without pixel peeping!).
When i want to engage in my hobby, then i bring the good gear and no other distractions.
It's hard to say whats "good enough" because compromises must be made. i've been satisfied with the choice i made. Could i have made some better captures with better equipment ? sure some of them, but >75 % were just fine. And i enjoyed the trip more by not being concerned about the equipment as much.
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How long does this camera have to last ? What kind of travel - car / city / off road / hiking /all weather/ camping ?
2 weeks in four counties in Europe..long days on feet...then in the car for just in case situations
what is the maximum realistic print size ? 8x10 or smaller ? or >> ? or screen only ?
Could go large 16x20 or 20 X 24 or just screen.. not sure. Can't get great stuff from poor files..
what is most important ? weight / size / controls familiarity / cost / technical control / ruggedness / ???
Good /great photo's/ but not too heavy
When i struggled with this to pick a camera to take on business trips, i ended up with a P&S that allowed full manual control and ability to save raw captures, AA batteries (no charger to carry ), with decent optical zoom, and small enough to stuff in a fanny pack while exploring the area on foot. Cost was low enough that if it was lost, no big deal. Images were good enough to print 8x10, or on screen (without pixel peeping!).
I'm serious about shooting... it's what I do..but I'm looking for something not so heavy to lug and wear all day, Sure I can take the Canon or Sony...great choices.... but traveling light could be a better one. Thus my search.