SLR going (too big) recommend a replacement please?

[L33]

Well after a few months with my Nikon D5000, i've decided its got to go.
I've taken some great pics with it, but its just too big to take everywhere.

Can anyone recommend a really good compact camera please? Ideally with a decent optical zoom lens, and one which is quick to take pics and doesn't spend a couple of seconds focusing itself?
It doesn't have to be miniture - pocket sized would be good but if something stands out as being decent which is a lot smaller than my D5000, please let me know.
Lastly, I'm not a photographer. I don't need any fancy settings etc (I'm ashamed to admit my SLR has stayed in Auto mode since I've had it). I just need something to point and shoot and get a reasonably good pics.

Any pointers would be very much appreciated.

Lastly, wheres the best place to advertise my D5000 and extra lenses, bag etc?

Thanks in advance,
Lee

[marctwo]

I replaced my Canon 30D with a Panasonic GF1 which I love. I got the 20mm lens with it which means it's still compact and takes excellent quality photos. If you need a zoom, you can get the 14-45mm but it makes it a lot more bulky. If size is more important than image quality then I would look at the Panasonic LX5.

[L33]

Many thanks for the reply Marc.

Just incase anyone else has any suggestions, BUMP.

[mr.man]

I can second the GF1 with the 20mm lens. Fits easily in a coat pocket(you look a bit of a show off with it in your trouser pocket). Excellent results in all lighting conditions producing really sharp accurate pictures. Down side as predicted is no viewfinder making the live view screen compromised in bright sunlight. Also does HD video at the touch of a button.

[thehawk]

Sony NEX-5 is getting some good press, body is a lot smaller than the GF-1 too.

[v8pbn]

Hi Lee, I'd be interested in buying your D5000. Do you have details of what's for sale and a price in mind? Thanks Paul

[clonmult]

thehawk said:

Sony NEX-5 is getting some good press, body is a lot smaller than the GF-1 too.

Even the NEX-3 is getting good press. If they gave full AF functionality with the standard Alpha mount lenses, I'd be very tempted. Sony seem to have made a slight error with that decision.

Both do look mildly hilarious with a huge zoom stuck on the front though.

[L33]

v8pbn said:

Hi Lee, I'd be interested in buying your D5000. Do you have details of what's for sale and a price in mind? Thanks Paul

Paul,
YHM

[delta037]

As you can see, the Nikon DSLR reputation makes them easy to sell on. A friend bought a Panasonic GF1 and is enjoying using it. Yes it's smaller than the Nikon but still has interchangeable lenses which will still be a faff.

As to true Compacts which have built in zooms - some up to 640mm - you will be lucky to find one that doesn't dither with focusing and viewing screen which is difficult in bright sunlight. I borrowed a Panasonic TZ7 for a few days. It's got a superb lens and delivers crisp well exposed results, but because they are so small you need small fingers to manage the controls. You have to scroll through screens for manual controls. I handed it back realising just what an SLR has to offer in terms of immediacy of results and great handling. Compacts are great if you never take action pics but try as many as possible indoors and outside before handing over hard cash.

[marctwo]

And the GF1 will make you more attractive...

[gmilton]

2 very good point and shoots.

Canon G10, G11 - Great camera, but a bit on the bulky side, doesn't slip in and out of a pocket as you'd like it. Can do 90% of what a decent DSLR can do.
Canon S90 - Very powerful camera, very similar to the G10/11 but without the heft. Can do 85-90% of what a decent DSLR can do.

Hope this helps

Graeme

[Fume troll]

gmilton said:

2 very good point and shoots.

Canon G10, G11 - Great camera, but a bit on the bulky side, doesn't slip in and out of a pocket as you'd like it. Can do 90% of what a decent DSLR can do.
Canon S90 - Very powerful camera, very similar to the G10/11 but without the heft. Can do 85-90% of what a decent DSLR can do.

Hope this helps

Graeme

Those would be my first two points of call too. One of them will do what you want.

Cheers,

FT.

[L33]

Many thanks for the replies so far guys.

I'm loving the reviews for the Panasonic GF1 / LX5. The Sony NEX-5 also looks great, but all 3 look still to bulky for what I'm after and still have the faff of changeable lenses. I have no doubts they are great cameras, I'm just after something a little more compact to carry round in my pocket.

The Canon G10 / G11 look a great compromise between size and image quality. Are they a great deal smaller than than the other 3 from Panasonic & Sony above and do they have changeable lenses?

Lastly, The Canon S90 also looks a very worthy contender - looks very compact. I'd just need to get my head round something this compact can produce as good a quality images as the few reviews I have scanned through suggest. I'm guessing the lens on the S90 is fixed into the camera and not changebale?

Many thanks for replies so far.

Edited by L33 on Thursday 12th August 12:10

[Nick M]

L33 said:

I'm loving the reviews for the Panasonic GF1 / LX5. The Sony NEX-5 also looks great, but all 3 look still to bulky for what I'm after and still have the faff of changeable lenses. I have no doubts they are great cameras, I'm just after something a little more compact to carry round in my pocket.

The Canon G10 / G11 look a great compromise between size and image quality. Are they a great deal smaller than than the other 3 from Panasonic & Sony above and do they have changeable lenses?

Lastly, The Canon S90 also looks a very worthy contender - looks very compact.

LX5 doesn't have interchangeable lenses - it's pretty much (within a couple of mm) the same size as the LX3, which is pocketable. LX3 is a very good camera, but limited by zoom length. LX5 addresses that.

Canon G10/G11 - I think they're *larger* than the LX3/5 but maybe a tad smaller than the GF1. But check the depth of the camera because it looks pretty chunky, hence perhaps not pocket-friendly. It is meant to produce nice pictures though.

S90 - depending on how big / small your hands are it might be a tad fiddly. Best to try and find a camera shop which carries all of them and see which fits your hands and makes most sense to use.

[Barbotage]

L33 said:

The Canon G10 / G11 look a great compromise between size and image quality. Are they a great deal smaller than than the other 3 from Panasonic & Sony above and do they have changeable lenses?

Lastly, The Canon S90 also looks a very worthy contender - looks very compact. I'd just need to get my head round something this compact can produce as good a quality images as the few reviews I have scanned through suggest. I'm guessing the lens on the S90 is fixed into the camera and not changebale?

Many thanks for replies so far.

I've had a Canon S90 for around 6 months now, and I'm chuffed to bits with it.

Now I'm coming from a total point and shoot punter background, but the image quality really is a significant step up from a P&S, obviously not as good as those you'd get from a micro 4/3rds or DSLR, but to my eyes pretty dam good. I've been particularly impressed with it in low light (f2.0 at 28mm).

Struggled to make out from the multitude of reviews comparing the LX3 and S90 which would suit me best as they both have their pro's and cons, but in the end felt the LX3 was still a bit bulky for a pocket and I knew having a lens cap would bug me! The LX5 may have moved the game on a bit.

I wasn't totally convinced that the G10 offered much of an advantage for it's bulk, and if you're going to go that big I felt the 4/3rds or NEX ones were a better bet.

I note you said you hardly used the manual functions on the DSLR but if you were tempted the ring selector around the lens is a great feature to allow you to quickly change aperture / shutter speed etc. A few of the reviews moaned about accidentally jogging the smaller function selector wheel on the back whilst you take a picture and messing up the exposure but after 1000 odd photos it hasn't happened to me once.

The zoom obviously isn't massive, but it's enough for me, and in order to get more in that size of camera you're into the vast array of super zoom P&S and comparing it to my dad's Sony HX5 there's definitely a difference in image quality.

HTH, happy to answer any query's if you are thinking of going for one.

[zax]

I have an older model Canon G9, like it very much. Mrs Zax bought an S90 just before our summer holiday. Have to agree with the previous poster, it's a fantastic little camera. Just that bit more pocketable than the G9/10/11 but does mostly the same stuff. It's taken some lovely holiday shots in all sorts of conditions.

The only issue I have is that being a larger bloke with hands like bunches of bananas I find it a little fiddly to use. I'm sticking with my chunkier G9 for now

[delta037]

Before I bought the Nikon D80 DSLR I had various Nikon 'bridge' cameras like the 5500 and 8800 and my neighbour had a Canon G10 and they all produced excellent results. If you don't plan on printing pics out at A2 or need to Photoshop RAW images then something like the Canon G11 will suffice. It is rugged and has the zoom built in and will just about fit in a pocket. But like I said earlier try various models to see which you feel most comfortable with first. By sticking with Canon or Nikon (or if you're really flush - Leica) you also stand a better chance of getting a decent price when you come to sell it.

[Ceylon]

I use my Panasonic Lumix TZ8 more than my Canon 500D at the moment. Great Leica Lens, quick and easy zoom and good HD video too. Love it.