Pocket sized CSC Camera?

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Zaf

Zaf

Zaf

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Hi Guys,

Not really taken many photos of late :(

I'm thinking that because I'm lazy and don't enjoy dragging my DSLR out with me if were only going out somewhere for the day and it's not a planned shoot as such!

So I would like to get a CSC camera which will fit in my pocket with a pancake lens on it!

Ideally I would like the quality somewhere between top end compact and an entry level DSLR.

I've looked at quite a few reviews of both the Panasonic G3 and Sony Nex5 but I think they'll be to bulky!

So tempted with either the Nikon J1 or second hand Panasonic GF3/Sony NEX3

Anyone here regularly use CSC cameras? What are your thoughts?



Cheers
Zaf
 
The NEX5 is really no bigger than the NEX3, and the Sonys are by far and away the best CSCs available.
 
Olympus EP3/Panasonic GX1 + 20/1.8 if you want to get a reasonably shallow DOF or the Nikon J1/V1 and the 10mm pancake if you want super fast AF.

The NEX line has great bodies but a pretty underwhelming lens lineup.

None of the options are what I'd consider as truly pocketable though - I thought of getting a CSC for exactly the same reasons as you did, ended up buying a proper compact camera instead.
 
Cheers for the reply guys, reckon I'll have to go down to my local camera shop and see if OI can do the pocket test lol

GTRacer what compact did you go for?
 
Hxc said:
The NEX5 is really no bigger than the NEX3, and the Sonys are by far and away the best CSCs available.
Click to expand...

The best? Define best? I'd put them last on my list of CSC to purchase based on the poor lens line up and that none of the lenses are or are likely to be compact. Lovely cams for sure, but as a system choice, I'd put them last.

The Nikon CSC stuff I find....slightly bizarre that it sells so well. It's the 2.7x crop that turs me off that.

For me personally, micro 4/3rds is unbeatable in terms of a system choice for a CSC camera. The lens line up is vast and well established with plenty of choice, and it's the same for the cameras. The only thing I would say, is consider how much you really can do away with an electronic viewfinder 24/7. In bright sunlight I have heard of lots of people wishing they bought a G series Panasonic or bought the VF-2 add on EVF for Pen Olympus bodies so it is useable.

I don't think truely that any CSC (with the exception of the new Nikon CSC stuff) is really "pocketable" if you define that as literally tossing it in a jean pocket. If it must be that, you should look at a nice Panasonic Lumix compact camera. If you want it small and pretty much pocketable, and you don't mind pancake primes and a lack of electronic viewfinder (EVF) , you could get an Olmypus pen, GF or GX series. If you want it so that it is small as you can get a DSLR style body that fits in a very small bag/handbag/manbag/pouch thing, then look at a G series Panny or the incredible new Olympus EM5.

I have a G2, mainly because I managed to snap it up brand new for £180, and for me, it's the best thing I have done ditching all my Canon DLSR gear and lenses for a cam I actually use and take with me places. I looked at the G3, but it was £350 at the time and offerend little extra for double the cost. I must say the G2 handles nicer for man hands with a more bulky grip, but....the G3 is really dinky and slimmed down if it's minimal size you want to priority over handling.

If you don't want an EVF, I'd definitely look at an Olmypus pen series as they have the advantage of IBIS (In body image stabilisation) which is just so useful.
 
Zaf said:
Cheers for the reply guys, reckon I'll have to go down to my local camera shop and see if OI can do the pocket test lol

GTRacer what compact did you go for?
Click to expand...

I went for the Ricoh GRDIII since its more like a DSLR in terms of how you can customise it (three sets of preset banks and two Fn buttons) and the snap focus feature is really useful. The Fuji X10 was too big, so it was between the Ricoh and the Canon S95, went for the Ricoh for the hotshoe (I didn't need a zoom either).
 
GTRacer said:
I went for the Ricoh GRDIII since its more like a DSLR in terms of how you can customise it (three sets of preset banks and two Fn buttons) and the snap focus feature is really useful. The Fuji X10 was too big, so it was between the Ricoh and the Canon S95, went for the Ricoh for the hotshoe (I didn't need a zoom either).
Click to expand...

Been looking most of the night reading reviews etc and the Panasonic LX5 was looking good but still not really 'jean' pocketable so started looking at the S95 as suggested.

Would you say the extra £150 over the S95 for the S100 was worth it though?

S95 £190ish
S100 £350

Cheers
 
I'd say no... The S100 is better at higher ISO (just about), has a wider lens (24 vs 28), has a better video mode and it has GPS, but if you're just concerned with stills then the S95 is perfectly fine.
 
None of the CSC cameras are pocketable.

None of the Fuji X cameras are pcketable.

If you want a compact go anywhere all the time camera get the S100 there really is nothing to touch it in the fit in a jeans pocket market segment. Some of the HK importers have great prices at the moment.
 
a1ex2001 said:
None of the CSC cameras are pocketable.

None of the Fuji X cameras are pcketable.

If you want a compact go anywhere all the time camera get the S100 there really is nothing to touch it in the fit in a jeans pocket market segment. Some of the HK importers have great prices at the moment.
Click to expand...

Yeah gonna go with the S100 the Ultrawide is swaying it for me!

I'm going to use the HK supplier who I got my niftyfifty from, it's only £265.99 Happy with that :)

Edit/ Just ordered I paid £10 extra for FedEx/DHL delivery rather than HK Mail! Hopefully I'll recieve one not with the lens error serial numbers :/
 
Last edited:
jaybee said:
The best? Define best? I'd put them last on my list of CSC to purchase based on the poor lens line up and that none of the lenses are or are likely to be compact. Lovely cams for sure, but as a system choice, I'd put them last.

The Nikon CSC stuff I find....slightly bizarre that it sells so well. It's the 2.7x crop that turs me off that.

For me personally, micro 4/3rds is unbeatable in terms of a system choice for a CSC camera. The lens line up is vast and well established with plenty of choice, and it's the same for the cameras. The only thing I would say, is consider how much you really can do away with an electronic viewfinder 24/7. In bright sunlight I have heard of lots of people wishing they bought a G series Panasonic or bought the VF-2 add on EVF for Pen Olympus bodies so it is useable.

I don't think truely that any CSC (with the exception of the new Nikon CSC stuff) is really "pocketable" if you define that as literally tossing it in a jean pocket. If it must be that, you should look at a nice Panasonic Lumix compact camera. If you want it small and pretty much pocketable, and you don't mind pancake primes and a lack of electronic viewfinder (EVF) , you could get an Olmypus pen, GF or GX series. If you want it so that it is small as you can get a DSLR style body that fits in a very small bag/handbag/manbag/pouch thing, then look at a G series Panny or the incredible new Olympus EM5.

I have a G2, mainly because I managed to snap it up brand new for £180, and for me, it's the best thing I have done ditching all my Canon DLSR gear and lenses for a cam I actually use and take with me places. I looked at the G3, but it was £350 at the time and offerend little extra for double the cost. I must say the G2 handles nicer for man hands with a more bulky grip, but....the G3 is really dinky and slimmed down if it's minimal size you want to priority over handling.

If you don't want an EVF, I'd definitely look at an Olmypus pen series as they have the advantage of IBIS (In body image stabilisation) which is just so useful.
Click to expand...


Gotta say this lens thing is getting a bit old now.

The sigma 19mm and 30mm both scored over 90% and are excellent lens at £150 each.

The sony 50mm f1.8 is excellent and high regarded at £250

The CZ 24mm is also excellent but cost £900

However none of them are pocketable but neither are any other brands.

The zoom lenses are pretty good as well, sure they don't have the full lens selection of an older camera system but there are lenses there now just not compact ones. However this is what you get for having an SLR sensor in your camera rather than something a lot smaller.

What you do get is the opportunity to have it small enough to fit in a large pocket, i have a body warmer with pockets that take my Nex 7 with the 18-200mm no problem and can also be converted to a DSLR witht he adapter as well.

That isn't to say the Micro 4/3rds is a great system but saying the Nex is your last choice shows a real lack of udnerstanding of the system itself what it can do as well as what it offers. As has been stated none of the CSC's can fit in a jean pocket and while the Nex could do with even more lenses especially some faster ones for low light in door shooting the reality is it has some good lenses along with great picture quality.
 
The Canon S100 has just arrived :)

It only got processed in Honk Kong yesterday glad I paid the extra £10 for DHL, just have to wait until I get back home from the Gym tonight before I get to play.

Before they shipped it the supplier confirmed the serial number started 44 so souldn't have the lens error too!
 
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